CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: ENGLISH TOPIC: A VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Firdaus Kanga is an Indian novelist and author. He is well known for his autobiographical works
as it has traces of motivation and enthusiasm for life. He was born in Mumbai, in 1960 to a
middle-class Parsi family. He joined the Campion school after his fourth grade, until which he
was home tutored. His main area of interest was disability studies, as he could personally
connect to it. He was born with a disability and did not want
people to view him with sympathy. His father worked in the
TWA Sales department, due to which his family got ticket
concessions and free tickets to visit places like Europe, America,
and England. He made use of this opportunity to meet new
people, learn from experiences, and exchange ideas.
He wrote his first book when he was 31, eating all the odds.
Kanga believes in taking life as it comes and going with the flow.
He gained friends in the London literary circles in a short span of
time. He took the guidance of great writers like Timothy Mo, John Irving, V.S. Naipaul, Paul
Bailey, and Faber Chairman Mathew Evans.
Kanga was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (imperfect bone formation), which is a genetic
disorder where the person has brittle bones. This can cause several fractures in the body owing to
the softness of the bones. Kanga refused to reduce himself to the status of a cripple even if he
could not do any normal activities owing to his condition. His parents tried their best to make
him stand on his feet, which included spending on hospitalisations and making him eat crushed
pearls. They tried all remedies but did not get any results. Kanga accepted the reality of being in
a wheelchair and made use of the opportunities that were available to him. He grew passionate
about books and watched a lot of movies. He based his book 'Trying to Grow' on his condition as
his protagonist Brit Kotwal has the same disorder, making it semi-autobiographical. It was later
adapted into a movie named 'Sixth Happiness' in 1997. He wrote a travel book, 'Heaven on
Wheels', based on his travel to Britain and his meeting with the great scientist Stephen Hawking.
SUMMARY
The lesson 'A Visit to Cambridge' narrates the real-life experience of the author Firdaus Kanga,
where he meets the greatest Astrophysicist and cosmologist of all time Stephen Hawking. The
author is on a visit to Cambridge, where he walks across the campus and the guide reminds him
of Hawking. He makes a call and schedules an appointment for half an hour. When he meets
Hawking, he is amazed by his charisma. There is a
connection between the two men in that they were both
disabled. The author felt guilty for stressing Hawking
out, as he had to search for the buttons in his speech-
generating machine every time he wanted to convey
something. The author asked what Hawking felt about
people thinking that disabled people are always unhappy,
 to which he replied that he finds it amusing when people patronise him. Hawking has the best
smile when he sarcastically comments that the author is annoying him. Kanga understands that
people tend to glorify the sufferings of disabled people. He also learns that one's intellect is more
important than one's body. When he is about to leave, Hawking offers him tea and shows him
around the garden. Kanga feels that this is one of the important days in his life and that he would
strive to be like Hawking.

Growing up disabled, you get fed up

with people asking you to be brave, “And do you find it annoying when Every time I shifted in my chair or
as if you have a courage account on someone like me comes and disturbs turned my wrist to watch the time
which you are too lazy to draw a you in your work?” The answer — I wanted to make every one of
cheque. The only thing that makes flashed. “Yes.” Then he smiled his our thirty minutes count — I felt a
you stronger is seeing somebody like one-way smile and I knew, without huge relief and exhilaration in the
you, achieving something huge. being sentimental or silly, that I was possibilities of my body. How little
The you
Then author
knowFirdaus
how muchKanga
is recounts the day he got the opportunity to converse with Stephen
looking at one of the most beautiful it mattered then that I would
Hawking,
possible and youanreach
embodiment of his bravest self.
out further men in the world. never walk, or even stand.
than you ever thought you could.

An hour later, we were ready to leave. I didn’t know what to do. I could
not kiss him or cry. I touched his shoulder and wheeled out into the
summer evening. I looked back; and I knew he was waving, though he
wasn’t. Watching him, an embodiment of my bravest self, the one I
was moving towards, the one I had believed in for so many years,
alone, I knew that my journey was over. For now.
SOLVED QUESTIONS
1. Reference to the Context:
Yes,” he said; it was a disadvantage of his voice synthesiser that it could convey no inflection, no
shades or tone. And I could not tell how enthusiastically he agreed with me. Every time I shifted
in my chair or turned my wrist to watch the time – I wanted to make every one of our thirty
minutes count — I felt a huge relief and exhilaration in the possibilities of my body. How little it
mattered then that I would never walk, or even stand. I told him how he had been an inspiration
beyond cliche’ for me.
Qi. What was the disadvantage of Stephen Hawking’s voice synthesizer?
Ans. The disadvantage of the voice synthesiser was that it could convey no inflection, no shades
or tone.
Q ii. Why did the narrator want to make every one of the thirty minutes that he had with Stephen
Hawking count?
Ans. Stephen Hawking was an inspiration for the narrator. He felt a huge relief and exhilaration
in the possibilities of his body. He realised that it mattered little that he would never walk, or
even stand.
Q iii. Why could the narrator deeply relate to Stephen Hawking?
Ans. The narrator could deeply relate to Stephen Hawking because he was also differently abled.
Both were confined to the wheel chair.
Q2. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Ans. The scientist Stephen Hawking’s message for the disabled is they should concentrate on
what they are good at. They should make the best use of their talent and thank God.
Q3. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident?
Ans. The scientist Stephen Hawking said that Olympics for the handicapped or disabled people
are waste of time. The writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he tried to play a
big guitar. He felt defeated. So, he destroyed it one night. He supports Stephen Hawking’s idea
that the disabled should only concentrate on what they are good at.
ASSIGNENT
1. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
We couldn’t talk very much; the sun made him silent, the letters on his screen disappearing in the
glare. An hour later, we were ready to leave. I didn’t know what to do. I could not kiss him or
cry. I touched his shoulder and wheeled out into the summer evening. I looked back; and I knew
he was waving, though he wasn’t. Watching him, an embodiment of my bravest self, the one I
was moving towards, the one I had believed in for so many years, alone, I knew that my journey
was over. For now.
Qi. Why does the narrator say ‘the sun made him silent’?
Q ii. How did the narrator bid Stephen Hawking goodbye?
Q iii. Why does the narrator call Stephen Hawking ‘an embodiment of his bravest self?’
2. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:
i. Why did the narrator feel guilty talking to Stephen Hawking?
ii. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the narrator think there was a choice?
What was it?
iii. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
iv. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Extrapolatory
Imagine yourself to be the narrator of the story ‘A Visit to Cambridge.’ Describe your meeting
with one of the world’s greatest scientists Stephen Hawking in the form of a diary entry.