3.2 The Night I Met Einstein - Class 10 - Kumarbharati

Author: Jerome Weidman

Genre: Anecdotal / Biographical Sketch

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Board: Maharashtra State Board

Summary

The narrator recalls an evening when he, as a young man, attended a dinner hosted by a philanthropist. After dinner, the hostess arranged a piano concert. The narrator, believing he was tone-deaf and uninterested in classical music, sat politely without listening. A man beside him, who turned out to be Albert Einstein, asked if he liked Bach. The narrator admitted he had never heard Bach’s music and claimed to be tone-deaf.

Einstein invited him to another room, played simple songs with words, and asked him to sing along. Gradually, he increased the complexity, comparing learning music to learning mathematics step-by-step. Eventually, Einstein played Bach, and the narrator was able to appreciate it. This meeting taught him the joy of music and left him with the image of Einstein as a warm, patient teacher.

Theme / Central Idea

The lesson emphasises patience in teaching, the step-by-step approach to learning, and the ability of great personalities to inspire others. It shows how understanding and encouragement can break mental barriers and open one to new experiences.

Character Sketches

Albert Einstein

• Renowned physicist and Nobel laureate

• Warm, patient, and encouraging mentor

• Used simple methods to explain complex concepts

• Believed in gradual learning like in mathematics

• Humble and attentive, made the narrator feel important

  
  

Narrator (Jerome Weidman)

• Initially uninterested in classical music

• Honest about his lack of knowledge

• Willing to learn when guided patiently

• Later gained appreciation for music due to Einstein’s method

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions

Q1. Identify the infinitive and its function:

I’d like to understand music so that I could understand Bach.

→ Infinitive: to understand – shows the purpose of liking something.

Q2. Change to indirect speech:

Einstein said, “You are not tone-deaf.”

→ Einstein told me that I was not tone-deaf.

→ Explanation: Changed pronouns and tense to fit reported speech.

Q3. Identify the modal and its function:

You must learn addition before multiplication.

→ Modal: must – expresses necessity.

Q4. Rewrite in past perfect tense:

He played a simple song.

→ He had played a simple song.

→ Explanation: Past perfect shows action completed before another past action.

Q5. Frame a Wh-question:

The hostess arranged a piano concert.

→ What did the hostess arrange?

→ Explanation: Asks about the object of the verb.

Personal Response Questions

Q1. What does Einstein’s approach to teaching tell you about his personality?

→ Einstein’s approach shows he was patient, humble, and able to connect with others at their level. Instead of criticising the narrator, he encouraged him with simple steps, making the learning process enjoyable and successful.

Q2. How does the narrator’s experience show the importance of step-by-step learning?

→ The narrator’s experience proves that starting with familiar, simple examples builds confidence. Just like in mathematics, Einstein gradually increased the complexity, helping the narrator enjoy something he once thought impossible.

Q3. What qualities in Einstein inspired the narrator?

→ The narrator was inspired by Einstein’s warmth, respect for learners, and his belief in encouragement over criticism. These qualities made the narrator feel valued and motivated to try new things.

True or False

1. The narrator had always been a fan of classical music. → False

2. Einstein compared learning music to learning mathematics. → True

3. The meeting with Einstein helped the narrator appreciate Bach’s music. → True

Probable Board Questions

Q1. How did Einstein help the narrator appreciate Bach’s music?

→ Einstein began with simple, familiar songs the narrator liked, then gradually introduced more complex pieces. This approach built the narrator’s confidence and allowed him to finally enjoy Bach’s music sincerely.

Q2. Why did Einstein take the narrator to another room during the concert?

→ Einstein noticed the narrator’s lack of interest and wanted to help without embarrassing him. In a private setting, he could guide the narrator step-by-step in understanding music.

Q3. How did the narrator feel during his interaction with Einstein?

→ The narrator felt important and respected, as Einstein gave him full attention. This kindness and patience left a lasting impact on him.

Q4. What does the last line ‘opening up the frontiers of beauty’ mean?

→ The phrase means introducing someone to the appreciation of art or beauty they had never experienced before. For the narrator, it was learning to enjoy the beauty of music.

Reflection Paragraph

The Night I Met Einstein is a heartwarming anecdote that shows Einstein’s human side beyond science. His teaching method was rooted in empathy and patience, making the narrator comfortable and willing to learn. The lesson reminds us that the best teachers inspire curiosity and remove fear from learning. It also shows that beauty, whether in music or life, can be understood if approached step-by-step.

About BhashaLab

BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.

We offer:

1. NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards

4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes

5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above

6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online

Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044

Mail: info@bhashalab.com

Website: www.bhashalab.com