VOCABSESSION

Weekly Editorial Based Vocabulary

11th March, 2024

The Abode of Alice Boner in Varanasi:

Nestled in the heart of Varanasi, amidst the timeless rhythm of the Ganges,
lies a hidden gem that eludes the casual eye - the Alice Boner Institute at
Assi Ghat. For decades, this haven embraced the Swiss scholar and artist,
Alice Boner, in its tranquil embrace, yet its allure remained a whispered
secret to many, including myself, until I stumbled upon it in search of a
venue for my book launch. From the moment I laid eyes on the institute, I
was enraptured. Its elusive charm, akin to a captivating work of art,
beckoned to my soul, stirring a longing to explore its depths further. Unlike
the bustling Harmony bookshop nearby, which draws attention effortlessly,
Alice Boner’s abode stood quietly, a testament to patience and discernment,
awaiting those with a keen eye and a yearning heart. Approaching the
building, one is greeted not by a grand entrance, but by a verdant balcony
adorned with potted plants, hinting at the hidden treasures within. The
unassuming facade belies the rich tapestry of history and inspiration that
awaits within its walls.
Crossing the threshold, the air is heavy with the scent of nostalgia, wrapping
visitors in a warm embrace of familiarity. A tiny courtyard, open to the
heavens above, offers respite from the chaos of the world outside, its rough
stone floors cool beneath bare feet, reminiscent of the ancient Ghats that line
the sacred river. Ascending the spiralling staircase, darkness gives way to
the unknown, leading to corridors that open onto the tranquil waters of the
Ganges, a sight that never fails to stir the soul. In the monsoon season, the
river’s embrace draws near, reminding inhabitants of its timeless presence

VOCABSESSION | Weekly Editorial Based Vocabulary Page 1

and the cyclical nature of life itself. Within the institute’s walls lies a
sanctuary for artists and scholars alike — an air-conditioned library bathed
in the soft glow of yellow lights, where ancient tomes line the shelves,
whispering tales of ages past. Here, amidst the silence, one is invited to
ponder, to create, to become lost in the magic of the written word and the
beauty of the imagination. In the words of Alice Boner herself, penned in her
diary on a February night in 1936, the house on the Ganges is a place of
solace and inspiration, where the world unfolds before one’s eyes, and the
simple peace of a monastery envelops the soul. It is a place of fulfillment, of
warmth, of love — a gentle stream where one finds refuge amidst the chaos
of life’s currents.

1. Elude: बच निकलिा/ Example: They established

चकमा देिा
Meaning: to manage to being
caught.
Synonym: evade, shun, dodge,
and confound.
Example: The two men
managed to elude the police for
six weeks.
2. Tranquil: शाांत व स्थिर
Meaning: quit and peaceful.
Synonym: calm, sober, tame,
and mild.
Example: The boy disturbed the
tranquil surface of the pond
with stick.
3. Abode: निवास थिाि
Meaning: the place where
someone lives.
Synonym: habitat, residence,
domicile, roost.
their permanent abode in
Varanasi.
4. Allure: आकर्षण
Meaning: the quality of being
attractive and exciting.
Synonym: attraction, charisma,
charm, glamour.
Example: he can’t resist the
allure of the pretty waitress.
5. Stumble: ठोकर लगिा
Meaning: to hit your foot
against something when you are
walking or running.
Synonym: limp, shuffle, lurch,
and wobble.
Example: The sudden weakness
in her legs made her stumble.

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6. Enrapture: मांत्रमुग्ध होिा
Meaning: filled with great
pleasure or extremely pleased
by something.
Synonym: enthrall, fascinate,
elate, and enamor.
Example: The audience was
enraptured by her beautiful
voice.
11. Verdant: स्वच्छ और हरा
7. Akin: नकसी के समाि
Meaning: similar to something.
Synonym: identical, analogous,
tantamount, and equivalent.
Example: Listening to his life
story is akin to reading a good
adventure novel.
12. Adorn: अनिक आकर्षक
8. Beckon: इ रेसेपास
बुलािा Meaning: to move your
hand or headin a way
that tells someone to come
near. Synonym:
invite, command,
gesture, and gesticulate.
Example: She crooked her
finger to beckon him.
13. Façade: बाहरी नदखावा Meaning:
9. Discernment: नववेक
Meaning: the ability to judge
people and things well.
Synonym: acumen, insight,
understanding, and sagacity.
Example: He shows great
discernment in his choice of
friends.
VOCABSESSION | Weekly Editorial Based Vocabulary
10. Yearn: लालानित होिा
Meaning: to wish very strongly
for something.
Synonym: crave, hanker, pine,
and chafe.
Example: If you yearn for
chocolate, try a carob bar
instead.
Meaning: covered with green
plants or grass.
Synonym: meadow, grassy, and
lush.
Example: Small children are
playing happily in verdant Park.
बिािे के नलए सजािा
Meaning: to add something in
order to make a thing or person
more attractive or beautiful.
Synonym: embellish, grace,
spruce up, and bedeck.
Example: She likes to adorn
herself with jewels.
a false appearance
that makes someone or
something seems more pleasant
or better than they really are.
Synonym: cloak, disguise,
veneer, and masquerade.
Example: They seem happy
together, but it’s all a façade.
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 15. Reminiscent: नकसी
14. Threshold: दहलीज
Meaning: a point at which
something starts.
Synonym: verge, brink, outset,
and inception.
Example: We are on the
threshold of a new era
European relations.
व्यस्ििा वस्तु
का स्मरण करािे वाला
Meaning: that makes you
remember a particular person,
event, or thing.
Synonym: evocative, redolent,
nostalgic, and remindful.
Example: That song is so
reminiscent of my adolescence.

16. Refuge: सुरनित थिाि

Meaning: a safe place that gives you
protection or shelter from danger.
Synonym: asylum, retreat, and hideout.
Example: They sought refuge in the
mountain villages.

17. Solace: साांत्विाकारी व्यस्ि िा वस्तु

Meaning: to give help and comfort to
someone when they are feeling sad or worried.
Synonym: sympathy, console, pity,
and condolence.
Example: After the death of her son, she
found solace in the church.

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