The Ghat of the Only World – Questions & Answers

Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 lines each)

1. Who is the writer of this chapter?
   Ans. Amitav Ghosh.
2. Who is Shahid?
   Ans. A Kashmiri poet and close friend of Amitav Ghosh.
3. What illness was Shahid suffering from?
   Ans. A brain tumour.
4. What request did Shahid make to Amitav Ghosh?
   Ans. To write about him after his death.
5. Where had Shahid taught before?
   Ans. In colleges in the United States, including Manhattan.
6. What was Shahid’s special quality as a person?
   Ans. His wit, humour, and ability to remain cheerful despite illness.
7. Which theme dominated Shahid’s poetry?
   Ans. The pain of Kashmir and themes of love, loss, and exile.
8. What role did food play in Shahid’s life?
   Ans. He loved cooking, especially Kashmiri dishes, and enjoyed sharing meals with friends.
9. How did Shahid face his approaching death?
   Ans. With courage, humour, and dignity.
10. When did Shahid pass away?
    Ans. On 8 December 2001.

Short Answer Questions (30–50 words each)

1. Why did Shahid want Amitav Ghosh to write about him?
   Ans. Knowing that his death was near, Shahid asked Ghosh to write about him so that he would be remembered not just as a poet but also as a friend and human being.
2. How did Shahid’s personality impress people around him?
   Ans. Shahid was full of life, witty, and generous. Even during his illness, he entertained friends with jokes, poetry, and delicious meals, leaving everyone inspired by his positivity.
3. What role did poetry play in Shahid’s life?
   Ans. Poetry was Shahid’s medium of expressing the pain of exile, the loss of Kashmir, and universal themes of love and death. His works gave him recognition as one of the finest contemporary poets.
4. How did Shahid’s friends and family support him during his illness?
   Ans. Friends regularly visited him, and his family cared for him lovingly. Despite his condition, gatherings at his home were filled with laughter, poetry, and food, reflecting his spirit.
5. What impression do you get about Shahid from this chapter?
   Ans. Shahid emerges as a brave, humorous, talented, and affectionate individual. He embraced death with courage and left behind memories of warmth, friendship, and poetic brilliance.

Long Answer Questions (120–150 words each)

1. Discuss the friendship between Shahid and Amitav Ghosh as described in the chapter.
   Ans. The chapter is both a memoir and a tribute to Shahid by Amitav Ghosh. Their friendship deepened when Shahid fell ill. They spent much time together, reminiscing about Kashmir, literature, food, and poetry. Shahid trusted Ghosh enough to ask him to write about him after his death. Ghosh remembers Shahid as a man of extraordinary wit, charm, and resilience. Their bond was not only personal but also intellectual, based on shared love for culture and writing. This friendship shows how human connections can transcend illness and mortality, leaving behind enduring memories.
2. How does “The Ghat of the Only World” highlight Shahid’s approach to life and death?
   Ans. Despite battling a fatal brain tumour, Shahid never lost his humour, charm, or zest for life. He continued to host friends, cook Kashmiri food, and share poetry. He faced death gracefully, without fear, showing acceptance rather than despair. His poetry reflected his longing for Kashmir and his reflections on mortality. The chapter portrays him as someone who transformed suffering into art and laughter. Through this account, Amitav Ghosh celebrates Shahid’s courage and ensures that his wish—to be remembered—is fulfilled.