Swami's Challenge: A Test of Courage
ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଏହି ବିଭାଗରେ ଆମେ ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆସିଥିବା ଏକ ବଡ଼ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବା। ତାଙ୍କ ବାପା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଏକା ଶୋଇବାକୁ କାହିଁକି କହିଲେ ତାହା ମଧ୍ୟ ବୁଝିବା।
In the story "A Hero," Swami's life takes an unexpected turn when his father reads a newspaper report about a brave village lad. This boy, while returning home through a jungle path, encountered a tiger and fought it, eventually climbing a tree to safety. Swami's father uses this story to challenge Swami's understanding of courage.
Father's Philosophy on Courage
ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କ ବାପା ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରୁଥିଲେ ଯେ ସାହସ ସବୁଠାରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ଶକ୍ତି କିମ୍ବା ବୟସ ନୁହେଁ। ସେ ଏହି କଥାକୁ ପ୍ରମାଣ କରିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲେ।
Swami initially dismisses the report, believing the boy must have been a very strong, grown-up person, not a boy. His father, however, sneered (ବ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କରିବା) at this view, stating, "A man may have the strength of an elephant and yet be a coward; whereas another may have the strength of a consumptive but having courage he can do anything. Courage is everything; strength and age are not important." [[1]] Swami disputed (ବିବାଦ କରିବା) this theory, questioning what he could do if a tiger attacked him, even with courage.
The Frightful Proposition
ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ବାପା ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କ ସାହସକୁ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ରାତିରେ ଅଫିସ୍ ରୁମରେ ଏକା ଶୋଇବାକୁ କହିଲେ। ଏହା ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ ଥିଲା।
To prove his point, Swami's father issues a frightful proposition (ଭୟଙ୍କର ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ): "Let me see if you can sleep alone tonight in my office room." [[1]] This was a significant challenge for Swami, who had always slept beside his granny. He tried to avoid it by mumbling (ଅସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଭାବରେ କହିବା) weakly and attempting to change the subject, even suggesting he would sleep alone from the "first of next month." [[4]] However, his father was firm, declaring it a disgraceful (ଅପମାନଜନକ) habit to sleep with granny or mother like a baby. [[4]] The challenge quickly became a plain command.
Swami's Reluctance and Fear
ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ସ୍ୱାମୀ ଅଫିସ୍ ରୁମରେ ଏକା ଶୋଇବାକୁ ଅନିଚ୍ଛା ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ। ସେ ଅନ୍ଧାରକୁ ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଭୂତପ୍ରେତ କାହାଣୀ ମନେ ପକାଉଥିଲେ।
Swami pleaded with his father to let him sleep in the hall, citing the office room's dust and potential scorpions. He also asked for a lamp to be kept burning. [[7]] His father refused, emphasizing the need to "learn not to be afraid of darkness" and to "cultivate good habits." [[7]] He agreed only to leave the door open, but with a strict warning not to return to his granny's side, or he would be made the laughing-stock (ହସର ପାତ୍ର) of his school. [[7]] Swami felt cut off from humanity, pained, and angry, even hating the newspaper for the tiger story. As night deepened, his heart beat faster, and he remembered all the ghost stories he had heard. [[7]]
The Night Alone
ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଅଫିସ୍ ରୁମରେ ଏକା ଥିବାବେଳେ ସ୍ୱାମୀ ଭୟରେ ଥରିଲେ। ସେ ଭୟଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିଲେ ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ଧାରରେ କିଛି ଶବ୍ଦ ଶୁଣି ହତାଶ ହୋଇଗଲେ।
Overwhelmed by fear, Swami covered himself completely with a blanket, as if it were an armour (କବଚ), expecting devils to clutch at his throat. [[8]] He eventually crouched (ଲୁଚି ରହିବା) under the bench, feeling it was safer, and fell asleep, dreaming of a tiger chasing him. [[8]] Waking up, he touched the wooden leg of the bench instead of his granny, and his lonely state returned. He heard a rustling sound, saw something moving in the darkness, and became desperate (ହତାଶ), believing his end had come. [[8]] This desperation led him to attack what he thought was a devil, but was actually a burglar. [[6]]
Worked Example:
Question: Rewrite the following sentence using the appropriate form of the word in brackets: The plan of action suggested by the students was not accepted by the headmaster. (proposition)
Answer: The students' proposition was not accepted by the headmaster. [[2]]
This challenge, though terrifying for Swami, ultimately led to an unexpected act of bravery, making him a hero.