Hoodwinked

I. Word meanings.

a. house arrest – being kept as a prisoner in one’s own house.

b. round-the-clock – day and night.

c. vigil – watchful attention.

d. extensive – thorough.

e. baton – a police’s stick.

f. gait – a person’s manner of walking.

g. scramble – rush.

h. insurance – compensation provided by a company in the event of illness or

death.

i. discarded – shed.

j. flagged – decreased.

k. fugitive – a person who has escaped from captivity.

l. maxim – well-known phrase.

m. immigration – the place at a country’s border where government officials check

the documents of people entering the country.

II. Answer these questions.

1. What did the policemen enquire from the inmates of the house?

Ans: The policemen found it strange that very few people came to visit Bose.

So, they enquired the reason for that from the inmates of the house.

2. How were the police misled into believing that Bose’s focus had started

to change?

Ans: Bose’s nephews Aurobindo and Sisir told the police that he was fed up of

politics and was turning to religion for mental peace, spending his time

meditating. Soon, ochre robes were being brought to the house. This way the

police were misled into believing that Bose’s focus had started to change.

3. What made Subhas Bose’s escape possible on 17 January, 1941?

Ans: Bose was kept under house arrest. A large group of policemen guarded

him vigilantly. The police were slowly misled into believing that Bose’s focus

had started to change. This made them relax and become less vigilant. Their

attitude changed making it possible for Subhas Bose to escape on 17 January,

 1941.

4. What did Bose do immediately after escaping the premises of his Elgin

Road residence?

Ans: Upon escaping the premises of his Elgin Road residence, Bose

immediately got into a waiting car and sped away to a wayside railway station.

5. What disguise and name did Bose adopt during his train journey to

Peshawar?

Ans: Bose was disguised in the flowing robes of a maulvi and introduced

himself as Ziauddin.

6. Describe Bose’s journey to Kabul. Which characteristic traits of Bose

come to light through this journey?

Ans: Bose escaped from his Elgin Road residence and boarded a train to

Peshawar. At Peshawar, he rested for a couple of days. Then he set out on

foot for Kabul. It was long trek. It was difficult terrain and a perilous journey.

Travelling from Peshawar to Kabul by foot was not an easy journey. It was

long and perilous. But Bose’s indomitable will never flagged. This shows that
 Bose was a strong and courageous individual. He was a great leader and a

patriot who would go to any length for his country.

7. How was Bose received by Uttam Chand and his family?

Ans: When Bose reached Kabul, his friend Uttam Chand could not believe

his eyes. Uttam Chand clasped Bose’s hands firmly and welcomed him into

his house. His wife’s face lit up with joy as she welcomed Bose with a smile.

8. What was Bose’s final destination and how did he reach there?

Ans: Bose’s final destination was the Far East. Bose reached Kabul first.

From there, he used an Italian passport in the name of Orlando Mazzotta and

boarded a plane to Moscow. At Moscow, he met with the German

Ambassador and obtained a passage to Germany. He reached Berlin. From

there he moved to the Far East.

III. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1. He worked out every detail.

 a. Who is ‘he’ and what detail is being referred to here?

Ans: “He’ is Subhas Bose. The detail that is being referred to here is the

extensive plans for his escape.

b. Why was it imperative that the plan be perfect?

Ans: It was imperative that the plan be perfect so that Bose was not caught

while escaping.

c. How did the person execute the plan?

Ans: On the night in question, the person got into the flowing robes of a

maulvi. Under the cover of darkness, he waited for the cop to turn his back.

Immediately the person hurried out of the gate. He kept to the shadows

until he reached the car that was waiting for him.

d. What was the person planning in detail for?

Ans: The person was planning in detail for his escape from house arrest.

2. Bose sighed in relief.

 a. Where is Bose and why is this reaction to be expected?

Ans: Bose is inside the car that was waiting for him. This reaction was

expected as Bose had just escaped from his house arrest.

b. Where did Bose proceed to immediately after this?

Ans: Bose immediately proceeded to a wayside railway station.

c. What was the first part of the plan that Bose had in mind?

Ans: The first part of the plan was to ensure that the police thought that

there was a change in Bose’s focus from politics to religion.

d. What was the one possibility that must have bothered Subhas Bose?

Ans: The one possibility that must have bothered Subhas Bose was that

the policemen would get wind of his escape plan at the last moment.

3. But Bose’s will never flagged.

a. In what context is this line mentioned?

Ans: This line is mentioned in context with Bose’s journey from Peshawar

to Kabul.
 b. What does the expression ‘will never flagged’ mean?

Ans: The expression meant that the determination and persistence of Bose

never became weak. He never gave up on his struggle.

c. What does this statement tell us about Subhas Bose?

Ans: This statement tells us that Bose was a strong and courageous

individual. He was a great leader and a patriot who would go to any length

for his country.

d. What was the plan that Subhas Bose executed soon after?

Ans: Soon after, Bose made plans to leave Kabul and move to the Far

East.

4. He was giving refuge to a fugitive.

a. Who is ‘he’ and who is the fugitive?

Ans: “He’ refers to Uttam Chand and the fugitive is Subhas Bose.

b. Why would the person be considered a fugitive?

Ans: The person was considered a fugitive because he had escaped from
 house arrest.

c. What would be the consequences of giving refuge to a fugitive?

Ans: Giving refuge to a fugitive meant that the person was committing a

crime and would be severely punished if found out.

d. What is your impression of the person who gave refuge? Answer with

textual references.

Ans: The person who gave refuge knew that he was sheltering a fugitive

which was a crime. But he was a true friend who was willing to take that risk

and stand by his friend. The person was a loyal and trustworthy human

being.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.