English Yuvakbharati 12th Standard HSC Maharashtra State Board Latest edition
1.8 Voyaging Towards Excellence
The Writer:
Achyut Godbole (born 15 August 1950) is a person of wide knowledge, a humanitarian and socialist personality. He lives in Mumbai.
He was born in Solapur, Maharashtra. After a successful career as a CEO of Patni Computer Systems and a few more leading IT firms, in 1980 and 1990s he moved to writing. He was at the position of CEO for almost 23 years in his career in management.
He is well known for his writings in Marathi and English. He is a prolific writer in various genres and has produced numerous original works as well as adaptations of works from other languages into Marathi. His writing style is informative and yet very informal.
He became a Chemical Engineer from IIT Mumbai in 1972 and headed top management positions in companies of great repute.
The Topic: Voyaging Towards Excellence
This autobiographical sketch written by Achyut Godbole shows his journey from a middle-class school boy to a famous writer. He was a successful General Manager of Patni Computer Systems. He headed many other reputed companies and later became a famous writer.
The present write-up discusses his quest for excellence, how he developed a thirst for knowledge. He discusses at length the ingredients / essentials of success and the ways to achieve it. He also shows his way of learning English speaking and its use in his life.
Ice Breakers:
1) There are different ways to travel from one place to another for different purposes. Discuss with your partner and match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| (a) Cruise | (i) a long journey on a ship |
| (b) Expedition | (ii) a short visit to an outdoorplace where people celebrate, enjoy and eat meals |
| (c) Camp | (iii) a brief pleasure outdoor visit |
| (d) Trip | (iv) a short journey to a place with a particular purpose |
| (e) Excursion | (v) a place usually away fromurban areas where tents areerected for shelter |
| (f) Picnic | (vi) a journey especially by agroup of people for aspecific purpose |
| (g) Voyage | (vii) a journey on a boat or ship to a number of places |
Answer:
| A | B |
|---|---|
| (a) Cruise | (vii) a journey on a boat or ship to a number of places |
| (b) Expedition | (vi) a journey especially by agroup of people for a specific purpose |
| (c) Camp | (v) a place usually away fromurban areas where tents areerected for shelter |
| (d) Trip | (iii) a brief pleasure outdoor visit |
| (e) Excursion | (iv) a short journey to a place with a particular purpose |
| (f) Picnic | (ii) a short visit to an outdoorplace where peoplecelebrate, enjoy and eatmeals |
| (g) Voyage | (i) a long journey on a ship |
Discuss the following with your partner and complete the web.
SOLUTION
Upbringing plays a very important role in shaping one’s life. The teacher will form two groups in the class. One group will speak in favour of the above topic while the other will speak against it. Debate brings out different perspectives, it does not mean one is right and other is wrong. You can take help of the following points and have a debate on it.
| In favour of the topic | Against the topic |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides a healthy atmosphere | 1. Achievers can be successful in any atmosphere |
| 2. Makes you confident | 2. They are self-confident, reliant and dependent |
| 3. Helps in finding the role model | 3. They become role models for others |
| 4. Helps to follow the footsteps of successful people | 4. They set an example for others |
SOLUTION
The students can elaborate their points in favour and against the topic on the following lines.
| In favour of the topic | Against the topic |
|---|---|
| 1. It breeds healthy thinking and imagination | 1. Examples of those who have risen from humble backgrounds such as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar or Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2. Offers better exposure | 2. Confidence is an intrinsic quality |
| 3. Easier to finds one’s strength if upbringing is good | 3. They lead by example |
| 4. A good upbringing brings one closer to the rich and the famous, so it’s easier to find motivation in them and be like them. | 4. After all, someone has to take the lead, so they become an example for others when they shine through their adversities. |
[Students are expected to take cue from the pointers given in the question along with the ones given in the answer to attempt the above activity]
Go through the text again and describe the second innings of the writer in your own words.
The author became a writer in Marathi in his second innings. He wrote 34 books in Marathi, most of which became bestsellers. He could change the lives of thousands of his readers after they read his autobiography ‘Musafir’ and his book on Psychology ‘Manat’. He even helped his readers understand complex concepts with his book on Science, ‘Kimayagar’, and Maths, ‘Ganiti’. He has also helped create at least 20 entrepreneurs and so on. He has essentially touched the hearts of thousands of his readers in his second innings.
Read the text again and make a list of great Indian and foreign personalities who had a great impact on Achyut Godbole during his childhood. One is done for you.
| Poets | Vinda Karandikar |
| Writers | |
| Musicians | |
| Dramatists | |
| Painters |
SOLUTION
| Poets | Vinda Karandikar, Mangesh Padgaonkar, Vasant Bapat |
| Writers | Keshavsut, Mardhekar, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy |
| Musicians | Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Kumar Gandharv, Mozart |
| Dramatists | Shakespeare |
| Painters | Van Gogh, Michael Angelo |
Find different techniques used by the writer to learn Science and Mathematics. One is done for you.
The writer used to appreciate the inherent beauty of these subjects.
________________
________________
________________
The writer used to appreciate the inherent beauty of these subjects.
The writer used to solve the Physics and Mathematics problems of 9th standard when he was in 7th standard.
The writer tried to find the most elegant way of solving a problem.
The writer looked beyond marks and developed a problem-solving attitude.
The writer faced numerous problems while communicating in English because -
He had his entire education in Marathi.
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
He had his entire education in Marathi.
He would think in Marathi and translate awkwardly into English.
His vocabulary was very weak.
His pronunciation was terrible.
His construction of English sentences was very awkward.
The writer was completely stumped because his -
vocabulary was _______.
vocabulary was weak.
Spoken English was _______
Spoken English was quite pathetic.
Pronunciation was _______
Pronunciation was terrible.
construction of sentences was _______
construction of sentences was awkward.
Read the text again and complete the sentence:
Due to the writer’s pathetic English speaking style, he___________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Due to the writer’s pathetic English speaking style, he
was feeling quite lonely in Mumbai in general and IIT in particular
developed an inferiority complex
wanted to run away from IIT and even Mumbai
Complete the following sentence.
The writer wanted to achieve mastery in English because he wanted to speak _______.
he wanted to speak excellent, elegant and fluent English.
Complete the following sentence. The writer wanted to achieve mastery in English because he will be able to ______.
he will be able to communicate well in English.
Complete the following sentence. The writer wanted to achieve mastery in English because he need not have to_________
he need not have to translate from Marathi to English in an awkward manner.
Make a list of different steps that the writer undertook to improve his English speaking skills.
____________________
____________________
____________________
He started reading English newspapers and novels.
He studied etymology (roots of the words) and phonetics (pronunciation of the words).
He would stand in front of the mirror to practice speaking and would realise his mistakes and correct those himself; he improvised as well as improved himself day by day.
Read the text again and describe the writer’s achievements after gaining mastery over the English language.
His fear for English disappeared.
_________________________________
_________________________________
His fear for English disappeared.
He started feeling confident of speaking in English at length with anybody.
Later in his career, he could make presentations and negotiate deals, all because of his improved English.
Go through the text again and complete the table comparing two different phases of life of the writer as an MD or Chief Executive Officer and an activist of Sarvodaya movement.
| MD or Chief Executive Officer | Activist of Sarvodaya Movement |
|---|---|
| Head of the company for 23 years | Participated in a peaceful satyagraha |
SOLUTION
| MD or Chief Executive Officer | Activist of Sarvodaya Movement |
|---|---|
| Head of the company for 23 years | Participated in a peaceful satyagraha |
| Travelled all over the globe around 150 times for business | Went to jail for 10 days |
| Wrote four books of 500-700 pages each on Information Technology | Was jobless for a while, and then did a lowly paid job |
Complete the web highlighting the various opportunities you gained due to your good English speaking skills.
SOLUTION
Always selected for debate competitions
Made the secretary of school’s literary club
Asked to anchor school functions
Sent as the school’s student representative to various inter-school competitions/functions
Describe situation or incident when you felt embarrassed for your lack of knowledge of a particular subject or incompetence in speaking English fluently.
This incident happened when I was in the 8th standard and was chosen as the news-reader for the week during the morning assembly of the school. I was scared because I had just moved to an English-medium school from a vernacular-medium school and didn’t know whether I would be able to read the news in front of so many people. It was also going to be my first stage-appearance, which made me all the more anxious. As expected, I lost confidence while on stage and couldn’t read properly in front of four thousand students, teachers and the principal in the assembly. I felt embarrassed at my incompetence and thought that I was inferior as compared to the other students. I didn’t go back on the stage until I had improved my English.
Fill in the blank selecting the correct phrase from the alternatives given.
[be completely stumped, be broken, feel out of place, speak at length, feel at home, sea of knowledge, broaden one’s horizon, one’s second innings, touch the hearts, keep one going]
- By the end of the week she was beginning to feel at home in her new job.
- When he lost his mother he was completely broken.
- Travelling can help to broaden one’s horizon.
- After my retirement, I started my second innings as a social worker.
- Having faith in God keeps one going in difficult situation.
- To succeed in any competitive examination, one requires a sea of knowledge.
- The simple village girl feels out of place in a formal party.
- The work done by Sindhutai Sapkal touches the hearts of millions.
- The teacher spoke at length explaining the concept.
- The speaker was completely stumped by the intelligent questions asked by the audience.
Read the text again and find out all the words related to the game of cricket. List two meanings of each. One is done for you.
| Words related to the game of cricket | Meanings | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Second innings | General | the second phase of the life of an individual where he/she starts/pursues a new or different career or the post-retirement life |
| Cricket | when a team comes to bat for the second time in a test match | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 |
SOLUTION
| Words related to the game of cricket | Meanings | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Second innings | General | the second phase of the life of an individual where he/she starts/pursues a new or different career or the post-retirement life |
| Cricket | when a team comes to bat for the second time in a test match | |
| 2. Scoring | General | to secure or obtain, as in scoring marks |
| Cricket | getting runs | |
| 3. Run | General | the action of moving fast on one’s feet |
| Cricket | one unit of the score in a game | |
| 4. Length | General | the extent |
| Cricket | the distance that cricket ball travels before bouncing on the pitch |
Go through the text to find the antonyms of the words given in the grid and fill the boxes. One is done for you.
(1) unlucky (2) solution
(3) trust (4) confident
(5) advanced (6) blockhead
SOLUTION
Primary Auxiliary Verbs are ‘be’, ‘have’, and ‘do’ which occur most commonly and can also be used as a main verb in a clause.
Go through the sentences given below and say whether the verbs are the main verbs or primary auxiliary verbs.
I had a very simple upbringing. — had – main verb
I was immensely impressed. — was – main verb
I had learnt from my childhood that money did not mean everything in life. — had – auxiliary verb
He was a convent educated guy. — was – main verb
They did all the work in time. — did – main verb
I had to achieve a lot in life. — had – auxiliary verb
Read the given sentences:
Does Sam write all his own reports?
The secretaries haven’t written all the letters yet.
Terry is writing an e-mail to a client at the moment.
The verbs in bold are broadly used to express tense. ‘Do’ can also be used for adding emphasis, as in “I do know the answer.” The verbs “be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are called Primary Auxiliaries. When helping verbs are used to express the mode or action, they are called Modals.
You shall have a holiday tomorrow. (Simple Future)
We should obey our elders. (Obligation)
I can play the piano. (Ability)
Could you open the window, please? (Request).
In the above examples, the modals indicate the expressions given in brackets. There are other modals that are used for expressions.
Study the given table carefully and do the activities that follow.
| Modals less definite to more definite | Expressions |
|---|---|
| can, could | ability |
| should | advise, obligation |
| shall, will | futurity, determination |
| would | habitual past, request |
| may, might | permission, possibility |
| must, have to | compulsion |
| used to | habitual past |
| ought to | obligation |
| need to | necessity |
| dare to | courage |
(a) Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals according to the situations given in the following sentences.
Take an umbrella. It _______ rain later.
People _______ walk on the grass.
_______ I ask you a question?
The signal has turned red. You _______ wait.
I was a sportsperson in my school days. I ________ play badminton.
I am going to the library. I _______ find my friend there.
(b) Find from the text, the sentences that show past habit.
(a)
Take an umbrella. It may rain later.
People should not walk on the grass. (Corrected: 'should not' or 'must not')
May I ask you a question?
The signal has turned red. You must wait.
I was a sportsperson in my school days. I used to / could play badminton.
I am going to the library. I might find my friend there.
(b) The following lines from the text show past habits.
They used to talk about Keshavsut, Mardhekar, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy.
Most of the times, the topics of discussion at home were about music, literature, paintings, sculptures etc.
In fact, I loved these subjects.
I used to study these, subjects or any subjects for that matter for its inherent beauty.
At IIT, most of the students and professors used to converse in English whereas my English was very poor.
I used to stand in front of the mirror and practice speaking English, realising my mistakes and correcting them myself all the time and improvising and improving day by day.
Do as Directed.
I did not fully understand their discussions but I was immensely impressed. (Remove ‘but’)
Although I did not fully understand their discussions, I was immensely impressed.
I had decided that I would do nothing of this sort. (Remove ‘that’)
I had decided against doing anything of this sort.
My fear had vanished and I started feeling at home in my hostel. (Use 'when')
When my fear had vanished, I started feeling at home in my hostel.
It was only my self-esteem which stopped me. (Remove ‘which’)
Only my self-esteem stopped me.
I plunged into all these branches of knowledge. It was a period of renaissance. (Join with ‘which’)
It was the period of renaissance during which I plunged into these branches of knowledge.
When I look back, there are a number of lessons that I cherish. (Remove ‘When’)
On looking back, there are a number of lessons that I cherish.
There are hundreds who tell me that they understood the theory of relativity. (Remove 'who')
There are hundreds telling me that they understood the theory of relativity.
Flyer is a small piece of paper intended for wide distribution at a public place, handed out to individuals or sent through mail or post it is used for advertising, an event, programme, drive or product.
Admissions Open
New Arts, Science and Commerce College,
New Delhi
(Mission Statement: Changing Lives Through Quality Education)
| Details | Features | Why To Choose Us |
|---|---|---|
| Courses available: Junior College, Undergraduate and Post graduate, Certificate courses and diplomas, Regular and Distance modes | Big, spacious and smart classrooms, Highly experienced teaching staff, Advanced courses and programmes, Modern and digital technology | Our student shine in all walks of life. Our teachers' passion and dedication. Beautiful campus and ambience. Record-breaking results. Our name itself is a sign of trust |
For more details or any query:
Contact: Principal/Supervisor/Heads of different Departments
or visit the website:
www.newartsscienceandcommercecollegenewdelhi.in
Time: 10 am to 5.30 pm
Go through the sample of the flyer given above and prepare flyers on the following topics.
Use the following points:
- Details
- Special Features
- Why to choose us / Need of drive/ Purpose of the mission
- Anything special
- Add your own points
Topics:
- Yoga Class / Summer Hobby Class
- Tree Plantation Drive
- Cleanliness Drive
- Help us to end Child Labour
- Let’s get rid of the monsters - tobacco and alcohol
SOLUTION
(1) Yoga Class / Summer Hobby Class
Join Today! Join Today!
| Prehub Yoga Club Where fitness is a way of life |
|---|
135/21, M.G.Road, Dadar(W), Mumbai
| Details | Features | Why to choose us | Anything Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batches starting from next week. Weekday and Weekend batches available. Suitable timings (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Hourly batches focusing on strength training, gaining flexibility, improving posture, weight management, strengthening core, and increasing energy | Get trained by yoga gurus practising the form for over two decades. Access the state-of-the-art, air-conditioned rooms built specifically for yoga. Availability of outdoor podium for practising yoga in the fresh air. Availability of spacious changing rooms and shower rooms. Get private instructors for specialised training | Tarunya Yoga Club is a multicity franchise. We are spread over 54 cities across India. Renowned yoga gurus acclaimed for this form are associated with us. Our focus is to help you build a healthy and balanced lifestyle through strengthening your core | Terrific discounts for early enrollers! Only yoga club in the city with additional amenities. Additional discounts for each referral. Become a part of our multi-city yoga club and stand a chance to participate in our amazing workshops |
For additional details: Call 965472XXXX
For enrolling: Call 823622XXXX or visit our website www.hubyoga.com
Note: Do the rest of the topics yourself.
Achyut Godbole has written many bestsellers that are famous far and wide. Read at least two books of your choice, make summary of those books and submit.
Do it yourself.
Difficult Words and Meanings
- Humanitarian: Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare; a person who works to help others.
- Socialist: A person who believes in a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
- CEO (Chief Executive Officer): The highest-ranking person in a company, ultimately responsible for making managerial decisions.
- Prolific: Producing many works, results, or fruits.
- Genres: Categories of artistic composition, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
- Adaptations: Versions of a work (like a book or play) that have been changed to fit a different medium or style.
- Repute: The opinion generally held of someone or something; the state of being highly thought of.
- Autobiographical: Dealing with the writer's own life.
- Quest: A long or arduous search for something.
- Essentials: Things that are absolutely necessary or important.
- Expedition: A journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, research, or war.
- Excursion: A short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity.
- Voyage: A long journey involving travel by sea or in space.
- Upbringing: The care and training a child gets while growing up.
- Perspectives: Particular attitudes toward or ways of regarding something; points of view.
- Intrinsic: Belonging naturally; essential.
- Adversities: Difficulties; misfortunes.
- Etymology: The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
- Phonetics: The study and classification of speech sounds.
- Improvised: Created and performed spontaneously or without preparation; made or produced from whatever is available.
- Negotiate: To try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others.
- Sarvodaya: A term meaning 'universal uplift' or 'progress of all', coined by Mahatma Gandhi, referring to a social movement in post-independence India.
- Satyagraha: A policy of passive political resistance, especially that advocated by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule in India.
- Vernacular: The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
- Incompetence: Lack of skill or ability to do something successfully.
- Stumped: Unable to answer a question or solve a problem.
- Pathetic: Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness; miserably inadequate.
- Inferiority complex: An unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy caused by actual or supposed inferiority in one sphere, sometimes marked by aggressive behavior in compensation.
- Elegant: Graceful and stylish in appearance or manner; pleasingly ingenious and simple.
- Fluent: Able to express oneself easily and articulately.
- Auxiliary: Providing supplementary or additional help and support (in grammar, a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs).
- Modals: Auxiliary verbs that express necessity or possibility (e.g., must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may, might).
- Futurity: Future time or events.
- Compulsion: The action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint.
- Renaissance: A revival of or renewed interest in something; a period of great artistic and intellectual activity.
- Cherish: Protect and care for (someone or something) lovingly; keep (a hope or ambition) in one's mind.
- Flyer: A small handbill advertising an event or product.
- Amenities: Desirable or useful features or facilities of a building or place.
- Franchise: An authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities.
- Acclaimed: Praised enthusiastically and publicly.
