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The Doctor’s Word

By R.K.Narayan

Short Summary: Dr Raman was a brilliant and honest doctor who never gave false hopes to his dying
patients. When his friend Gopal fell sick and was close to death, he promptly treated him and
performed an operation. He knew that the chance of survival was very low. Gopal wanted to sign his
will so that his family would be in no financial trouble when he died. So, Gopal wanted to know if he
would die. However, Raman did not tell him the truth and said that he would recover and live long.
The false words gave Gopal the strength to overcome his failing health and he miraculously survived.

Word Meanings

Curt: rude/ short and abrupt Evasive: avoiding something

Arena: field Beckoned: signalled to call

Wrested: gained control forcibly Still: silent with nothing moving

Soothing lies: comforting and calming Deprecating: in a dismissive way

untruths
Whitewash: to cover up something/ to hide
Mopped: wiped with a cloth something

Sizzled: a hissing sound as of food frying or Sterilizer: a container for disinfecting medical
cooking instruments

Whimpered: made soft crying noises Stole a look: Looked at somebody when they
were looking somewhere else.
Gleamed: shone/ was shining
Unsettled: undecided
Swarmed: crowded around
Stimulate: to create interest in someone or
Sternly: in a strict way
something
Ruminated: thought about

Question Answers from Textbook (Indian Weaves)

1. When did patients usually visit Dr Raman and why?

Ans: The patients usually visited Dr Raman when the patient was in his last legs/ when the
patient was about to die or terminally ill.
This was because, his visit was twenty-five rupees, a big amount in those days and because
people thought that coming to him meant that the patient was beyond hope
2. How did Dr Raman treat his terminal patients?
Ans: Dr Raman treated his terminal patients with prompt action and truthfulness.
3. What opinion did people have of the doctor?
Ans: People thought of the doctor as a judge pronouncing a verdict.
4. How was friendship between Gopal and the doctor described?
Ans: The friendship between the doctor and Gopal is described as a classic friendship,
untouched by changing times, circumstances and activities.
5. How did Dr Raman come to know that Gopal was ill?

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Ans: Dr Raman came to know that Gopal was ill from Gopal’s son who came to his consulting
hall.
6. Why did Gopal’s wife not call Dr Raman earlier to treat her husband?
Ans: She thought he would be busy and did not wish to trouble him unnecessarily.
7. What was the doctor’s reaction on seeing his ailing friend in bed?
Ans: On seeing his ailing friend in bed, the doctor felt that he himself needed someone to
tell him soothing lies. He mopped his head and sat on a chair beside him
8. Mention in brief the immediate measures Dr Raman took for Gopal’s treatment.
Ans: Dr Raman injected the patient after sterilizing the needle, brought an assistant and
nurse and performed a surgery.
9. How did Dr Raman answer Gopal’s wife about her husband’s health condition?
Ans: Dr Raman asked Gopal’s wife not to ask him any questions and not get excited.
10. How do you know that Gopal was about to die?
Ans: The doctor knew that Gopal had only a thousandth of a chance of survival.
11. Why was it important for Gopal to know how long he would live?
Ans: Gopal wished to sign the will and settle his property to help his wife and children if he
died. So he wanted to know if he would survive.
12. “It was not in his nature to whitewash”: Whose nature is being referred to here? What does
the word “whitewash” indicate in this context?
Ans: Dr Raman’s nature is referred to here. The word “whitewash” indicates “hiding
something” or “covering something”.
13. What was Dr Raman’s immediate reaction to Gopal asking him whether he would survive?
Ans: When Gopal asked Dr Raman if he would survive, Dr Raman assured him that his heart
was sound and he would live long and that he should not worry about the will.
14. Why did Dr Raman decide to tell Gopal a lie?
Ans: Dr Raman wished to give his friend the hope which might help him recover. So he
decided to lie.
15. How did Dr Raman’s lie help his dying friend?
Ans: Dr Raman’s lie lifted Gopal’s spirit and his mental strength was increased to help him
recover.

Grammar and Vocabulary

1. Write another word for ‘shirk’

Ans: shun/ignore/deny
2. Replace the phrase ‘ominous association’
Ans: Dangerous connection
3. What is the adjective of ‘fact’?
Ans: Factual
4. What is the adjective of ‘opinion’?
Ans: Opinionated
5. What is the meaning of ‘curt truthfulness’?
Ans: Blunt or rude honesty
6. What is the noun and adjective forms of the infinitive ‘to judge’?
Ans: Noun: Judgement; Adjective: Judgemental
7. To what profession is the word ‘verdict’ related to? What does it mean?
Ans: The word ‘verdict’ is related to legal profession or law. It means judgement or
pronouncement.

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8. Write a synonym of ‘classic’.

Ans: Archetypal/ exemplary
9. Write the noun form of ‘miserable’.
Ans: Misery
10. What is the opposite of ‘fatigue’?
Ans: energy/vigour/vitality
11. Use another word for ‘famished’.
Ans: starving
12. What is the meaning of bewilderment? What is its adjective form?
Ans: Bewilderment means ‘confusion’. Adjective form is ‘bewildering’.
13. In the story, what does ‘ruminate’ mean?
Ans: consider/ contemplate/ think about
14. Write a word opposite in meaning to ‘evasive’
Ans: Direct/ specific/ definite/ straight forward.
15. What does ‘deprecating noise’ mean?
Ans: disapproving noise.

Additional one word/phrase type questions

1. What was the name of the doctor?

Ans: Dr Raman
2. Who was Dr Raman’s friend?
Ans: Gopal
3. How much was Dr Raman’s fees?
Ans: Twenty-Five Rupees
4. Who is ‘Yama’?
Ans: The Hindu God of Death.
5. For how long had Dr Raman not heard from his friend?
Ans: Over three months
6. At what time did Dr Raman visit his sick friend?
Ans: At three in the afternoon.
7. For how long was Gopal sick before Dr Raman came to visit him?
Ans: A month and a half.
8. Whom did Dr Raman bring with him the second time?
Ans: An assistant and a nurse.
9. Where did Gopal live?
Ans: Lawley Extension
10. Who is the writer?
Ans: R.K.Narayan (Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami)

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