Summary: “The Prince of Panidihing” is Lesson 1 from the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 8 English textbook Sunbeam English Reader III. The story is set in the Panidihing area of Assam during the monsoon season and revolves around Khagen, a brave seventeen-year-old student of Nitaipukhuri College, whose home village of Borgaon is situated near Chitolia. Heavy and continuous rainfall causes the water level of the mighty Brahmaputra river to rise alarmingly, and the embankment at Chitolia village is breached. Within moments, huge waves of water break into the surrounding villages, creating a devastating flood havoc. People scramble to the rooftops of their elevated bamboo houses (chang-ghars), and the cries of humans and animals fill the air.
Khagen quickly grasps the seriousness of the situation. Without wasting any time, he rallies his classmates and they make five rafts from banana trunks. Khagen also brings his father’s boat. Together, they row into the swelling floodwaters and rescue the stranded villagers, ferrying them to the safety of the local school building which serves as a relief camp. During one perilous rescue mission, Khagen saves Dr. Hatibarua and his wife (Moni Baideu) from a dangerous situation — their boat even gets caught in a whirlpool, but all passengers manage to reach safety. Khagen also promptly informs the civil authorities at Demow about the disaster. His courage, quick thinking, and selfless dedication earn him the admiration of the entire community, and the people of the villages lovingly call him “The Prince of Panidihing.” The lesson teaches the values of bravery, community service, and responsible action during natural disasters.
A. Understanding the Lesson
1. Why did the people of Chitolia and the neighbouring villages panic?
Answer: The people of Chitolia and the neighbouring villages panicked because due to heavy and continuous rain for a week, the water of the Brahmaputra river kept rising alarmingly. The swelling water continued to rise without stopping, and when the embankment at Chitolia was breached, huge waves of water broke into the villages, flooding everything in sight.
2. What happened when the embankment at Chitolia village was breached?
Answer: When the embankment at Chitolia village was breached, in moments huge waves of water broke into the villages. The entire area was submerged. People had to take shelter on the rooftops of their chang-ghars (elevated bamboo houses). Man and animal alike screamed and cried in fear and despair. The situation became one of complete flood havoc.
3. What did Khagen and his friends do to rescue the villagers?
Answer: Khagen quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation and swung into action. He and his classmates made five rafts from the trunks of banana trees. Khagen also brought his father’s boat. They rowed towards Chitolia and the neighbouring villages, rescued the marooned villagers and their cattle, and ferried them to the school building which had been set up as a relief camp on higher ground. They also made arrangements for food and water for the flood-affected people, and Khagen immediately informed the civil authorities at Demow about the disaster.
4. How did Khagen save Dr. Hatibarua and Moni Baideu?
Answer: When Khagen heard that Dr. Hatibarua and Moni Baideu (the doctor’s wife) were stranded and in danger, he steered his boat towards them and rescued them. The journey was dangerous — the boat was caught in a whirlpool and some passengers fell into the water — but Khagen bravely managed to bring everyone to safety on higher ground. Dr. Hatibarua gratefully told Khagen, “Khagen! You have saved our lives, given us a new life.”
5. Why did the people of the villages call Khagen “The Prince of Panidihing”?
Answer: The people of the villages called Khagen “The Prince of Panidihing” because he was a brave, kind-hearted young man who always had a knack for solving all kinds of problems. During the devastating flood, he quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation and swung into action without hesitation. He led rescue operations, saved the lives of many villagers including Dr. Hatibarua and his wife, arranged food and shelter for the affected people, and informed the authorities — all at great personal risk. Khagen always bravely stood by the villagers in their hour of need and was always ready to help others even by putting his own life in danger. His selfless heroism earned him this title of honour.
B. Quick Recall
(a) Who was Khagen? How old was he?
Answer: Khagen was a student of Nitaipukhuri College. He was seventeen years old. He was a brave and helpful young man from Borgaon village, situated near Chitolia in Panidihing area of Assam.
(b) “It rained heavily all week.” What was the result?
Answer: The result was that the water of the Brahmaputra rose dangerously and the embankment at Chitolia village was breached. This led to devastating flooding in Chitolia and the neighbouring villages, causing widespread destruction and panic.
(c) “In moments, huge waves of water broke into the villages.” What is this situation called?
Answer: This situation is called ‘flood havoc’. It refers to the widespread destruction and chaos caused when floodwaters suddenly and violently rush into inhabited areas.
(d) “Khagen! You have saved our lives, given us a new life.” – Who said this? Why did he say this?
Answer: Dr. Hatibarua said this. He said so because Khagen had bravely rescued him and his wife (Moni Baideu) from the dangerous floodwaters. When they were stranded and in great peril, Khagen risked his own life to save them, even when the boat was caught in a whirlpool. Dr. Hatibarua was deeply grateful for Khagen’s heroic action that saved their lives.
C. Word Study
1. Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| embankment | a wall or mound of earth or stone built to hold back water or to support a road |
| breached | broken through; a gap made in a wall, barrier, or defence |
| havoc | widespread destruction and chaos |
| marooned | left stranded in a place from which one cannot escape; isolated by floodwaters |
| whirlpool | a rapidly rotating mass of water that sucks things into its centre |
| panic | sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, leading to hasty and irrational action |
| grasped | understood fully; seized with the mind |
| rallied | came together for a common purpose; brought together for action |
| rafts | flat floating structures made of wood or other material, used for travel on water |
| swelling | becoming larger or rounder; (of water) rising and increasing in volume |
| perilous | full of danger or risk |
| ferrying | transporting people or goods across a stretch of water or from one place to another |
| stranded | left without the means to move from somewhere; stuck in a difficult situation |
| relief camp | a temporary shelter set up to provide food, water, and accommodation to disaster victims |
| civil authorities | local government officials responsible for administration and public welfare |
| chang-ghar | a traditional Assamese elevated house built on bamboo stilts, common in flood-prone areas |
| despair | complete loss of hope; utter hopelessness |
| knack | a special skill or talent for doing something |
2. Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the lesson:
(a) It rained __________ all week.
Answer: It rained heavily all week.
(b) The __________ at Chitolia village was breached.
Answer: The embankment at Chitolia village was breached.
(c) Khagen and his friends made rafts of __________ trunks.
Answer: Khagen and his friends made rafts of banana trunks.
(d) The affected villagers were taken to a __________ set up in the school building.
Answer: The affected villagers were taken to a relief camp set up in the school building.
(e) Khagen immediately informed the __________ at Demow about the disaster.
Answer: Khagen immediately informed the civil authorities at Demow about the disaster.
(f) Their boat got caught in a __________ during the rescue.
Answer: Their boat got caught in a whirlpool during the rescue.
D. Grammar: Adverbs
An adverb is a word that modifies (describes) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs tell us how, when, where, how often, or to what extent something happens. There are several types of adverbs:
- Adverb of Manner – tells us how an action is done (e.g., bravely, quickly, heavily, slowly)
- Adverb of Time – tells us when an action takes place (e.g., immediately, soon, already, now)
- Adverb of Place – tells us where an action takes place (e.g., here, there, everywhere, near)
- Adverb of Frequency – tells us how often an action takes place (e.g., always, never, often, sometimes)
- Adverb of Degree – tells us to what extent an action is done (e.g., very, too, enough, extremely, so)
- Adverb of Direction – tells us in which direction an action moves (e.g., upward, downward, forward, backward)
- Interrogative Adverb – used to ask questions (e.g., when, where, how, why)
Exercise: Find adverbs from the lesson and classify them
| Adverb | Type | Example from the lesson |
|---|---|---|
| heavily | Manner | It rained heavily all week. |
| quickly | Manner | Khagen quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation. |
| bravely | Manner | Khagen always bravely stood by them in their needs. |
| immediately | Time | The civil authorities at Demow had to be informed immediately. |
| soon | Time | The water level would soon submerge the rooftops. |
| already | Time | The water had already reached the rooftops. |
| here | Place | The rafts were assembled here near the bank. |
| there | Place | They rowed there towards Chitolia. |
| always | Frequency | Khagen always helped others in need. |
| never | Frequency | He never hesitated to put his life at risk for others. |
| too | Degree | Moni Baideu was too afraid to board the boat. |
| very | Degree | The situation was very dangerous. |
| enough | Degree | There were enough banana trunks to make five rafts. |
| upward | Direction | The water rushed upward, flooding the lower areas. |
| how | Interrogative | How did Khagen manage to rescue so many people? |
| when | Interrogative | When did the embankment breach? |
Exercise: Identify the adverb and state its type
1. Khagen quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Answer: quickly — Adverb of Manner (tells us how Khagen grasped the situation)
2. The civil authorities at Demow had to be informed immediately.
Answer: immediately — Adverb of Time (tells us when the authorities were to be informed)
3. Khagen always bravely stood by them in their needs.
Answer: always — Adverb of Frequency (tells us how often Khagen helped); bravely — Adverb of Manner (tells us how he stood by them)
4. It rained heavily all week.
Answer: heavily — Adverb of Manner (tells us how it rained)
5. Moni Baideu was too afraid to board the boat.
Answer: too — Adverb of Degree (tells us the extent of her fear)
E. Activities
1. Write a Newspaper Report
Activity: Based on the story, write a short newspaper report about the flood in Panidihing and Khagen’s rescue work.
Answer (Sample Newspaper Report):
The Assam Tribune — 15 July 20XX
YOUNG HERO SAVES DOZENS IN PANIDIHING FLOOD
Demow, 15 July: A week of heavy and incessant rainfall has caused the Brahmaputra river to overflow its banks, breaching the embankment at Chitolia village in the Panidihing area and triggering widespread flooding. Dozens of families were left stranded on their rooftops as the floodwaters submerged homes and fields.
In a remarkable display of bravery and quick thinking, seventeen-year-old Khagen of Borgaon village, a student of Nitaipukhuri College, led a rescue operation along with his classmates. The young volunteers made five rafts from banana trunks and used a boat to ferry the marooned villagers, including Dr. Hatibarua and his wife, to a relief camp set up at the local school building. Khagen also promptly informed the civil authorities at Demow, who have since mobilised further relief and medical assistance. The grateful villagers have honoured the brave young man with the title “The Prince of Panidihing.”
2. Write a Diary Entry
Activity: Imagine you are Khagen. Write a diary entry describing your experience and actions on the day the floods occurred.
Answer (Sample Diary Entry):
15 July, 20XX
Dear Diary,
Today was the most frightening yet most fulfilling day of my life. After a whole week of rain, the Brahmaputra finally broke through the embankment at Chitolia this morning. The news shook me to my core. I could not just stand and watch — I had to act.
I quickly called my classmates together. We cut down banana trees and tied the trunks to make five rafts. I also got my father’s boat. We rowed straight into the floodwaters toward Chitolia. The sight was heartbreaking — people clinging to rooftops, cattle crying, children frightened. We rescued family after family, guiding them to the school building on higher ground. The most frightening moment came when our boat was caught in a whirlpool while rescuing Dr. Hatibarua and Moni Baideu. My heart leapt into my mouth, but somehow we all made it to safety. The doctor’s words — “You have given us a new life, Khagen” — will stay with me forever. I also made sure the civil authorities at Demow were informed. Tonight, as I write this, I feel exhausted but grateful. I only did what anyone should do. The people of Panidihing deserve better — I hope the authorities rebuild the embankment before next monsoon.
Yours,
Khagen
3. Write a Notice
Activity: Write a notice for your school notice board announcing a free health camp for the flood-affected villagers of Panidihing.
Answer (Sample Notice):
NITAIPUKHURI COLLEGE
NOTICE
Date: 16 July, 20XX
FREE HEALTH CAMP FOR FLOOD-AFFECTED VILLAGERS OF PANIDIHING
It is hereby notified that in view of the devastating floods that have struck Chitolia and the surrounding villages of Panidihing, our college, in association with local doctors and volunteers, is organising a Free Health Camp on 20 July, 20XX at the Chitolia School Building (Relief Camp) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The camp will provide free medical check-ups, medicines, and first aid to all flood-affected persons. There is a high risk of waterborne and infectious diseases after flooding, and early medical attention is essential.
All students who wish to volunteer are requested to contact the undersigned by 18 July. Your participation will make a difference.
Principal
Nitaipukhuri College
4. Let’s Talk / Discussion Questions
(a) What qualities do you admire most in Khagen? Would you have done the same in his situation? Discuss.
Answer: The qualities most admirable in Khagen are his courage, quick thinking, leadership, selflessness, and sense of community responsibility. He did not wait for others to act — he immediately organised his friends and resources and launched a rescue operation at great personal risk. In a similar situation, we should try to help others as Khagen did, while also ensuring our own safety. Calling the civil authorities immediately, as Khagen did, is equally important. The lesson Khagen teaches us is that bravery combined with practical action can save lives.
(b) What are some dos and don’ts during a flood? Discuss with your classmates.
Answer:
- Dos: Move to higher ground immediately; inform local authorities; help neighbours who are elderly or disabled; keep emergency supplies ready; listen to official announcements; use rafts or boats carefully with proper support.
- Don’ts: Do not wade through fast-moving floodwater; do not touch electrical wires or equipment; do not drink floodwater; do not enter a flooded building without checking its structural safety; do not panic.
(c) Panidihing is also known for its Bird Sanctuary. What do you know about the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary in Assam?
Answer: The Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is located in the Sivasagar district of Assam, near the town of Demow. It is one of the important wetland bird sanctuaries of Assam and is home to numerous migratory and resident bird species. The sanctuary covers an area of several square kilometres and attracts water birds, especially during the winter months when migratory birds from Central Asia and other regions arrive in large numbers. The wetlands of Panidihing are an important habitat for birds such as herons, egrets, and various species of ducks and geese. This lesson takes its title and setting from this scenic and ecologically significant region of Assam.