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4.BULL IN THE CITY

Introduction: This is a poem written by Mahakavi Srirangam Srinivasa Rao (Known as

Sri Sri), a famous Telugu Poet and Lyricist. It is an ironic comment on man's so-called
supremacy over animals. It shows how modernization and industrialization have reduced

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man into a machine which has no feelings. What is this life full of care when we have no

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time to stand and stare!
Important Points:

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As the title suggests, the poem is about a bull which stands in the middle of a road.

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It is not concerned by the hustle and bustle of our daily activities.
None can ask the bull to move as it stands steadfast in its place.

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Unlike man, it is anti-industrial, pacifist, vegetarian and prohibitionist
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He doesn't kill other animals or fight on silly issues, or indulge in other vices like
drinking or smoking.
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Ironically, the bull, inspite of all its virtues is called "senseless' by man, who has
great sense by doing undo things.
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The bull just blocks the way and hampers man's movement. It is a mute spectator to
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man's hurried and harried existence. Is it man or bull that has no sense?
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IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. Explain how the poet compares and contrasts the bull with modern man in his
poem "Bull in the City"?
In Sri Sri's poem" Bull in the City" a bull stands quietly in the middle of a
road chewing its cud of memories. Eyes half closed, it stands motionless. People on
the road think that it provokes them causing in convenience. They comment it is

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stupid. The bull is compared and contrasted with man. Man believes that progress is

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life which is wasted in his mad hunt for mundane pleasures or material comforts. He
eats meat, drinks alcohol, smokes tobacco and is a bully and selfish but the bull is a

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pacifist, anti industrial, vegetartian and prohibitionist, patient and unprotesting. It is

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a symbol of peace and non-violence. The arrogant man is in no way superior to the

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2) Is man justified in saying that the bull has no sense?
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In the satirical poem “Bull in the City", Mahakavi Sri Sri describes a bull
which stands quietly in the middle of a road. It annoys the people who comment
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that their movement is hampered by the beast. In reality the bull does not meddle
with our affairs. It is sensible, meek and mild, a tee Toller and lover of peace. Man
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has many a weakness while the bull has meekness. In no way man is justified in
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saying that the bull has no sense. It's man that's senseless and the bull is sensitive.
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3) "The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not every man's
greed" (Mahatma Gandhi) Describe in the context of Sri Sri's poem what
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modernization and industrialization have done to modern man.

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In his poem "Bull in the City", the Great Poet Sri Sri opines that man is not
superior to the bull. Ironically, man equates materialism with progress. In his
incessant hunt for mundane pleasure and material comforts, he is losing the beauty
of life. Yet he believes that urbanization and industrialization are signs of
development. The beauty and resources of nature are cruelly destroyed by him in

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his greed for wealth. His entire life, the beautiful gift of God, is wasted in his insane
hunt for fulfillment of his desires. He is selfish, quarrelsome and a war monger.

Match the following words with their meanings/definitions.

i. cud a) loyal or trustworthy
ii. Heading b) lover of prohibition of alcohol

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iii. Pacifist c) one who is prohibited.

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iv. Staunch d) paying attention
v. prohibitionist e) advocate of abolition of war

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f) bring back from the first stomach

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g) to cut the buds

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KEY : i-f; ii-d; iii-e; iv-a; v-b uc
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