MEMORIES OF CROSSGATES SCHOOL

About Writer: George Orwell

ଜର୍ଜ ଅରୱେଲ
ଜନ୍ମନାମ: ଏରିକ ଆର୍ଥର ବ୍ଲେୟାର
ଜନ୍ମ: ୨୫ ଜୁନ ୧୯୦୩, ମୋତିହାରୀ, ବେଙ୍ଗଲ୍ ପ୍ରେସିଡେନ୍ସି, ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ଭାରତ
ମୃତ୍ୟୁ: ୨୧ ଜାନୁଆରୀ ୧୯୫୦, ଲଣ୍ଡନ୍, ଇଂଲଣ୍ଡ

ଜର୍ଜ ଅରୱେଲ ଜଣେ ବ୍ରିଟିଶ ଉପନ୍ୟାସକାର, ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧକାର, ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ଏବଂ ଗଣତାନ୍ତ୍ରିକ ସମାଜତନ୍ତ୍ରବାଦୀ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ସବୁଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ଦୁଇଟି କ୍ଲାସିକ୍‌ ଉପନ୍ୟାସ ପାଇଁ—Animal Farm (୧୯୪୫) ଏବଂ Nineteen Eighty-Four (୧୯୪୯)। ଏହି ଦୁଇଟି ପୁସ୍ତକ ସ୍ୱଇଚ୍ଛାଚାର, ପ୍ରଚାରମାଧ୍ୟମ ଏବଂ ରାଜନୈତିକ ଦମନନୀତିର ତୀବ୍ର ସମାଳୋଚନା। Nineteen Eighty-Four ରୁ “Big Brother”, “doublethink” ଏବଂ “Newspeak” ପରି ଶବ୍ଦଗୁଡ଼ିକ ବିଶ୍ୱ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ଅଂଶ ହୋଇଗଲା।

ଶୈଶବ ଓ ପ୍ରଭାବ
ଏରିକ ଆର୍ଥର ବ୍ଲେୟାର ନାମରେ ସେ ଭାରତରେ ଜନ୍ମଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଥିଲେ। ଶୈଶବରେ ଇଂଲଣ୍ଡରେ ବଢ଼ିଥିଲେ ଏବଂ କିଛିଦିନ ବର୍ମାରେ Indian Imperial Police ରେ ଚାକିରି କରିଥିଲେ। ଏହି ଅନୁଭବ ତାଙ୍କ ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟବାଦ ବିରୋଧୀ ଚିନ୍ତାଧାରାରେ ଗଭୀର ପ୍ରଭାବ ଫେଳାଇଥିଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧ Shooting an Elephant (୧୯୩୬)-ରେ ଏହି ଅଭିଜ୍ଞତାର ପ୍ରତିଫଳନ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳେ।

ରାଜନୀତି ଓ ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧ
ଅରୱେଲ ଜଣେ ନିଷ୍ଠାବାନ୍‌ ଗଣତାନ୍ତ୍ରିକ ସମାଜତନ୍ତ୍ରବାଦୀ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ସ୍ପାନିଶ ଗୃହଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଅଂଶଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଫାସିବାଦ, ସ୍ତାଲିନବାଦ ଓ ରାଜନୈତିକ ଭାଷାର ବିକୃତି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ବ୍ୟାପକ ଭାବରେ ଲେଖିଥିଲେ। ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧ ସଂଗ୍ରହରେ Homage to Catalonia, Politics and the English Language ଏବଂ Inside the Whale ବିଶେଷଭାବେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ।

Memories of Crossgates School Odia Meaning: ସହଜ ଓ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଭାଷାରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅନୁବାଦ

I have good memories of Crossgates, among a horde of bad ones.
ମୋର କ୍ରସଗେଟସ୍‌ର କେତେକ ଭଲ ସ୍ମୃତି ରହିଛି, ଅନେକ ଖରାପ ସ୍ମୃତିମାନଙ୍କ ଭିଡ଼ ମଧ୍ୟରେ।

Sometimes on summer afternoons there were wonderful expeditions across the Downs, or to Beachy Head, where one bathed dangerously among the chalk boulders and came home covered with cuts.
କେବେ କେବେ ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମର ବିକାଳେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭ୍ରମଣ ହୁଏଥିଲା ଡାଉନ୍ସ୍‌ରେ, କିମ୍ବା ବିଚି ହେଡକୁ, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ କେହି ବଡ଼ ଚକଖଣ୍ଡର ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବିପଦପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଶରୀରେ କାଟା-ଚିରାର ଦାଗ ନେଇ ଘରକୁ ଫେରୁଥିଲେ।

And there were still more wonderful midsummer evenings when, as a special treat, we were not driven off to bed as usual but allowed to wander about the grounds in the long twilight, ending up with a plunge into the swimming bath at about nine o’clock.
ଏବଂ ତା’ଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସୁନ୍ଦର ମଧ୍ୟ-ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମର ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାମାନେ ଥିଲେ, ଯେତେବେଳେ ବିଶେଷ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଭାବରେ, ସାଧାରଣତଃ ଯେପରି bedକୁ ପଠାଯାଇଥାନ୍ତା, ସେପରି ହୋଇନଥିଲା; ବହୁଳ ସାନ୍ଧ୍ୟବେଳୀରେ ସ୍କୁଲର ପ୍ରାଙ୍ଗଣରେ ଘୁରିବାକୁ ଅନୁମତି ମିଳୁଥିଲା, ଯାହା ଶେଷରେ ପ୍ରାୟ ରାତି ୯ଟାରେ ସ୍ବିମିଙ୍ଗ ପୁଲରେ ଏକ ଝାପ ସହିତ ସମାପ୍ତ ହୁଏଥିଲା।

There was the joy of waking early on summer mornings and getting in an hour’s undisturbed reading (Ian Hay, Thackeray, Kipling and H.G. Wells were the favourite authors of my boyhood) in the sunlit, sleeping dormitory.
ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମର ସକାଳେ ସେହିଭଳି ଆନନ୍ଦ ଥିଲା—ଶିଘ୍ରେ ଉଠିବା ଏବଂ ଘୁମାଉଥିବା ଡର୍ମିଟୋରୀରେ ରୋଦରେ ଏକ ଘଣ୍ଟା ଧରି ନିର୍ବିଘ୍ନ ପଢ଼ା (ମୋର ଶୈଶବର ପ୍ରିୟ ଲେଖକମାନେ ଥିଲେ—ଇଆନ୍ ହେ, ଠାକୁରେ, କିପଲିଙ୍ଗ୍ ଏବଂ ଏଚ୍.ଜି. ଓୱେଲସ୍‌)।

There was also cricket, which I was no good at but with which I conducted a sort of hopeless love affair up to the age of about eighteen.
ସେଥିରେ କ୍ରିକେଟ୍‌ ମଧ୍ୟ ଥିଲା, ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ମୁଁ ଭଲ କିଛି ନୁହେଁ, କିନ୍ତୁ ପ୍ରାୟ ଆଠର ବର୍ଷ ବୟସ୍ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଏକ ନିରାଶାଜନକ ପ୍ରେମ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ଚାଲୁଥିଲା।

And there was the pleasure of keeping caterpillars—the silky green and purple puss-moth, the ghostly green poplar-hawk, the privet hawk, large as one’s third finger, specimens of which could be illicitly purchased for sixpence at a shop in the town—
ଏବଂ ଶୁଯୋପୋକା ପାଳିବାର ଆନନ୍ଦ ମଧ୍ୟ ଥିଲା—ମୋହିଳା ହରିତ ଓ ବଙ୍ଗୁରା ରଙ୍ଗର ପୁସ୍‌-ମଥ୍‌, ଫିକା ସବୁଜ ପପ୍ଲର୍-ହକ୍‌, ପ୍ରିଭେଟ୍‌ ହକ୍‌, ଯେଉଁମାନେ କାହାରୋ ତୃତୀୟ ଆଙ୍ଗୁଳ ସମାନ ବଡ଼; ଯାହାଙ୍କୁ ସହରର ଦୋକାନରୁ ବେଆଇନରେ ଛଅ ପେନିରେ କିଣିହେବାକୁ ମିଳୁଥିଲା—।

and, when one could escape long enough from the master who was “taking the walk” there was the excitement of dredging the dew-ponds on the Downs for enormous newts with orange-coloured bellies.
ଏବଂ, ଯେତେବେଳେ “ଟେକିଙ୍ଗ୍ ଦ୍‌ ୱାକ୍‌” କରୁଥିବା ଶିକ୍ଷକଙ୍କୁ ଯଥେଷ୍ଟ ସମୟ ପାଇଁ ଫସକି ବାହାରିହେବା ଯାଉଥିଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଡାଉନ୍ସ୍‌ରେ ଥିବା ଶିଶିର-ପୋଖରୀମାନରୁ ବିଶାଳ କମଳା-ରଙ୍ଗର ପେଟ ଥିବା ନ୍ୟୁଟ୍‌ ଧରିବାର ଉତ୍ସାହ ଥାଉଥିଲା।

This business of being out for a walk, coming across something of fascinating interest and then being dragged away from it by a yell from the master, like a dog jerked onwards by the leash, is an important feature of school life, and helps to build up the conviction, so strong in many children, that the things you most want to do are always unattainable.
ଏହି “ହାଟିବା” କାରବାର—କୌଣସି ମୁଗ୍ଧକର ଜିନିଷ ସାମ୍ନାରେ ପଡ଼ିବା, ତା’ପରେ ଶିକ୍ଷକଙ୍କ ଚିତ୍କାରରେ ଟାଣିଦିଆଯିବା, ଯେପରିକି ଦୃଡ଼ିରେ ଟାଣିଥିବା କୁକୁର—ସ୍କୁଲ ଜୀବନର ଏକ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବୈଶିଷ୍ଟ୍ୟ, ଏବଂ ଏହା ଅନେକ ଶିଶୁମାନଙ୍କ ମନରେ ସେହି ଦୃଢ଼ ବିଶ୍ୱାସକୁ ଗଢ଼ିଥାଏ ଯେ, ସବୁଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ କରିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଥିବା କାମଗୁଡ଼ିକ ସଦା ଅଧରା ହୋଇ ରହେ।

Activity 1 (Comprehension)

(a) The writer describes the pleasure of school life enjoyed during:
👉 (ii) summer

(b) The phrase “taking the walk” in line 15 is given within quotation marks to indicate:
👉 (ii) that the master was actually keeping watch over the boys on the pretext of taking the walk.

Activity 2 (Comprehension)

(a) At what time of the day did the writer bathe in the sea?
👉 The writer bathed in the sea in the afternoons.

(b) Did he enjoy swimming among the chalk boulders or have a sense of suffering for it? Which words in the text tell you the answer?
👉 He enjoyed swimming among the chalk boulders. The words “pleasures of school life” tell us this.

(c) What was the boy’s ‘special treat’ in midsummer evenings?
👉 The boy’s special treat in midsummer evenings was eating strawberries and cream.

(d) Who were Orwell’s favourite authors in his boyhood?
👉 Orwell’s favourite authors in his boyhood were H. G. Wells and Edgar Allan Poe.

(e) What are the different kinds of caterpillars that Orwell mentions in the passage?
👉 Orwell mentions gooseberry caterpillars, cabbage caterpillars, and pale green caterpillars in the passage.

(f) What does Orwell say about his ‘hopeless love affair’?
👉 Orwell says that his hopeless love affair was with nature and the beauty of summer days, which gave him joy but also longing.

(g) What does Orwell learn from his experiences at Crossgates school?
👉 Orwell learned that school life was a mixture of joy and hardship, where discipline was strict but the memories of nature, reading, and small pleasures stayed with him forever.

Activity 3 (Writing)

Six pleasures of school life mentioned in the passage:

1. Bathing in the sea during summer afternoons.
2. Swimming among the chalk boulders.
3. Eating strawberries and cream in midsummer evenings.
4. Reading favourite authors like H. G. Wells and Edgar Allan Poe.
5. Observing different kinds of caterpillars.
6. Enjoying the beauty of nature during summer walks.

Paragraph

Your School Days – Memories Inspired by Orwell
School days are often remembered as the most beautiful time of life. Like George Orwell, many of us also recall the simple pleasures of childhood. Bathing in the sea, swimming among rocks, or enjoying fresh fruits in summer evenings made those days joyful. Reading storybooks of our favourite authors gave us inspiration, while exploring small creatures like butterflies or caterpillars filled our curiosity. Even though school discipline sometimes felt hard, the memories of friendship, laughter, and the love of nature always remain fresh. Truly, school days are treasures of happiness that shape our future.

Activity 4 (Grammar)

Subject-Verb Agreement in ‘There’-constructions

👉 Example already given: Sometimes on summer afternoons there were wonderful Expeditions across the Downs…

Other ‘there’ sentences in the text (based on Orwell’s passage):

1. There were long walks across the countryside.
2. There was joy in swimming among the chalk boulders.
3. There were many caterpillars of different kinds in the garden.

Completed Letter

Dated the 11th of June, 2001

To

The Chairperson

Bhimpur Municipality,

Bhimpur.

Madam,

I would like to express my concern at the growing number of so-called lottery centres in our town.

There are several reasons why I object to these places. Firstly, the operators, under the false promise of an easy fortune, take quite substantial amounts of money away from the poor people who are least able to afford it. Secondly, while I do not object to gambling in principle, I feel that this particular kind, where no skill is required on the part of the betting person, is especially offensive and deadening to the intellect. Thirdly, these establishments often attract undesirable individuals into the neighbourhood. Lastly, the physical appearance of these places is most unattractive, and there is almost always a lot of noise around.

I hope that the Municipal Council will consider very carefully whether this mindless kind of gambling is wanted within this traditionally peaceful town.

Yours faithfully,

Smita Samantaray