1

ANANTH P U COLLEGE, ARSIKERE

2ND P U ENGLISH NOTES PART-3

12. THE VOTER

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

1. Roof was popular young man because-
a. he had not abandoned his village.
b. Wanted to guide his people.
c. Was forced to return to his place.
Ans. b. Wanted to guide his people
2. Why was Marcus considered rich and powerful?
Ans. He was a gre4at man and does his things like a great man.
3. Marcus Ibe had earlier been a---
a. Doctor
b. School teacher
c. Politician
Ans. School teacher
4. The fact that Marcus Ibe left the good things of the capital and returns to
his village whenever he could, shows,
a. His evotion to his people and love for the place
b. He enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village
c. He wanted to improve the amenities of his village
Ans. b. He enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village.
5. After the feasting the villagers
a. Praised Marcus’ faithfulness and generosity
b. Intended to demand more for their votes
c. Realised Marcus’ wealth
Ans. c. Realised Marcus’ wealth
6. The whispering campaign is
a. Secret campaigning at night
b. Bargaining for votes
c. Clandestine distribution of money
Ans. clandestine distribution of money
7. The village elder Ezenwa, tilted the lampa little because
a. He could not see properly
b. The place was too dark
c. He wanted to confirm the amount paid to each
Ans. c. He wanted to confirm the amount paid to each
8. Fire wood refers to
a. Roof taking the advantage of the situation
b. The advantage of being a voter
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c. The benefits the elders received

Ans. c. The benefits the elders received
9. Roof and the leader of the POP campaign team were
a. Friends
b. Strangers
c. Acquaintances
Ans. a. Friends
10. Roof was mesmerized by
a. The red notes on the floor
b. The picture of the cocoa farmer
c. The POP campaign leader
Ans. b. The picture of the cocoa farmer
11. Roof’s act of inserting torn ballot papers in the two boxes signifies
a. Keeping his promise
b. Appeasing Iyi
c. Absolving himself of his guilt
Ans. c. Absolving himself of his guilt
12. Which political party did Marcus represent in “The Voter”?
Ans. people’s Alliance Party (POP)
13. How much had Marcus Ibe drawn in advance for the election in “The
Voter”? (Preparatory-2019)
Ans. 500 pounds
14. What was whispering campaign referred to in “The Voter”?
Ans. Clandestine distribution of money for votes
15. What is the symbol used by Marcus Ibe in the election in “The Voter”?
(External college paper)
Ans. Car
16. Into which box did Marcus Ibe put the first bhalf of his ballot paper in,
“The Voter”? (preparatory 2020-21)
Ans. Maduka’s box/POP box/the box with the symbol of head
(any one of the three answers )
17. Expand PAP mentioned in the voter.
Ans. People’s Alliance Party. (model paper for April, 2022.)
18. Name Marcus Ibe’s most trusted campaigner in “The Voter”. (model
paper for April ’22)
Ans. Roof
19. What does Roof’s act of inserting the ballot paper in the two boxes
signify? (external paper)
Ans. Absolving himself from his guilt.
20. Name the two political parties mentioned in “The Voter”.
Ans. PAP &POP/People’s Alliance Party and Progressive Organisation
Party. (Preparatory:2020)
21. How long had Roof worked as bicycle repairer’s apprentice in “The
Voter”? (External paper)
Ans. For two years
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22. What was Marcus before entering politics? (External paper)

A mission school teacher
23. How much money did the leader of POP offer Roof? Annual-2019)
Ans. Five pounds
24. Which is the election symbol of People’s Alliance Party? (supplementary-
2016)
Ans. Car
25. Where did Marcus Ibe build his big mansion in “The Voter”? (suppl-2018)
Ans. In Umuofia
26. Mention the post held by Marcus Ibe in the outgoing government in “The
Voter”. (preparatory-2017, 2016)
Ans. Minister for Culture
27. How many shillings did Roof offer each man in “The Voter”?
Ans. four shillings.
28. At what time the whispering campaigns held in “The Voter”?
OR
When did Marcus’ boys conduct whispering campaign?
Ans. At night
29. How many elders were there when Roof conducted the whispering
campaign in “The Voter”?
Ans. Five elders.
30. Who was supposed to be very popular in the village in “The Voter”?
Ans. Roof
31. Who was addressed Roof in short in “The Voter”?
Ans. Rufus Okeke
32. Where has Roof spent two years as bicycle repairer’s apprentice in “The
Voter”?
33. To which village did Roof belong to in “The Voter”?
Ans. Umuofia
34. Who was PAP’s most illustrious son in “The Voter”?
Ans. Marcus Ibe
35. Who was the minister for culture in the outgoing government in “The
Voter”?
Ans. Marcus Ibe
36. Mention the promise made by PAP if they were voted to power in “The
Voter”.
Ans. Pipe borne water
37. Name the man of high tradition in Umuofia mentioned in “The Voter”.
Ans. Ogbuefi Ezenwa
38. Mention one of the honours/titles politics had brought to Umuofia in”The
Voter”?
Ans. Wealth/chieftaincy titles/doctorate degrees.
39. Opposition to Marcus Ibe in “The Voter was like-
a. A fly trying to move a dung hill.
b. The bird challenging his personal spirits.
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c. A mortar turning its back on the ground.

Ans. a. A nfly trying to move a dung hill.
40. What instance had resulted in the dismissal of Marcus from the mission
school in “The Voter”?
Ans. A complaint by a female teacher
41. What had Marcus Ibe named his new house?
Ans. Umuofia Mansion
42. Who conducted whispering campaigns in “The Voter?
Ans. Stalwarts of Marcus Ibe.
43. How many shillings was finally accepted for the votes by the elders in
“The Voter”?
Ans. Four shillings each.
44. What does the phrase, ‘the enemy’, used by Roof refer to in, “The
Voter”?
Ans. Maduka/candidate from opposite party, POP
45. Who had formed POP in “The Voter”?
Ans. The tribes down the coast.
46. Ans. To vote for Maduka/POP party.
47. Where does Iyi come from, according to POP campaigner in “The Voter”?
Ans.Mbanta.
48. Who competed against Marcus Ibe in the election in “The Voter.”?
Ans. Maduka
49. What is the symbol of POP in “The Voter”?
Ans. Head
50. Whose election symbol was man’s head in “The Voter”?
POP/Progressive Organization Party
51. Where was Marcus Ibe seated on the morning of election in, “The
Voter”?
Ans. In the owner’s corner of his car./in his car
52. What precaution did Roof take while inserting the ballot paper in “The
Voter”?
Ans. Putting the first half into Maduka’s box

4/6 MARKS QUESTIONS

II. Answer the following in about a page.
1. Trace the behaviour of Roof on the day of election.
OR
“To every human comes a time of reckoning”. Justify withreference to
the story, “The Voter”.
OR
Roof’s dilemma on the day of election is the result of his own misddeds.
Give reasons.
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Ans.Roof was in the service of Marcus ibe. He was an expert in the

election campaigning. He could guess the mood of the electorate at any
given time of election for local or state or national. He conducted
whispering campaigns successfully for Marcus Ibe. But on the previous
night of the election, he was offered five pounds by the opposite party
campaigner to vote for Maduka. Roof accepted it and swore on Iyi. He
knew very well that his single vote could not affect the landslide victory
of Marcus Ibe. On the election day morning he pretended as if nothing
has happened. When Marcus asked him to go and vote, his spirits fell. But
he did not show it. He went towards the booth in his usual springy
fashion. But inside the voting room he sidled across and was confronted
with the Head and the Car. Then he was in a fix. The dilemma in his mind
is the result of his own misddeds! He should not have taken money from
the POP campaigner and taken oath on Iyi! Once decided to go back to
POP campaigner and to return the money. But he could not do so
because he swore on Iyi. Roof was in a fix because he had made a lot of
money through Marcus Ibe. So he was worrying about cheating Marcus
even in secret. The police man at the entrance suspected his delay and
asked the election officer what Marcus was doing inside. It was the time
of reckoning! Roof was a man of quick decision. He tore the ballot paper
into two in the middle, put the first half into Maduka’s box, declared
verbally that he voted for Maduka. Then he came out as jauntily as he
had walked in.

2. Describe the meeting held by POP campaign team with Roof in “The
Voter”.
OR
The POP campaign leader’s meeting with Roof shows the misuse of
transparency in a democratic set up. Discuss.
OR
‘The Voter’ presents the role of money and ridicules its power in an
election. Explain.

Ans. On the previous night of the election, a strange thing happened with
Roof. Everything was going smoothly as per the plan of Roof till then.
Then a leader from the opposition party, POP, visited Roof. Roof knew
him already. Before election they were known to each other and even
they were friends. But now the POP campaigner visited Roof for his vote
for Maduka. No words were wasted. He put five pounds in front of Roof
on the floor and asked for his vote. Roof got up from his chair, went to
the outside door, closed it carefully and returned to his seat. This gave
him time to weigh the matter. He was mesmerised by the picture of the
cocoa farmer on the five pound notes, harvesting his crop. Then he told
the POP leader that he worked for Marcus Ibe and it would be bad to
accept the money and vote for Maduka. POP campaigner told Roof that
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Marcus would not be there when Roof put his paper and asked him if he
was taking the money or not. Roof doubtfully asked if that matter could
not be heard outside. The POP leader assured him by sayin that they
were after votes and not gossip. Then Roof agreed to vote for Maduka.
The companion with POP leader brought forward the awful thing Iyi. POP
leader asked Roof to take oath on Iyi that he would vote for Maduka, if
not that Iyi would take note. Roof new the fame of Iyi from Mbanta. He
took oath at once to vote for Maduka.
This meeting does not only show the misuse of transparency but also the
irony of democracy!

3. Trace the reasons behind the ‘radical change’ that had come into the
thinking of Umuofia in “The Voter”.
OR
“The Voter” ridicules the power and selfishness of Marcus Ibe. Explain.
(external paper.)

Ans. After the previous election the people of Umuofia observed how Marcus
Ibe, a mission school teacher grew rich within five years after the election.
Wealth flowed into Umuofia along with so many chieftaincy titles and
doctorate degrees. But all these went to Marcus’ house for whom they had
voted him for free five years ago. Marcus built a bigger mansion than any
other in Umuofia. Though there was neither electricity nor runnig water in
his village, he had lately installed a private plant to supply electricity to his
new house. He named his new house “Umuofia Mansion” in honour of his
village. He slaughtered five bulls and countless goats to entertain his people
on the day, his house was opened by Arch Bishop. Now the people of
Umuofia started thinking that they had underrated the power of their ballot
papers and decided not to do so again. They decided to try in a different way.
The power and selfishness of Marcus Ibe is well explained here.

4. ‘Roof is an intelligent manipulator’. Justify with reference to the story,

“The Voter. (prep-2020)
OR
“Roof was the most trusted whispering campaigner”. To what extent is
this true in “The Voter”?
OR

Ans. Roof is certainly an intelligent manipulator. He knew the pulse of the

electorate in Umuofia. For example, he returned to Umuofia before
election giving up his bright future of becoming a bicycle repairer, to
make money in election. But he told the innocent people of Umuofia that
he returned to serve his people in the difficult time of elections. The
people believed him!
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Whispering campaign is the clandestine distribution of money to the

voters. Roof conducted it successfully in the house of Ogbuefi Ezenwa.
He said that it was a great honour to have a minister from their village
and the people could not expect any more than that for it was a great
honour for them. Moreover, Marcus Ibe was the son of their own village!
Further he said whether they vote for Marcus or not, PAP would come
back to power. If Marcus was not voted to power, they would lose the
minister from their village and reminded them that PAP party had
promised them the pipe borne water. The innocent elders believed
him!Aftert much bargaining, they agreed to vote for Marcus for four
shillings.
For all these reason, he was the most trusted election campaigner for
Marcus Ibe.
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13. WHERE THERE IS A WHEEL

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

1. What does cycling as a symbol of social mobility mean?

Ans. Freedom
2. when Jameela Bibi says, “It is my right. We can go anywhere”, she is ---
a. asserting her right to move freely.
b. Suggesting mobility leading to liberation.
c. expressing her indifference to dirty remarks.
d. Boasting about her cycling skill
Ans. b. Suggesting mobility leading to liberation.
3. What does bicycle represent to rural women?
Ans. Chosen medium
4. What is common between neo-literates and neo-cyclists?
Ans. Cycling
5. ‘Enforced routine’ and ‘male imposed barriers’ refer to
a. Confining women to kitchen.
b. Subjecting women to drudgery
c. Status of women in patriarchal society
d. Lack of freedom of movement
Ans. c. Status of women in patriarchal society
6. How did the men react when women took to cycling?
Ans. They made filthy remarks./viscious attacks.
7. What do the phrase, ‘flag on the handle bar’ and ‘bells ringing’ suggest?
Ans. freedom and independence of women
8. Why did UNICEF sanction mopeds to Arivoli women activists?
Ans. It was impressed by cycling movement.
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9. Why is the cycle called a humble vehicle?

Ans. Because it is easily affordable and more economic to rural people.
10. Whose brainchild is the cycling movement, according to Sainath, in “Where
There Is A Wheel”? (prep:2019)
Ans. Sheela Rani Chunkath, the District Commissioner
11. What does Sheela Rani Chunkath include as a part of literacy drive? (prep:2020)
Ans. Mobility
12. Which of the vehicles is called “humble” in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. Cycle.
13. Name the secondary school teacher addicted to cycling in, “Where There Is A
Wheel?
Ans. Fatima
14. Where was cycling as a social movement, started?
Ans. At Pudukottai
15. What had stunned the people of Pudukottai on the International Women’s Day?
(Annual-2019)
Ans. All women cycle rally of about 1500 female cyclists
16. Who was the central co-ordinator of Arivoli in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
(supplem-2016)
Ans. N Kannammal.
17. Which is the vehicle that is refered to as ‘humble vehicle’ in “Where There Is A
Wheel”? (supplementary-2018)
Ans. Cycle
18. Name the village in Tamilnadu where cycling became a social movement?
(prep:2017)
Ans. Kilakuruchi
19. Which song did the neo-cyclists sing to encourage cycling?
Ans. ‘O sister, come learn cycling, move with the wheel of time”.
20. Name the Arivoli activistas mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel” who wrote
the cycling song.
Ans. Muthu Bhaskaran
21. Mention any one of the symbols which bicycling represents for the women in
“Where There Is A Wheel”.
Ans. Freedom/mobility/independence
22. Who gave social sanction to cycling in “Where There Is A Wheel?
Ans. Arivoli Iyakkam
23. What is meant by ‘neo-cyclists’ mentioned in, “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. The women who learnt cycling newly.
24. Name one of the women who trained other womenin cycling in “Where There Is
A Wheel”.
Ans. Jameela, Fatima, Avakanni.
25. Who have been benefitted the most by cycling according to P. Sainath?
Ans. Rural women
26. Who took to cycling as a social movement in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. Rural women in Pudukottai.
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27. Which movement helped the ‘neo-literates’ to become ‘neo-cyclists’ in “Where

There Is A Wheel?
Ans. Arivoli Iyakkam, the literacy movement.
28. What has been a chosen medium for rural womenof Pudukottai, according to P.
Sainath?
Ans. Cycling
29. Name the quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer who trains other women of
Pudukottai in “Where There Is A Wheel”.
Ans. Manormani.
30. What was Fatima by profession,according to P. Sainath?
Ans. Secondary school teacher.
31. What is ‘Arivoli Iyakkam’ mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans.Light of Knowledge Movement
32. Who is one of the pioneers of cycling movements according to P. Sainath?
Ans. N. Kannammal
33. Who was Manormani mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. A quarry worker and Arivoli volunteer
34. Who was Muthu Bhaskaran mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans.Who wrote cycling anthem to encourage women’s cycling.
35. Who was Sheela Rani Chunkath mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. District collector of Pudukottai
36. In which official position was Sheela Rani Chunkath, according to P. Sainath?
Ans. District collector of Pudukottai.
37. Who sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists according to P. Sainath?
Ans. UNICEF
38. Who was S. Kannakarajan mentioned in “Where There Is A Wheel”?
Ans. Owner of Ram Cycles
39. Mention one of the reasons women buying of gents’ cycle according to P.
Sainath.
Ans. A child can be seated on the additional bar from the seat to the handle.
40. What led to the shortage of ladies’ cycles in Pudukottai according to P. Sainath?
Ans. Because every women wanted to learn cycling in Pudukottai.
41. Where did the rural women display their new cycling skills according to P.
Sainath?
Ans. In cycling-exhibition-cum-contest at Kilakuruchi in Pudukottai.
42. What did the banks provide the women of Pudukottai with, according to P.
Sainath?
Ans. Provided loans to buy cycles.
43. What according to P. Sainath, played a big role in undermining the women’s
confidence?
Ans. Viscious attacks and filthy remarks on their character and male imposed
barriers
44. Who was the owner of Ram Cycles according to P. Sinath?
Ans. S. Kannakarajan
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4/6 MARKS QUESTIONS

Answer the following in about a page.
1. A humble vehicle can work wonders in empowering rural women. Explain
with reference to “Where There Is A Wheel”.
OR
How has the bicycle transformed the lives of many women in Pudukottai?
(Prep:2019) (Annual:2019)
OR
‘Where there is a wheel, there is mobility, freedom and independence’. How
is it shown in the lesson?
OR
‘Wheel brings progress’. Justify this statement with reference to “Where
There Is A Wheel”. (Supplementary:2016)
OR
In what different ways does the bicycle help rural women in “Where There Is
A Wheel”? (Supplementary:2018)
OR
“Cycling has very definite economic implications and nd also boost the self
respect of women”. Explain with reference to the essay, “Where There Is A
Wheel”. (prep:2017)
OR
What benefits, according to P. Sainath, has cycling brought into the lives of
rural women? (Annual:2016)
OR
How does P. Sainath show that cycling brings about changes beyond
economic gains? (Text book)

Ans. Cycling has been included as a part of literacy drive in Pudukkottai. The district
collector Sheela Rani Chunkath included mobility as a part of literacy. Over one lakh
of women from rural Pudukottai took to v=cycling. It gave the women the self
confidence. It became the symbol for their freedom, independence and mobility. It
reduced the dependence on men for their movement. For example to sell their
produce in the nearby villages theyn had to depend upon the male members of their
family to go even to bus-stop. The cycling made them easy to collect water, carting
provisons and take their children either to school or to home etc. Sometimes one see
a women doing more than one work at a time as carrying her produce, a child on the
front bar and two or even three pots of water hung on the back of the cycle. The
cycling has many economic implications. It helped the women to sell their agricultural
produce more by covering more villages in less time. It enabled them to return to
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home to attend the house chores and to tend their children and to send them to
school. It also helped them to enjoy more leisure.

In this way, the humble vehicle has really made a revolution in the life of rural
women of Pudukottai.

2. What is the role of Arivoli Iyakkam in liberating women? (4 Marks)

OR
Do you think neo literate women taking to cycling contribute to literacy
movement?

Ans. Arivoli Iyakkam, The Light Of Knowledge Movement, has tapped the energy of neo-
cyclist women to reach even the remote villages to educate the illiterate rural women.
With the help of the cycle the neo-cyclist were able to reach the remote places and
cover more villages also. So the Arivoli encouraged the neo-literate women to learn
cycling and succeeded in it. Almost all neo-literates or neo-cyclists! This made the Light
Of Knowledge Movement succeed in its mission. In this way neo-lierate woman who
took to cycling contributed a lot to literacy movement. The author says that he saw a
direct link between cycling and women’s personal independence. An impressed UNICEF
sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists.

3. Why does the author describe the ‘Arivoli Cycling Training Camp’ as an
unusual experience? (4 Marks)

Ans. Visiting an Arivoli training camp in Kilakuruchi village, the author says that it was an
unusual experience. All the prospective learners and the neo-cyclists had turned in their
best on that Sunday. One could not help being struck by the sheer passion of the pro-
cycling movement. They had to know that the cycling offered the women a way out of
enforced routines, around male-imposed barriers. They even sang the songs produced
by Arivoli to encourage bicycling! Those who have already learnt cycling returned to
train the other women in cycling free of charge. Only one thought was th4. ere in their
mind that all women ought to learn cycling.

4. How does Sheela Rani Chunkath, the district collector, promote the
empowerment of women?

The whole phenomenon of women’s taking to cycling is the brainchild of the popular
former district collector, Sheela Rani Chunkath. An idea came to her mind to train up
female activists to make the literacy reach the women in the interior. So she included
mobility as a part of the literacy drive. The lack of mobility among women plyed a big
role in undermining their confidence. Therefore, she pushed the banks to provide loan
for the women to buy cycles. She got each block of women to accept specific duties.
Being the head of the district, she gave, women’s cycling, a great attention.
 12

ANANTH PU COLLEGE, ARSIKERE

14. WATER (NOTES)
-CHALLAPALLI SWOROOPA RANI

i. Answer the following in a word, phrase or in a sentence each.

1. The expression ‘generations old strife’ suggests,
a. The bane of caste system
b. Politics of revenge
c. Differences among humans
Ans. a. Bane of caste system
2. ‘It also knows the sub-caste difference
Between leather and spool’
Here, ‘leather and spool’ stand for,
a. Pure and impure
b. Higher and lower
c. Cobbler and weaver
Ans. c. Cobbler and weaver
3. How is water a witness to the humiliation caused to the daliths?
Ans. it knows the generations-old strife between the village and the wada.
4. What does the speaker remember when she sees water?
Ans. The thatched roofs aflame at Malapalle burning to ashes for want of a
pot of water.
5. “Circus feat” refers to ______
a. Hardship to fetch water
b. Balancing the water pots on the head
c. Efforts to secure basic needs
d. Struggle surrounding water
Ans. d. Struggle surrounding water
6. Water is a_______
a. Liquid called water
b. Catalyst for a movement
c. Witness to strife
d. Life giver and destroyer
e. Means to practise untouchability
f. Profit making commodity
Ans. all the above
7. 1. What according to the speaker knows the ground's incline in 'Water'?
Ans. water
8. Generations-old-strife In 'Water' refers to the dispute between
a) leather and spool.
b)village and wada.
c) Samaria woman and Jesus.
Ans. b) village and the wada.
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8. What according to the speaker never disappears in 'Water'?

Ans. Untouchability
9. Whose agony is for a pot of water as mentioned in 'Water'?
Ans. agony of a panchama.
10. Who is entitled to pour water into panchama's pot as mentioned in 'Water'?
Ans. A shudra.
11. Mention any one of the types of humiliation met by the wada girl in 'Water'.
Ans.A shudra falls all over her and touches her.
12. Whom did Karamchedu Suvarthamma oppose in 'Water'?
Ans. Kamma land lords
13. According to the speaker in 'Water', water is witness to
a) social injustice.
b) pollution of pond.
c) ground's incline.
Ans. a. Social injustice
14. What is the speaker in 'Water' reminded of when she sees water?
Ans. How her wada thirst all day for a glass of water.
15. Where did the Mahad struggle mentioned in 'Water' take place?
Ans. At Chadar tank
16. What would the speaker's wada, mentioned in 'Water', thirst for all day!
Ans. for a glass of water
17. According to the speaker in 'Water', they never managed to even a
a. glass of water
b. pot of water.
c. puddle of water.
Ans. Puddle of water.
18. What was welcomed as a wondrous festival according to the speaker in
Water.
Ans. The weekly bath.
19. When does the speaker remember her childhood in Water?
Ans. When they walked miles to reach a big canal.
20. What was burnt to ashes for want of a pot of water according to the epester
in Water?
Ans. Thatched roofs of Malapalle
21. _________ are playthings in the vicious hands of water according to the
speaker in "Water?
a) The MNC The landlords
b) The poorans.
c) The poor
22. What according to the speaker can water ignite in 'Water'?
Ans. Many struggles and strife.
23. Where does water finally become a commodity according to the speaker in
Water?
Ans. in multinational market.
24. What is now a multinational market commodity mentioned in ‘Water'?
 14

Ans. Water
25. What is the new name of water mentioned in 'Water'?
Ans. Mineral water

ii. Answer the following in 80-100 words.

1. Discuss the travails suffered by the wada people to get water.
OR
“Water is a symbol of struggle against discrimination.” Discuss.

Ans. The author says that when she sees water she remembers how her
people and she in the wada would thirst all day for a glass of water.
For them water is not simply H2O, it is a mighty movement like the one at
Chadar tank. A single drop of water embodies the tears shed over several
generations. Though their blood flowed like water in the battle fieid, they
never managed to win even a small puddle of water. When she sees water,
she continues, she remembers how they welcomed their weekly bath as if it
were a wonderful festival. But at the same time the entire village luxuriously
twice a day. She also remembers her childhood when they walk miles to
reach a big canal and carry back heavy pots. Their muscles and veins on their
necks, were straining and bursting at the time. For a pot of water, the whole
wada of Malapalle was turned into ashes. Thus there was no ending for the
sufferings to get some water to survive.

2. How does the poem “Water” demonstrate the disparity and discrimination in
society using water as a symbol?

Water demonstrates the disparity between the castes through the ages in
India. It knows the generations old strife between the village and the wada
just as the dampness of the well’s edgethat never dries. The water knows
everything. It knows the difference between the Samaria woman and Jesus
the Jew. It also knows the sub-caste difference between the cobbler and the
weaver. It knows the humiliation of the wada girl who suffered in the hands
of upper caste person who sills water all over her and touches her. Water is
witness to centuries of social injustice. It is not simply H2O., it is the one like a
Mahad Struggle at the Chadar tank. A single drop of water embodies tears
shed over several generations. Blood flowed like streams in the streets to get
even a small puddle of water. The wada, Malapalle was burnt into ashes for a
pot of water. The poor are playthings in the vicious hands.