Class 11 English Notes Chapter 8 (Silk Road) – Hornbill Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 8, 'Silk Road' by Nick Middleton from your Hornbill textbook. This chapter is a travelogue, detailing the author's journey to Mount Kailash, and it's quite important not just for understanding narrative styles but also for its geographical and cultural insights, which can be relevant for competitive exams.

'Silk Road' by Nick Middleton: Detailed Notes

1. Introduction & Context:

• Author: Nick Middleton, a British physical geographer and travel writer.
• Genre: Travelogue – a first-person account of a journey.
• Purpose of Journey: The author aims to perform the 'Kora' (a religious circumambulation) around Mount Kailash, considered a holy pilgrimage site by Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Bonpos.
• Route: The journey follows a part of the ancient Silk Road network through the Tibetan plateau.

2. The Journey Begins (Ravu to Hor):

• Starting Point: Ravu, where the author stayed with a local family (Lhamo gave him a long-sleeved sheepskin coat).
• Companions: Tsetan (driver and guide) and Daniel (translator, left at Hor).
• Initial Encounters:
  • Drokbas: Tibetan nomads tending their flocks.
  • Tibetan Mastiffs: Fierce guard dogs ('Dokhyi'), described as dark, huge, and fearless, often wearing bright red collars. They would charge vehicles ferociously.
• Landscape & Challenges:
  • High-altitude plateau, rocky, arid terrain.
  • Crossing high mountain passes (over 5000m). The author experiences altitude sickness (headache, nausea).
  • Presence of 'cairns of rocks' adorned with prayer flags at passes.
  • Encountering 'Kyang' (Tibetan wild ass).
  • Navigating difficult terrain, including patches of snow where Tsetan had to throw soil for traction.
  • Vast, open salt flats ('tsakpo') near the lakes, remnants of the Tethys Ocean. Nomads extracted salt here.

3. Hor - A Grim Interlude:

• The author reaches the small town of Hor, situated on the shore of Lake Manasarovar.
• Description: Described unfavourably as "a grim, miserable place" with accumulated refuse, dust, and poorly constructed buildings. This contrasts sharply with travellers' accounts praising the sanctity and beauty of Lake Manasarovar.
• Lake Manasarovar: Despite Hor's grimness, the lake itself is revered ("Tibet’s most venerated stretch of water"). The author notes its ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology significance as the source of four great Indian rivers: Indus, Ganges, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra (though only the Sutlej flows directly from it).

4. Darchen - Illness and Loneliness:

• Arrival: Darchen is the base town for the Kailash pilgrimage. It's described as dusty, partially derelict, and lacking pilgrims during the off-season.
• Author's Health: The author suffers a severe cold and the effects of altitude. He experiences blocked sinuses, chest congestion, and difficulty breathing, especially at night. He fears he might die.
• Seeking Medical Help: Tsetan takes him to the Darchen Medical College. He consults a Tibetan doctor who diagnoses a cold and altitude effects. The doctor prescribes traditional Tibetan medicine (brown powders and small spherical pills) which proves effective.
• Tsetan's Departure: Tsetan leaves for Lhasa, leaving the author alone in Darchen.
• Loneliness and Disappointment: The author feels lonely and somewhat disillusioned. Darchen is empty, and the pilgrimage season hasn't started. He doubts if he can complete the Kora alone, especially given his health and the challenging conditions. He spends time in the town's only cafe.

5. Meeting Norbu - Renewed Hope:

• Encounter: While sitting in the cafe, the author meets Norbu, a Tibetan working at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
• Shared Purpose: Norbu is also there to perform the Kora, although he admits he's not particularly religious but doing it for academic reasons. He is also inexperienced with high-altitude conditions and finds the Kora challenging.
• Characteristics of Norbu: He speaks English, is well-dressed but portly, and provides companionship. He is practical rather than spiritual about the pilgrimage.
• Forming a Team: They decide to team up to hire yaks and attempt the Kora together. This provides the author with much-needed companionship and practical support.
• Ending Note: The chapter ends on a note of optimism, with the author finding a suitable companion for his pilgrimage, suggesting the journey will continue.

6. Key Themes:

• The Journey as Transformation: Both a physical challenge and a potential spiritual quest (though the author remains largely observational).
• Cultural Contrast: Observations of Tibetan life, traditions, beliefs (prayer flags, Kora, traditional medicine) juxtaposed with modern elements (Chinese occupation, infrastructure).
• Human Resilience and Vulnerability: The author's struggle with altitude sickness highlights the body's vulnerability, while Tsetan's skill and the doctor's traditional knowledge show resilience.
• Loneliness vs. Companionship: The author's isolation in Darchen contrasts with the relief and practicality of finding Norbu.
• Reality vs. Expectation: The grim reality of Hor contrasts with the romanticized image of Lake Manasarovar. Darchen's emptiness contrasts with the idea of a bustling pilgrimage site.

7. Important Vocabulary/Terms:

• Kora: Ritual circumambulation of a sacred site (Mount Kailash).
• Drokbas: Tibetan nomads.
• Kyang: Tibetan wild ass.
• Cairn: A mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark.
• Tibetan Mastiff (Dokhyi): Large guard dogs.
• Salt Flats (Tsakpo): Expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals.
• Hor: A town on the shore of Lake Manasarovar.
• Darchen: Base town for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage.
• Mount Kailash: Sacred mountain, pilgrimage destination.
• Lake Manasarovar: Sacred lake near Mount Kailash.

8. Author's Style:

• Descriptive: Vivid descriptions of landscapes, people, and experiences.
• Observational: Keen eye for detail regarding culture, environment, and human behaviour.
• Reflective: Mulls over his experiences, feelings (loneliness, relief), and the significance of places.
• Humorous: Occasional touches of dry humour (e.g., describing the mastiffs, his interaction with Norbu).

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What gift did Lhamo give the narrator before he started his journey from Ravu?
   a) A pair of sturdy boots
   b) A map of the region
   c) A long-sleeved sheepskin coat
   d) A traditional Tibetan prayer wheel

2. What are 'Drokbas' encountered by the narrator in the initial part of his journey?
   a) Fierce guard dogs
   b) Tibetan nomads tending flocks
   c) Wild asses found on the plateau
   d) Monks performing rituals

3. Which town did the narrator describe as "a grim, miserable place"?
   a) Ravu
   b) Darchen
   c) Lhasa
   d) Hor

4. What physical ailment did the narrator suffer from, especially upon reaching Darchen?
   a) A broken ankle
   b) Severe sunburn
   c) Effects of altitude sickness and a cold
   d) Food poisoning

5. Who was Tsetan?
   a) The Tibetan doctor who treated the narrator
   b) A fellow pilgrim the narrator met
   c) The narrator's driver and guide
   d) The owner of the guest house in Darchen

6. Lake Manasarovar holds significance in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology primarily as:
   a) The highest saltwater lake in the world
   b) The legendary source of four great Indian rivers
   c) A place for ritualistic animal sacrifice
   d) The site of an ancient monastery

7. Why was the narrator feeling lonely and disappointed in Darchen before meeting Norbu?
   a) He had lost his passport and money.
   b) The pilgrimage season hadn't started, and the town was empty.
   c) Tsetan had refused to take him further.
   d) The medical college was closed.

8. Who is Norbu, whom the narrator meets in Darchen?
   a) A devout Buddhist monk preparing for the Kora
   b) A local shopkeeper selling pilgrimage supplies
   c) A Tibetan academic working in Beijing, also planning the Kora
   d) A tourist from Europe exploring Tibet

9. What is the primary purpose of the narrator's journey to Mount Kailash?
   a) To conduct geographical research
   b) To perform the 'Kora'
   c) To meet the Dalai Lama
   d) To write an article about Tibetan mastiffs

10. What mode of transport did Norbu suggest for performing the Kora, which appealed to the narrator?
    a) Hiking entirely on foot
    b) Hiring yaks to carry luggage
    c) Using off-road vehicles
    d) Joining a guided tour bus

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) A long-sleeved sheepskin coat
2. b) Tibetan nomads tending flocks
3. d) Hor
4. c) Effects of altitude sickness and a cold
5. c) The narrator's driver and guide
6. b) The legendary source of four great Indian rivers
7. b) The pilgrimage season hadn't started, and the town was empty.
8. c) A Tibetan academic working in Beijing, also planning the Kora
9. b) To perform the 'Kora'
10. b) Hiring yaks to carry luggage

Study these notes carefully. Understanding the sequence of events, the descriptions of places and people, and the author's personal experiences is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!