Word Meanings in Hindi and English of the lesson “Iswaran the Storyteller” from CBSE class 9 NCERT Supplementary Reader textbook ‘Moments’. Meanings are given page wise with the relevant text from the published lesson “Iswaran the Storyteller”. Click here for notes on other lessons of Class 9 English.
Word Meanings: “Iswaran the Storyteller”
Page 12
THE story was narrated to Ganesh by a young man, Mahendra by name. He was a junior supervisor in a firm which offered on hire supervisors at various types of construction sites: factories, bridges, dams, and so on. Mahendra’s job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work site. He had to keep moving from place to place every now and then as ordered by his head office: from a coal mining area to a railway bridge construction site, from there after a few months to a chemical plant which was coming up somewhere.
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| narrated | सुनाई गई | Told or recounted a story or an account. |
| junior supervisor | जूनियर सुपरवाइज़र | An employee with some supervisory responsibilities but at a lower level. |
| firm | फर्म | A business organization or company. |
| construction sites | निर्माण स्थल | Locations where buildings or structures are being built. |
| factories | फैक्ट्रियों | Industrial establishments where goods are manufactured. |
| bridges | पुल | Structures built to cross over obstacles, such as rivers or ravines. |
| dams | बाँध | Barriers constructed to hold back water and create reservoirs. |
| job | नौकरी | Employment or a regular task done to earn a living. |
| keep an eye on | नज़र रखना | To observe or monitor something closely. |
| work site | काम का स्थान | A location where work is being carried out. |
| keep moving | चलते रहना, जगह बदलते रहना | To continue changing location or position. |
| head office | मुख्य कार्यालय | The main administrative centre or headquarters of an organization. |
| coal mining area | कोयला खनन क्षेत्र | A region where coal is extracted from mines. |
| chemical plant | रासायनिक संयंत्र | A facility where chemicals are produced or processed. |
Page 13
He was a bachelor. His needs were simple and he was able to adjust himself to all kinds of odd conditions, whether it was an ill-equipped circuit house or a makeshift canvas tent in the middle of a stone quarry. But one asset he had was his cook, Iswaran. The cook was quite attached to Mahendra and followed him uncomplainingly wherever he was posted. He cooked for Mahendra, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. He could weave out endless stories and anecdotes on varied subjects.
Iswaran also had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables and cooking ingredients, seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of a desolate landscape with no shops visible for miles around. He would miraculously conjure up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables within an hour of arriving at the zinc-sheet shelter at the new workplace.
Mahendra would be up early in the morning and leave for work after breakfast, carrying some prepared food with him. Meanwhile Iswaran would tidy up the shed, wash the clothes, and have a leisurely bath, pouring several buckets of water over his head, muttering a prayer all the while. It would be lunchtime by then. After eating, he would read for a while before dozing off. The book was usually some popular Tamil thriller running to hundreds of pages. Its imaginative descriptions and narrative flourishes would hold Iswaran in thrall.
His own descriptions were greatly influenced by the Tamil authors that he read. When he was narrating even the smallest of incidents, he would try to work in suspense and a surprise ending into the account. For example, instead of saying that he had come across an uprooted tree on the highway, he would say, with eyebrows suitably arched and hands held out in a dramatic gesture, “The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer, I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.” Mahendra would stretch himself back in his canvas chair and listen to Iswaran’s tales uncritically.
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bachelor | कुंवारा | An unmarried man. |
| adjust | अनुकूल करना | To adapt or become accustomed to new conditions. |
| odd conditions | अजीब ओर प्रतिकूल स्थितियाँ | Unusual or peculiar circumstances. |
| ill-equipped | गलत ओर अव्यवस्थित रूप से बनाया हुआ | Not properly or inadequately furnished or equipped. |
| circuit house | सर्किट हाउस, | A government guest house or rest house. |
| makeshift | अस्थायी | Temporary or improvised. |
| canvas tent | कैनवास तम्बू | A tent made of canvas fabric. |
| stone quarry | पत्थर खदान | A place where stone is extracted from the ground. |
| asset | संपत्ति | A valuable or useful thing or quality. |
| cook | रसोईया | A person who prepares food. |
| attached to | संबद्ध, | Having strong affection or loyalty towards someone. |
| uncomplainingly | शिकायत किए बिना | Without expressing dissatisfaction or protest. |
| posted | तैनात | Assigned to a particular location or duty. |
| weave out | उत्पन्न करना, बना देना | To produce or create something skilfully. |
| anecdotes | किस्से | Short and amusing or interesting stories. |
| varied subjects | विभिन्न विषयों | Different or diverse topics. |
| capacity | क्षमता | The ability or power to do something. |
| desolate landscape | उजड़ प्राकृतिक दृश्य | An empty and barren natural scenery. |
| miraculously | चमत्कारी ढंग से | In a way that seems like a miracle or wonder. |
| conjure up | प्रकट करना, ताजा कर देना | To bring into existence or make something appear. |
| delicious dishes | स्वादिष्ट व्यंजन | Tasty and appetizing foods. |
| zinc-sheet shelter | जस्ता-पर्दा का आश्रय | A temporary shelter made of zinc sheets. |
| workplace | कार्यस्थल | The location where a person works. |
Page 14
“The place I come from is famous for timber,” Iswaran would begin. “There is a richly wooded forest all around. The logs are hauled on to the lorries by elephants. They are huge well-fed beasts. When they turn wild even the most experienced mahout is not able to control them.” After this prologue Iswaran would launch into an elaborate anecdote involving an elephant.
“One day a tusker escaped from the timber yard and began to roam about, stamping on bushes, tearing up wild creepers and breaking branches at will. You know, sir, how an elephant behaves when it goes mad.” Iswaran would get so caught up in the excitement of his own story that he would get up from the floor and jump about, stamping his feet in emulation of the mad elephant.
“The elephant reached the outskirts of our town; breaking the fences down like matchsticks,” he would continue. “It came into the main road and smashed all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots and clothes. People ran helter-skelter in panic! The elephant now entered a school ground where children were playing, breaking through the brick wall. All the boys ran into the classrooms and shut the doors tight. The beast grunted and wandered about, pulling out the football goal-post, tearing down the volleyball net, kicking and flattening the drum kept for water, and uprooting the shrubs. Meanwhile all the teachers had climbed up to the terrace of the school building; from there they helplessly watched the depredations of the elephant. There was not a soul below on the ground. The streets were empty as if the inhabitants of the entire town had suddenly disappeared.
“I was studying in the junior class at that time, and was watching the whole drama from the rooftop. I don’t know what came over me suddenly. I grabbed a cane from the hands of one of the teachers and ran down the stairs and into the open. The elephant grunted and menacingly swung a branch of a tree which it held in its trunk. It stamped its feet, kicking up a lot of mud and dust. It looked frightening. But I moved slowly towards it, stick in hand. People were watching the scene hypnotised from nearby housetops. The elephant looked at me red-eyed, ready to rush towards me. It lifted its trunk and trumpeted loudly. At that moment I moved forward and, mustering all my force, whacked its third toenail on the quick. The beast looked stunned for a moment; then it shivered from head to foot — and collapsed.”
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| timber | लकड़ी | Wood used for building and construction purposes. |
| richly wooded | घना पेड़ों वाला जंगल | Abundantly covered with trees and forests. |
| logs | लकड़ी के लट्ठे | Large pieces of cut wood. |
| hauled on | खींच लिया गया | Pulled or dragged with effort. |
| lorries | ट्रक | Large vehicles used for transporting goods. |
| well-fed | अच्छे ढंग से खिलाया-पिलाया गया | Properly nourished and fed. |
| mahout | महावत | An elephant keeper or driver. |
| experienced | अनुभवी | Having knowledge or skill gained through practice. |
| launch into | प्रस्तुत करना, शुरुवात करना | To begin or start something energetically. |
| elaborate | विस्तृत | Detailed and intricate; with many details. |
| stamping | पैर मारना | Striking forcefully with the foot. |
| bushes | झाड़ियां | Low woody plants with many branches. |
| creepers | बेल | Plants that grow along the ground or other surfaces. |
| breaking branches | डाल तोड़ना | Snapping or splitting branches apart. |
| turn mad | पागल हो जाता है | To become insane or mentally unstable. |
| excited | उत्तेजित | Feeling or showing enthusiasm or eagerness. |
| floor | फर्श | The surface of a room on which one stands. |
| emulation | अनुकरण, नकल | Imitation or effort to equal or surpass someone. |
| outskirts | परिसर या सहर के चारों ओर | The outer parts or areas of a city or town. |
| fences | बाड़ | Barriers made of wood or metal to enclose an area. |
| helter-skelter | घबराहट, यहाँ – वहाँ, इधर-उधर | In a hurried and disorderly manner. |
| panic | आतंक | Sudden overwhelming fear or anxiety. |
| school ground | स्कूल का मैदान | An open area within a school’s premises. |
| depredations | उपद्रव, लूटपाट | Destructive actions or damages. |
| terrace | छत | A flat roof or platform. |
| inhabitants | निवासियों | Residents or people living in a particular area. |
| rooftop | छत | The top of a building or structure. |
| cane | डंडी | A long, slender stick used as a weapon or for support. |
| menacingly | खतरनाक ढंग से | In a threatening or intimidating manner. |
| trunk | संधि | The long flexible proboscis of an elephant. |
| hypnotized | सम्मोहित, वश में | Mesmerized or captivated by something. |
| red-eyed | लाल आंखों वाला | Having red eyes, possibly due to anger or exhaustion. |
| trumpeted loudly | तुरही तरह चिंघाड़ा | Made a loud and resonant sound, like a trumpet. |
| toenail | पैर की नाखून | The hard covering of the front part of a toe. |
| stunned | दंग रह गया | Shocked or amazed to the point of being temporarily unable to react. |
| shivered | काँपना | Trembled or shook with fear or cold. |
| collapse | गिर पड़ना, धरशाई | To fall down suddenly or lose strength. |
Page 15
At this point Iswaran would leave the story unfinished, and get up mumbling, “I will be back after lighting the gas and warming up the dinner.” Mahendra who had been listening with rapt attention would be left hanging. When he returned, Iswaran would not pick up the thread of the story right away. Mahendra would have to remind him that the conclusion was pending. “Well, a veterinary doctor was summoned to revive the animal,” Iswaran would shrug casually. “Two days later it was led away by its mahout to the jungle.”
“Well, how did you manage to do it, Iswaran — how did you bring down the beast?”
“It has something to do with a Japanese art, I think, sir. Karate or ju-jitsu it is called. I had read about it somewhere. It temporarily paralyses the nervous system, you see.”
Not a day passed without Iswaran recounting some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense. Whether the story was credible or not, Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in which it was told. Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters.
One morning when Mahendra was having breakfast Iswaran asked, “Can I make something special for dinner tonight, sir? After all today is an auspicious day — according to tradition we prepare various delicacies to feed the spirits of our ancestors today, sir.”
That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. He seemed very pleased but, unexpectedly, launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.
“You know, sir, this entire factory area we are occupying was once a burial ground,” he started. Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal.
“I knew on the first day itself when I saw a human skull lying on the path. Even now I come across a number of skulls and bones,” Iswaran continued.
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| unfinished | अधूरा | Incomplete or not completed. |
| mumble | मन ही मन होंठों में बुदबुदाना | To speak in a low, indistinct, or unintelligible manner. |
| conclusion | निष्कर्ष, नतीजा | The end or final part of something. |
| veterinary doctor | पशु चिकित्सक | A medical professional who treats animals. |
| summoned | बुलाया गया | Called or requested to appear or attend. |
| revive | होश में लाना, फिर से ज़िंदा करना, | To bring back to life or consciousness. |
| casual | बस ऐसे ही, बिना सोचे बेचारे | Without much concern or seriousness; informal. |
| beast | पशु | An animal, especially a large or dangerous one. |
| Karate | कराटे | A Japanese martial art involving striking and kicking. |
| ju-jitsu | जूजित्सू | A Japanese martial art focusing on grappling and submission techniques. |
| paralyses | लकवा | To cause the loss of movement or sensation in a part of the body. |
| nervous system | तंत्रिका तंत्र | The complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages throughout the body. |
| recounted | बयान किया | Told or described in detail; narrated. |
| adventure | साहसिकता | An exciting or daring experience. |
| inimitable | अपने आप में अनोखा ओर अद्वितीय | Impossible to imitate or copy; unique. |
| breakfast | नाश्ता | The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning. |
| auspicious | शुभ | Marked by signs of future success; favourable or fortunate. |
| delicacies | विशेषता | Special or rare dishes, typically of high quality. |
| ancestors | पूर्वज | People from whom one is descended, especially one’s parents or grandparents. |
| supernatural | अतींद्रिय | Beyond the laws of nature; relating to phenomena that cannot be explained scientifically. |
| garish | भड़कीला | tastelessly showy, ornated in an unpleasant way |
Page 16
He went on to narrate how he sometimes saw ghosts at night.
“I am not easily frightened by these things, sir. I am a brave fellow. But one horrible ghost of a woman which appears off and on at midnight during the full moon… It is an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms.”
Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, “You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined — and maybe your head as well. You are talking nonsense.”
He left the room and retired for the night, expecting Iswaran to sulk for a couple of days. But the next morning he was surprised to find the cook as cheerful and talkative as ever.
From that day on Mahendra, for all his brave talk, went to bed with a certain unease. Every night he peered into the darkness outside through the window next to his bed, trying to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes in the vicinity. But he could only see a sea of darkness with the twinkling lights of the factory miles away.
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| burial ground | शमशान | A place where dead bodies are buried. |
| skull | खोपड़ी | The bony structure forming the head, enclosing the brain. |
| bones | हड्डियां | Hard parts of the skeleton, providing structural support to the body. |
| ghosts | भूत | The spirits or souls of dead people, believed to haunt certain places. |
| frightened | घबराया | Scared or afraid. |
| horror | डर | Intense fear, shock, or disgust. |
| shivered | कांपना | To tremble or shake, usually due to cold or fear. |
| description | विवरण | A spoken or written account that gives details about something. |
| interrupted | विघटित | Stopped or hindered the progress of something. |
| figment | भ्रामक, मनगढ़ंत, भाग | A fabrication or illusion of the mind. |
| nonsense | बकवास | Foolish or absurd talk or ideas. |
| retired | सेवानिवृत्त | Stopped working, usually after reaching a certain age. |
| sulking | नाराज, खिन्न | Being silent and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment. |
| unease | बेचैनी | A feeling of anxiety or discomfort. |
| darkness | अंधकार | Absence of light; the state of being dark. |
| vicinity | आस-पास | The area near or surrounding a particular place. |
| twinkling | झिलमिलाहट | Shining or gleaming with a quick, light, intermittent movement. |
| full-moon nights | पूर्णिमा की रातें | Nights when the moon is full and its entire face is visible. |
| avoided | बचना | Kept away from or prevented from happening. |
Page 17
He had always liked to admire the milk-white landscape on full-moon nights. But after hearing Iswaran’s story of the female ghost he avoided looking out of his window altogether when the moon was full.
One night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. At first he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing became louder and less feline. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting. As he gradually recovered from the ghastly experience, he began to reason with himself, and finally concluded that it must have been some sort of auto suggestion, some trick that his subconscious had played on him.
By the time he had got up in the morning, had a bath and come out to have his breakfast, the horror of the previous night had faded from his memory. Iswaran greeted him at the door with his lunch packet and his bag. Just as Mahendra was stepping out Iswaran grinned and said, “Sir, remember the other day when I was telling you about the female ghost with a foetus in its arms, you were so angry with me for imagining things? Well, you saw her yourself last night. I came running hearing the sound of moaning that was coming from your room…”
A chill went down Mahendra’s spine. He did not wait for Iswaran to complete his sentence. He hurried away to his office and handed in his papers, resolving to leave the haunted place the very next day!
| English | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| admired | प्रशंसा की | Regarded with great respect and approval. |
| landscape | दूरदराज का प्राकृतिक नजारा | A large area of natural scenery. |
| avoid | बचना, नजरअंदाज करना | Kept away from or prevented from happening. |
| resolve | निश्चय | to take firm decision |
| haunted | प्रेतात्माओं से भरा | Inhabited or frequented by ghosts or spirits. |
| woken up | जगाया गया | Awaken |