The Voyage by Bhupen Hazarika
A. State whether these sentences are True or False.
1. Bhupen Hazarika had brought his
Rolleiflex from home.
Ans: False.
2. The sight of the Egyptian pyramids
enthralled Bhupen Hazarika
Ans: False.
3. Bhupen Hazarika’s companion on the
flight from Guwahati to Dumdum was Bhaben Das.
Ans: False.
4. Bhupen Hazarika had a weakness for
Kalmou saak.
Ans: True.
B. Answer in one or two words.
1. What was the name of the airport
situated in Guwahati in 1949?
Ans: The name of the
airport situated in Guwahati in 1949 was Kanhikuchi Airport.
2. Who was the Governor of Assam during
the inauguration of the airport in Guwahati?
Ans: The Governor of
Assam during the inauguration of the airport in Guwahati was Sir Akbar Hydari.
3. How much was the air fare from
Guwahati to Dumdum in 1949?
Ans: The air fare from
Guwahati to Dumdum in 1949 was 55 rupees.
4. In which country is the Temple of
the Tooth Relic’ located?
Ans: The ‘Temple of the
Tooth Relic’ is located in Sri Lanka.
5. What type of leave did the French
sailor avail when he came to the shore?
Ans: The French sailor
availed a two-day shore leave when he came to the shore.
C. Answer in a few words each.
1. Name the two locations that Bhupen
Hazarika reminisces about in The Voyage.
Ans: The two locations
that Bhupen Hazarika reminisces about in The Voyage are Bharalumukh and Uzan
bazaar.
2. What did Hazarika consider to be his
only aim?
Ans: Hazarika
considered his only aim to be “to keep going, charaiveti, charaiveti,” which
means to continue moving forward on his journey, no matter how uncertain or
challenging it was.
3. The ship set sail later than the scheduled time. How late was the ship?
4. Name the two places associated with
Buddhism mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in ‘The Voyage”.
Ans: The two places
associated with Buddhism mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in ‘The Voyage” are Sarnath
and Bodh Gaya.
5. Which two Indian states associated
with dances, other than Assam, are mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in “The
Voyage”?
Ans: The two Indian
states associated with dances, other than Assam, are mentioned by Bhupen
Hazarika in “The Voyage” are Gujarat and Manipur.
D. Answer briefly in your own words.
1. Write a brief account of Hazarika’s stopover in Sri Lanka.
2. Briefly present your view about
Hazarika’s experience of visiting a Sri Lankan family home.
Ans: Hazarika’s
experience of visiting a Sri Lankan family home was a unique one. He describes
entering the drawing room of a modern Lankan family, where he found a piano and
a Madonna painting by a European artist. The children were singing English
songs, and Hazarika was surprised by the similarities between this Lankan home
and his own experiences in Shillong. Despite being far away from Assam,
Hazarika felt a sense of familiarity and connection, emphasizing the
universality of certain cultural aspects.
3. Present your views on the food and
flavours mentioned by Hazarika in “The Voyage”.
Ans: In Hazarika’s
account, he mentions a dish called “Kalmou” that his grandmother used to cook
for him. Although he longs for it during his journey but he is unable to find
it in Sri Lanka. He also mentions “tenga” and “bamboo shoot”, which are
traditional Assamese ingredients. These references to food and flavours
highlight Hazarika’s nostalgia for his native Assam and his longing for the
tastes and aromas of home. It reflects how food can evoke powerful memories and
emotions, especially when one is far away from familiar surroundings.
4. How does Bhupen Hazarika recount his
feeling about being an Indian as he moves forward in his journey? Give a brief
description.
Ans: As Hazarika
continues his journey he reflects on his evolving sense of identity. He realizes
that as he moves beyond India’s boundaries, he begins to see himself more as an
Indian student rather than solely identifying with his Assamese or Bengal
roots. The experience broadens his perspective and deepens his love for all of
India, blurring the distinction between being an Assamese or an Indian
Hazarika’s journey helps him embrace a larger national identity and see himself
as part of a diverse and United India.
E. Answer in detail.
Ans: In "The
Voyage," Bhupen Hazarika vividly recounts his first journey abroad in
1949, offering a rich blend of personal emotions, cultural reflections, and
national identity. His journey begins at Kahikuchi Airport in Guwahati, where
the excitement of air travel is mixed with nervousness. As he moves from
Guwahati to Dumdum and later sets sail from Calcutta, he is both thrilled and
melancholic, excited about new experiences but emotionally tied to Assam and
India.
His stopover in Sri Lanka offers the
first glimpse of cultural duality. While he enjoys the local dance forms like
Yakuma Natum, he is saddened by the Westernized lifestyle of the people he
meets. Visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy reminds him of India’s
spiritual places like Sarnath and Bodh Gaya, highlighting cultural similarities
across borders.
Throughout the voyage, Hazarika often
longs for Assamese food like khar, kalmou saak, and tenga, which symbolizes his
deep connection to his roots. The presence of people from different backgrounds,
including Bhaben Das, French sailors, and Sri Lankan hosts, makes him reflect
on how cultural identity is shaped, challenged, and preserved abroad.
As he sails farther, his sense of
identity grows from being Assamese to feeling deeply Indian. He concludes that
one can never forget where one comes from, and that the further he moves
physically, the closer he feels emotionally to his homeland.
His voyage, thus, becomes more than a physical journey—it is a journey of identity, memory, and belonging.
Ans: Bhupen Hazarika’s
“The Voyage” is more than a travelogue—it is a powerful narrative that captures
the intersection of diverse cultures across geographical boundaries. As he
journeys from Guwahati to Calcutta, and then abroad, Hazarika doesn’t merely
describe places, he reflects on how cultures meet, clash, and blend.
In Sri Lanka, for instance, he observes
the Yakuma Natum dance and connects it with Indian folk traditions like the
Garba of Gujarat and Raas of Manipur, highlighting shared artistic heritage.
Yet, when he visits a Sri Lankan family, he finds the home filled with Western
influences—a piano, European paintings, and English songs—leading him to
question the fading presence of authentic Lankan culture.
Even on the ship, he encounters people
from different backgrounds—French sailors, South Indians, and fellow
Assamese—which creates a space of continuous cultural exchange. Hazarika
reflects deeply on how globalization and colonial legacy have shaped identities
and practices.
His emotional longing for Assamese food
like khar and kalmou saak reflects not only homesickness but also a symbolic
tie to cultural authenticity. As the voyage progresses, his identity broadens from
regional to national, yet his observations of changing cultural landscapes
remain sharp and thought-provoking.
Thus, Hazarika’s account is not just
about physical travel. It explores how cultural traditions meet modern
influences, and how people carry, adapt, or even lose parts of their heritage.
The Voyage becomes a lens through which readers witness the convergence and
transformation of cultures in a globalizing world.
ADDITIONAL QUESTION & ANSWER
A. Very Short Answer Type Question:
1. Who was the Chief Minister of Assam
at the time of the narrator’s voyage to America?
Ans: The Chief
Minister of Assam at the time of the narrator’s voyage to America was Gopinath
Bordoloi.
2. What was the name of the ship the
narrator boarded for their sea voyage?
Ans: The name of the
ship the narrator boarded for their sea voyage was S.M. Samponio.
3. Who accompanied the narrator to the
airport in Guwahati?
Ans: The people who
accompanied the narrator to the airport in Guwahati were his mother, father,
Queen (Sudakshina Sarma), mahi (aunt), and younger brother Jayanta Hazarika and
friends were Syed Abdul Malik, Saila Barua, etc.
4. Who did the narrator retrieve their
bag from after realizing they had left it behind?
Ans: The narrator
retrieved his bag from his friend Syed Abdul Malik after realizing that he had
left it behind.
5. Which newspaper from Assam did the
narrator find among the newspapers and journals offered on the plane?
Ans: The newspaper
from Assam that the narrator found among the newspapers and journals offered on
the plane was The Assam Tribune.
6. What dance did the narrator witness
during their visit to Colombo?
Ans: The dance that
the narrator witnessed during his visit to Colombo was the Yakuma Natum,
also known as the demon dance.
7. What did the professor attribute
whom the narrator met in Lanka attribute the lack of camaraderie between
Lankans and Indians to?
Ans: The professor whom the narrator met in Lanka attributed the lack of camaraderie between Lankans and Indians to fears of India’s economic domination and concerns about the influence of Indian labourers in Sri Lanka.
Ans: The narrator
bought a Rolleiflex camera. The item that the narrator purchased during the
ship’s stop in Aden was a Rolleiflex camera.
9. Where did the ship stop after
Djibouti?
Ans: The ship stopped
at Cairo after departing from Djibouti.
10. What news did the narrator hear in
Cairo?
Ans: The news that the
narrator heard in Cairo was about Mao Zedong’s successful Long March and the
freedom of China.
11. What did the ship’s captain point
out to the passengers in the Red Sea?
Ans: The ship’s
captain pointed out to the passengers a rare sight of a star above the crescent
moon in the Red Sea.
12. What natural phenomenon did the
narrator witness in the sea?
Ans: The natural
phenomenon that the narrator witnessed in the sea was the glowing of herds of
phosphorus fish, which lit up the water with their bioluminescence.
13. Who was the French young man the narrator
met on the ship?
Ans: The French young
man whom the narrator met on the ship introduced himself as one of the millions
of Andres.
14. What prayer did the narrator make
after witnessing the rare sight in the Red Sea?
Ans: The prayer that
the narrator made after witnessing the rare sight in the Red Sea was for the
blessing of a joyful journey and the strength to travel across countries and
cultures.
15. Who was the pastor in Guwahati who
prepared the narrator’s research curriculum for their voyage to America?
Ans: The pastor in
Guwahati who prepared the narrator’s research curriculum for the voyage to
America was Robert Brown.
16. Who received the narrator at the
airport in Calcutta?
Ans: The person who
received the narrator at the airport in Calcutta was his classmate from Cotton
College, Bhaben Das.
17. What did the narrator feel upon
reaching New York City?
Ans: Upon reaching New
York City, the narrator felt a deep sense of loneliness, as if he had been
uprooted from his familiar surroundings and placed into a strange, foreign
world.
B. Short Answer Type Question:
1. What was the route chosen by the
narrator for their journey to America?
Ans: The route chosen
by the narrator for their journey to America was from Guwahati to Dumdum by
air, then Dumdum to Visakhapatnam by Indian airlines, followed by Visakhapatnam
to Colombo by another plane, and finally a sea voyage from Colombo to
Marseille. Then he planned to take train from Marseille to Paris.
2. Why did the narrator feel
heavy-hearted for their country when leaving Visakhapatnam?
Ans: The narrator felt heavy-hearted while leaving
Visakhapatnam because it was the last Indian port before entering international
waters. Watching the Indian land disappear created a deep sense of emotional
attachment and patriotism. The realization of leaving the homeland behind made
the narrator feel overwhelmed with sadness and love for the country.
4. What was the problem faced by the narrator when they boarded the ship in Aden?
5. What was the incident that caused
the plane to halt and return to its starting place?
Ans: The narrator
realized that he had left their bag containing their passport, dollars,
tickets, air passage, and other papers behind with either of their parents.
They informed the captain of the plane, who brought it back to its starting
place to retrieve the bag.
6. What was the incident witnessed by
the narrator on the ship before entering the Red Sea?
Ans: The ship’s alarm
bell started ringing in the middle of the night and everyone gathered on the
deck. The captain explained that from that exact spot, once in a long while,
the star above the holy crescent moon of Muslims could be seen. The narrator
witnessed this rare sight and took photographs of it
7. What did they see in the sea that
surprised them?
Ans: The narrator saw
a thousand neon lights in the sea which turned out to be herds of phosphorus
fish lighting up the sea with a dazzling display.
8. Who was the French young man the
narrator met on the ship?
Ans: The French young
man’s name was Andres He was around twenty- three or twenty-four years old and
had joined the French army at the age of seventeen.
9. What did the narrator observe about
the city of Djibouti during their brief visit?
Ans: The narrator noticed
that the imperialist Italians had not brought any development to Djibouti. The
place was littered with wine shops, and most people seemed poor. Women roamed
the streets wearing burqas. He saw no sign of life at all.
10. What news did the narrator hear in
Cairo that made them think about their own journey?
Ans: The narrator heard the news in Cairo that Chairman Mao Zedong had successfully
completed the Long March and that China had gained freedom.
This news made him think that his long march would also reach its conclusion
one day, after the discovery of the new world. But he had no idea when that day
would arrive.
HS 2024
1. With which dance form of Kamrupa was Yakuma Natum
compared?
Ans: The Yakuma Natum was compared with the Deodhani Nrittya of ancient
Kamrupa.
2. Where did Hazarika buy his Rolleiflex camera?
Ans:
Bhupen Hazarika bought his Rolleiflex
camera during the ship’s stop at Aden.
3. Name the two places associated with Buddhism as
mentioned by Dr. Hazarika.
Ans: The two places
associated with Buddhism mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in ‘The Voyage” are
Sarnath and Bodh Gaya.
4. How does Hazarika recount his feeling about being
an Indian as he moves forward in his journey?
Ans: Look at question no 4 at page 2.
5. Give a brief account of Bhupen Hazarika's experience of visiting a Sri Lankan family home.
6. Words Meaning
Fanciful- Unrealistic in imagination.
Mesmerizing- Capturing someone’s complete attention.
HS 2025
1. What was the name of the airport situated in
Guwahati in 1949?
Ans: The name of the airport situated in
Guwahati in 1949 was Kanhikuchi Airport.
2. What did Hazarika consider to be his only aim?
3. Name two locations that Bhupen Hazarika reminisces
about in "The Voyage".
Ans: The two locations that Bhupen Hazarika
reminisces about in The Voyage are Bharalumukh and Uzan bazaar.
4. Present your views on the food and flavours
mentioned by Hazarika in "The Voyage".
Ans: Look at question no 3 at page 2.
HS 2026
1. Who had inaugurated the Kanhikuchi Airport of
Guwahati?
Ans: The Kanhikuchi Airport of Guwahati was inaugurated by Sir Akbar Hydari,
who was the Governor of Assam at the time.
2. Name two locations of Guwahati mentioned in
"The Voyage".
Ans: The
two locations of Guwahati mentioned in "The Voyage" are Bharalumukh and Uzanbazar.
3. Name at least three journals/newspapers offered by the air hostess.
Ans: Life, The Times and The
Illustrated London News (The Statesman and The Assam Tribune also)
4. Give, after Bhupen Hazarika, a brief description of
Djibouti.
Ans: Djibouti is described
as a port city where Hazarika's ship, the SM Samponio, stopped during his sea voyage.
5. What happened when the wheels of the plane to
Calcutta had started rolling?
Ans: When
the wheels of the plane had started rolling and the aircraft began to gain
speed on the runway, Bhupen Hazarika suddenly realized that he had left his bag
behind with either of his parents.
In
a panic, he began shouting at the top of his voice and ran up to the captain. The captain listened to his
frantic pleas, halted the plane, brought it back to the starting point, and
lowered the ladder so he could retrieve his belongings.
6. Give a brief
account of Bhupen Hazarika's journey through Sri Lanka.
During his voyage to America on the SM Samponio, Bhupen
Hazarika's ship made a brief but memorable stopover at Colombo, the capital of
Sri Lanka. His account of the city highlights several key observations:
Pristine Environment: Upon disembarking to explore the city, Hazarika
was immediately struck by Colombo's immense scenic beauty.
Spiritual Atmosphere: He observed a strong
Buddhist presence in the city. The sight of numerous Buddhist monks moving
peacefully through the streets clad in their traditional yellow robes left a
lasting impression on him, contributing to the serene ambiance of the capital.
Commercial Demographics: While walking
through the bustling market areas, he took note of the local commerce. He
specifically mentioned seeing a significant number of South Indian merchants
who owned and managed many of the retail shops in the city.
Nostalgia and Connection to Home: The most poignant moment of his brief excursion occurred when he stopped to drink tender coconut water. The familiar, refreshing taste instantly bridged the geographical gap, triggering a profound sense of homesickness and powerfully reminding him of the comforting flavours of his homeland, Assam.
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