En Route to America Summary Class 8 English

Nayantara Sahigal, the niece of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, reflects on her journey to America in 1943 in her memoir, "Prison and Chocolate Cake." She ponders the courage her parents had in sending her and her sister during the height of World War II. She acknowledges that she lacks the same bravery but remains unable to answer the question of why they made that decision. Her aunt Krishna Hutheesing, who saw them off at the dock, advised them to appear helpless but be efficient to receive assistance during their journey. However, Nayantara always looked helpless, which forced her sister Lekha to take charge. The ship they traveled on lacked recreational facilities and was devoid of comforts. Despite warnings about potential submarine attacks, Nayantara and Lekha were excited about the adventure. They interacted with fellow passengers of various nationalities and shared meals in the common mess room.

The writer describes the cramped conditions in their cabin and the challenges of adjusting to the ship's motion. She jokingly mentions her habit of rebraiding her hair before obeying the "abandon ship" signal, emphasizing her refusal to look disheveled even in an emergency. As the journey progressed, the writer found herself enjoying the food and engaging in conversations with people from different backgrounds. When the ship reached Melbourne, they were disappointed that civilians were not allowed to go ashore. Nayantara briefly converses with a friendly stranger who assumes she is not Indian due to her fluent English, which surprises her. They discuss India's fight for freedom, and the soldier expresses his astonishment and lightheartedness despite being away at war. Nayantara feels a sense of shame for her initial coolness towards the soldier and reflects on the resilience and character of young men like him. They continue their conversation about India and America in the ship's mess room. Throughout the journey, Nayantara's memoir reflects on the challenges, experiences, and interactions they encountered on their voyage to America, providing insights into the historical context of that time.