Lesson 8 • A Short Monsoon Diary — Ruskin Bond
Summary • Writer • Hard Spellings • NCERT Original Questions + Answers (English & Hindi)
Summary (English)
This lesson is a series of diary entries by Ruskin Bond describing the monsoon in Mussoorie. From the first mist and drizzle to days of relentless downpour, he records how nature, hills, birds, animals and people respond. Leopards, snakes, rodents and leeches appear; minivets and drongos brighten the slopes; ground orchids bloom. The cobra lily signals both the arrival and retreat of the season. The diary captures the hardships (leaks, landslides, power cuts) and the charm (music of rain, colours, freshness) of the monsoon.
Summary (Hindi)
यह पाठ रस्किन बॉन्ड की डायरी प्रविष्टियों का संग्रह है, जिसमें मसूरी का मानसून चित्रित है। पहली धुंध व बूँदाबाँदी से शुरू होकर लगातार तेज़ बारिश तक—प्रकृति, पहाड़, पक्षी, जानवर और लोग कैसे बदलते हैं, इसका सूक्ष्म वर्णन है। तेंदुआ, साँप, चूहे और जोंक दिखते हैं; मिनिवेट्स व ड्रॉन्गोस ढलानों को रंगीन बनाते हैं; ग्राउंड ऑर्किड्स खिलते हैं। कोबरा लिली मानसून की शुरुआत और अंत—दोनों का संकेत देती है। डायरी में कठिनाइयाँ (लीकेज, भूस्खलन, बिजली गुल) और खूबसूरती (बारिश की धुन, रंग, ताजगी)—दोनों हैं।
About the Writer — Ruskin Bond
English: Ruskin Bond (born 1934) is one of India’s most loved authors. He writes about nature, children and life in the hills with warmth and simplicity. He has received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
Hindi: रस्किन बॉन्ड (जन्म 1934) भारत के प्रिय लेखकों में हैं। प्रकृति, बच्चों और पहाड़ी जीवन पर सरल एवं स्नेहिल लेखन के लिए प्रसिद्ध हैं। उन्हें पद्मश्री और पद्मभूषण से सम्मानित किया गया है।
Hard Spellings & Meanings
| Word | Hindi Uchcharan | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mist | मिस्ट | धुंध |
| drizzle | ड्रिज़ल | हल्की बूँदाबाँदी |
| downpour | डाउनपोर | मूसलधार बारिश |
| minivets | मिनिवेट्स | चमकीले रंग के छोटे पक्षी |
| drongos | ड्रॉन्गोस | एक प्रकार के (अक्सर काले) पक्षी |
| leopard | लेपर्ड | तेंदुआ |
| imprecations | इम्प्रेकेशन्स | गालियाँ/शाप |
| leeches | लीचेज़ | जोंक |
| orchids | ऑर्किड्स | आर्किड फूल |
| mauve | मॉव | बैंगनी आभायुक्त रंग |
| cobra lily | कोबरा लिली | मानसून-संकेतक पौधा |
| attic | एटिक | अटारी/छत के नीचे की जगह |
| burrow | बर्रो | बिल/सुरंग |
Comprehension Check
Answer (English): Because the thick mist covers the hills; Bijju’s voice is heard but he cannot be seen.
उत्तर (Hindi): घनी धुंध पहाड़ियों को ढक देती है; इसलिए Bijju दिखता नहीं, केवल उसकी आवाज़ सुनाई देती है।
Answer (English): (i) The hills disappear into the mist. (ii) Everything looks strange and very quiet.
उत्तर (Hindi): (i) पहाड़ धुंध में ओझल हो जाते हैं। (ii) सब कुछ अजीब और बहुत शांत लगने लगता है।
Comprehension Check
Answer (English): It begins in late June and ends by March. Preparation includes repairing roofs, clearing drains, keeping raincoats/umbrellas, torches and basic medicines/food.
उत्तर (Hindi): यह जून के अंत में शुरू होकर मार्च तक रहता है। तैयारी में छत/नालियों की मरम्मत, छाता/रेनकोट, टॉर्च-दवाएँ/खाद्य-सामग्री रखना शामिल है।
Answer (English): Mussoorie.
उत्तर (Hindi): मसूरी।
Answer (English): For about eight or nine days at a stretch. He stays indoors, watches the rain from the window and writes his diary.
उत्तर (Hindi): लगभग आठ–नौ दिन लगातार। वे कमरे में रहकर खिड़की से बारिश देखते हैं और डायरी लिखते हैं।
Answer (English): In roofs and attics because their holes and burrows get flooded.
उत्तर (Hindi): छतों/अटारी में, क्योंकि उनके बिल/सुरंग पानी से भर जाते हैं।
Answer (English): A cheque.
उत्तर (Hindi): एक चेक।
Working with the Text
1. Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.
Answer (English): June 24–25 First mist and first showers; hills vanish; birds go quiet. August 2 Relentless downpour; tin roofs leak; leeches, snakes and even a leopard; bright minivets and orchids on the slopes. March 23 Skies clear, sunshine returns; cobra lily seeds turn red — monsoon phase is over.
उत्तर (Hindi): 24–25 जून पहली धुंध/बारिश; पहाड़ ओझल; पक्षी शांत। 2 अगस्त लगातार तेज वर्षा; टिन-छतों में रिसाव; जोंक, साँप, तेंदुआ; ढलानों पर चमकीले मिनिवेट्स व ऑर्किड। 23 मार्च आसमान साफ, धूप; कोबरा लिली के बीज लाल — मानसून समाप्ति की ओर।
2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Answer (English): Because it is believed to bring wealth and good luck; killing it is inauspicious.
उत्तर (Hindi): क्योंकि चुचुंदर को धन/सौभाग्य का सूचक माना जाता है; उसे मारना अशुभ समझा जाता है।
3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Answer (English): Cobra lily seeds turning red; clouds thinning; clearer skies; rain easing.
उत्तर (Hindi): कोबरा लिली के बीज लाल पड़ना; बादल छँटना; आसमान साफ होना; वर्षा कम होना।
4. Complete the following sentences. (i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because __________________. (ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as __________________. (iii) The leopard was successful in __________________ but had to flee when ______________________________________________________. (iv) The minivets are easily noticed because __________________. (v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when __________________. (vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because __________________________.
Answers (English):
- … because the dense mist covers him and the surroundings.
- … as “a paradise that might have been.”
- … killing a dog but had to flee when villagers (Bijju’s mother) came out shouting imprecations.
- … of their bright colours (scarlet males and yellow females).
- … ground orchids, the mauve lady’s slipper and white butterfly orchids bloom.
- … their holes and burrows get flooded.
उत्तर (Hindi):
- … क्योंकि गहरी धुंध उसे और आसपास को ढक देती है।
- … “एक ऐसा स्वर्ग जो कभी रहा होगा” के रूप में।
- … एक कुत्ते को मारने में; लेकिन भाग गया जब गाँव वाले/बिज्जू की माँ गालियाँ बकते हुए चिल्लाने लगीं।
- … उनके चमकीले रंगों के कारण (नर लाल, मादा पीली)।
- … जब ढलानों पर ग्राउंड ऑर्किड, मॉव लेडीज़-स्लिपर और व्हाइट बटरफ्लाई ऑर्किड खिलते हैं।
- … क्योंकि उनके बिल/सुरंग पानी से भर जाते हैं।
5. ‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’ (i) Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’? (ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain? (iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer (English): (i) ‘Springing’ suggests leaks appear suddenly and unpredictably. (ii) He remains dry under the tin roof. (iii) He still hears the drumming on the roof, feels the cool damp air and watches the rain.
उत्तर (Hindi): (i) ‘Springing’ का अर्थ—रिसाव अचानक और बिना कारण उभर आते हैं। (ii) टिन-छत के नीचे होने से भीगते नहीं। (iii) फिर भी छत पर पड़ती बारिश की धुन, ठंडी नमी और दृश्य से बारिश से जुड़े रहते हैं।
6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Answer (English): Landslides/road blocks, waterlogging, power cuts, leeches and insects, snakes/rodents entering houses, damp clothes/books, leaking roofs.
उत्तर (Hindi): भूस्खलन/सड़कें बंद, जलभराव, बिजली गुल, जोंक/कीट, साँप-चूहे घर में, कपड़े/किताबें नम, छतों में रिसाव।
7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?
Answer (English): Its blooming marks the beginning of the monsoon; when its seeds turn red, it indicates the end of the monsoon.
उत्तर (Hindi): इसके खिलने से मानसून की शुरुआत का पता चलता है; और बीज लाल होने पर मानसून के अंत का संकेत मिलता है।
Working with Language
1. Here are some words that are associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to this list. Can you find words for these in your languages? downpour floods mist cloudy powercuts cold umbrella
More words: drizzlepuddlelightningthunderwaterloggingleakagegumbootsraincoatsquelch
2. Look at the sentences below. (i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening. (ii) The trees were ringing with birdsong. … Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms. The first one is done for you. (i) We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class. We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class. (ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans. (iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet. (iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully. (v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games. (vi) The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
- (ii) The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
- (iii) I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
- (iv) She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.
- (v) We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
- (vi) The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.
3. Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds. drum swish tinkle caw drip (i) Match these words with their correct meanings. (a) to fall in small drops (b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly (c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound (d) harsh sound made by birds (e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) (ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above. (a) Ramesh ____________ on his desk in impatience. (b) Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet. (c) The pony ____________ its tail. (d) The _________________ of breaking glass woke me up. (e) The ____________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
(i) Match: (a) drip • (b) drum • (c) swish • (d) caw • (e) tinkle
(ii) Fill in the blanks:
- Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
- Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.
- The pony swished its tail.
- The tinkle of breaking glass woke me up.
- The caw of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
4. And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail. Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given below. sure enough colourful enough serious enough kind enough big enough fair enough brave enough foolish enough anxious enough (i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And ___________ ___________ it soon started raining heavily. (ii) The blue umbrella was ___________ ___________ for the brother and sister. (iii) The butterflies are ___________ ___________ to get noticed. (iv) The lady was ___________ ___________ to chase the leopard. (v) The boy was ___________ ___________ to call out to his sister. (vi) The man was ___________ ___________ to offer help. (vii) The victim’s injury was ___________ ___________ for him to get admitted in hospital. (viii) That person was ___________ ___________ to repeat the same mistake again. (ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___________ ___________.’
- sure enough
- big enough
- colourful enough
- brave enough
- anxious enough
- kind enough
- serious enough
- foolish enough
- Fair enough.
Discussion / Writing
1. Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.
Sample ideas: छींक/काली बिल्ली/छुछुंदर = शुभ-अशुभ; घर में झाड़ू शाम को न लगाना; शुक्रवार को बाल न कटवाना (स्थानीय मान्यताएँ; वैज्ञानिक सत्य आवश्यक नहीं)।
2. How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson? How many varieties do you see in your neighbourhood? Are there any birds that you used to see earlier in your neighbourhood but not now? In groups discuss why you think this is happening.
Classroom prompt: Lesson में minivets, drongos आदि; अपने क्षेत्र की सूची बनाइए; न दिखने वाले पक्षियों के कारण—आवास में कमी, प्रदूषण, जलवायु परिवर्तन, शोर आदि।
1. The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and getting wet, wading through knee-deep water on your way to school, water flooding the house or the classroom, powercuts and so on. Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.
Writing tip: घटना + भावनाएँ + समस्या/समाधान + सीख (120–150 शब्द)।
Poem: The Oak (as given)
The oak stands straight and tall, but not in boots, nor any shoes at all: just in roots. —Norma Farber
End • Lesson 8 • A Short Monsoon Diary — Complete (NCERT Headings + Original Questions Preserved)