P.U.

C I YEAR, ENGLISH

THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JUNGLE

AN ANALYSIS

JOMO KENYATTA

Characters in the story.

The Man (dynamic character) Mr. Elephant

Mr. Lion
Mr. Rhinoceros Mr. Leopard Mr. Fox
Mr. Buffalo Mr. Hyena Mr. Alligator
Themes:

Injustice: The elephant was allowed to help choose members of the C.O. E. All of the members
were already on the elephant's side before the case even started. The C.O.E only listened to the
elephant's story.

Colonization: It was originally the man's property, but the animals took over. The actual meaning
of the story, is the invasion of the Europeans in Africa.

Abuse of Power: Because of the elephant's title in the jungle, he was able to lie and get away
with it. The rhinoceros ordered the man to give up, knowing that the man is scared of him.
Initially, the conflict is between the man and the elephant. Eventually, it develops later into a
conflict between the man and all of the animals in the jungle.

SUMMARY

Once an elephant made friendship with a man. The man had built a hut to live. One day a
thunderstorm broke out. The elephant requested the man to allow it to keep its trunk inside the
hut. The man agreed. The elephant put its trunk inside the hut and slowly occupied the hut and
pushed the man out. The man and elephant started a quarrel for the hut. Lion the king of the
jungle came to solve the problem and appointed a commission of inquiry. Fox was the president
and leopard was the secretary. The commission of enquiry gave the report in favour of elephant
because the elephant said that it occupied the hut to save it from the hurricane. The man built
another hut but rhinoceros occupied it. All the huts built by man were occupied by other
animals. At last, the man built a big hut. Many animals occupied that big hut and the man set
fire to that hut.

I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase or a sentence each: -

1. What particular event in Kenya‟s history does Kenyatta give reference to?
Ans: - The division of Africa among themselves by the chief European powers in the late 19th
century.

2. Where had the man built his hut in the gentleman of the jungle? Ans: - At the edge of
the forest.

3. Who or what does the man in the fable represent? Ans: - The Africans who were
colonized by the Europeans.

4. What do the animals in the story represent? Ans: - The European colonizers.

5. What did the elephant want to protect from the rain? Ans: - Protect its trunk.

6. What did the lion desire to have in his kingdom? Ans: - Peace and tranquility.

7. What did the lion do to solve the problem? Ans: - Appointed a Commission of Enquiry.

8. Who commanded the ministers to appoint a Commission of Enquiry in the fable? Ans: -
The lion.

9. Name any two members appointed to the Commission of Enquiry. Ans: - Mr. Buffalo and
Mr. Alligator.

10. Who were appointed as the chairman and secretary of Commission of Enquiry? Ans: -
Mr. Fox and Mr. Leopard.
11. Why there were no men from the man‟s side in the Commission of Enquiry? Ans: - They
were not educated enough to understand the intricacies of jungle law.

12. What was the man‟s belief?

Ans: - That he could get impartial justice.

13. Who made the friend ship with a man? Ans: - The Elephant

14. Who had a little hut at the edge of the forest? Ans: - A man

15. Who requested the man to put his trunk inside the hut? Ans: - The Elephant

16. When did the elephant request the man to put his trunk inside the hut? Ans: - At the
time of torrential rain.

17. The Elephant intended to protect his delicate skin from . Ans: - Hail storm

18. Why did all the animals of forest gather?

Ans: - All the animals started gather because of heard the noise of man

19. What did make turmoil to the lion?

Ans: - The heated argument between the man and the Elephant.

20 was one of the high ministers of Jungle.

Ans: - The Elephant

21. What did lion wanted to have in his Kingdom? Ans: - Peace and tranquility

22. What did the man was pleased?

Ans: - The sweet words from the king of the jungle

23. Who did innocently wait for the hut would be returned to him? Ans: - The man

24. Mention the members of commission of enquiry?

Ans: - Mr. Rhinoceros, Mr. Buffalo, Mr. Alligators, the Rt. Hon Mr. Fox and Mr. Leopard.

25. Who was the chairman of commission of enquiry? Ans: - Rt. Hon Mr. Fox

26. Who was the enquiry commission first called off? Ans: - Mr. Hon. Mr. Elephant

27. After Mr. Elephant‟s evidence, whom did the enquiry commission call for?
Ans: - Mr. Hyena

28. Whom did the Mr. Hyena support? Ans: - The Elephant
29. Who arranged the delicious meal for the enquiry commission? Ans: - Rt. Hon. Mr.
Elephant

30. Who ordered the man to quit and built another hut? Ans: - Mr. Rhinoceros

31. When did Mr. Rhinoceros charge the man and order to quit the hut? Ans: - As soon as he
built another hut.

32. Where the man ultimately built a bigger and better hut? Ans: - A little distance away

33. How did Mr. Hyena appear to the new house? Ans: - Howled for a place in the shade

34. Mr. Alligators appear to the new house on----------

Ans: - The roof

35. What did man ultimately say?

Ans: - Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense

36. How did the lion decide to solve the problem? Ans: - To construct the commission.

37. What kind of judgment did the man expect? Ans: - The hut would be returned to him.

38. In whose favour was the judgment given? Ans: - Mr. Elephant

39. Why did the man accept the suggestion of building a new hut? Ans: - The house was
decayed by animals and it is near to pieces.

40. How did the man buy peace finally?

Ans: - By set the hut on the fire and burnt it completely.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words.

1. Why was the commission of enquiry appointed by the king of the jungle?
Ans: - The man protested the wrong doing of Elephant and he started to grumble. All the
animals in the nearby forest heard the noise and came to see what the matter was. All stood
around listening to the heated argument between the man and his friend the elephant. In this
turmoil the lion came along roaring, and asked the reason in a loud voice. The lion wanted to
have 'peace and tranquility‟ in his kingdom. So he commands his ministers to appoint a
Commission of Enquiry to go thoroughly into this matter.

2. Why did the animals decide not to have anyone from the man‟s side on the
commission of enquiry?
Ans: - The Commission of Enquiry decided not to have any one from the man‟s side because
they thought that they did not have
enough knowledge about the jungle animals and their characteristics and also not knew the
rules of jungle law.

3. How did the elephant justify in act of occupying the hut?

Ans: - Elephant justify in his act of occupying the hut that man‟s skin is harder than his, and as
there is not enough room for both of them. So the elephant told the man that he can afford to
remain in the rain while it was protecting his delicate skin from the hailstorm.'

4. Why was the Commission of Enquiry appointed by the King of the jungle?
Ans: - Once there lived a man and an elephant in a jungle who were close friends. A thunderous
rain broke out one day. The elephant came to his friend & requested him to allow him to keep
his trunk inside the hut. The man allowed the elephant to keep his trunk. as his but was small.
The elephant slowly sneaked inside the hut & flung the man outside the hut in the rain. When
the elephant threw the man out of his own but he began to grumble. The animals in the nearby
forest head the noise & came to see what the matter was. All stood around listening to the
heated argument between the man & his friend. The lion. came to see why peace of his
kingdom was being disturbed. After the elephant explained that they were having a little
discussion regarding the possession of the hut the lion decided to command his ministers to
appoint a Commission of Enquiry to go thoroughly into the matter and report to him.

5. On what grounds did the Commission of Enquiry give its verdict?

Ans: - The Commission of Enquiry gave the verdict on the following grounds; The elephant had
not cheated the man instead it helped the man as the hut was not fully occupied by him, it
might have been blown off due to the impact of the hurricane if the elephant had not occupied
it. The second thing was that due to the misunderstanding that the man is incompetent
(hopeless) to understand the intricacy (difficulty) of the Jungle law. In the opinion of the
members the dispute had arisen through a regrettable (disappointing) misunderstanding due to
the backwardness of man's ideas. According to them, the‟ elephant helped the man &. not
cheated him. The Commission further asked the elephant to continue the possession of the hut
and asked the man to look for a suitable site and build a new hut.

III. Answer the following question in about 200 words.

1. “An act of kindness is misunderstood as weakness". Discuss this with reference to the
story.
Ans: - The man was very kind enough to share his hut with an elephant. When it requested him
to allow him to keep its trunk inside his but to protect it from the torrential rain. It proved to be
a mistake because it was that act of kindness which led to his being driven out of his own hut.
Though his but was small & he admitted the fact to the elephant, he was generous enough to
allow the elephant to keep only its trunk inside the hut.
Similarly, when the case was decided against him saying that the dispute had arisen through a
regrettable misunderstanding due to the backwardness of his ideas, he went away quietly and
built himself another house. However, this house and the ones he builds later, were all occupied
by various animals and he was left with no shelter at all. All animals considered him weak and
exploited him. Thus their treatment led to his violent action of setting the to the house and
destroying all the animals.
2. “Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.”. What is the ironical significance of this
statement?
Ans: - It is ironical that wars are waged continuously by countries in order to show their strength
and also to establish peace. Most of the countries in the world have a wrong notion that violent
attacks on the other killing thousands of people, destroying them will force the country to
submit and maintain peace. But do we really enjoy the peace? Have we really achieved peace?
But even if peace is achieved; it is the 'Silence of the dead, not the peace of the satisfied‟.
There will be resentment (dislike) in the mind of the country, which has been' subjugated
(dominated). This resentment will, sooner or later, surface and lead to confrontation (battle)
again. In the story, the man is free of all exploitation by the animals after he kills them, but does
he really enjoy freedom? No, he is left lonely without any friends to share himself. That Was the
price he had to pay for securing peace through violence.
It takes a lot of effort from everyone concerned to achieve peace in a country, and it can happen
only when everyone is aware of the necessity for peace, and is motivated to achieve it through
peaceful means.

„We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do‟.

SUMMARY

The School Boy

William Blake

The poem throws light on the mindset of a school boy. He is unhappy. He loves outdoor life. He
hears the birds sing. The blowing of horn by the huntsmen pleases him. He wants to enjoy the
company of the skylark. But he can find such joy only on a summer morning.

Instead of living like a free bird, the boy is made to go to school. It makes him sad. He hates
going to school because of his cruel old teacher. There the small children spend the day from
morning to evening and get disappointed.

Sometimes the boy sits for hours with his head hanging down but he is caged. He finds no joy in
reading his book. The school is a cheerless place for him. He gets fed up with the shower of
words from his teacher

The boy compares himself to a bird who is born free to fly and enjoy life but he is caged, he
cannot sing in the cage. The boy has the feeling of being a prisoner at school. He is all the time
afraid of the teacher. As a caged bird he lets his wings droop down and forgets to share the joy
of spring.

The poet calls upon tie parents not to be so harsh or cruel to the children. School going kids are
as delicate as birds and flowers. They need fresh air and free movement to grow healthy and
happy. Keeping them under excess cage will make them unhappy

If a plant is denied air and is kept in dark, it won't grow well and never bear fruit.

STANZAWISE EXPLANATION STANZA -ONE (ONE)

I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree; The distant huntsman winds his horn, And the sky-lark sings
with me.
O! what sweet company.

The speaker, a young boy, is joyful in getting up in a sweet and beautiful summer morning.
Sweet singing of the bird‟s thrills and excited the boy. He likes the companionship of the
hunters who move in the wood searching for his hunt. He likes to enjoy the sweet melodious
music of the skylark.

STANZA –TWO (2)

But to go to school in a summer morn,
O! it drives all joy away; Under a cruel eye outworn. The little ones spend the day, In sighing and
dismay.

But whenever the boy thinks of going to the school, all his enjoyment and entertainment
disappear gradually away. He does not enjoy or learn anything under the cruel and fearful look
of the teacher. Little kids like the boy spend their day in utter worry, unhappiness and
disappointment.

STANZA –THREE (3)

Ah! then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour, Nor in my book can I take delight, Nor sit in learnings bower,
Worn thro' with the dreary shower.

With a sad loose figure the boy does not pass hours in worry. He enjoys the lessons taught nor
does the way his teacher teaches. Bower refers to green shelter. And

here „bower‟ means to the school or the classroom in which the feels imprisoned. He does
not enjoy any lesson communicate in a dull manner.

STANZA FOUR – (4)

How can the bird that is born for joy,
Sit in a cage and sing.
How can a child when fears annoy. But droop his tender wing.
And forget his youthful spring.
The poet here brings the example of a bird. A bird which is meant for joy and freedom will never
be sing in a cage. Likewise a child who is always under a situation of fear will forget his childlike
tenets and drop down his wing of freedom and ecstasy. He will forget his childhood innocence
and activities.

STANZA –FIVE (5)

O! father & mother. if buds are nip'd,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip'd Of their joy in the springing day, By sorrow and care's
dismay.

In this stanza the poet gives a message to the parents asking them some questions and familiar
to some situations. If the buds are destroyed before blooming; if the flowers are driven away by
the strong wind;

STANZA –SIX (6)

How shall the summer arise in joy.
Or the summer fruits appear?
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,
Or bless the mellowing year, When the blasts of winter appear?

If the plants are stripped of their branches and leaves, how will the summer become joyous and
impart joy for us or how will the fruits appear to elate and thrill us?

Comprehension: I

1. Who, do you think, „I‟ refers to in the poem?

I refer to William Blake in the poem

2. „Sweet company‟ refers to

d. All the above three

3. What drives the boy‟s joy away?

The very thought of going to school drives the boy‟s joy away.

4. How do the little ones spend the day in the school?

The little ones spend the day in the school by sighing (grief) and dismay (Helplessness).

5. What does „cage‟ stand for in the poem?

Cage stands for School, where the children are entrapped.

6. Pick the phrase from the following which does not refer to formal schooling.
b. Fruits are gathered.

7. Relate the seasons mentioned under column A with the stages of life.
1. Spring - Childhood 2. Summer -Youth 3. Winter -Old age

Comprehension: II

1. What does the school boy love to do on a summer morn? What drives his joy away?
William Blake suggests that the educational system of his day destroys the joyful innocence of
youth. In the poem the poet speaks in the persona of a school child that wakes up in the
morning. He loves to rise early in summer morning to enjoy the chirping sound of the birds,
Huntsman‟s horn and the melody of skylark singing. But all the happiness gets driven away
when he realizes that he has to go to school. The main theme is the sorrow that the boy feels at
the very thought of going to school. While he wishes to enjoy the summer, he wishes to be very
much outside in the nature.

2. Describe the boy‟s experience in the school.

Child loves to rise early in summer morning to enjoy but all the happiness disappears when he
realizes that he has to go to school. The main theme is the sorrow that the boy feels at the very
thought of going to school. While he wishes to enjoy the summer.

The boy longs for the freedom of the outdoors and cannot take delight in his book. He is
compelled to experience many anxious hours. The image of the bird is used in the poem. The
birds sing happily when they are free but if they are in a cage they cannot do it the same way. In
the same way the boy feels he is imprisoned at school.

School boy in school and the bird in the cage are seen as equal not only at the natural level
under physical subjection but at the spiritual level too. Both represent the caging and
entrapping of imaginative vision.

3. According to the poet how does formal education curb a learner‟s potential?
Poet appeals that adults must realize that children are like plants, which needs to be look after
and given proper care. They have to bear fruit later on. School should be the place where
children are allowed to think freely.

He wishes that school should provide students with challenges, competition and opportunities
to enhance their creativity. It should be a place where children are provided with for practical
play and develop at their own place.

Comprehension: III

Formal schooling not only takes away the joy of childhood but also hinders the child‟s growth
forever. Explain.
Or Do you think the poet is arguing against education? Discuss.

Here the poet is complaining a young boy of being shut inside at his school work instead of
playing outside in the sun. He really criticizes the education system of his day. To him school
destroys the joyous innocence of youth. He wishes that the child should rise with the company
of many natural joys. He intended not just the huntsman but „birds sing on every tree‟ and
„the sky-lark sings with him. The poet does not emphasize the oppression of the school room.

He is reminding that books and learning can be natural. He gave us a distinct picture of crushed
and destroyed life in the school room. Here the poet has successfully conveyed to the loss and
lassitude of the school boy. He even criticizes the child restrains the assault on him by the
oppressive personality of a teacher. By unnecessary lecturer he spends his day in boredom. Only
Company of nature brings him joyous experience. As like a bird which is born cheerful and jovial,
never sing if caged. Similarly the child annoying fear and tension, he can never enjoy. Here the
poet complains to the highest authority to father and mother.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. In whose company did boy wanted to sing and play?

Ans: - In the company of nature

2. Which is drives boy‟s joy away?

Ans:-The school

3. When did the boy go to school?

Ans:-on a summer morning

4. From whom supervision did the boy spend his day?

Ans: - Under cruel eye/ teacher

5. How does the boy spend all day?

Ans: - In sighing and dismay.

6. How did the boy sit in the class room?

Ans: - With shrinking spirit/drooping/loss of enthusiasm

7. What cannot child find in books?

Ans: - Delight/joy

8. Where does the bird not sing?

In the cage

9. What the bird represent for?

Ans: - freedom

10. Where does the boy disturb?

Ans: - When he was fears

11. The condition of child is compared to---------

A bird in a cage
12. Who droop the boy‟s tender wings?
Ans: - The teacher

13. When did the boy forget his youthful spring?

Ans: - When he was in fear/ annoy

14. Who nipped the buds of a boy?

Mother and father/parents

15. Sweet company refer to

A) Skylark
B) Huntsman‟s horn
C) Bird‟s song
D) All the above three. Ans: D) all the above three.

16. How do the little ones spend the day in the school?
In sighing and dismay

17. What drives the boy‟s joy away?

Ans: The school

18. What does „cage‟ stand for in the poem?

Ans:- Jail/ curtail of freedom

19. Which phrase representing the formal schooling?

A) Buds are nipped
B) Fruits are gathered
C) Plants are stripped
D) Blossoms are blown away
20. What does the school boy love to do a summer morn?
Ans:-sing like a bird

21. What drives the school boy‟s joy away?

Ans: - Fear about the school

Around a Medicinal Creeper

K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi

SUMMARY

This story is written by Poorna Chandra Tejaswi. One day Tejaswi and Mara were erecting a
bamboo frame. Sanna brought some creepers to tie the bamboo frame. There was a medicinal
creeper in the bundle. All of them went to see the creeper and Mara tied the creeper to a nearby
plant so that it could be found when needed. Mara said that every inch of it is useful. Tejaswi
came to know about the uses of that creeper after twenty years from Krishna. Once Krishna, a
farm hand, was suffering piles. Krishna had approached a Malayali Godman for the cure of piles.
Tejaswi and Krishna searched for that creeper, dug out its tubor, ground it and took it with milk
for five days. He was cured of piles.

I. Answer the following questions in a word or sentence each.

1 What did Mara do when they found the creeper?

Ans: - Mara caught hold of the one of the tendrils and tied it to the nearby tree.

2 Mention the curse about the plant.

Ans: - Medicinal plant has a curse that when someone needs this plant, they shall not find it for
dear life.

3 What surprised the white man?

Ans: - There was no blood, no wound- in fact no sign of any wound having been there on
Mara‟s hand.

4 How did the mongoose and Cowcal cure themselves of snakebite?

Ans: - Mongoose and Cowcal cured themselves of snake bite by found the leaf and chew them.

5 Why had Mara lost his teeth on the right side?

Ans: - Because of brush his teeth nearby plant in the forest.

6 What did Mara‟s wife find on opening the packet of meat?

Ans: - Mara‟s wife found wild buck instead of meat.

7 What happened when the milk was mixed with the juice of the creeper‟s leaves?
Ans: - It has been firm and rubbery.

8 When would the medicines lose their potency according to the belief of native doctors?
Ans: - Native doctors believed that if they told others about their medicines, they would lose
their potency.

9 India `s native medicines systems are on the verge of ----------

Ans: - extinction

10 There are various types swelling that occur in the human body and this panticuler plant
may be effective on only--------
a) Same of them
b) All of them
c) A few of them

11 How has a coffee sweep bed to be protected from the sun?

Ans: - By putting up a shade over the coffee seed bed.

12 Who want sent to forest to get some exeepers?

Ans. Sanna

13 When did Mara scold Sanna?

Ans: - while Mara opened the bundle and sifting it Mara scolded Sanna

14 What answer did Sanna give to mare about the creeper?

Ans: - There was plenty of that creeper in the forest.

15 Why did author go along with Mara and Sanna to the forest?
Ans: - Out of sheer curiosity to know about that medicinal creeper.

16 When Sanna showed the plant, Mara become Very -------

a) Active b) dull c) Hyperactive d) angry

17 According to Mara, who did the creeper cursed by?

Ans: - Sage

18 Why did Mara tie that creeper immediately to the tree?

Ans: - When you want it and search for it, we won`t able to find it. So that Mara tied that creeper
immediately to the tree plant.

19 The creeper leaves resembling betel leaves and bears fruits in a bunch like-----
Ans: - Grapes

20 When the creeper did come up flowers again?

Ans: - Only after rains quickly.

21 Why does Mara‟s story are bizarre?

Ans: - Because one does not know which is true and which is false.

22 The entire system of Indian medicine suffers from this kind of -----
a) Mystification b) Justification c) Classification

23 From whom did the narrator wandering in the forest?

Ans: - Masti, Byra, Appanna, Mara and others.

24 While wandering the forest, what did the narrator gleaned?

Ans: - Learnt about some plants and herbs.

25 Why did the people leaving us one by one?

Ans: - Because of forest were disappearing.

26 When did the doctor friends of the narrate annoy?

Ans: -While he tried to discuss the unique properties of plants and herbs with them.

27 What did the narrator‟s doctor friends call about the narrator?
Ans: -Ignoramus

28 While Mara typing up the plant, how did Mara Praise that plant to the skies?
Ans: - Every inch of the plant was medicinal.

29 Did Mara tell the narrator what exactly the medicinal creeper cured?
Ans: - No, he did not tell anything about its medicinal qualities.

30 How did Mara‟s stories instead they were not true?

Ans: - His stories were marvelous.

31 When did Mara‟s hands thrust?

Ans: -When Mara was cutting the shoot, accidently he cut his hand.

32 Who brought some leaf and pressed against the wound of Mara and bandaged it?
Ans: -Someone near with Mara.

33 For who did Mara went for proper dressing?

Ans: - Hulihindulu / a white man

34 How did Mara convince the white man?

Ans: -Mara convinced the white man by show all the blood on his clothes.

35 What offer did Mara get from white man?

Ans: - If Mara was showed the plant to the Whiteman he would give him his entire plantation.

36 Why did White man angry about Mara?

Ans: - The Whiteman was angry about Mara because he would greedy and not satisfied.

37 What was the response of white man by pointing the gun to Mara?
Ans: -“If you do not show it to me, I will shoot you down”.

38 What did the author think about the stories of Mara?

Ans: -Stories of Mara are cock and bull stories and totally fabricated.

39 Mara did not have any teeth on the side of the mouth
a) Left b) rightc) both left and right d) only front teeth

40 Why did Mara thank God?

Ans: - Mara thanked god because he was saved his right side teeth by not to brushed all his
teeth by the creeper.

41 Long ago, Mara and a friend of his laid a trip and caught ---------
a) Buck b) barking deer c) Peacock d) Rabbit

42 Why did the narrator speechless while the heard the story of Mara?
Ans: - Narrator was speechless because of Mara‟s inventive genius.

43 Who did the narrator met with the creeper?

Ans: - Chandru

44 Who was Chandru?

Ans: - A Plant pathologist.

45 What did the scientist friends told to the narrator?

Ans: - Scientist friend told to the narrator that they were wasting a liter of milk be listening to all
kind of cock and bull stories.

46 While the narrator inverted the vessel the whole thing fell out like a ------
Ans: - Moulded cost

47 What disease Krishna earlier had?

Ans: -Piles

48 What was only allopathic treatment for piles?

Ans: -Surgery.

49 What had Malayali God man treated?

Ans: -Krishna‟s earlier disease of developing boils on his body.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words.

1. How long did it take the narrator to learn the facts about the medicinal creeper? What
does it signify?
The writer K.P Poornachandra Tejaswi‟s was with Mara and his friends for a long time to know
more about the medicinal herbs. It took almost twenty years for the author to learn about the
medicinal creeper, all because of the unwillingness of the local people to share their knowledge
regarding these medicinal plants.
This signifies that there were a lot of myths (legends) regarding this creeper. Nobody was sure
of the type of disease that it could cure, its availability, in what form it must be taken and so on.

2. What does the incident of Mara‟s wife throwing the leaves into the fire tell us about
Indians in general?
Mara and his friend had caught a barking deer. They skinned (painful) and cleaned it and
divided the meat. Mara covered his share of meat with certain leaves and took it home. His wife
prepared the masala with spices, put the water to boil and opened the packet with the leaves.
To her surprise, she found a live wild buck instead of the meat. In anger and out of frustration
she threw those leaves into the fire, while Mara ran behind the buck. She ignorantly threw the
leaves into fire, thus remaining ignorant about her own local medicines. This tells us that Indians
have a casual attitude towards the medicinal plants though it can do wonders.

3. How is Krishna Cured of his illness?

Ans: - Being a Rickshaw driver, Krishna had piles. So had started passing blood with his stools.
Now he had become serious and tired. So Krishna went to see the Malayali God man. Now He
had become too old. Apparently, he told Krishna that he did not have the strength to search for
the plant. He simply describes it. Krishna had to search for this plant, dig out the tuberous root,
mix it with milk and drink the medicine for five days. Within a day his piles improved. He was
completely cured in five days.

III. Answer the following questions in 200 words.

1. Do you think the author is suggesting that Indian herbal medicine is better/ safer than
allopathic medicine?

OR

What has made the modern man lose the knowledge of traditional medicine? Do you think
Ayurveda will make a comeback in a successful way?

The writer K.P Poornachandra Tejaswi‟s is trying to suggest that Indian Herbal Medicine is
better and safer than allopathic medicine. People like Mara and his wife were ignorant and
neglected the significance of the medicinal creeper and this took the author almost twenty years
to test, if there was some Truth in what Mara and other illiterates claimed.
The author tries to show that Indian herbal medicine can do wonders, when allopathic medicine
becomes a failure or settle as the one with side effects than benefits, through surgery. Allopathic
Practitioners have regarded Ayurveda as „Bunkum‟ but the reality is that there is a wealth of
knowledge to be explored in the Indian Herbal Medicine. Today people are seen giving more
importance to the herbal cosmetics and other products having a tag „herbal‟. This shows that
„Ayurveda‟ will make a comeback.

2. “Our Natural Resources are our vital resources.” Explain the statement in the light of
several developmental projects that are being promoted today.
Natural resources are indeed the vital resources. In this story we realize the importance of
natural resources such as medicinal herbs. The mismanagement of these natural resources has
led to various disasters and natural calamities, global warming, climatic changes, new diseases
and epidemics. Water, air, land and space have been polluted beyond imagination. We have lost
innumerable flora and fauna in the name of some developmental projects.
Recycling the natural resources and finding alternate sources of energy would help us conserve
the precious natural resources. Harnessing (tie together) solar energy for various purposes in the
form of solar cells, cooker and heater will help save a lot of other resources. Rain water
Harvesting should be made mandatory in order to save water. Opting for alternative sources like
wind energy and tidal energy to generate electricity can be utilized. Finally, by following the
principles of 3R‟s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, one can conserve the natural resources for the
generations to come.

Oru Manushyan
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
SUMMARY

This story has been written by Vaikom Mohammed Basheer. The narrator in this story is living
one thousand five hundred miles away from his home. He was working as a teacher. He was
teaching English to migrant laborers. He was teaching to write address in English. He had saved
fourteen rupees from his earnings. He was getting up every day at 4 pm to save the expenses on
morning tea and noon meal. One day he got up in the evening and went to a restaurant. He ate
chapatti and meat curry and drank tea. But he could not pay the bill of eleven Annas because
someone had picked his wallet. But the owner of the restaurant did not believe him. He asked
him to to take off his clothes one by one. But the narrator could not take off his trousers
because he had nothing on underneath. Every one demanded to take off the trouser but one tall
man with a red turban came to his help. He paid the bill, took the narrator to a bridge outside
the town and returned his wallet. He was the thief.

I. Answer the following questions in a word or sentence each.

1. How far was the big city from the narrator‟s home?
Ans: - Some thousand five hundred miles.

2. What was the traditional profession of the people in the story „Oru Manushyan‟?
Ans: - By tradition the people were professional soldiers.

3. How were the inhabitants in the story Oru - Manushyan? Ans: - Never known for quality
of mercy and were cruel people.

4. What was valued much by the people? Ans: - Money was highly valued by them.

5. Where did the narrator stay in the big city?

Ans: - Stayed in a very small, dingy room on a dirty street.

6. What was the profession of the narrator? Ans: - Teaching English to some migrant
labourers.

7. Which skill was taught by the narrator in the story? Ans: - The skill of writing addresses in
English.

8. What was the working hours of the narrator? Ans: - From 9:30 till 11:00 in the night.

9. What amount was paid to people for writing postal addresses at the post office? Ans: -
Between one Anna and 4 Annas.

10. What time did the narrator wake up every day? Ans: - Wake up at 4 in the evening.

11. How much money did the narrator had in his wallet? Ans: - 14 rupees.
12. Where did the narrator go to take his meal? Ans: - In a crowded restaurant.

13. What did the narrator order in his meals at the restaurant? Ans: - Full meals consisting of
chapattis and meat curry and tea as well.

14. Why did the narrator begin to sweat profusely in the restaurant?
Ans: - As the narrator put his hands in the pocket he realized that his wallet was missing.

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words.

1. Sketch the character of strange man.

Ans: - The strange man was fair complexion. He had six foot tall. He had wearied with a red
turban and white trousers. He had a handle- bar moustache and had blue eyes. He had avoided
the shamefulness of removing the trousers for paid amount for a meal and a tea. He had paid
the money to the restaurant keeper. He took the narrator to the deserted bridge and requested
him not to say any one if they ask him whether he had seen him. He even gave his wallet along
with his money. He was appeared to a human being while compare to all civilized person of the
city. All citizens are treated him inhumanly. But the stranger treated him humanly as a good
being. Instead of a pickpocketed he is absorbed human being.

2. Describe the people and the place where the incident took place.
Ans: - In a faraway big city in the valley of mountain the narrator stayed in a small and shabby
room on a dirty street. Here the narrator had a profession of teaching English to migrant
laborers. They were cruel people. Murder, robbery, pick-pocketing were daily occurrences. By
traditions they were professional soldiers. Some of them went to distant places and lent out
money on interest. Many others served as watchman in banks, mills and large commercial
establishments in big cities. Money was highly valued by them. For money they would do
anything. They hey would ready to commit murder for money.

3. Give an account of the embracing experience of the narrator at the restaurant.

Ans: - one day the narrator as usual got up at 4 p. m and went out for a meal. He carried a wallet
consists of fourteen rupees. He ate a full meal and he drank a tea. The bill was eleven Annas.
While he put his hand in a coat pocket to pay for it, he was really swatting because his wallet
was not there in a coat. He told to this to the restaurant owner. He caught his coat lapels and
cried that to pay the amount without played any tricks. All the people around him looked him
like a hungry wolf. In the meantime, the restaurant keeper forced him to remove his coat, shirt
and even his trousers also. It was great embracing movement to the narrator.

4. What was the routine of the narrator in the city?

Ans: - The narrator stayed in a small, dingy room on a dirty street. He made his living by
teaching English to some migrant laborers from 9:30 to 11 in the night. He taught them to write
the addresses in English. Just to avoid the expense of morning tea and afternoon meals, he slept
whole day and woke up only at four in the evening. This was his daily routine.

III. Answer the following questions in 200 words.

1. Does this story talk about transformation in a person? Discuss.
Ans: - Yes, this story is about the transformation of a pick-pocketer into a more considerate and
humane person. The author in a far off place from his native land is struggling to earn his bread.
Sometimes he foregoes his morning tea and afternoon lunch to cut his expenses. It so happens
one evening after consuming a full meal and a cup of tea he realizes that his wallet that
contained fourteen rupees was missing. This was followed by threats from the restaurant keeper.
When he was on the edge of getting stripped, a fair complexioned man, six-foot-tall, with a red
turban and white trousers with blue eyes and handle-bar moustache appeared as a God-man to
save him. He pays the eleven Annas and takes the author to a deserted bridge. There he asks
him to pick his wallet among the five wallets he had flicked.

2. Do you think the restaurant keeper was over reacting when the narrator could not pay
the bill? If so, what accounts for his behavior?
Ans: - The inhabitants of the big city in the valley of a mountain were cruel and known for
robbery, pick-pocketing and murder. Money was highly valued by them. They would even
commit murder for money. It so happened that the narrator took up a profession of teaching
English to migrant laborers in that place. To save the expense he would forego his morning tea
and noon lunch. One evening as usual he went to a crowded restaurant and ate a full meal and
drank tea. But to his horror he realizes his wallet has been picked by someone. He conveys to
the owner of the restaurant about the same. The restaurant keeper with a loud laughter caught
him by the lapels of his coat and cried out loudly saying that such tricks would not work there
and if he fails to pay the bill, his eyes would be gouged out. Here the restaurant keeper was a
little over reacting and drawing the attention of the crowd. He was rude and his act was a
humiliating one when he decided to strip the author and gouge his eyes.

***********

Money Madness

D.H. Lawrence
SUMMARY

Money madness is a poem written by D H Lawrence. In this poem, the author speaks about the
effect of money on people. The people are mad about money. They are not ready to give money
to anyone. They may give one pound but they are not ready to give ten pound to others. We are
not afraid of money but we are afraid of money madness. People want to exploit others. If
someone has no money they give him a little food and make him work like a slave. The author is
afraid of exploitation by others. The author wants food, shelter and fire to be free. He says that
the money mad people may kill each other in future.

Comprehension: I

1. How do people feel when they give

A. One Pound?
B. Ten Pound?
A. One Pound-People are not happy to give away the pound note, they feel a pang.

B. Ten Pound-If a person thinks to give away ten-pound note, and then he feels tremors
within him and feels dejected. He under goes a lot of pain

2. “Money has got us down” it means

Ans: - It has made us its slaves.

3. How are people without money, usually treated?

Ans: - The people without money are usually treated as beggars; they are humiliated, degraded
by all.

4. What things should be made available free of cost?

Ans: - Bread, fire, shelter should be made available free of cost “to all and anybody”.

5. The speaker is frightened of Ans: - Having no money.

6. What happens if we do not regain our sanity about money?

Ans: - If we do not regain our sanity about money, we will start killing each other for money.

Comprehension: II

1. How does Money trigger fear in an Individual?

Or
2. How does an individual measures the value of another individual in terms of money?
Ans: - The poet D.H. Lawrence says that if an individual has money; he is treated with respect &
dignity by others. If he has a lot of money, the respect increases. However, if the individual does
not have any money, people are happy to leave him starve to death. They say, „Let him eat dirt
& go cold‟. Money madness makes people so insensitive that they are ready to kill one
another for the sake of money.

Comprehension: III

1. Collective madness about money affects the individuals also. How does the poem bring
this out?
Or
2. What according to the poet, might happen if people do not regain sanity about money?
What solution does he offer? Ans: - Money has become a powerful player in societies of today
and holds primary importance in the modern day life style. The poet says that wherever we look
there is madness for money; infact money can be termed as symbol for the word madness. He
shivers as if he has been robbed. Money makes us kneel in front of it. It makes us fearful and a
sense of apprehension (worry) and stress hold us, as we try to overcome it.
Poet feels that no one cares for moral values and behavior, instead society judges a man by his
riches. If one has no money then he well deserves all the guilt, criticism and blame that come
with poverty.

It lends him little money which is enough to buy a piece of bread in the name of humanity. But
even this small offering doesn‟t come freely. Poor man has to eat dirt (humiliation) to get it;
suffering through pain and criticisms. Poet announces that bread, shelter and fire should be free
to anybody and everybody all over the world.

III. Answer the following questions in 200 words.

1. What are the ideas about the money madness dealt in the poem by D.H. Laurence?
or
2. Write the summary of the poem “Money Madness”
Ans: - “Money Madness” by D.H. Lawrence is one of the important poems of his time. It
presents a personalized view of the horror of money. It also critically evaluates rush affluences of
Money that are visible all around us. It becomes a powerful player in societies of today and
holds more importance than anything else in the modern day lifestyle. So that the poet has tried
to exemplify money madness in the society and how it degenerates social and moral values of
society.

In the poem Lawrence's says that wherever we look there is madness for money, infect wealth
inverts control him. So therefore he used money used as a metaphor for the word madness. And
this madness is not on small or individualistic levels. It is the madness of the multitude, in
numbers unimaginable and at levels incredible. And since the multitude as a whole is mad, so
every person in this world carries his share of this madness. His share of this insane race after
money, the poet doubts that there exists a human in this world who hands out a pound note to
someone without feeling a pang at heart. No matter how noble he may feel while giving away
that note. His heart always wishes if only he could do all that good without having to take out a
note from his own pocket. And when that note turns to a ten-pound note, we experience real
tremors within us. We tremble from inside while giving away that note, as if we have been
robbed. Money makes us kneel in front of it. It makes us fearful, and a sense of apprehension
and stress grips us as we try to overcome a loss as materialistic and small as ten-pounds. It has
an exaggerating power to influence our life.

The poet goes on to say that if one has no money, the World would give him little money, only
enough to perhaps buy a piece of bread, in the name of humanity. But even this small offering
doesn‟t come for free. He has to eat dirt to get it, suffering through pains unheard and
criticisms unparalleled. The poet says it is this pitiful and inhumane situation that he is afraid of.
He fears that such madness for money might result in the world going completely insane. It is
this fear of money-mad fellow-men going into a state of delirium that resides within him.

***********

Babar Ali
Samarpita Mukherjee Sharma
SUMMARY

Babar is the first person in his family to get a formal education. And the heartwarming story is
that it (the learning) didn't end with him, it was the beginning. At the tender age of nine, Babar
Ali had the heart, the vision and the dedication to bring education to hundreds of children in his
village. Babar Ali was a person from Murshidabad, West Bengal. He is known as the "youngest
headmaster of the world". He was given this title by BBC, in the year 2009. Babar Ali was still a
student when he started teaching. He initially began teaching as a time pass, just for fun.

Comprehension: I

1. Where does Babar Ali run classes for poor children?

Ans: - Babar Ali runs classes for poor children in the backyard of his house in Murshidabad, West
Bengal.

2. How is Babar Ali‟s routine described by the writer?

Ans: - Babar wakes up every morning at seven and starts his day by doing some house hold
chores. Then he takes an auto rickshaw first and later walks five kilometers to his class as a
student of XII.

3. Give a picture of Babar Ali s school

Ans: - Babar Ali‟s school is made up of a dilapidated concrete structure covered in half torn
posters. Children study under the open blue sky. Some sit in the mud while others on rickety
benches under a rough homemade shelter.

4. Why is Babar Ali called „a fortunate soul‟ in his village?

Ans: - Babar is called a fortunate soul in his village because unlike most children he received
formal education because he was firmly supported by his father Nasiruddin Sheikh.

5. What according to Babar‟s father, is true religion?

Ans: - According to Babar‟s father Nasiruddin Sheikh Education is man‟s true religion.

6. Why is sending children to school, a costly affair for parents?

Ans: - Poor families find sending children a costly affair because even though children are
provided with free education, parents still have to bear the cost of uniforms and other books.

7. Tulu Rani Hazra is Ans: - An illiterate educationalist

8. The teaching staff of Babar Ali‟s school is made up of _ Ans: - High school student
volunteers.

9. Babar Ali gets the children to listen by Ans: - Making friends with them.

Comprehension: II
10. Why do you think Babar Ali took the initiative to start his own school?
Or
11. What started as a game resulted in a much sought after school for the unprivileged.‟
Explain.
Or
12. Do you think that Babar Ali‟s act of thoughtfulness has enabled the poor children move
towards growth? Discuss
Ans: - Babar Ali noticed how most of his friends in his village had not received formal education.
Although children were provided with free education, the parents still had to bear the cost of
books and uniform, instead of going to school most of the boys worked as mechanics, day
laborers, grass cutters live stock herders whereas girls worked as maid servants, cooking,
cleaning, and washing clothes and dishes for their employers. So Babar Ali wanted to bring
about a change in their lives. Nasiruddin Sheikh, Babar‟s father a jute seller believed that
education is man‟s true religion. So he supported his son to open a school and provided free
meals for the poor students.

Babar Ali actually started his school Anand Shiksha Niketan when he was nine. It grew out of a
game. Babar Ali and his friends used to play school-school with him as a teacher. As his friends
had never experienced school atmosphere they enjoyed playing as students. While they played,
his friends would end up learning arithmetic and this was what led him to open his own
institution, for his friends and other children like them in his own village. Teaching in Ali‟s
school is taken care of by high school student volunteers. According to Babar Ali teaching
learning process has become more effective as the generation gap is less between the teacher
and the students, and this is a big advantage. Education is free and books are made available to
the students.

Comprehension: III

1. According to Nasiruddin „Education is man‟s True Religion‟. How does Babar Ali‟s
school prove this?
Or
2. The increasing strength of Babar Ali‟s school reflects the transformation in our
society‟s attitude towards education.
Substantiate.
Or
3. Do you feel that Babar Ali‟s initiation is a success story? Explain
Ans: - Education is a boon and this is a remarkable story of the desire to learn amid the direst
(extreme) poverty. So Ali‟s thoughtfulness and initiative turned an impossible mission into a
possible one. Success cannot be measured by money or fame that is visible but by the positive
transformation caused by a small act of courage.
The School which was started in a very humble manner in the backyard of Babar Ali‟s house
with eight students has been transformed today to the one with eight hundred students, with 60
regular attendees and over 220 students on roll call. Anand shiksha Niketan consists of ten
volunteer teachers teaching grade 1 to 8. It is registered with the West Bengal Government. This
means that the children who gain access to education will also have more career opportunities.
Text books are free from class 1 to
5. The School provides free mid-day meals and opportunity to get into the High School.
Students join his School with lots of enthusiasm and interest. Moreover, they are very keen to
study when a person receives education it uplifts his way of thinking and improves the quality of
his life. The school has not only created confidence in young children but also enhanced self
confidence of the entire villagers in this process of education. People like Tulu Rani Hazra a fish
monger, high school volunteers, Debarita Bhattachary, Monks at the local Rama Krishna Mission,
IAS officers and local cops have participated in the school‟s activities which reflect their
devotion towards education. In short, Babar Ali‟s foresight has given opportunities for
hundreds of deprived students.

***********

If I Was a Tree

Mudanakudu Chinnaswamy
SUMMARY

behalf of the untouchables. He loves the life of a tree instead of being an untouchable because a
tree is acceptable to society but an untouchable is not acceptable to society. Even in modern
times an untouchable is disliked and kept out of society. If he becomes a tree, a bird may build
its nest on the tree without thinking of the tree as untouchable. Sun light would not discriminate
him as untouchable tree. An untouchable's shadow is considered unclean but a tree's shadow is
not untouchable. Rain would have fallen on it without discrimination. A cow is considered very
sacred but it would come and touch the tree. At last, the dry broken wood of the tree may be
used for the funeral of good people. Through this poem, the author condemns the blind belief
called untouchability.

ls of untouchability in this poem. The feeling

of anger and dejectedness is expressed through a young boy who feels that if he had been a
tree, he could have birds build its nest without asking him which caste he was, sun would have
embraced him and his friendship with the breeze and leaves would have been cool and pleasant.
The boy states that if he had been a tree, the rain would not turn its back because he was an
untouchable and the mother earth would not have run to take bath because his roots were
touching hers. Through this, the boy states the attitude of the people towards him and how hurt
he was.
He also states that as a tree, he would allow the cows to scratch its skin against the rough
surface of the bark and in turn he would get blessings from the thousand gods and goddess
who were supposed to be residing in the cow‟s stomach
The boy also yearns to be purified in some way or the other and states his wish that if he had
been a tree, he would have been broken into pieces and would have been used for some holy
rituals, or would have been used to burn a sinless person or would have been used to carry the
body of the dead by touching the shoulders of four men. He calls the four men as “good”
because only those people are allowed to carry all the bodies of all the caste people.

Comprehension: I

1. The speaker wants to be a tree because

Ans: - Trees are not treated as objects of defilement.

2. What wouldn‟t the bird ask the tree?

Ans: - The bird wouldn‟t ask what caste the tree belongs to before it builds its nest.

3. When does the sacred cow scrape her body onto the bark?
Ans: - Sacred cow scrapes her body onto the bark of the tree when it felt an itch, or whenever it
get itched.

4. How does the speaker want to be purified?

Ans: - By burning in the holy fire the speaker wanted to be purified.

5. The phrase „dog –eater‟ refers to Untouchable.

6. What uses of the wood does the speaker see?

Ans: - The wood can be used in a holy fire for sacrifices or rituals. It also becomes the bier for a
sinless dead body on the shoulders of four good men.

Comprehension: II

1. Why would mother earth not flee according to the speaker?

or
2. How do the life forces-sunlight and the cool breeze enforce nature‟s idea of equality?
Ans: - The poem if I was a tree by Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy is a satire on social discrimination
as it portrays how even a tree is treated better than a human being who belongs to the lower
castes. Literally Dalit means oppressed or crushed. In earlier times, these people were made to
live outside the villages and cities and their touch or even shadow was considered polluting.
These groups were not entitled to education or any position of status and authority. However,
the sad reality is that it is still in practice in a lot of place around the country.

The poet feels that if he was a tree he would not have to face discrimination at the hands of
people. The poet says if he was tree then the bird wouldn‟t ask for his cast before it built its
nest on him, his shadow wouldn‟t feel defiled (polluted) if the sunlight embraced him. He
further thinks that his friendship with the breeze and leaves would be sweet and congenial
(friendly, pleasing)

The poet is trying to tell us that nature does not differentiate between upper and lower caste; it
does not reserve its resources only for the upper castes. Forces like the rain, the wind, water
serve all human beings in the same way. It is in the name of caste and creed that man
differentiates and oppresses those who come from the lower castes.
The poet feels that the sacred cow would scrape her body on the tree‟s bark whenever he feels
the need to scratch its body and the three hundred thousand Gods sheltering inside her would
touch him as well.

Even if it is cut and made into pieces it may be used to light the holy fire or used as a bier for a
sinless body being carried by four good men on the shoulders.

How can someone be purified by a bath if their inner selves are polluted with the idea of
discriminating individuals? The poet feels it is convenient to be a tree that is beyond the
boundaries of caste rather than being a human being who belong to the untouchable caste and
suffer from caste politics.

*********

SUMMARY

Watchman of the Lake

R. K. Narayan

Mara is pleading with the headman who was in the process of constructing the road as the king
would be visiting soon, to allow him to meet the king. He wants to inform the king about the
warning received from the River Veda about building a tank around it so that no farmers will
suffer. The headman was in a hurry to complete the road work because the king was to pass by
that way the next day and the road had to be ready for use.

The headman doesn‟t understand his dream and throws him in the cell with his hands and legs
tied. He hid himself in the branches of tree to draw the attention of the king to tell about his
dream which has revealed to him by Goddess. It was the goodness of Bhima that Mara was able
to escape and meet the king by falling from a tree and stopping the king‟s procession.

Mara tells a story from the epic about the spot that standing in front of the king below the tree,
Mara says that that place is a sacred spot because Lord Hanuman had stood there once. That
was the day when Lakshmana was wounded in the battlefield at Lanka and lay in a deadly faint.
Guided by omens, Hanuman came to that spot and then went up the mountain. On the peak of
the mountain he found Sanjeevini. He flew to Lanka with it, and at its breath Yama's messengers
fled, and Lakshmana rose to his feet with a new life. Such was the power of Sanjeevini; and
where it grew there rose a steam which came down the mountain and flowed near the village.

Mara, the watchman of the lake allows people and animals to drink water at the lake. He doesn't
tolerate anyone killing birds or animals there. Mara threatens the man who was fishing in the
lake that if he ever dared to fish in the lake, he would abuse him and push him into tank. He tells
his son also to be as strict as he was with such people. He tells him that the lake is sacred and
belongs to the Goddess, and her command is that nothing flies or swims or walks in these parts
should ever be killed. When Mara sees a man taking his cow to the water edge, he sends his son
to warn that man not to go to deep into the water. We see Mara as a proud watchman of the
lake, doing his duty of protecting the water from cruel human beings very sincerely. He is not
afraid of anyone and says that even the village headman will have to beg Mara for permission if
he wants to touch the water.

The first time, when the Goddess appeared before Mara, he recognized her immediately as the
divine mother and fell at her feet. He was struck by her grand look, he gives description of her
appearance that her hair was flying in the wind and she had worn coronet which had stars. Her
garment was woven in gold.

The second time, when the Goddess appeared before Mara, he understood that she was in
angry and had terrible look. This time she laughed loudly and she had carried a sword. She did
not speak as she spoke at the first time. She wanted to destroy the tank which was built by her
wish. Now listening her command, he prostrated before her and begged.

We see that the same river as the saviour and destroyer. Initially, Goddess herself appears in the
dream of Mara and informs him to construct a tank to imprison river Veda which is her
plaything. Mara also follows the same as it was told by Goddess. But when everything is going
smoothly, the Goddess shows another form of hers which is terrible to witness. She informs to
Mara that she is in a reckless mood to slash the bounds of the lake which is extended more than
a tank. Being helpless Mara couldn't think of anything else except to meet and deliver the
message to the king. But people in general claim that they will have control over nature. But this
play breaks down those false notions. Being a mortal being Mara couldn't do anything except
sacrifices his own very life for the sake of people. His only request is to make his son the next
watchman and his grandson and great grandsons after his son to be subsequent watchmen of
the lake.

We see that Ganga is the watchman of the lake and he narrates to his son when he took over his
father's duty. From his narration we come to know that the king had come personally to inform
Ganga that his father was no more. The king had also asked Ganga to start doing his father's
duty immediately. The king had also built a shrine with two figures - one of the Guardian
Goddess on the top pedestal and one immediately below it - of Mara. By the king's order,
worship was to be performed every Tuesday and Friday. Ganga remarks that scores of people
since then had come from far and near to worship. Thus, we see that Mara, who was called a
lunatic by the village headman, was worshipped by thousands of villagers.
Comprehension: I
1. Where does the action take place? Ans: - In Sakkrepatna.

2. Who is the rustic hero referred in the drama? Ans: - Mara.

3. Which lake was Mara watching? Ans: - Ayyanakere.

4. Why were the roads being repaired in the town? Ans: - Because the king was
approaching the city.

5. Why was the headman in a hurry to complete the road work?

Ans: - The king Rukmangada was expected pass through the village next day.

6. Where is Sakkrepatna?
Ans: - On the base of Baba Budan Hills.

7. Who is lunatic according to village headman? Ans: - Mara.

8. Why did the village headman get angry with Mara?

Ans: - He thought that Mara was a lunatic & always disturbed the work.

9. Why did the village headman call Mara a lunatic?

Ans: - Because he was engaged with his own work disturbing the workers.

10. Where was Mara when he was called a lunatic? Ans: - Behind a rock.

11. How did Mara spring off according to the workmen? Ans: - Like a buck.

12. Why did the headman order his workers to stop all work? Ans: - To catch Mara and bring
Mara before him.

13. Why did the village head decide to lock Mara up in the cellar? Ans: - He did not want
Mara to trouble the King.

14. What will Mara do if the headman locks him up in the cellar? Ans: - Mara will sit there
and pray.

15. What would the headman offer Mara if he behaves like a good fellow? Ans: - Gift

16. Who gave Mara the greatest gift according to him? Ans: - His father-in-law.

17. What was the greatest gift given? Ans: - His wife was the greatest gift.

18. Where was Mara imprisoned?

Ans: - In the cellar behind the old temple.

19. Who was asked to guard Mara? /who was asked to keep Mara in the cellar? Ans: - Bhima.
20. How was Bhīma to look at?
Ans: - Bhima was a giant and could swing an elephant by its tail.

21. How did Bhima manage to grow so fat?

Ans: - Bhima's mother gave him iron decoction when he was a baby and at every dawn he ran
up the hill with a large grind-stone on his back.

22. Who helped Mara to escape from the cellar? Ans: - Bhima

23. Why did jailor let Mara out of cellar? Ans: - On knowing about his dream.

24. Where was Mara waiting for the king? Ans: - In a tree.

25. Why was Mara waiting for the king on the tree?
Ans: - He wanted to tell about his dream to the king, but was afraid of the village headman.

26. What was the confusion at the arrival of the king?

Ans: - Someone jumped down from the tree as the king was about to arrive.

27. Who came in Mara's dream? Ans: - The goddess of the river.

28. How was the goddess' garment?

Ans: - Her garment was of gold woven with lightening.

29. Which / what was the plaything of the goddess? Ans: - Veda.

30. Where was Veda born?

Ans: - In the fleeting mists of the mountain top.

31. What did the goddess command Mara to tell the king? Ans: - To build a tank.

32. Why did goddess ask the king to build a tank? Ans: - Not to let Veda leave the village.

33. What did Mara call himself as? Ans: - An unworthy dog.

34. How does the king respond to Mara's information about the tank?
Ans: - When Mara revealed his dream about the goddess, the king believed him and invited him
to his palace.

35. Where did Hanuman find Sanjeevini? Ans: - On the crest of mountain in Sakkrepatna

36. Who was Ganga?

Ans: - Ganga was Mara's son.

37. What was Ganga watching when Mara called him? Ans: - A man was finishing in the lake.
38. Why did the visitor approach Mara?
Ans: - The visitor had come to ask for water from Mara's tank as the crops had parched up and
cattle were dying of drought.

39. Who would guard the lake after Mara? Ans: - His son Ganga.

40. What is the command of goddess about the animals in that area? Ans: - The animals
should never be killed.

41. Who summoned the king one late night? Ans: - Mara.

42. What condition was Mara in? Ans: - Battered by rain.

43. What message did Mara bring to the king about the lake?
Ans: - It is about to smash it‟s bounds/the goddess is going to destroy the lake.

44. On what condition did Mara make the goddess wait for him?
Ans: - He requested the goddess not to destroy the tank wall till he came back after informing
the king about the danger to the lake.
45. What did the king want the announcer to announce? Ans: - It was the last day of the
world.
46. What did Mara give the king to save the tank? Ans: - Solution to kill himself
47. What was Mara's last request?
Ans: - To make Ganga as watchman of the lake.
48. Where is the figure of the Guardian Goddess of lake? Ans: - On the top pedestal.
49. When is the worship performed by the king's order? Ans: - On the evenings of every
Tuesday & Friday.
Comprehension: II
1. What was the significance of Mara's dream?
Ans: - Mara narrated the king about his dream in which the goddess of the river commanded
him to tell the king to build a tank around the river Veda & stop its flowing away. Mara where
he met the king told him that the place where they stood was a sacred spot because that was
the place Lord Hanuman had stood upon once. Later. He had gone up the mountains to bring
Sanjeevini. The magical herb. From the place where the herb grew, a stream began, came down
the mountain & became the river Veda which flowed near the town. Its water was the life saver
of the people of Sakkarepatna, but in the summer months, it dries up & the town has to go
without water. If the king believed Mara's dream & acted upon it, the town of Sakkarepatna
would never be deprived of water, even in the hottest summer.
2. "Nature is both protective & destructive"- how does the play bring out this idea?
Ans: - The goddess of the river is the symbol of nature in this story. Once she came in Mara's
dream and commanded him to tell the king to construct a tank around the stream of Veda and
not let her flow away from that place. The place was a sacred spot. The goddess claims herself
that Veda is her plaything and she plays with it as she wants. She wanted to make the nature
protective by constructing a lake so that the people never have to suffer drought. Things were
calm for some years. One evening, Veda started swelling. It became stormy. Mara fears floods
will destroy the tank and prays to the goddess, she appears and says that she is in a mood to
'kick away the miserable stones they have piled up imprison the waters of her Veda. Thus she
wants to destroy the whole thing.
Comprehension: III
1. How is Mara's role brought out in protecting the lake?
Ans: - Mara is central character of the play Mara struggles a lot to meet the king. He wanted to
meet the king Rukmangada as he wanted to narrate his dream in which the goddess of the river
came and commanded Mara to tell the king to construct a lake/tank around Veda -Her
plaything. The village headman was busy with his workmen repairing the roads as the king was
going to pass through that village next day. He called Mara, a lunatic and even put Mara in a
cellar.
Mara could escape from the prison and climbed up the tree expected king's arrival, though the
village headman avoids him, Mara shows his commitment for the livelihood issue of the drought
hit villagers. Then the king appointed him as the watchman of the lake. He shows total
commitment to the welfare of the living beings depending on the lake. He prevents the people
from polluting it. One stormy night, Mara observes the river Veda. Waves rose and harmed the
back of the lake. He prays the goddess to let him to inform the king and wait until he comes
back. At last she has given a word that she won't damage till he returns from the palace. That
was enough for Mara to save the lake. He goes to the palace to inform the king and decided not
to go to back to the lake. He asked the king to kill him. The goddess is kept waiting for the
return of Mara. She has not done any harm to the lake. Thus Mara gives a message to selfish
society through his selfless life. His sacrifice saved the people.

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