English Summary:
The story "Mijbil The Otter" is a heartwarming and adventurous account by Gavin Maxwell about his unique experience of keeping an otter as a pet. After the death of his dog, Jonnie, Maxwell felt lonely and decided to try a different kind of pet.
📍 Arrival of the Otter in Iraq
While staying in Southern Iraq, Maxwell casually expressed his desire to own an otter to a friend. A few days later, two Arabs brought him a sack containing a small, mud-covered creature. Maxwell named him Mijbil. Initially, the otter was covered in thick mud, and it took Maxwell almost a month of hard work to clean him and reveal his beautiful chocolate-brown velvet fur. Mijbil belonged to a race previously unknown to science, later named Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.
📍 Mijbil’s Playful Nature and Habits
Mijbil was an extremely intelligent and playful pet. He was obsessed with water; for him, water had to be kept on the move and splashed around until it overflowed.
- Intelligence: Within two days, Mijbil learned to escape from the bedroom and go to the bathroom. He even learned how to turn on the tap with his paws to produce a full flow of water.
- Invention of Games: He was very fond of toys like marbles, rubber fruit, and ping-pong balls. He invented a game where he would place a ball on the high end of a sloping suitcase and ambush it as it rolled down.
📍 The Journey to London: Chaos in the Air
The most difficult part was transporting Mijbil from Iraq to London. Since British airlines did not allow animals, Maxwell had to book a flight through Paris.
- The Box Incident: Mijbil had to be packed in an eighteen-inch square box. However, Mijbil hated being locked up and tore the metal lining of the box, injuring himself until blood trickled out.
- In-Flight Drama: Once inside the plane, Mijbil escaped from his box and disappeared under the seats. A woman screamed, thinking it was a rat. Thanks to a very kind airhostess, Maxwell was able to calm down and eventually retrieve Mijbil.
📍 Life and Curiosity in London
In London, Mijbil stayed for nearly a month and developed several "compulsive habits" like a schoolchild. He would always walk on the edge of the wall of a primary school, distracting both students and teachers. Since Londoners had never seen an otter, they made wild guesses about him, calling him a "baby seal," a "beaver," a "bear cub," or even a "hippo". The most memorable moment was when a laborer digging a hole saw Mijbil and asked in total surprise, "Here, Mister—what is that supposed to be?".
"मिज़बिल द ऑटर" प्रसिद्ध लेखक गेविन मैक्सवेल द्वारा रचित एक रोचक आत्मकथात्मक कथा है। इसमें लेखक ने अपने अनोखे पालतू जीव—एक ऊदबिलाव—के साथ बिताए गए अनुभवों को संवेदनशील और हास्यपूर्ण ढंग से प्रस्तुत किया है। अपने प्रिय कुत्ते की मृत्यु के बाद उन्होंने निश्चय किया कि अब वे किसी सामान्य पालतू पशु के स्थान पर एक अलग और दुर्लभ जीव को अपनाएँगे।
📍 मिज़बिल का आगमन (इराक में)
उस समय लेखक दक्षिणी इराक में रह रहे थे। जब उन्होंने अपने एक परिचित से ऊदबिलाव पालने की इच्छा व्यक्त की, तो कुछ ही दिनों बाद दो स्थानीय व्यक्ति एक थैले में एक छोटे से जीव को लेकर पहुँचे। उसी का नाम बाद में मिज़बिल रखा गया। शुरुआत में वह पूरी तरह गंदगी से सना हुआ था। उसे साफ़ करने और स्वस्थ बनाने में लेखक को काफ़ी समय लगा। धीरे-धीरे उसका मुलायम, भूरा और चमकदार शरीर दिखाई देने लगा।
📍 मिज़बिल की चंचल प्रवृत्ति और पानी से लगाव
मिज़बिल अत्यंत समझदार और खेल-कूद पसंद करने वाला जीव था। उसे पानी से विशेष लगाव था। वह पानी को केवल पीने के लिए नहीं, बल्कि खेलने और उछालने के लिए प्रयोग करता था।
- स्नानघर की घटना: कुछ ही दिनों में उसने स्वयं बाथरूम जाना और अपने पंजों से नल घुमाना सीख लिया, ताकि वह पानी से खेल सके।
- रचनात्मक खेल: वह कंचों, रबर की गेंदों और अन्य छोटी वस्तुओं से खेलता था। उसने अपना एक अनोखा खेल भी बना लिया था जिसमें वह ढलान पर रखी वस्तु को गिराकर तुरंत पकड़ लेता था।
📍 लंदन की यात्रा और विमान की घटना
मिज़बिल को इराक से इंग्लैंड ले जाना आसान नहीं था, क्योंकि कई विमान सेवाएँ जानवरों को साथ ले जाने की अनुमति नहीं देती थीं। अंततः उसे एक छोटे से डिब्बे में सुरक्षित करके यात्रा करवाई गई।
- डिब्बे की समस्या: बंद होने पर उसने अंदर की धातु पर जोर लगाकर उसे तोड़ने की कोशिश की, जिससे वह घायल भी हो गया।
- विमान में अफरा-तफरी: एक समय वह डिब्बे से बाहर निकल आया, जिससे यात्रियों में घबराहट फैल गई। बाद में शांतिपूर्वक उसे वापस सुरक्षित स्थान पर रखा गया।
📍 लंदन में जीवन और लोगों की प्रतिक्रियाएँ
लंदन पहुँचने के बाद मिज़बिल लोगों के लिए आकर्षण का केंद्र बन गया। वहाँ अधिकांश लोग ऊदबिलाव से परिचित नहीं थे, इसलिए वे उसे देखकर तरह-तरह के अनुमान लगाते थे। कोई उसे सील का बच्चा समझता, तो कोई किसी अन्य जंगली जीव से तुलना करता। यह सब लेखक के लिए मनोरंजक अनुभव था और इससे कहानी में हास्य का पुट जुड़ जाता है।
| Word | English Meaning | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage | A small house in the country | छोटा मकान/कुटिया |
| Lonely | Feeling sad being alone | अकेलापन |
| Acquire | To get or buy something | प्राप्त करना/खरीदना |
| Considerable | Large in size or amount | काफी अधिक |
| Commitment | A promise or responsibility | वचनबद्धता |
| Vaccination | Protection against diseases | टीकाकरण |
| Grooming | Cleaning and brushing | सफाई व सजावट |
| Marshes | Wet areas near water | दलदल/नम भूमि |
| Tamed | Domesticated animal | पालतू बनाना |
| Consulate | Government office in a city | वाणिज्य दूतावास |
| Cabled | Sent a telegram | तार भेजना |
| Breakdown | A failure in machinery | खराबी |
| Squirmed | Moved with a twisting motion | छटपटाना |
| Thraldom | The state of being a slave | गुलामी/वश में होना |
| Fixation | An obsessive interest | लगाव/स्थिरीकरण |
| Emerged | Came out of something | बाहर निकलना |
| Medievallly | Related to middle ages | मध्यकालीन |
| Resembled | Looked like something else | समान दिखना |
| Christened | To give a name to someone | नामकरण करना |
| Hostile | Unfriendly or aggressive | शत्रुतापूर्ण |
| Aloof | Stay at a distance | अलग-थलग/उदासीन |
| Apathy | Lack of interest | अरुचि |
| Plunging | Falling or jumping into water | डुबकी लगाना |
| Provoking | Causing a strong reaction | उकसाने वाला |
| Escaped | Ran away/Got free | बच निकलना |
| Trickle | A small flow of water | बूंद-बूंद गिरना |
| Dribble | To move a ball with feet | गेंद लुढ़काना |
| Juggle | Play with objects in air | हाथ-पैरों से उछालना |
| Dreaded | Feared or worried about | डरा हुआ |
| Accustomed | Used to something | अभ्यस्त होना |
| Hurried | Done very quickly | जल्दबाजी में |
| Appalling | Shocking or very bad | दहलाने वाला |
| Shreds | Small torn pieces | धज्जियाँ |
| Infuriated | Extremely angry | गुस्से में |
| Gratitude | Feeling of being thankful | आभार |
| Shrieks | High-pitched screams | चीखें |
| Distressed | Suffering from pain or worry | व्यथित/परेशान |
| Nuzzle | Rub with the nose | नाक रगड़ना |
| Engrossed | Fully occupied in something | लीन होना |
| Ambush | Surprise attack | छिपकर हमला करना |
| Compulsive | Irresistible urge | बाध्य करने वाला |
| Distraction | Something that draws attention | ध्यान भटकाना |
| Conjectural | Based on guesses | अनुमानित |
| Giggle | To laugh in a silly way | ही-ही करना/हंसना |
| Abreast | Side by side | आमने-सामने |
| Profound | Very great or intense | गहरा |
| Precisely | Exactly | ठीक/सटीक |
| Resumed | Started again | दोबारा शुरू करना |
| Outlook | Viewpoint or perspective | दृष्टिकोण |
| Spectacle | A visually striking scene | नजारा |
(A) Gavin Maxwell | (B) Lokesh Abrol | (C) Arup Kumar Datta | (D) Lucio Rodrigues
Correct Answer: (A) Gavin Maxwell
(A) London | (B) Camusfearna | (C) Basra | (D) Paris
Correct Answer: (B) Camusfearna
(A) Mijbil | (B) Jonnie | (C) Tommy | (D) Bruno
Correct Answer: (B) Jonnie
(A) Cat | (B) Dog | (C) Rabbit | (D) Parrot
Correct Answer: (B) Dog
(A) Deserts | (B) Marshes | (C) Mountains | (D) Forests
Correct Answer: (B) Marshes
(A) 1950 | (B) 1956 | (C) 1960 | (D) 1945
Correct Answer: (B) 1956
(A) London | (B) Paris | (C) Basra | (D) Cairo
Correct Answer: (C) Basra
(A) His friend | (B) Two Arabs | (C) His servant | (D) A pilot
Correct Answer: (B) Two Arabs
(A) Lizard | (B) Dragon | (C) Crocodile | (D) Dinosaur
Correct Answer: (B) Dragon
(A) Black | (B) Grey | (C) Chocolate-brown | (D) White
Correct Answer: (C) Chocolate-brown
(A) First 12 hours | (B) First 24 hours | (C) Two days | (D) One week
Correct Answer: (B) First 24 hours
(A) Bedroom | (B) Bathroom | (C) Kitchen | (D) Garden
Correct Answer: (B) Bathroom
(A) Lights | (B) Radio | (C) Chromium taps | (D) Door handle
Correct Answer: (C) Chromium taps
(A) Marbles | (B) Sticks | (C) Bones | (D) Shoes
Correct Answer: (A) Marbles
(A) 10 inches | (B) 15 inches | (C) 18 inches | (D) 20 inches
Correct Answer: (C) 18 inches
(A) It was cheaper | (B) British airlines would not fly animals | (C) He wanted to see Paris | (D) Paris had better airports
Correct Answer: (B) British airlines would not fly animals
(A) Put the otter back in the box | (B) Keep the otter on his knee | (C) Give the otter some milk | (D) Leave the otter in the cockpit
Correct Answer: (B) Keep the otter on his knee
(A) A ghost! | (B) A rat! | (C) A snake! | (D) A cat!
Correct Answer: (B) A rat!
(A) Mud | (B) Water | (C) Curry | (D) Ink
Correct Answer: (C) Curry
(A) One week | (B) Nearly a month | (C) Two months | (D) One day
Correct Answer: (B) Nearly a month
(A) Sleep | (B) Bark | (C) Gallop | (D) Hide
Correct Answer: (C) Gallop
(A) Reptiles | (B) Mustellines | (C) Rodents | (D) Amphibians
Correct Answer: (B) Mustellines
(A) Baby seal | (B) Hippo | (C) Beaver | (D) Elephant
Correct Answer: (D) Elephant
(A) Is it a dog? | (B) What is that supposed to be? | (C) Where did you get it? | (D) Does it bite?
Correct Answer: (B) What is that supposed to be?
(A) Hide and seek | (B) Ping-pong ball game | (C) Catch me if you can | (D) Football
Correct Answer: (B) Ping-pong ball game
(A) Short-term fun | (B) Lifetime commitment | (C) Small responsibility | (D) Hobby
Correct Answer: (B) Lifetime commitment
(A) Feeding pets | (B) Keeping pets in cages | (C) Training pets | (D) Bathing pets
Correct Answer: (B) Keeping pets in cages
(A) Canis Lupus | (B) Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli | (C) Felis Catus | (D) Ursus Arctos
Correct Answer: (B) Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli
(A) A chain | (B) A body-belt | (C) A rope | (D) Nothing
Correct Answer: (B) A body-belt
(A) It was too dark | (B) It was covered in thick mud | (C) He was wearing clothes | (D) He was too small
Correct Answer: (B) It was covered in thick mud
Ans: The opening of the sack containing the otter began a new phase of his life.
Ans: The creature resembled a very small, medievally conceived dragon.
Ans: The author took the otter to the bathroom on a lead.
Ans: He went wild with joy, plunging and rolling in the water for half an hour.
Ans: He learned to turn the tap with his paws to produce a flow of water.
Ans: He took less than a minute to produce a trickle of water.
Ans: Mij was out of the box in a flash and disappeared down the aircraft at high speed.
Ans: She was screaming because she thought the otter was a rat.
Ans: Because the average Londoner did not recognize an otter as they were rare in the city.
Ans: Londoners guessed he was a 'baby seal' or a 'squirrel'.
Ans: It involves responsibility for 10 years or more and requires full family agreement.
Ans: (i) Annual licensing (ii) Annual vaccination (iii) Proper toilet training.
Ans: Keeping pets confined in cages or tied up to stop them from dirtying the garden is wrong.
Ans: Because the British airline insisted that animals should be carried in a box on the floor and would not fly them directly.
Ans: He tore the lining of the box to shreds and injured himself, causing blood to trickle out.
Ans: She allowed Maxwell to keep the otter on his knee and helped him when Mijbil escaped.
Ans: They are found in the marshes near Basra in Iraq.
Ans: He learned to fumble at the chromium taps with his paws until he produced a full flow of water.
Ans: They guessed he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a hippo, or even a brontosaur.
Ans: He would jump onto the low wall of a primary school and gallop the full length of it.
Ans: The author is Gavin Maxwell, a famous naturalist and writer.
Ans: After his dog Jonnie died, he felt lonely and thought Camusfearna was a suitable place for an otter since it was surrounded by water.
Ans: It refers to the deep emotional bond and obsession that people who own otters usually develop.
Ans: The scientific name is Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.
Ans: He looked like a small 'medievally conceived dragon' and was completely covered in thick mud.
Ans: It took almost a month of cleaning to remove the mud and see his chocolate-brown velvet fur.
Ans: Otters love water; for them, water must be kept on the move and splashed around until it overflows.
Ans: He learned to turn on the chromium taps in the bathroom to produce a full flow of water.
Ans: He would place a ping-pong ball on the high end of a sloping suitcase and ambush it as it rolled down.
Ans: Marbles, rubber fruit, and ping-pong balls were his favorite playthings.
Ans: British airlines did not allow animals, so Maxwell had to book a flight to Paris and then to London.
Ans: The box was eighteen inches square.
Ans: He hated the box and tore the metal lining to shreds, which caused him injuries and bleeding.
Ans: Because she was extremely kind and suggested that Maxwell keep the otter on his knee during the flight.
Ans: He disappeared under the seats, causing a woman to scream "A rat!" and Maxwell's face to get covered in curry.
Ans: He would jump on the low wall of a primary school and gallop the full length of its thirty yards.
Ans: It is a group of animals including otters, badgers, mongooses, and weasels.
Ans: A laborer digging a hole asked Maxwell, "Here, Mister—what is that supposed to be?".
Ans: Baby seal, hippo, beaver, squirrel, bear cub, and leopard.
Ans: Because otters are rare in a city like London, and average people had never seen one.
Ans: Yes, it is a lifetime commitment (10 years or more) that requires considerable responsibility.
Ans: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Ans: It protects them against major diseases and ensures their health.
Ans: A harness used by Maxwell to lead Mijbil, similar to a dog's leash.
Ans: He was indifferent and aloof, choosing to sleep on the floor far from Maxwell's bed.
Ans: Mijbil came to Maxwell's bed and slept in the crook of his knees.
Ans: He was shocked and surprised to see a strange animal like an otter.
Ans: They were located near Basra in Iraq.
Ans: It means helping the pet interact with people and other animals without fear or aggression.
Ans: Yes, you can find the complete solutions and PDF notes on shyarana.com.


