A Visit to Cambridge, Class 8 English, Chapter 7 Notes

Class 8 English Chapter 7 A Visit to Cambridge Notes

Summary 

Earlier England was important to the author only because there was Cambridge. Now it had a greater appeal for him. He had met Stephen Hawking there during a walking tour. Stephen Hawking is a disabled person. He is the successor of Issac Newton and has his Chair at the university. He is a brilliant astrophysicist. He is also the author of ‘A Brief History of Time’. It is the biggest, best-seller of his times.

The tour was over. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house. Hawking’s assistant attended the telephone call. He told the assistant that he had come from India. He added that he was on a wheel chair. He mentioned that he wanted to write a book about his travels in Britain. Then he expressed his desire to see Stephen Hawking. The time for his meeting the Professor was fixed. It was from three-thirty to four. The interview began on time. The writer felt that the disabled got fed up with people asking them to be brave. They got stronger on seeing somebody like them, achieving something huge. The computer voice replied that Professor Stephen Hawking hadn’t ever been brave. He had no choice in it.

The writer told him that most people think that the disabled people are chronically unhappy. He asked Hawking if he found this amusing. The voice replied that he found it amusing when people patronised him. The writer’s next question was about himself. He asked whether he felt annoyed when people like him disturbed him. The answer flashed ‘yes’. Hawking smiled after giving this answer. Prof. Hawking appeared to the writer as one of the most beautiful men in the world. However, the writer was shaken by his first glimpse. He seemed only a skeleton then.

The writer asked Hawking’s opinion about the best thing about being disabled. The reply was negative. The writer’s next question was if this didn’t help him discover great kindness in the world. The voice agreed fully with the writer. Like others, the writer also got highly inspired by the answers. This idea didn’t appeal or console Hawking. The question made the writer feel sorry. Others’ admiration of Hawking’s living could not console him. Then the writer asked him about his advice to the disabled people.

The voice advised the disabled to concentrate on what they are good. They should try nothing beyond it. They must not be over-enthusiastic. Then the writer saw Hawking’s big garden. At last he wheeled out. The writer found his journey successful and inspiring.

Word Meanings