Summary of The Adventure (by Jayant Narlikar)

The Adventure is a science fiction story about Professor Gaitonde, a

historian, who accidentally enters a parallel world where history is different
from what he knows. One day, while traveling by train, he has an accident
that sends him into an alternate reality.

In this new world, India was never colonized by the British. The biggest
change is the result of the Battle of Panipat. In Professor Gaitonde's original
world, the Marathas lost this battle, and the British took control of India. But
in the alternate world, the Marathas won, and India remained independent
with different regional rulers like the Marathas still in power.

Professor Gaitonde notices many differences in this new version of Bombay

(Mumbai) and is curious to learn more. He visits a library and finds out that
history took a different turn because of the Maratha victory at Panipat.

Later, when he tries to give a lecture in the city, no one listens to him, which
surprises him because he's usually a respected historian. The silence
confuses him and highlights the differences in this new reality.

Eventually, Professor Gaitonde returns to his original world and shares his
experience with Rajendra Deshpande, a physicist. Rajendra explains that
Gaitonde’s experience can be understood through the “quantum theory of
parallel universes,” which suggests that multiple realities can exist at the
same time. This means different versions of history could happen in other
worlds.

The story shows how small changes in history can lead to completely
different outcomes, and it mixes science with history to explore this idea.

Short Answer Questions (30-40 words):

1. What unusual experience did Professor Gaitonde have while traveling
through Bombay?

Professor Gaitonde found himself in an alternate reality of Bombay, where

India had not been colonized by the British, and it was an entirely different
world from the one he knew.

2. How did Professor Gaitonde end up in the alternate reality?

He was in a train accident that somehow propelled him into a parallel

universe, where history had taken a different turn.

3. What role did the collision theory play in Professor Gaitonde’s experience?

The collision theory explains that two parallel universes can exist
simultaneously. The train accident acted as a trigger that caused a collision
between Professor Gaitonde’s world and the parallel universe.

4. What major historical event had a different outcome in the alternate

reality Professor Gaitonde found himself in?

In the alternate reality, the Marathas had defeated the British in the Battle of
Panipat, and India had never been colonized.

5. What strange event occurred during Professor Gaitonde’s lecture at the

Azad Maidan?

When Professor Gaitonde began his speech at Azad Maidan, no one seemed
to react or listen. Eventually, he was met with such silence that he was
forced to stop.
6. Why did Professor Gaitonde decide to visit the library after the lecture?

He was determined to verify if the history in this new world was different
from what he knew, so he visited the library to consult historical records.

7. What did Professor Gaitonde learn about the outcome of the Battle of
Panipat in the alternate world?

He discovered that in this world, the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat and
established their dominance over India, which led to a different political
scenario.

8. What is the significance of the title "The Adventure"?

The title refers to the unusual, adventurous experience Professor Gaitonde

has as he journeys through alternate realities, exploring different possibilities
of history.

Long Answer Questions (120-150 words):

1. Describe Professor Gaitonde’s experience in the alternate reality and how

it differed from his own world.

Professor Gaitonde found himself in a parallel world where history had taken
a drastically different course. The first major difference he noticed was that
Bombay, the city he knew, was still in the hands of Indian rulers, specifically
the Marathas. In this world, the British had never colonized India. The
political scenario was completely different, with various Indian kingdoms
flourishing independently. The Battle of Panipat, which in his reality had been
lost by the Marathas, was a major victory for them in the alternate reality. As
a historian, Gaitonde was fascinated by these historical discrepancies and
sought to learn more by visiting libraries and studying history books.
However, this adventure also left him unsettled as he realized he had
crossed into a parallel universe, leading him to question the nature of reality
itself.

2. How does the concept of parallel universes play a role in "The Adventure"?

In "The Adventure," the concept of parallel universes is central to the plot.

The theory suggests that different versions of the world exist simultaneously,
with each one following a different course of history. Professor Gaitonde’s
train accident acts as a catalyst that shifts him into a parallel universe where
the Battle of Panipat had a different outcome. This theory of alternate
realities is rooted in quantum physics and suggests that events, decisions,
and actions can lead to different possibilities coexisting in different
universes. In Gaitonde’s case, he experiences an alternate version of Indian
history where the British never colonized the country, and the Marathas
remained in power. The story uses this scientific theory to blend history and
fiction, making it an intriguing exploration of ‘what could have been.’

3. What is the significance of Professor Gaitonde's lecture at Azad Maidan,

and what did it reveal about the alternate reality?

The lecture at Azad Maidan is a key event in the story as it serves as a

turning point for Professor Gaitonde. In the alternate reality, he attempts to
deliver a lecture on history, but he is met with complete indifference from
the audience. This reaction baffles him because, in his world, he is a
respected historian. The lack of response suggests that in this new reality,
the audience does not recognize or value the historical discourse he offers.
The incident also reveals the differences in the social and political climate of
this alternate world, where the norms of public speaking and intellectual
engagement are vastly different. Gaitonde’s failure to make an impact
through his lecture further signifies the strange, unfamiliar world he has
entered, emphasizing the theme of disconnection between different versions
of history.
4. Briefly explain the two theories which Rajendra Deshpande explains to
Gangadhar pant?

In “The Adventure”, Jayant Narlikar uses both Catastrophe Theory and Quantum Theory to
explain Professor Gaitonde’s strange experience of an alternate world. Catastrophe theory
suggests that a very small change in the initial conditions of history can lead to a sudden and
dramatic shift in the final outcome. Rajendra explains that a minor variation in the Battle of
Panipat might have caused a completely different turn of events, resulting in the India that
Gaitonde sees in his experience.
On the other hand, quantum theory proposes that every event has many possible outcomes, and
all these outcomes may exist in parallel worlds. Gaitonde may have slipped into one such
parallel universe where history followed a different path. Together, these theories help
scientifically justify the possibility of alternative realities, making Gaitonde’s adventure
believable and meaningful.