The Ghat of the Only World Class 11 English Snapshot

Key Points of the Story 

• The Ghat of the Only World written by Amitav Ghosh is a promise fulfilled by a friend. 
• Before Cancer took its toll and consumed Shahid’s life, he made the author promise him to write about him after he died. 
• The lesson revolves around Shahid, what he liked and how he lived his life as if it were a celebration even after he was diagnosed by the malignant disease.

Detailed Summary 

The lesson begins with the author recounting an emotional conversation with his friend Shahid, who was battling a malignant tumor. Despite the author's initial resistance, Shahid, who knew him well, persuaded him to write about his life after his death. From that moment, the author diligently documented every interaction with Shahid, preparing to fulfill his friend's request.
The author's fascination with Shahid originated from their shared love for poetry. Initially mere acquaintances, their friendship deepened over time, especially during Shahid's move to Brooklyn. A poignant incident occurred when Shahid, adamant about his independence, refused a wheelchair after surgery. Despite his deteriorating health, Shahid remained lively, embracing life with enthusiasm. He cherished moments of joy, surrounded by friends and relishing his favorite dishes like rogan josh.
Shahid and the author bonded over common interests, including their love for Indian cuisine and a shared disinterest in cricket. Despite Shahid's awareness of his impending fate, he maintained a positive spirit, constantly engaging with people and celebrating life. He was a source of inspiration, emphasizing unity among people, regardless of religious differences. The author admired Shahid's resilience and his ability to find humor even in challenging situations.
Shahid's life was also influenced by his passion for Kashmir and his belief in the separation of politics and religion. He expressed his thoughts through poetry, advocating for unity and understanding. Although he wished to be in Kashmir during his final moments, logistical constraints prevented it. Shahid eventually passed away peacefully in his sleep, leaving the author contemplating the profound impact of their brief yet meaningful bond.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the author's poignant journey with Shahid, his friend battling a malignant tumor, exemplifies the enduring power of human connection. Despite initial reluctance, the author embraced Shahid's request to document his life, leading to a deep bond rooted in shared passions for poetry, Indian cuisine, and a shared worldview. Shahid's indomitable spirit, even in the face of mortality, served as an inspiration, reminding everyone of the importance of celebrating life and fostering unity amidst diversity.
Shahid's unwavering optimism, coupled with his belief in the separation of politics and religion, left an indelible mark on the author. Through poetry, Shahid advocated for understanding and harmony, leaving behind a legacy of profound wisdom. His passing, though peaceful, left a void, prompting the author to reflect on the impact of their brief yet significant friendship. This tale serves as a testament to the enduring influence of human connections and the profound lessons that can be learned from even the shortest of relationships.

Difficult Words

Word - Meaning

• expatriate– a person sent back to his own homeland,
• approaching–not far, drawing near, 
• routinely–usual or commonplace,
• apartment–flat, house,
• lucid–clear headed,
• lapses–decline, 
• pause–silence, gap in speech, interval,
• respond–reply,
• at odds with–contrary to,
• light–not serious; 
• jocularity–joking, merriment; 
• mumbled–muttered,
• innocuous–harmless,
• quizzical–comical,
• blackout–unconsciousness,
• revealed–showed,
• malignant–harmful to life,
• tumour–growth, swelling,
• ignored–did not pay heed to,
• reassurances–consolation,
• entrusting one–assigning,
• specific–particular, definite,
• charge–responsibility, 
• recitatives–passages in an opera, narrative,
• inbuilt–strong, inner,
• resistance–opposition, 
• bereavement–loss by death,
• instincts–impulses,
• routes–excuses, tries to avoid,
• imperative–essential, command,
• acknowledge–be accepted,
• pledge–promise,
• impression–effect,
• fiercely–greatly,
• contemporary–of the same period,
• bardic register–poetic style ,
• conceive–think,
• overlapped–spent together,
• acquaintances–persons known to each other,
• occasional–frequent,
• Impede–obstruct 
• roster–list,
• mutual indifference–common dislike, lack of interest,
• attachment–liking,love,
• trivial–of little worth,
• poignance–pain, quality of deeply moving,
• instance–example,
• hatched–made,
• agenda–work list,
• conviviality–merry making,
• enthusiastic–full of zeal, 
• crew–group of people come for a special purpose,  
• put out–depressed, downcast,
• sorceries–magician,
• transmute –change,
• mundane–worldly. ordinary,
• fetch–bring,
• intended–aimed at, for the purpose of, 
• relieve–cure, reduce, make free from,
• tumour–clot, 
• scalp–head,
• edges–border,
• sutures–thread,
• escort–helper, orderly,
• groggier–unsteady,
• buckled–bent,
• corridor–covered verandah or gallery,
• rapture–ecstasy, joy,
• descended–affected, come to,
• gleefully–joyously,
• gregariousness–sociability,
• festivity– rejoicing,
• depressed–in Iow spirits, sad,
• spacious–big enough,extensive, 
• renovated–given a new look, renewed, 
• caverrnous–like a cave, 
• terrace–balcony, flat roof of a house ,
• foyer–the entrance hall way,
• voyage–long sea journey,
• fragrance–Pleasant smell,
• dour–sulle , grim, obstinate,
• elevator–lift,
• flinging–throwing with a hard push,
• frosty–cold, 
• Invariably –without fail; 
• consumed–destroyed, eaten up,
• perpetual–constant, unbroken,
• carnival–riotous festival, 
• distracted–forgetful, lost in talks, 
• sniff–breath in. blow of air through nostrils, 
• legendary–well known,
• prowess–skill,
• radically– essentially, fundamentally, greatly,
• alter–change,
• encounter–chance meeting,
• explicitly–clearly, frankly,
• prefigured–imagined beforehand, 
• authenticity–genuineness,
• exactitude–correctness,
• deviation–change,
• recipes–formula,
• region–territory,
• variant–changed style, new dish,
• recurrent–returning again and again,
• vanished–gone away. left,
• extinct–no more in existence, 
• nightmare–bad dream,
• haunted–troubled,
• cuisines–cookery, style of cooking, 
• in his teens–somewhere from 13 to 19, 
• repartee–witty and quick smart reply,
• exasperated–made angry,
• wildean–of the English novelist, Oscar Wilde,
• evident–clear,
• adored–worshipped, liked and respected,
• dedicated–gifted, 
• subdued–made weak, defeated,
• sparkling–brilliant,
• diva–a great female singer,
• incarnate–in human form,
• brimming–filled to the top,
• subcontinental– (here) Indian,
• clasping–holding,
• feigned–pretended, falsely showed,
• swoon–fainting,
• stirs–creates, produces,
• tide–strong wave,
• behold–see,
• unmitigated–immense, downright, not reduced,
• fell in–joined,
• vibrant–lively,
• creative–original and literary,
• doing a brief stint–short stay, doing a temporary job; 
• blackout–state of losing consciousness,
• intermittent–occurring in intervals, not regular,
• mounting–growing rising,
• seized the region–that spread in the area, 
• steady–slow but notstop,
• deterioration–decline, worsening,
• irony–opposite in meaning,
• inclination–nature or willingness,
• anguished–pained,
• destiny–future, fate,
• resolutely–firmly, 
• embrace–take on, adopt,
• fixture–permanent central,
• calling–mission, profession,
• vision–sight,
• inclusive–that includes all, uniting members of all religions,
• ecumenical –involving members of different religions, universal, initially in the beginning,
• responded–fulfilled his desire, answered,
• accoutrements–other necessary things needed,
• assiduous–hard working,
• fanaticism–too much zeal,
• closest–nearest, most fit for the honour,
• keeper–care taker,
• vanished–disappeared, falling,
• archive–a place where public records are stored,
• images—images,
• inextricably–firmly, that cannot be untied,
• censored–criticised ,
• saffron–(here) of Kashmir where saffron is grown,
• scan–medical examination,
• chemotherapy–treatment of cancer with the help of radiations or chemicals,
• alternative therapies—other courses of treatment,
• scheduled—fixed,
• response—reply,
• preambles—preliminary statement,
• radiation—diffusion of rays of light to burn the affected part,
• dazed—confused, stunned,
• mess—in disorderly manner, siblings
• logistical—pertaining to reasoning,
• vicinity—neighbourhood,
• sacred—made holy,
• Imagery —fiction, 
• converse—talk,
• anguish—pain,
• supreme—greatest,  void