WBBSE 10th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Biography Writing

A Biography is a detailed description of a person’s life.

Points- Original Name: Margaret Elizabeth Noble-Date of birth: 28.10.1867-an Irish social worker, author, teacher-disciple of Swami Vivekananda-he gave her the name Nivedita-meaning ‘Dedicated to God’-opened a girls’ school in Bagbazar-one of the pioneers in girls’ education gave health service during the plague epidemic in Kolkata-inspired Indian national movement-helped Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose in his scientific researches-died on 13 October, 1911 at the tage of 43.

Sister Nivedita was born Margaret Elizabeth Noble on 28 October, 1867. She was an Irish by birth but an Indian by choice. She started her career as a social worker, author and teacher. Then she met Swami Vivekananda and became his disciple. Responding to her Guru’s call, she came to Kolkata from London in 1898. Swamiji gave her a new name, ‘Nivedita’, which means ‘Dedicated to God’. Nivedita was truly dedicated to God named India. She opened a girls’ school at Bagbazar in Kolkata. She was one of the pioneers in the field of women’s education in India. When plague broke out in Kolkata as an epidemic, she nursed the poor patients. She was an inspiration for the Indian nationalists fighting for the country’s freedom. She helped Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose to carry on his scientific researches. On 13 October, 1911, Sister died in Darjeeling at the age of 43 only. Indians will never forget this great lady.

Points- Name: Sarojini Naidu, Indian Independence activist and poet-Date of Birth: 13th February, 1879 in Hyderabad-Parents’ Name: Father-Aghore Nath Chatterjee-founder of Hyderabad College; MotherBaroda Sundari Devi, poetess in Bengali – Education: Matriculation from the University of Madras; King’s College, London; Girton College, Cambridge-Political Career: in 1905, joined Indian National Congress (INC); Became first woman president of INC conference at Kanpur in 1925– Participation in National movements: Joined protest movements against Partition of Bengal; in 1930, Salt Satyagraha with Mahatma Gandhi; In 1931, participated in Round Table Conference, went to jail during Civil Disobedience Movement and again during Quit India Movement in 1942-Achievement: First to set up Women’s Indian Association in 1917. Became the first woman Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh — Died: 2nd March, 1949 at the age of 70 of a heart attack while working in the office-Remembered as: The .’Nightingale of India’ for her lovely poems.

Sarojini Naidu, the ‘Nightingale of India’, was both, a warrior of India’s struggle for freedom and poet. She was born on 13 February, 1879 in Hyderabad. Her father Aghore Nath Chatterjee was the founder of Hyderabad College. Her mother Baroda Sundari Devi also was a poetess in Bengali. After passing matriculation examination under the University of Madras, Sarojini joined King’s College at London and Girton College at Cambridge for higher studies. Her political career started in 1905 when she joined the Indian National Congress. In 1925, she became the first woman President of this organization. Sarojini took part in the protest movement against the partition of Bengal and also in the Salt Satyagraha led by Gandhiji in 1930. In the Round Table Conference held in the next year, she was one of the participants. She was jailed twice, once during the Civil Disobedience Movement and then again during the Quit India Movement. She founded Women’s Indian Association in 1917. In free India, she became the first woman governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. On 2 March, 1949 she died of a heart attack in harness at the age of seventy. India will never forget this great leader.

Points- Name: Pusaria Venkata Sindhu-birth: in a Telegu family-dated 5th July 1995-started playing badminton from the age of eight-first learned the basics of the sport with the guidance of Mehboob Ali at the badminton courts of Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications in Secunderabad-Next she joined Pullela Gopichand’s Badminton Academy-a bronze medalist at the 2009 Sub Junior Asian Badminton Championships the most sparkling careeer at Rio Olympics, 2016– first defeated World no. 2 Chinese Wang Yihan to reach quarter final-next beat Japanese Nozomi Okuhara to reach final-lost to Spaniard Carolina Marin in Final.

Pusaria Venkata Sindhu, the star shuttler of India, was born on 5 July, 1995 in a Telegu family. She started playing badminton when she was only eight years old. Her first coach was Mehboob Ali. He gave her training at the badminton court of Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications, Secunderabad. Later Sindhu joined Pullela Gopichand’s Badminton Academy. The bronze medalist at the 2009 Sub Junior Asian Badminton Championships. showed a spectacular performance at Rio Olympics, 2016. Defeating World No. 2, China’s Wang Yihan, Sindhu reached the quarter final. Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara was defeated by her. But in the final Sindhu was defeated by Spain’s Carolina Marin and won the silver medal. India is still looking forward to her for more success in the coming days.

Points- Birth: 12th Jan, 1863-Parents: Biswanath Datta and Bhubaneswari Devi of Shimla Street, KolkataChildhood: restless, courageous and naughty-Education: Metropolitan School, Presidency College-Monastic life: met Sri Ramakrishna-Speech in Chicago Parliament of Religions, 1893 – Founded Ramakrishna Math and Mission at Belur, 1898– Death: 4th July, 1902

Bengal has given us many great souls. Swami Vivekananda is one of them. This great Hindu monk was born of Biswanath Datta and Bhubaneswari Devi at Shimla Street area in Kolkata on 12 January, 1863. His original name was Narendranath Datta, but he was more popular as Biley (বিলে). He was very restless, naughty and courageous from his childhood. After completing his early education at Metropolitan School, he graduated from Presidency College. In a rare turn of events, he met Sri Ramakrishna and was greatly influenced by him. He became his disciple and came to be known as Swami Vivekananda. He travelled to many holy places and made pilgrimages throughout India. In the year 1893, he went to Chicago as a Hindu delegate to participate in the Parliament of Religions. Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission at Belur in 1898. He breathed his last on 4 July, 1902, but his ideals continue to inspire us to be real human beings even today.

Points- Date of birth and place: 2 Oct, 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat – Parents: Kaba Gandhi and Putli Bai – Education: at Porbandar and Rajkot, left for England in 1888 to study law – Professional career : back to India in 1893, started practising at the Bombay High Court; South Africa to practise law-Political career: started passive resistance and non-violence to protest against tortures on black people in South Africa-1920: Started Non-cooperation Movement- 1930: Civil Disobedience MovementPhilosophy of life: simple life; disliked power and position—Death: assassinated on 30 January, 1948.

Many great Indians left their mark on the Indian Freedom Movement by their tireless struggle. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is one of them. He was born on 2 October, 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat. Kaba Gandhi and Putli Bai were his parents. His school education was at Porbandar and Rajkot. Then he went to England in 1888 to study law. He came back to India in 1893 and started practising in the Bombay High Court. Being unsuccessful here as a lawyer, he went to South Africa to practise law. This great leader started his career in India’s freedom movement here through passive resistance and non-violence in protest against the tortures on black people. Later he joined the Indian National Congress. Indhiji led the Indian struggle for freedom in 1920 when he started Non-cooperation Movement and in 1930 he organised Civil Disobedience Movement. He led a simple life and disliked power and position. India won her freedom on 15 August, 1947 but Gandhiji was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on 30 January, 1948. Rabindranath called him ‘Mahatma’ and the Indians respectfully call him the ‘Father of the Nation’.

Points- Birth: 3 November, 1933-Place: BangladeshParents: Prof. Ashutosh Sen and Mrs Amita Sen Education : Santiniketan, Presidency College, Calcutta University, Ph.D. from Cambridge — Service: Prof. in Jadavpur University from 1956-58, taught in Delhi University, London School of Economics and Oxford University-Awards: Nobel Prize in Economics, 1998Noted Books: ‘Growth Economics’ (1970), ‘On Economic Inequality’ (1973), ‘Poverty and Famines’ (1981)

Our country has produced a lot of great personalities. Amartya Sen is one of them. Amartya Sen, a great economist, was born in present Bangladesh on 3 November, 1933. Prof. Ashutosh Sen and Mrs Amita Sen were his parents. He had his early education in Santiniketan and then in Presidency College and Calcutta University. He completed his Ph.D from Cambridge and joined as a Professor of Economics in Jadavpur University (1956-58). This great economist has taught at Delhi University, London School of Economics, Oxford University, Harvard University and Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a great scholar and thinker. He is the first Asian Nobel Laureate in Economics (1998). He wrote many books on Welfare Economics. Some of his notable books are ‘Growth Economics’ (1970), ‘On Economic Inequality’ (1973), ‘Poverty and Famines’ (1981), etc. It is due to him that India is trying to achieve wonderful feats in the field of Welfare Economics. We are really proud of this renowned personality.

Points- Born on 15th October, 1931, Rameswaram, Parents: Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma, Education: B.Sc., Physics and Aerospace Engineering-worked long 40 years for development of ballistic missile launch vehiclemajor role in Pokhran nuclear bomb test-called the father of missile-got Bharat Ratna award-Death: July 27, 2015

APJ Abdul Kalam, the great scientist and one of the finest men of modern India, was a ‘Ratna’, a jewel of India. He was popularly called the father of missile’ in India. As the eleventh president of India, he won the hearts of the people. He was was the people’s president. He born Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu on 15 October, 1931. His father Jainulabdeen was a pious person and mother Ashiamma was a homemaker. His early education started in a school at Rameswaram. Then he was admitted to Madras Institute of Technology. He played a key role in India’s first-ever rocket launching in 1965. He was the leader of the nuclear explosion experiment at Pokhran in 1988. He guided the launching of the surface to surface missiles Trisul’, ‘Akash’ and ‘Agni’. He received the Padma Bhushan’ and the ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award in India. He wrote many books including ‘Wings of Fire, his autobiography. He left his mortal body on 27 July, 2015. But his ideal will surely guide us towards his dream destination-India as a knowledge super power.

Points- Date of birth: 5 November, 1988, Delhi-Father: Prem Kohli, criminal lawyer-Mother: Saroj Kohli, homemaker-Showed interest in cricket at the age of three-Enrolled at West Delhi Cricket Academy, when nine- Right-hand bat an, right-arm medium pacer, outstanding fielder-Test debut 2011-Captain of the Indian team 2014-More than 5000 runs in test matches; more than 8000 runs in One Day International MatchesReceived Arjuna Award-2013] [Madhyamik Pariksha 2018]

Virat Kohli is one of the greatest cricketers that India has ever had. He was born on 5 November, 1988 in Delhi. His father, Prem Kohli was a criminal lawyer and his mother, Saroj Kohli, is a homemaker. Virat’s interest in cricket was first noticed when he was only three years old. When nine years old, he was enrolled at West Delhi Cricket Academy. Besides being a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium pacer, Virat is an outstanding fielder. He made his debut in test cricket in 2011. In 2014, he became the captain of the Indian team. In all forms of cricket, test match, one day and T20, Virat is a prolific run machine. In test matches, he has scored more than 5000 runs and in the one day matches his total score is more than 8000 runs. He received Arjuna Award in 2013. We are really proud of this naturally aggressive batsman.

Points- Born: 1942-Got motor neurone disease: When studying at Oxford-Lost speech: After surgery on the windpipe-Books: A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell-Research: On space, time and the cosmos Greatest physicist since Einstein,

Stephen Hawking, born in 1942, is the real wonder of this universe. No scientist has achieved things under the circumstances that Hawking has gone through. Hawking was then in his third year at Oxford. At that time a serious motor neurone disease destroyed his nerve cells. His muscles became atrophied. His speech became slurred. He also lost his other communicative organs. Doctors announced only two years more of life. But Hawking was undaunted. He completed his course at Oxford and submitted his Ph.D. thesis. He married Jane Wilde and they have three children. He was made Fellow of the Royal Society in the year 1974. Hawking contracted pneumonia during a research visit to Switzerland. An operation caused the complete loss of speech. He was confined to a wheelchair with a specially devised computer to help him in his research work. His two popular books are ‘A Brief History of Time’ and ‘The Universe in a Nutshell’. He is considered the greatest physicist after Einstein.

Points- Date and place of birth: 1 May 1919, Madanmohan Ghosh Lane, Kolkata Parents: Purna Chandra Dey and Mahamaya Devi-Education: Indubabu’s Pathsala, Scottish Church Collegiate School, Vidyasagar CollegeInspiration: Uncle Krishna Chandra Dey-Career: First duet in the film Tamanna’ (1943), then ‘Sankhabela’ (1966), ‘Antony Firingi’ (1967), ‘Chowringhee (1968), etc. Speciality: Classical and semi-classical songs— Awards: Padma Shri (1971), Filmfare Award (1972), PadmaBhusan (2004), Dadasaheb Phalke (2007) and Banga Bibhushan (2011) Breathed his last: 24 Oct, 2013, Bengaluru

In our country Manna Dey’ and ‘Melody’ remained synonymous for almost fifty years. This great maestro was born on 1st May, 1919 in his ancestral house at 9 Madanmohan Ghosh Lane, Kolkata. His parents were Purna Chandra Dey and Mahamaya Devi. He got his early education at Indubabu’s Pathsala. After leaving Pathsala he joined Scottish Church Collegiate School. He completed his graduation from Vidyasagar College. His uncle Krishna Chandra Dey inspired him to take up singing as a profession. The melodious journey of his life began with a duet song in the film ‘Tamanna’ in the year 1943. After that he gave us many hit and popular songs from films like ‘Sankhabela’ (1966), ‘Antony Firingi’ (1967), ‘Chowringhee’ (1968), etc. Even though his speciality was classical and semi-classical music his modern Bengali songs were equally popular. People still become mesmerized when they listen to ‘Coffee-Houser Sei Addata Aaj Aar Nei’, ‘Se Aamar Choto Bon’, ‘Aamay Ektu Jayga Dao’, etc. He was awarded Padma Shri, Filmfare Award, Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Banga Bibhushan. He left us on 24 October, 2013.

Points- Birth date and place: 18 July, 1918, South Africa Early life: lost father at 10-Education: took law. degree in 1942– Later life: joined freedom movement of the black; put behind bars-released from jail: after 30 yearsElection: people elected him the President of South Africa Award: Nobel Peace Prize-Death: 5 December, 2013

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918 in South Africa. His father died when he was a mere boy of ten years. He graduated in law in 1942. Then he joined the struggle for freedom for the black. He appeared as a crusader of the anti-apartheid movement. The white rulers in South Africa looked down upon the black there and oppressed them. Mandela raised his voice against all these. He demanded that the black be given the right to vote. The white rulers put him behind the bars. He passed thirty long years of his life in the darkness of prison. But people made him the icon of the black struggle for freedom. After three decades, Mandela was released from prison. The era of apartheid came to an end in South Africa. Nelson was elected as the President of the country. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. This great crusader breathed his last on 5 December, 2013.

Points- Birth date and place: 17 Sept., 1915, Pandharpur, Bombay Presidency, British India-Training: Sir J.J. School of Art-Nationality: Indian, Qatari (2010-2011)-Field of interest: Painting, drawing, writing, film making-Works: Mother India, Illustration for Ramayana and Mahabharata— Awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan-Death: 9 June, 2011, London.

Maqbool Fida Husain was born as an Indian but died as a Qatari. As a painter, he was acclaimed worldwide. He was born on 17 September, 1915 at Pandharpur in Bombay Presidency in British India. He got the formal training in art in Sir J.J. School of Art. He showed his brilliance not only in the field of drawing and painting but also in the domain of film and literature. Two films made by him, namely ‘Through the Eyes of a Painter’ and ‘Gaja Gamini’ are quite famous. His painting titled ‘Mother India’ and illustrations of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were widely acclaimed by critics all over the world. He received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India. In 2010, he was compelled to leave his motherland and to take the citizenship of Qatar. On 9 June, 2011, this great artist died in London.

Points- Birth date and place: 24 October, 1921 in Mysore, Karnataka-Name: R.K. Laxman-Brother: R.K. Narayan, one of India’s best known English language novelistsField of work: Cartoonist, illustrator, humanist-Worked in: Swarajya, Blitz, The Hindu, Times of India-Famous work: ‘The Common Man’, ‘Gattu’ in the advertisement of Asian Paints Awards and Honours: Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Ramon Magsaysay Award— Autobiography: The Tunnel of Time – Death: 26 January, 2015, in Pune

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman was a cartoonist with a difference. Ordinary Indians could identify themselves with his cartoon character, ‘The Common Man’. He was born on 24 October 1921 in Mysore, Karnataka. One of his brothers is R.K. Narayan, one of India’s best known English language novelists. Laxman was a cartoonist, illustrator and humorist as well. He worked in different magazines and newspapers like the Swarajya, the Blitz, The Hindu, The Times of India, etc. He started a daily cartoon strip titled ‘You Said It’ in The Times of India in 1951. It made him very popular. His ‘Gattu’, another cartoon character, was seen in the advertisement of Asian Paints. Laxman received Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Ramon Magsaysay Award. He penned his autobiography titled ‘The Tunnel of Time’. On 26 January, 2015, he died in Pune at the age of 93. It is significantly coincidental that the creator of ‘The Common Man’ passed away on Republic Day.

Points- Birth: In undivided Midnapore in 1889– Reared by: elder sister-Education: at Hamilton High School, Tamluk-Associated with: revolutionary party from school life, went on the mission to kill Kingsford-Result: Kingsford unhurt, Kshudiram arrested, hanged to death in 1909

Kshudiram Bose was one of the great martyrs of India under the British rule. He laid down his life for the freedom of his motherland. He was born in 1889 in undivided Midnapore in the British India. In his childhood he was brought up by his elder sister. Kshudiram was educated in Hamilton High School, a renowned institution of the then Tamluk. He came in contact with the revolutionaries from his school days. Their sole mission was to free their motherland from the clutches of the British. The revolutionaries decided to kill a tyrant magistrate called Kingsford. Kshudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki were entrusted to fulfil the mission. They went to Muzaffarpur of Bihar and hurled bombs at him. But Kingsford remained unhurt. Kshudiram was arrested and accused of sedition. On 11 August 1909 he was hanged to death. This fearless patriot embraced death with ‘Vande Mataram’ on his lips. Though Kshudiram’s mortal body is no more, his fiery spirit of patriotism is immortal.