Read the following excerpt from Amitabh Ghosh’s The Great Derangement and answer the questions.

On the afternoon of March 17, 1978, the weather took an odd turn in north Delhi. Mid-march is usually a nice time of year in that part of India: the chill of winter is gone and the blazing heat of summer is yet to come; the sky is clear and monsoon is far away. But that day dark clouds appeared suddenly and there were squalls of rain. Then followed an even bigger surprise: a hailstorm.

I was then studying for an MA at Delhi University while also working as a part-time journalist. When the hailstorm broke, I was in a library. I had planned to stay late, but the unseasonal weather led to a change of mind and I decided to leave. I was on my way back to my room when, on an impulse, I changed direction and dropped in on a friend. But the weather continued to worsen as we were chatting, so after a few minutes, I decided to head straight back by a route that I rarely had occasion to take.

I had just passed a busy intersection called Maurice Nagar when I heard a rumbling sound somewhere above. Glancing over my shoulder I saw a gray, tube-like extrusion forming on the underside of a dark cloud: it grew rapidly as I watched, and then all of a sudden it turned and came whiplashing down to earth, heading in my duration.

Across the street lay a large administrative building. I sprinted over and headed toward what seemed to be an entrance. But the glass-fronted doors were shut, and a small crowd stood huddled outside. in the shelter of an overhang. There was no room for me there so I ran around to the front of the building. Spotting a small balcony, I jumped over the parapet and crouched on the floor.

The noise quickly rose to a frenzied pitch, and the wind began to tug fiercely at my clothes. Stealing a glance over the parapet, I saw, to my astonishment, that my surroundings had been darkened by a churning cloud or dust. In the dim glow that was shining down from above, I saw an extraordinary panoply of objects flying past-bicycles, scooters, lampposts, sheets of corrugated iron, even entire teastalls. In that instant, gravity itself seemed to have been transformed into a wheel spinning upon the fingertip of some unknown power.

I buried my head in my arms and lay still. Moments later the noise died down and was replaced by an eerie silence. When at last I climbed out of the balcony, I was confronted by a scene of devastation such as I had never before beheld. Buses lay overturned, scooters sat perched on treetops, walls had been ripped out of buildings, exposing interiors in which ceiling fans had been twisted into tulip-like spirals. The place where I had first thought to take shelter, the glass-fronted doorway had been reduced to a jumble of jagged debris. The panes had shattered and many people had been wounded by the shards. I realised that I too would have been among the injured had I remained there. I walked away in a daze.

Long afterward, I am not sure exactly when or where I hunted down the Times of India’s New Delhi edition of March 18, I still have the photocopies I made of it. “30 dead”, says the banner headline, “700 Hurt As Cyclone Hits North Delhi.”

(Abridged)

অমিতাভ ঘোষের The Great Derangement গ্রন্থ থেকে নেওয়া অংশের বাংলা অনুবাদ:

১৭ই মার্চ, ১৯৭৮ সালের বিকেলে উত্তর দিল্লির আবহাওয়ায় অদ্ভুত এক পরিবর্তন আসে। মার্চের মাঝামাঝি সময় সাধারণত এই অঞ্চলে সুন্দর আবহাওয়া থাকে: শীতের ঠাণ্ডা কেটে যায়, গ্রীষ্মের প্রচণ্ড তাপ এখনো শুরু হয় না; আকাশ থাকে পরিষ্কার এবং বর্ষাও তখনো অনেক দূরে। কিন্তু সেদিন হঠাৎ করেই কালো মেঘ দেখা দেয় এবং ঝড়ো হাওয়ার সাথে বৃষ্টি শুরু হয়। তারপর আসে আরও বড় এক বিস্ময়—শিলাবৃষ্টি।

আমি তখন দিল্লি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে এম.এ পড়ছিলাম এবং পাশাপাশি খণ্ডকালীন সাংবাদিক হিসেবে কাজ করছিলাম। যখন শিলাবৃষ্টি শুরু হয়, আমি একটি লাইব্রেরিতে ছিলাম। আমি মূলত দেরি করে পড়ার পরিকল্পনা করেছিলাম, কিন্তু এই অপ্রত্যাশিত আবহাওয়ার কারণে সিদ্ধান্ত বদলাই এবং বেরিয়ে পড়ি। আমি যখন আমার ঘরের দিকে যাচ্ছিলাম, হঠাৎ ইচ্ছা হলো, এক বন্ধুর বাসায় ঢুঁ মেরে আসি। কিন্তু আমাদের আড্ডার মাঝেই আবহাওয়া আরও খারাপ হতে থাকে, তাই কয়েক মিনিট পরেই আমি সোজা ফিরে যাওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিই—সেই পথে, যেটা আমি খুব কমই ব্যবহার করতাম।

আমি gerade একটি ব্যস্ত মোড়—মরিস নগর—পেরিয়ে এসেছি, এমন সময় উপরের দিক থেকে গর্জনের শব্দ শুনি। পিছনে তাকিয়ে দেখি, একটি ধূসর রঙের নলাকার স্তম্ভ মেঘের নিচের দিক থেকে গঠিত হচ্ছে: আমি দেখতেই দেখি সেটি দ্রুত বড় হতে থাকে এবং হঠাৎই পৃথিবীর দিকে ঘুরতে ঘুরতে নেমে আসে—আমার দিকেই এগিয়ে আসছে।

রাস্তার ওপারে একটি বড় প্রশাসনিক ভবন ছিল। আমি দৌড়ে সেখানে যাই এবং একটি প্রবেশদ্বার খুঁজে বের করার চেষ্টা করি। কিন্তু কাঁচে মোড়া দরজাগুলো বন্ধ ছিল এবং দরজার ছাদের নিচে অনেক মানুষ গাদাগাদি করে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল। সেখানে আমার জায়গা হলো না, তাই আমি ভবনের সামনের দিকে চলে যাই। একটা ছোট বারান্দা চোখে পড়তেই আমি প্যারাপেট পার হয়ে ভেতরে ঢুকে মেঝেতে কুঁকড়ে বসে পড়ি।

শব্দ ক্রমশ বেড়ে এক উন্মত্ত চিৎকারে পরিণত হয় এবং বাতাস আমার কাপড় টানতে শুরু করে। প্যারাপেটের উপর দিয়ে একটু উঁকি দিতেই অবাক হয়ে দেখি, চারপাশ ঘূর্ণায়মান ধুলোর মেঘে অন্ধকার হয়ে গেছে। উপরের দিক থেকে আসা ম্লান আলোয় দেখি আশ্চর্য এক দৃশ্য—সামনে উড়ে যাচ্ছে সাইকেল, স্কুটার, ল্যাম্পপোস্ট, ঢেউটিনের ছাদ, এমনকি পুরো চায়ের দোকান পর্যন্ত। ঐ মুহূর্তে মনে হলো মাধ্যাকর্ষণ যেন কোনো অজানা শক্তির আঙুলের ডগায় ঘূর্ণায়মান একটি চাকায় পরিণত হয়েছে।

আমি মাথা নামিয়ে হাতে ঢেকে ফেলি এবং চুপ করে শুয়ে থাকি। কয়েক মুহূর্ত পর শব্দ থেমে যায় এবং এক ধরনের ভয়ানক নিস্তব্ধতা নেমে আসে। অবশেষে আমি যখন বারান্দা থেকে বের হই, সামনে দেখি এক ধ্বংসস্তূপের দৃশ্য, যা আমি আগে কখনো দেখিনি। বাস উল্টে পড়ে আছে, স্কুটার গিয়ে গাছের ডালে আটকে আছে, দেয়াল উপড়ে ভেতরের ঘর দেখা যাচ্ছে, যেখানে সিলিং ফ্যানগুলো পাক খেয়ে ফুলের মতো ঘুরে গেছে। আমি যেখানে আশ্রয় নেওয়ার কথা ভেবেছিলাম, সেই কাঁচের দরজার জায়গাটা ভেঙে চুরমার হয়ে গেছে। কাঁচের টুকরোয় অনেক মানুষ আহত হয়েছে। আমি বুঝতে পারি, সেখানে থাকলে আমিও আহত হতাম। আমি দিগ্বিদিক জ্ঞানহীন হয়ে হাঁটতে থাকি।

অনেক পরে—আমি ঠিক মনে করতে পারি না কবে বা কোথায়—আমি টাইমস অব ইন্ডিয়া‘র ১৮ই মার্চের দিল্লি সংস্করণ জোগাড় করি। আমি তার ফটোকপি এখনো রেখে দিয়েছি। প্রধান শিরোনাম ছিল:

“৩০ জন নিহত, ৭০০ জন আহত—উত্তর দিল্লিতে সাইক্লোন আঘাত হেনেছে।”

(সংক্ষিপ্ত অনুবাদ)

Here are 100 WH questions based on the excerpt from The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh, each followed by a two-sentence answer.

 1–20: Setting and Context

1. What was unusual about the weather on March 17, 1978?
   The weather suddenly turned stormy with dark clouds, squalls, and even a hailstorm. This was unexpected for mid-March in north Delhi.
2. Why is mid-March typically a pleasant time in north Delhi?
   Winter has just ended, and the summer heat hasn’t arrived yet. The sky is usually clear, with the monsoon still far off.
3. Where was the narrator when the storm began?
   He was in a library, preparing to study late. The unusual weather prompted him to leave early.
4. Why did the narrator leave the library earlier than planned?
   The sudden storm made him change his plans. He decided to return home instead.
5. What impulsive decision did the narrator make after leaving the library?
   He decided to visit a friend. This decision eventually altered the path he took home.
6. What effect did the worsening weather have on the narrator’s plans?
   It led him to cut short his visit and return quickly. He took an unfamiliar route.
7. What did the narrator notice in the sky as he passed Maurice Nagar?
   He saw a gray, tube-like shape forming under a dark cloud. It rapidly grew and descended toward the ground.
8. How did the narrator react upon seeing the tube-like formation in the sky?
   He sprinted toward a nearby building for shelter. He was alarmed by its sudden appearance.
9. Why was the narrator unable to shelter with the small crowd outside the building?
   There was no room left under the overhang. He had to find another place to hide.
10. What alternative shelter did the narrator find?
    He climbed over a parapet and crouched on a balcony. This proved to be a safer place.
11. What did the narrator see flying through the air during the storm?
    He saw bicycles, scooters, teastalls, and even lampposts flying past. These images revealed the storm’s extraordinary power.
12. How does the narrator describe the transformation of gravity during the cyclone?
    He likens it to a wheel spinning on a fingertip. It was as if natural laws had been suspended.
13. What made the narrator finally lift his head from his arms?
    The noise of the storm had died down. A strange silence had taken its place.
14. What kind of damage did the narrator observe after the storm ended?
    Buses were overturned, walls ripped apart, and ceiling fans twisted. The scene resembled a battlefield.
15. What was the condition of the glass doors where people had taken shelter?
    They were shattered. Many people standing there had been injured by the shards.
16. How did the narrator feel when he saw the destruction at the glass doors?
    He realized he could have been seriously hurt if he had stayed there. A sense of shock and relief overcame him.
17. Why did the narrator walk away “in a daze”?
    The level of destruction overwhelmed him. He was trying to process the near-death experience.
18. What document did the narrator later seek out to confirm the event?
    A New Delhi edition of the Times of India from March 18. He preserved photocopies of the article.
19. What did the newspaper report about the cyclone?
    It stated that 30 people had died and 700 were injured. The headline captured the tragedy’s scale.
20. Why does the narrator still keep the photocopy of the newspaper?
    It serves as a personal record of a life-altering event. The experience left a deep mark on him.

21–40: Theme and Inference

21. What theme does the narrator explore through his experience?
    The unpredictability of nature. Human vulnerability is another key idea.
22. How does this incident relate to the book’s larger theme of climate change?
    It serves as a personal example of extreme weather. It highlights how such events often go unrecognized as climate phenomena.
23. Why might the narrator call this a moment of “derangement”?
    The storm disrupted both the physical and psychological order. It challenged his understanding of nature’s behavior.
24. What does the narrator’s survival suggest about chance and fate?
    A series of spontaneous decisions saved his life. Fate seems to have played a role.
25. What irony lies in the narrator’s change of direction?
    A casual decision led him to safety. What seemed impulsive turned out to be life-saving.
26. Why might the narrator have chosen to describe the event in such vivid detail?
    To help readers feel the terror and chaos he experienced. The details intensify the emotional impact.
27. What does the narrator’s reflection tell us about memory and trauma?
    The event remains vivid and unforgettable. It affected him deeply, even years later.
28. How is nature portrayed in this passage?
    As powerful, unpredictable, and indifferent to human life. It’s almost a force beyond comprehension.
29. Why might Ghosh have included this anecdote in a nonfiction book?
    Personal stories make abstract issues like climate change more relatable. It bridges emotion and analysis.
30. What can we infer about the narrator’s view of human preparedness?
    He believes people are often unprepared for such extreme events. Society tends to underestimate nature’s force.

41–60: Character, Decision-Making, and Cause-Effect

41. How did the narrator’s instincts guide him during the storm?
    His intuition led him away from danger several times. These gut decisions likely saved his life.
42. Why did the narrator choose a rarely used route that day?
    It was an impulsive decision after visiting his friend. That deviation from routine turned out to be crucial.
43. What does the narrator’s response to the storm reveal about his character?
    He acted quickly under pressure. His alertness and adaptability are evident.
44. Why was the balcony a safer refuge than the building’s entrance?
    The glass doors shattered and injured people outside. The balcony provided protection without such risks.
45. What might have happened if the narrator had stayed in the library longer?
    He could have been caught in the storm on the way back. The timing of his departure was critical.
46. What motivated the narrator to look for the newspaper long after the event?
    He needed external validation of his traumatic memory. It gave historical weight to a deeply personal experience.
47. Why does the narrator emphasize the exact date of the storm?
    It underscores the lasting impression the event had on him. The specificity also lends credibility and urgency.
48. How did the narrator physically react to the storm?
    He crouched down, buried his head, and remained still. His body’s instinct was to protect itself.
49. What does the narrator’s physical description of destruction symbolize?
    It shows nature’s raw, destructive power. Human creations are fragile in comparison.
50. How did the aftermath scene compare with typical disaster imagery?
    It resembled war zones or post-apocalyptic visuals. The detail makes it hauntingly realistic.
51. Why is the term “panoply of objects” significant?
    It suggests a surreal, almost theatrical display of chaos. The phrase adds a poetic layer to the horror.
52. What effect did the sudden silence have after the storm passed?
    It created a haunting contrast to the chaos before. The silence made the destruction more pronounced.
53. What does the flying of entire tea stalls suggest about the storm’s power?
    It was strong enough to displace entire structures. That defies normal expectations of weather events.
54. How does the narrator use simile to describe the twisted ceiling fans?
    He compares them to tulips. This soft image contrasts with the violence, making the description poignant.
55. What role did randomness play in the narrator’s survival?
    His survival depended on a string of spontaneous choices. That randomness underscores the fragility of life.
56. How might this experience affect the narrator’s worldview?
    He likely developed a deeper respect for nature’s unpredictability. It may have influenced his environmental consciousness.
57. Why did the narrator choose to walk away in a daze instead of helping others?
    He was overwhelmed and possibly in shock. His mental state prevented immediate action.
58. What does the narrator’s focus on minute details suggest?
    Trauma sharpens perception. These details also help the reader visualize the experience vividly.
59. Why might the narrator feel a personal connection to the storm’s victims?
    He narrowly avoided the same fate. Survivor’s guilt may linger beneath his account.
60. What insight does this event offer into urban vulnerability?
    Cities are not immune to natural disasters. Urban infrastructure may fail catastrophically under extreme conditions.

61–80: Language, Imagery, and Perspective

61. How does the narrator’s language affect our perception of the storm?
    His vivid and poetic descriptions heighten the drama. They make the scene feel immediate and terrifying.
62. What role does sensory imagery play in the narration?
    It immerses the reader through sound, sight, and touch. This deepens emotional engagement.
63. Why does the narrator include the noise and silence contrast?
    It reflects the emotional shift from chaos to stunned calm. The silence carries its own weight of meaning.
64. How does the passage blur lines between nonfiction and literary fiction?
    It uses narrative and figurative language typical of fiction. Yet it recounts a real event.
65. What narrative perspective is used, and how does it shape the story?
    First-person narration gives intimacy. It helps readers experience the fear and awe firsthand.
66. How does Ghosh balance factual reporting with emotional storytelling?
    He gives clear dates and outcomes but also shares personal reactions. This blend makes the account compelling.
67. Why is the rumbling sound described before the storm visually appears?
    It builds suspense. It mirrors the narrator’s confusion and growing alarm.
68. What is the effect of comparing gravity to a spinning wheel?
    It captures the surreal, distorted reality of the moment. It suggests a breakdown of physical laws.
69. How does the narrator use metaphors to intensify meaning?
    Metaphors like tulip-shaped fans and fingertip-spun gravity make abstract violence visual. They deepen the emotional impact.
70. How do the narrator’s actions serve as a metaphor for human survival?
    His decisions show how small choices can determine life or death. It’s a metaphor for navigating a chaotic world.
71. Why might the narrator mention his role as a journalist?
    It establishes him as a credible observer. It also suggests he may later reflect deeply on this event.
72. How is time represented in this passage?
    The sequence feels stretched and distorted, especially during the storm. Time reflects emotional intensity.
73. What does the storm represent symbolically in the broader context of the book?
    It stands for environmental unpredictability. It’s a harbinger of climate disruptions to come.
74. How does the personal tone make the disaster more relatable?
    Readers empathize with the narrator’s confusion and fear. It grounds the disaster in human experience.
75. Why are even mundane objects like scooters described dramatically?
    Their flight defies natural order. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the storm.
76. What is the effect of describing ceiling fans twisted into tulips?
    It juxtaposes domesticity with violence. It shows destruction invading intimate spaces.
77. How does the narrator show the inadequacy of man-made shelter?
    The glass doors shattered, failing to protect. Shelter became a trap.
78. Why might Ghosh include such a powerful anecdote early in his book?
    It hooks the reader emotionally. It sets the tone for examining climate and catastrophe.
79. How does this passage challenge common perceptions of weather events?
    It shows that even everyday places can be sites of disaster. Weather becomes personal and threatening.
80. How does the narrator convey both vulnerability and resilience?
    He survives but is shaken. His later reflection shows emotional resilience.

81–100: Reflection, Connection, and Global Relevance

81. What larger questions does this event raise about human control over nature?
    It shows our illusions of control. Nature remains unpredictable and dominant.
82. How might this experience influence Ghosh’s later writing?
    It gave him firsthand insight into extreme weather. It likely fueled his environmental concerns.
83. Why is personal memory important in documenting climate events?
    Statistics lack emotional weight. Personal stories make the impact real.
84. What does the narrator’s detachment after the storm indicate?
    He is experiencing psychological shock. Trauma often numbs emotional response.
85. What parallels exist between this storm and recent global weather disasters?
    Both show increasing unpredictability and devastation. The storm is a precursor to modern climate extremes.
86. How does this story highlight the role of luck in survival?
    The narrator’s survival hinged on random decisions. It challenges ideas of preparedness.
87. Why do you think the author still keeps the newspaper copy?
    It validates his memory. It’s a tangible record of a profound moment.
88. What does the narrator’s storytelling technique reveal about memory?
    He remembers specific sensory details. Memory is selective but emotionally accurate.
89. How can stories like this raise awareness about climate change?
    They personalize abstract issues. They provoke emotional and moral responses.
90. What lesson might readers take from the narrator’s experience?
    Life is unpredictable. Preparedness and humility before nature are essential.
91. Why is it important to revisit past weather events in literature?
    They help us recognize patterns. They warn us about future risks.
92. What might the narrator have learned about community and vulnerability?
    Disaster affects everyone, regardless of status. He saw strangers wounded and afraid.
93. Why does the narrator include small details like teastalls?
    They symbolize everyday life disrupted. They help visualize the scale of destruction.
94. How can this passage be used in environmental education?
    It provides a narrative entry point. It shows the human cost of climate extremes.
95. What role do emotions play in the narrator’s recounting?
    Fear, awe, and relief shape his memory. They make the narrative powerful.
96. How might this story inspire action against climate change?
    It shows how real and personal climate impacts can be. Readers may feel urgency.
97. How does the narrator’s journey reflect human confrontation with disaster?
    He moves from confusion to instinct to reflection. It mirrors how people cope with crisis.
98. What could the government have done to prevent or reduce injuries?
    Better infrastructure and early warnings might have helped. Public shelters could save lives.
99. What do the broken ceiling fans symbolize in the story?
    They represent domestic life disrupted. Their twisted forms show how even the familiar becomes strange.
100. Why is this personal narrative important in a book about climate change?
     It connects the global to the individual. It makes the crisis emotionally immediate.