Ranga’s Marriage (Masti Venkatesha Iyengar)

Q1) Comment on the character of the narrator Shyama, in the story ‘Ranga’s
Marriage’.
A) Shyama,the narrator of the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’, is an interesting character. He is an elderly
gentleman who has the interests of others at heart. He notices the influence of the English language and
customs on the way of life in Indian society. Being a purist, he is pained at the indiscriminate use of the
English word in Kannada conversations. Shyama seems to be a good judge of human character and
strongly believes that Ranga would become a good husband. He is an able strategist and cleverly calls
Ranga home when Ratna is singing a song. He notices Ranga’s reaction and interest in Ratna and arouses
his curiosity by arranging a meeting with the astrologer. The narrator deliberately mentions that Ratna is
married just to see Ranga’s reaction. He cunningly informs Ranga, later on, that he had wrong
information about Ratna's marital status.Shyama tries his best to get the marriage fixed.
The narrator loves fun and humour. He has the rare ability to make others laugh at him. He employs a
lot of metaphors and similes to highlight the literary value of the story. The touches of local colour make
the story appear authentic.
Q2) Comment on the influence of English-- the language and the way of life- on
Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator's attitude to English?
A) The narrator mentions that English language has made inroads even into the Indian countryside.
There are many people who talk in their native language but use a fair sprinkling of English words in
their daily conversations. The narrator illustrates this point of view by citing the example of Rama Rao's
son who used the English word ‘change’, when talking to the woman who had come to sell firewood.
This created confusion in the mind of the woman. Ranga was influenced by the English way of life and
yet he had not detached himself from traditional values and customs. He wanted to marry a mature girl,
rather than somebody who was very junior in age. Ranga felt that it was sensible to marry late and to a
girl one admired.
Q3) Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in
the story. Discuss.
A) In the past, marriages in India were usually arranged by parents or relatives. The story ‘Ranga’s
Marriage’ shows how the narrator fixes up Ranga’s marriage, taking the help of an astrologer. After
independence some changes came about in the social and economic sector in Indian society. Women
empowerment gave equal status to men and women. Women's education and access to jobs have
changed the attitude of modern men towards women. A girl is now accepted as an equal partner in
marriage for her worth and qualities. Marriageable boys and girls have now more say in the choice of
partners. Indian society has certainly moved a long way from the time of arranged marriages when the
formal consent of the boy and girl was taken for granted and elders fixed everything.
Q4) Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than
what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.
A) Ranga's marriage depicts astrologers in an unfavourable light. The author seems to be having a dig at
them. The story gives a graphic description of how the narrator uses an astrologer to make an unwilling
young man agree to marry a young girl. The narrator tutors the astrologer in all that he wants him to
say. The astrologer takes the help of the inputs provided by the narrator and uses them to predict
Ranga's future. The false show convinces Ranga that astrology is an exact science. The narrator makes
fun of the astrologer that evening and the latter doesn't like it one bit.
It is still a matter of debate whether astrology is actually a science or a game of calculated guesswork.
Opinions differ, as some people believe it to be an exact science, while some others feel it has got
nothing to do with it.