It is said that the darwesh had been a servant of Siraj ud-Daulah, and, being ignominiously turned out by him for some fault, he had become a fakir,* and taken up his abode in this jungle. When he saw the servant of Siraj ud-Daulah, with a chillam* in his hand studded with gems, he instantly recognized him, and asked him how he happened to be there. The servant, who was a simpleton, discovered the whole matter to him; and the darwesh, quietly leaving him there, went with all speed to the governor of the neighbouring town, and informed him of Siraj ud-Daulah’s arrival. As orders for capturing the Nawab had been issued by Jafar Ali Khan and the English, and the governor had received them on the same day, he immediately embarked on a boat, and, having seized the Nawab, sent him under the custody of some trusty servants to Jafar Ali Khan, who put him to death in 1757.*
Having so far gratified his ambition, Jafar Ali Khan with a settled mind devoted his attention to the management of Bengal, and took possession of all the wealth and royal equipage of Siraj ud-Daulah,* who had involved himself in this danger by not observing the wise advice of his grandfather.
The dervish had decided to live as a mendicant holy man, that is, one who survives wholly on alms.
A Hindi word for a smoker’s pipe.
Siraj was executed by Mohammad Ali Beg, at Jafar Ali Khan’s residence, on the orders of Mir Miran, Jafar’s son, on July 2nd, 1757. The dagger with which it was done is kept to this day in the Hazarduari Palace in Murshidabad, along with a Dutch-made cannon that exploded in the Battle of Plassey and killed Sajid’s right-hand-man, Mir Madan.
It was Robert Clive who ceremonially conducted Jafar to the musnud (a cushioned throne) of Bengal, a powerful symbolic gesture.
Précis
Unfortunately for the Nawab, it was a disgruntled former employee whom he asked to light his hookah, a man who had no compunction about turning Siraj in, and Jafar had no compunction about murdering him. Jafar was now the Nawab, and richly rewarded the British for making it possible. Which showed, said Das, that you should listen to your grandfather. (60 / 60 words)
Unfortunately for the Nawab, it was a disgruntled former employee whom he asked to light his hookah, a man who had no compunction about turning Siraj in, and Jafar had no compunction about murdering him. Jafar was now the Nawab, and richly rewarded the British for making it possible. Which showed, said Das, that you should listen to your grandfather.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, if, just, not, or, until, whereas.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Case. Disembark. Grandfather.
2 Go. Recognize. Thirty.
3 His. Second. Without.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Prepositions Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below may be followed by one or more prepositions. Compose your own sentences to show which they might be. Some prepositions are given underneath.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Succeed. 2. Entrust. 3. Enter. 4. Abide.
Selected Prepositions
About. Against. Among. At. By. For. From. In. Into. Of. On. Out. Over. Through. To. Towards. Upon. With.
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Demand. 2 Wish. 3 Issue. 4 Leave. 5 Command. 6 Fire. 7 Time. 8 Fault. 9 Place.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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