SILK ROAD

Give reasons for the following statements.

1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.’
Ans: This article’s name is based on the historic silk road or route, the network
which connected the Afro Eurasian landmass. Many trades were established by it
– Chinese silk, spices, teas and porcelain; the Roman Empire’s gold, silver, fine
glassware, carpets, jewels and wine; Indian textiles, pepper and precious stones.
The road largely traded silk with China and was therefore named Silk road. In the
chapter, the author was exploring the Himalayan belt in Tibet and travelled to
Mount Kailash. The chapter is named Silk Road as the author explored this region.
2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.
Ans: Tibetan mastiffs were popular as hunting dogs in imperial courts of China. In
ancient times they were brought as a tribute from Tibet and they were brought
along the Silk Road. They were used as watchdogs because they were huge and
black. They are fast like bullets and explode very quickly. Their breed is fearless
and furious.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of
the place.
Ans: Hor was a gloomy and pathetic place. There was very little vegetation and
there was dust and rocks dispersed everywhere. Although the place was situated
on the shore of Lake Mansarovar, it still seemed unfortunate and miserable. The
author was really astonished to see the contrast between his experience with that
of the previously read accounts. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk arrived there
in 1990 and he got so moved by the holiness of the Lake that tears came into his
eyes. A similar effect was felt by Sven Hedin, a swede when he visited the hallowed
waters. However, when the author reached the Hor, he had to get two punctures
mended first. He felt relaxed only when he was served tea at the only café in town,
by Chinese youth. The café was made with badly painted concrete and it had three
broken windows. However, one of the windows had a good view of the Lake and
it helped to compensate a little.
4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Ans: The author was disappointed with Darchen because he was having health
problems due to high altitudes. He got a bad cold and was unable to sleep at night.
There were no pilgrims coming to the place as the author was one of the firsts to
arrive. The place was worn down and it was dusty. There were heaps of rubble
and refuse.
5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.
Ans: The author was not happy with Darchen. He was in bad health after reaching
there. The author also felt lonely without any pilgrims around. Just then, he met a
Tibetan, Norbu, who also wanted to visit Kailash. They both made a good team as
they both were academicians and had escaped the library. The author began to
think positively and he felt new hope and enthusiasm.
6. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.
Ans: Nick Middleton is a Professor at Oxford and an adventurer as well. He
reaches Mount Kailash by following the most difficult terrain via the Silk Road. He
visited the sacred place to complete the Kora.
7. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.
Ans: The author did not feel well when he reached Darchen. He got a very bad
cold and his sinuses got blocked due to the cold wind at Hor. He was not even able
to sleep well that night. The very next day, he was taken to the Darchen Medical
College by Tsetan. There, the doctor gave him medicines that provided him relief.
8. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Ans: After Tsetan left for Lhasa, the author felt lonely without him. The author was
one of the firsts in the season to reach Darchen, so there weren’t any pilgrims
there. It was then that he met Norbu. He was also an academician and a Tibetan.
He was also visiting Kailash and they both decided to go together.
9. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.
Ans: Tsetan was an efficient driver and drove the car very carefully. He spoke to
the author during the journey and gave him information about the places that they
were visiting. He also took care of the author when he got to know that he was not
well. He took him to the Darchen Medical College and got him medicine. He was
a good Buddhist.
10. “As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn’t really matter if I passed
away, but he thought it would be bad for business.”
Ans: Tsetan was a Buddhist and so he used to believe that death was not the end
of life. He believed that Kailash was a sacred place and it’s better for him as it
would lead him to heaven. But if the author died there, his business would be
affected badly as his credibility would be at risk for looking after the tourists and he
might not get any customers later on.