6.English Reader - Lesson 6

Two Horizons

English Reader - Lesson 6

Author: Binapani Mohanty

👩‍👧 About the Story

Binapani Mohanty is a famous Odia writer. "Two Horizons" (Do Kshitij) is a touching story presented through letters exchanged between a daughter and her mother. It explores the deep bond between two generations. The daughter, despite being modern and educated, feels empty inside, while her traditional mother possesses immense inner strength and peace. The story shows how the daughter finds strength in her mother's words.

📖 Summary (हिन्दी सारांश)

कहानी की शुरुआत बेटी (Narrator) द्वारा अपनी मां के पुराने पत्रों को पढ़ने से होती है।

बेटी की उलझन (Daughter's Confusion):

• बेटी शिक्षित और आधुनिक है, लेकिन वह अपने ससुराल और जीवन की जिम्मेदारियों में फंसी हुई है।
• वह अंदर से "खालीपन" (Emptiness) और थकान महसूस करती है। उसे लगता है कि उसकी अपनी कोई पहचान नहीं है।

मां की सीख (Mother's Wisdom):

• मां अपने पत्रों में लिखती है कि जीवन में दुख और संघर्ष तो आएंगे ही।
• मां बताती है कि उसने भी अपने जीवन में बहुत कष्ट सहे हैं, लेकिन उसने कभी हार नहीं मानी। उसने भगवान पर भरोसा रखा और अपनी आंतरिक शक्ति (Inner Strength) से शांति पाई।
• मां अपनी तुलना "छुईमुई" (Mimosa) पौधे से करती है जो छूने पर सिकुड़ तो जाता है लेकिन मरता नहीं है।

दो क्षितिज (Two Horizons):

अंत में, बेटी को एहसास होता है कि वह और उसकी मां "दो क्षितिज" (Two Horizons) की तरह हैं—अलग होते हुए भी जुड़े हुए। मां का अनुभव और आशीर्वाद बेटी के लिए जीने का सहारा बन जाता है। बेटी समझ जाती है कि असली खुशी बाहर नहीं, बल्कि अपने भीतर की शक्ति को पहचानने में है।

📚 Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

Word	Meaning (Hindi)	Meaning (English)
Horizon	क्षितिज (जहाँ धरती-आकाश मिलते हैं)	Line where earth meets sky
Emptiness	खालीपन/सूनापन	Feeling of containing nothing
Chasing	पीछा करना	Running after
Weariness	थकावट	Extreme tiredness
Bosom	हृदय/छाती	Chest/Heart (figuratively)
Endurance	सहनशक्ति	Ability to bear pain

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Who are the two main characters in the story?

Ans: The two main characters are the daughter (narrator) and her mother.

Q2. What did the daughter find while searching for her mother's letters?

Ans: While searching, she found the letters written by her mother, which contained her mother's love, blessings, and wisdom.

Q3. Why does the daughter feel empty?

Ans: The daughter feels empty because she is trapped in the mechanical routine of modern life and struggles to find the inner peace and contentment that her mother had.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. Explain the significance of the title "Two Horizons".

Ans: The title "Two Horizons" is symbolic. It refers to the two different worlds of the mother and the daughter. The mother belongs to the older, traditional generation, rooted in faith and endurance. The daughter belongs to the modern, educated generation, searching for identity. Like two horizons, they seem distant and different, yet they meet through love and understanding. The daughter eventually learns to merge her horizon with her mother's wisdom.

Q2. How does the mother describe her own life?

Ans: The mother describes her life as a journey of struggle and endurance. She compares herself to a "mimosa" plant that shrinks when touched but survives. She says she has swallowed all her pain and sorrows without complaining. She surrendered everything to God and found peace within herself. She advises her daughter to find strength inside, not outside.

Q3. What did the daughter learn from her mother's letters?

Ans: From the letters, the daughter learned that life is not just about material success or modern freedom. She realized that true happiness comes from patience, love, and inner strength. Her mother's words acted as a guiding light, helping her overcome her feelings of loneliness and emptiness. She learned to embrace her life with courage, just like her mother did.

-- Class 10 English (Bihar Board) Notes --