‘Kathmandu’: Summary, Explanation & Glossary Class 9 English Notes

‘Kathmandu’ lesson Class 9 NCERT English bool Beehive Notes contain here a Summary, Explanation & Glossary of word meanings. Click here for question and answers.

Summary

The lesson revolves around the narrator’s experiences and observations during their visit to Kathmandu, Nepal. The narrative is divided into several paragraphs, each describing different aspects of the city and the narrator’s interactions within it.

1. The narrator starts by recounting their stay in Kathmandu, where they visit sacred temples with Mr. Shah’s son and nephew. These temples hold significance for both Hindus and Buddhists.
2. At Pashupatinath, a Hindu temple, the narrator describes a chaotic scene filled with priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, animals, and various activities. There’s a sense of bustling energy and religious fervour, with vivid descriptions of rituals and scenes along the Bagmati River.
3. Contrastingly, the Baudhnath stupa, a Buddhist shrine, offers a sense of stillness amidst the city’s hustle and bustle. The narrator describes the serene atmosphere around the stupa, with shops owned by Tibetan immigrants and a lack of crowds.
4. Kathmandu is depicted as a vibrant and diverse city, teeming with commercial activity and religious devotion. The narrator indulges in various purchases and experiences, reflecting on the city’s lively ambiance.
5. The narrator contemplates their journey back home and ultimately decides to take a direct flight, feeling exhausted and homesick.
6. A flute seller in the square near the narrator’s hotel catches their attention. The narrator reflects on the universal appeal of flute music and its ability to evoke a sense of commonality among different cultures.
7. The narrator expresses surprise at their profound emotional response to the familiar tunes played on the bansuri, reflecting on how their perspective has shifted over time.

The lesson ‘Kathmandu’ offers a rich tapestry of experiences and observations in Kathmandu, exploring themes of culture, spirituality, commerce, and the human experience. Through vivid descriptions and introspective reflections, the narrator provides insights into the complexities and nuances of life in the bustling city.

Explanation & Glossary (Meanings)

1: “I GET a cheap room in the centre of town and sleep for hours. The next morning, with Mr Shah’s son and nephew, I visit the two temples in Kathmandu that are most sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.”

Explanation:

• The writer finds and stays in an inexpensive room located in the central area of Kathmandu.
• They rest for several hours, likely because they were tired.
• The following morning, they accompany Mr. Shah’s son and nephew to visit two temples in Kathmandu that hold significant importance for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Glossary:

• Cheap: Not expensive, affordable.
• Sacred: Holy, deeply revered or respected.
• Hindus: People who follow the religion of Hinduism.
• Buddhists: Followers of Buddhism, a religion or philosophy based on the teachings of Buddha.
• Temples: Places of worship in various religions, often dedicated to deity or deities.
• Centre (of town): Central area, the main part of the town or city.

2: “At Pashupatinath (outside which a sign proclaims ‘Entrance for the Hindus only’) there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons, and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. A princess of the Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows and makes way. By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter. The policeman is not convinced that they are ‘the Hindus’ (only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple). A fight breaks out between two monkeys. One chases the other, who jumps onto a shivalinga, then runs screaming around the temples and down to the river, the holy Bagmati, that flows below. A corpse is being cremated on its banks; washerwomen are at their work and children bathe. From a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves, old offerings now wilted, is dropped into the river. A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.”

Explanation:

• The narrator visits Pashupatinath, a significant Hindu temple in Kathmandu, where a sign clearly states that only Hindus are allowed to enter.
• The scene is described as chaotic, with various elements such as priests, vendors, devotees, tourists, animals (cows, monkeys, pigeons, and dogs), creating a lively atmosphere.
• Despite the crowd, the narrator manages to offer a few flowers as a form of worship.
• There is a struggle among worshippers to gain the attention of the priest, with some being pushed aside by others.
• A princess from the Nepalese royal family makes an appearance, and everyone shows respect by bowing and making way.
• Outside the temple, a group of Westerners dressed in saffron robes, resembling Hindu ascetics, are having difficulty gaining entry as the policeman doubts their Hindu identity.
• A fight between two monkeys breaks out, adding to the chaos, and one of them jumps onto a shivalinga (a symbol representing Lord Shiva).
• Nearby, the Bagmati River flows, where a corpse is being cremated, and washerwomen are busy with their work while children bathe.
• A basket of old offerings is dropped into the river from a balcony, and there’s a mention of a small shrine believed to hold a goddess whose emergence will mark the end of the evil period known as Kaliyug on earth.

Glossary:

• Pashupatinath: A famous Hindu temple complex in Kathmandu, Nepal, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Febrile: Intensely busy or chaotic.
• Shivalinga: A symbol representing Lord Shiva, worshipped in Hinduism.
• Bagmati: A holy river flowing through Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Kaliyug: In Hindu cosmology, the present age of darkness and ignorance, part of a cycle of four ages.

3: “At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its outer edge: many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewelry can be bought here. There are no crowds: this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.”

Explanation:

• The narrator shifts focus to the Baudhnath stupa, a significant Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Unlike the chaotic atmosphere at Pashupatinath, here, there is a sense of calm and tranquility.
• The stupa is described as having an immense white dome surrounded by a road.
• Around the outer edge of the stupa, there are small shops, many of which are owned by Tibetan immigrants.
• These shops sell items such as felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewelry.
• Unlike Pashupatinath, there are no crowds here, making it a peaceful retreat from the bustling streets surrounding it.

Glossary:

• Baudhnath stupa: A large Buddhist shrine located in Kathmandu, Nepal, known for its dome-shaped structure.
• Stupa: A dome-shaped structure in Buddhism, typically containing relics or representing the enlightened mind.
• Tranquility: Peacefulness, calmness.
• Immense: Extremely large.
• Haven: A place of safety or refuge.
• Crowds: Large groups of people gathered together.
• Tranquility: A state of calmness and peacefulness.

4: “Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares. I indulge myself mindlessly: buy a bar of marzipan, a corn-on-the-cob roasted in a charcoal brazier on the pavement (rubbed with salt, chili powder, and lemon); a couple of love story comics, and even a Reader’s Digest. All this I wash down with Coca Cola and a nauseating orange drink, and feel much the better for it.”

Explanation:

• Kathmandu is described as a vibrant and bustling city with a mix of commercialism and religious fervor.
• Along the narrow and busy streets, there are small shrines adorned with flowers dedicated to various deities.
• The streets are filled with vendors selling fruits, flutes, postcards, Western cosmetics, film rolls, chocolates, copper utensils, and Nepalese antiques.
• The atmosphere is lively with the blaring of film songs from radios, sounds of car horns, bicycle bells, and the presence of stray cows mingling with motorcycles.
• The narrator describes indulging in various purchases, such as marzipan, roasted corn-on-the-cob seasoned with salt, chili powder, and lemon, love story comics, and even a Reader’s Digest.
• These purchases are accompanied by drinks like Coca-Cola and an orange drink, providing a sense of satisfaction and well-being.

Glossary:

• Vivid: Bright, colorful, lively.
• Mercenary: Characterized by a focus on making money; commercial.
• Deities: Gods or goddesses.
• Fervor: Intense and passionate feeling or belief.
• Postcards: Decorated cards sent by mail, often featuring pictures of a place.
• Marzipan: A sweet almond paste often used in confectionery.
• Brazier: A container for holding burning coals or charcoal.
• Nauseating: Causing nausea or disgust.
• Commercialism: Emphasis on making profits through buying and selling goods.
• Well-being: State of being comfortable, healthy, and happy.

5: “I consider what route I should take back home. If I were propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se, I would go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But I am too exhausted and homesick; today is the last day of August. Go home, I tell myself: move directly towards home. I enter a Nepal Airlines office and buy a ticket for tomorrow’s flight.”

Explanation:

• The narrator is contemplating their journey back home.
• They consider taking a scenic route by bus and train, traveling through Patna, sailing up the Ganges River past Benaras to Allahabad, and then up the Yamuna River, passing Agra to reach Delhi.
• However, the narrator feels exhausted and homesick, and it’s the last day of August.
• They decide to prioritize going straight home without taking detours.
• The narrator goes to a Nepal Airlines office and purchases a ticket for a flight scheduled for the next day, opting for a faster and more direct journey home.

Glossary:

• Enthusiasm: Eagerness, excitement.
• Homesick: Feeling longing or nostalgia for one’s home.
• Scenic: Beautiful, picturesque.
• Detours: Routes that deviate from the main path or journey.
• Prioritize: To give greater importance or preference to something.
• Nepal Airlines: The national airline carrier of Nepal.
• Ticket: A document that gives someone the right to travel on a particular journey, especially on public transportation.

6: “I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.”

Explanation:

• The narrator observes a flute seller positioned in a corner of the square near their hotel.
• The flute seller carries a pole with an attachment at the top, from which many bansuris (bamboo flutes) protrude in different directions, resembling the quills of a porcupine.
• These flutes include both cross-flutes and recorders.
• Periodically, the flute seller places the pole on the ground, selects a flute, and plays it for a brief period.
• Despite the noise of traffic and the cries of other hawkers, the sound of his flute rises clearly above the commotion.
• The flute seller plays slowly and meditatively, without trying to draw excessive attention to himself.
• Unlike other vendors, he doesn’t aggressively promote his flutes; rather, he lets the music speak for itself.
• Occasionally, he makes a sale, but it seems to be a secondary aspect of his activity.
• Sometimes, he interrupts his playing to engage in conversation with other vendors, such as the fruit seller.
• The narrator imagines that this routine has been a consistent pattern in the flute seller’s life for many years.

Glossary:

• Bansuris: Bamboo flutes, traditional musical instruments.
• Protrude: Stick out, extend.
• Quills: Spines or stiff hairs on the back of certain animals, like porcupines.
• Meditatively: In a contemplative or reflective manner.
• Hawk: To promote or sell goods aggressively.
• Incidental: Secondary, not the main focus.
• Offhanded: Casual, without much thought or concern.
• Enterprise: Business or activity.

7: “I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me: it is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have its flute—the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations. Yet to hear any flute is, it seems to me, to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, to be moved by music closest in its phrases and sentences to the human voice. Its motive force too is living breath: it too needs to pause and breathe before it can go on.”

Explanation:

• The narrator expresses difficulty in leaving the square where the flute seller plays.
• They reflect on the profound effect that flute music has on them, describing it as simultaneously universal and unique.
• Flute music is found in every culture, represented by various types such as the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the bansuri of Hindustani classical music, as well as flutes from South America and China.
• Each type of flute has its distinct way of playing (fingering) and range (compass), creating its own associations and cultural significance.
• Despite these differences, listening to any flute music draws the narrator into a sense of commonality with all humanity, as flute music resonates closely with the human voice in its expression.
• The motive force behind flute music is likened to living breath, requiring pauses and breaths before continuing, adding to its organic and human-like qualities.

Glossary:

• Compass: The range or pitch of a musical instrument.
• Associations: Connections or links formed in the mind between ideas, concepts, or experiences.
• Commonality: Shared characteristics or qualities.
• Resonates: Evokes a strong feeling of familiarity or sympathy.
• Motive force: The driving energy or impetus behind something.
• Organic: Related to living organisms, natural.

8: “That I can be so affected by a few familiar phrases on the bansuri, surprises me at first, for on the previous occasions that I have returned home after a long absence abroad, I have hardly noticed such details, and certainly have not invested them with the significance I now do.”

Explanation:

• The narrator is surprised by how deeply they are affected by the familiar tunes played on the bansuri (bamboo flute).
• This surprise arises because in previous instances when they returned home after long periods abroad, they didn’t pay much attention to such details and didn’t consider them as significant as they do now.

Glossary:

• Bansuri: A traditional bamboo flute used in Hindustani classical music.
• Phrases: Musical passages or sequences of notes.
• Invested: To attribute or assign importance or value to something.