II semester English Notes

1. Money
-Muppala Ranganayakamma

Money is a short story originally written as "Dabbu" by "Muppala Ranganayakamma"

in Telugu. It was first published in Andhra Jyothi weekly and addresses the social evil
of dowry and how greed for dowry subsumes the human element in marital
relationships.

Short answer questions

1) What did the prospective son -in-law desire in the story "money"?
The prospective son-in-law desired to have one crore rupees as dowry or a share in his
prospective father- in- laws property, whichever was more.
2) What does the expression "Dowry donor” mean and why is "1 crore as
dowry" not a surprise?
Here in this story, the "Dowry donor" is prospective father-in-law. Giving one crore
as a dowry was not a surprise because the prospective father-in -law was very rich to
give away one crore of rupees in dowry.
3.)"Education has no value apart from the mere weight" means
c) Being mere degree-holders without moral values
4.) What was the clever gentleman's advice to the son-in-law?
Then the clever gentleman advised him that if he takes a share in the property, his
prospective wife would inherit the property whereas if he take dowry it will be fully
his own. So he advised him to accept the dowry even if it is ten rupees less, as asking
for a share in property may not be an intelligent thought for a man.
5) Mention the final deal between the father-in-law and son-in-law?
The final deal was one crore and ten rupees, in the form of ten paisa coins.
6) What did the son-in-law do soon after the wedding ceremony and was he
aware of the wheel of time?
Immediately after the wedding ceremony, the son-in-law got up from the wooden
plank and rushed towards the shed in his fine wedding clothes and started counting
money. He was not aware of the wheel of time.
 7) Why was the son-in-law angry with the father-in-law?
The son-in-law was angry with the father-in-law because when he finished counting
the last sack of coin, he found that, forty paise was less.
8) The two women who approached son -in-law was his wife and her daughter
9) Why did the woman in the story blamed herself when she met the groom after
a long gap of 24 years?
The woman in the story blamed herself because she realised that half the fault was
hers. She couldn't understand, how she agreed that time to marry a man, who
demanded dowry for living with her.
10) How was the greedy son-in-law punished?
The greedy son-in-law has been punished with the loss of his life-time. He had wasted
one-third of his life by counting the money. He was not living his life to the full. He
lived in a world of coins and the real world disappeared from his sight.
11) Greedy people are obsessed with the calculation of property-True
12) What according to author is the connection between property and dowry?
According to the author, if parents have some property, daughters must get a share of
it. But unfortunately do not give share to daughters. Instead they give little money in
the name of dowry, where the dowry is an unjust division of property. That is the
connection between property and dowry.
13) The mania for money cannot buy love and happiness
14) In reality dowry problem is a property problem

Paragraph answer questions

1) What According to the wife was her husband's loss?
According to the wife, her husband had lost a life time. He lost twenty four years of
his life by counting the sack of coins all because of his greed for money. He started
counting coins immediately after his marriage ceremony and whenever his wife came
to meet him he would be engrossed in counting. So his wife lost interest on him as she
realized her mistake and she married a noble man who came into her life without
asking for any dowry and they had a baby girl who is now a young graduate. Her first
husband has lost his precious twenty four years of his life only because of his greed
for dowry.
2) Describe the meeting between son-in-law and his wife and the wife's daughter.
When the son-in-law was counting the last sack of coins he found that forty paise was
missing and he was angry at his father in law who had cheated him. Then he saw two
women, one above forty five years and the other a young woman who resembled her
mother, watching him in wonder. He recognises the older woman, his wife and is
asking her if she is his wife and she tells yes but she tells that she had refused to live
with him. But he is not remembering that and instead he is asking her to call her father
whom he believed has cheated him by giving forty paise less than the offered dowry.
Even though she is telling that it would have been a counting mistake or the workers
might have pilfered that amount he is not agreeing and wanted to meet her father.
When the wife says that her father had died five years back the son-in-law is angry as
he is worried about who is going to repay him for the mistake.

2) The greedy son-in-law in the story holds a mirror to the modern grooms
who demand dowry. Discuss
The greedy son-in-law is a mirror to the modern grooms who demand dowry. Even
after having a good education, the son-in-law demanded dowry for living with the girl
who was equally educated like him. Even his parents and well-wishers are supporting
him with regard to dowry. Parents were ready to give the dowry, as in those times,
they did not give property share to the daughters. There was discrimination towards
daughters and used to give little dowry to daughters in the name of property.
Even though times have changed, in this modern era also dowry system is still
continuing like a tradition. Today marriages are arranged on the basis of property
only. Education of the girl doesn't matter for today's modern groom. If the girl holds
property then she gets married. Education has not brought any change to the thinking
and behavior of modern grooms. The higher a boy is educated and holds a good job,
the more he demands dowry. Thus the greedy son-in-law holds a mirror to the modern
grooms who demand dowry.

Explain the theme of money versus relationship as evident in the story

In the story "money "written by Muppala Ranganayakamma, the author is bringing

out the themes of money and relationship and the dowry systems prevailing in the
society. The dowry system has become a practice or almost like a tradition in the
society. The story begins with the attitude of the educated son-in-law towards asking
dowry. He thinks that there is no wrong in asking for a large dowry when there are
people who are ready to give it. He is saying that, it is no surprise that one can
demand as much as he want, when people are ready to give it.

In this story, the father-in-law has agreed to give the son-in-law a substantial dowry.
He is mentioned as dowry donor in the story and as he was so rich, parting with one
crore was not a big deal for him. But what surprises the author here is that, just like
the boy, the girl is also educated. The educated boy has agreed to live with her, only if
he is given the demanded dowry. The surprising thing is that well educated man is
asking for dowry and the well-educated woman has agreed to give dowry. The author
here is trying to bring out the truth that education has no value apart from the mere
weight of books.
As we move on to the story, we can see that after the father-in-law offering him one
crore as dowry, the son-in-law is still not satisfied as he is confused whether to take
the share of property or dowry. Even his elders and intelligent ones are supporting
him and advising him to take dowry as that will be a safe option. Finally he is
agreeing with the deal of one crore and ten rupees and the money as coins in gunny
bags. He also asks for the key of the shed were the money was kept. He wanted to
count them immediately as he wanted to make sure that full amount was there.

Immediately after the wedding, the son-in-law is rushing to the shed and starting
counting. From that moment, he only lived in the world of coins and the real world
disappeared from his sight. Sunrises, moon rises, full moons , new moons, seasons
,years and all of nature vanished before him in the luster of coins .The wheel of time
moved on and he was not aware of it. As he counted the last sack of coins, twenty-
four years passed by.

His wife and her daughter was standing there and watching him in wonder. She had
already married another noble man who was not greedy for money. He didn't even
cared for his wife and for two years whenever she came to the shed to speak with him
he would always be engrossed in counting.

His wife soon realizes that she had made a mistake by marrying who had no value for
relationship and fortunately when a noble man comes to her life, she is marrying him.
On the same day of marriage she comes to inform her first husband about her
marriage but he starts shouting at her because he didn't want to count from the
beginning. After two years she gave birth to a baby girl and she had grown up and is a
graduate now.

When the man finished counting the last sack of coins, twenty four years was over and
even then after seeing his wife after twenty four years, all he is asking her is where is
his father in law as there was a shortage of forty paise which made him angry. He
wanted to make his father in law apologies to him and when his wife says that her
father died five years back all he was bothered about was who is going to pay his
balance amount.

The wife is reminding him that he has lost his precious twenty-four years of his life on
account of money. She is saying to him that if her father has not given him dowry he
would have led a normal life. Hearing all this also, the what surprises the author, was
the answer from the man. Instead of realizing his mistake he is worried about his forty
paise. His father in law had promised him that, he will pay double , if there is a
mistake, which makes it eighty paise. He is only worried about, now who will be
repaying his balance eighty paise.

Throughout the story we can see that the man even after having a good education is
not educated in his thinking and culture. That was the reason author has remarked that
education has no value apart from the mere weight of books.
The greedy people are obsessed with calculation of property and all they want is only
money. Relationships have no value in their life. If one wastes twenty four years as in
this story, another wastes twenty-four hours. If one counts ten paise coins another
counts ten rupees or hundred rupee note. That is the only difference. In the mania for
money greedy people forget about love and happiness. They are not realizing the
value of love, family and relationships in their life. They live in the world of money
and never realize that money cannot buy love and happiness. They can never heal
ruptured relationships nor build meaning to life. The author is thus beautifully
bringing out the theme of money and relationship in the story.

2. The short story money high lights the social evil dowry system that
degenerates the moral values. Discuss

The short story money highlights the social evil dowry system that degenerates the
moral values. In this story the author has highlighted the fact that even after getting
education men are asking dowry and women are ready to give dowry. When parents
have property, if they would have divided it equally among sons and daughters, the
dowry issue would have, not come up. The society has adopted the system of giving
share of property in the form of dowry, to their daughters. This practice has now
become a custom. So parents who do not have property is also forced to follow the
same custom. Dowry has almost become like a tradition.

In the story money, the father-in-law has agreed to give the son-in-law a substantial
dowry. He is mentioned as dowry donor in the story and as he was so rich, parting
with one crore was not a big deal for him. But what surprises the author here is that
just like the boy, the girl is also educated. The educated boy has agreed to live with
her, only if he is given the demanded dowry. The surprising thing is that well
educated man is asking for dowry and the well-educated woman has agreed to give
dowry. The author here is trying to bring out the truth that education has no value
apart from the mere weight of books.

Immediately after the wedding, the bridegroom had started counting the money. From
that moment, he only lived in the world of coins and the real world disappeared from
his sight. When the man finished counting the last sack of coins, twenty four years
was over and then after seeing his wife after twenty four years , all he is asking her is,
where is his father-in-law as there was a shortage of forty paise in the total amount,
which made him angry. When his wife is reminding him that he has lost his precious
twenty-four years of his life on account of money, he is least bothered. Instead of
realizing his mistake, he is worried about his forty paise and is worrying about who
will be repaying him his money. Even the information that his wife got married to
another person after two years of their marriage ,is not bothering him. This shows that
when people are obsessed with money they spend their life after money and forgets to
find the real values of life. They never realises that money cannot bring them love and
happiness. They never understands the meaning of life and ruin other peoples life who
are their family.
The society has shaped the mindset of people in such a way that neither people are
not ashamed of asking dowry nor in giving dowry. It is considered as a status symbol
in today's society. The present situation in the society is ,the more a boy is educated
and having good job, the more he can demand as dowry. The girl who is equally
educated and having a good job has to still offer dowry for getting married. Today,
marriages are being arranged on the basis of property only. If dowry is abolished
dowry transactions will turn to property transactions The girl who holds property will
get married. No property, no marriage, this is the attitude of the society. Thus the
dowry problem is in reality a property problem.

There is nothing more one can expect from the lives of greedy people who thinks
of marriage as a way to get dowry or property. Tradition of dowry has become a
burden for the girl's family who are poor. The dowry system has caused psychological
and financial hardship to people who have more daughters and no wealth. Most of the
decaying moral characters of society is directly or indirectly related to dowry. The
dowry system gives rise to jealousy and competitiveness in the society. It is the actual
cause of misunderstandings occurring in the relations.

In today's society, importance of moral values like love, honesty compassion etc
is sliding down. Marriage has become plain buying and selling of grooms. The greed
for money and getting the social status for one's family has given birth to the social
evils. The idea of status and dowry has become closely related. The idea was shared
by all communities with equal vigor .Good education and lucrative job has improved
the social and economic status of a youth, which had made him immensely attractive
for the position of son-in-law. This developed the marriage market, as both the giver
as well as well as taker exist and continues to exist, because of the approval from
society. Thus the short story money high lights the social evil dowry system that
degenerates the moral values.
 2. CARTOONING

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman

About the author

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman, well known as R.K. Laxman, is a cartoonist who

created the comic strip „You Said It‟, featuring the common man. The comic strip
showcased the life of the average Indian, his hopes and hardships. He started taking
up freelance projects with newspapers and finally landing his first full-time job as a
political cartoonist. Later he joined „The Times of India‟ where “Common Man”, the
character that every Indian would easily identify was created. He was also a writer in
addition to cartoonist and had published many short stories, essays and articles related
to travel. This is a part taken from his autobiography "Tunnel of Time".

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the teacher leave the classroom at times?

The teacher left the class at times when he had the urge to have a smoke.

2. How was the class in the teacher‟s absence?

The class monitor narrated the same story, always about the crow and the princess or
the crocodile and the monkey or the donkey and the court jester.

3. What was the task given by the teacher?

The task given by the class teacher, to the class, was to draw a leaf or any leaf.

4. What was the father‟s reaction to the caricature?

When Laxman's mother invited his father to have a look at the caricature he has
drawn, his father furiously ordered him to wipe it off at once. Then his mother insisted
that it should remain till others come home and see it too.

5. Mention one thing the writer hated and enjoyed the most in school.

The writer disliked the arithmetic class, most in the school. He was especially weak in
arithmetic. What he enjoyed most was listening to stories and poems and he paid his
attention to the text, meaning and moral content of the lessons taught by the teacher.
Paragraph Answer Questions

1. Describe the first teacher‟s appearance.

The writer's first teacher‟s appearance was conformed to the classic stereotype. He
was lean and dark; he had long mustache and beard. One could never see his mouth
fully, and only his front two teeth jutted out like a rabbit‟s when he smiled or
grimaced. He used to wear a turban, a tight coat and what was called a cycle-dhoti
which was wound round in a manner that made the legs resemble like narrow
drainpipes. A stale smell of beedi would always hung about him permanently.

2. Explain the monitor‟s function in class.

When the urge to have a smoke comes, the teacher usually leaves the class in charge
of his appointee who tells stories to the class to keep them engaged, while the monitor
maintained order of the class. As the boy used to narrate the same story about the
crow and the princess or the crocodile and the monkey or the donkey and the court
jester, the class did not pay attention as they already knew the stories and carried on
their private gossip in whispers. When the monitor sees a paper dart, suddenly
hurtling towards him from nowhere, or a piece of chalk fly past likes a bullet, he
would start taking down the names of the suspects. Later he submits the list to the
teacher, when he comes back after smoking.

3. Explain how the writer felt encouraged by the teacher‟s appreciation.

Once the teacher gave a task to the students, instead of asking the class monitor to
narrate some stories. The task was to draw a leaf. The teacher asked the class to
queue up and began to critically examine their efforts one by one, by murmuring
comments and giving marks. He twisted a boy‟s ear or brought the cane down on the
leg of another. When it was writer's turn, he stared at the drawing for an alarmingly
long time and asked author, whether he has drawn it himself .The
writer got frightened and stepped back, expecting a shower of blows. Then he told
the teacher fumblingly that because the teacher asked only, he has drawn the picture.
But to his great surprise and joy, the teacher held his slate up before the class and
announced how nicely Laxman (author) has drawn the leaf. He then turned to the
writer and said that he will be an artist one day and told him to keep it up. He gave
him ten marks out of ten. He was very impressed by the perfect shape of his peepal
leaf and the details of the veins branching out along the midrib. The writer had seen
these leaves countless times strewn on the road under the peepal tree, and he could
draw them effortlessly. The writer was inspired by this unexpected encouragement.
Essay Answer Questions

1. Recount the two stories mentioned in the lesson. What morals do the stories
teach children?

The two stories mentioned in the lesson was one about a cow, one of the most
powerful poems about a cow called Punyakoti, grazing along with others of its herd.
But Punyakoti somehow strayed on the way back home in the evening. A huge hungry
tiger accosted the cow and demanded that she become his meal. Not losing her calm,
Punyakoti promised that she would come back and offer herself as his dinner after
feeding her hungry calf. The tiger let her go, but to his utter surprise she was true to
her promise and returned after some time. The tiger was so moved by Punyakoti‟s
honesty that he cried bitterly and threw himself from the edge of the cliff. The other
equally unforgettable poem known to all educated Kannadigas of that era was about a
woodcutter. One day he accidentally dropped his iron axe into a pond. God wanted to
test his honesty. Disguised as a fisherman, God retrieved the axe from the bottom of
the pool and gave it back to the woodcutter. But upon finding that the axe was made
of gold, the man returned it, saying it was not his. God again plunged into the pool
and came up with another axe, this time made of silver, which also was refused by the
woodcutter. Finally, when the old iron axe was retrieved and offered, he accepted it
with delight. God was pleased with his honesty. Revealing his divine identity, he
blessed the woodcutter and rewarded him suitably.

2. The moral stories had a great impact on the writer‟s creativity. Explain.

The moral stories had a great impact on the writer‟s creativity. From the excerpt
taken from writers autobiography we can see that the writer had a natural way of
imagination towards fine details which is clear from the way he explains the
appearance of his first teacher. The writer‟s talent for drawing was inspired by an
unexpected encouragement from this teacher. When he gave the task of drawing a leaf
or any leaf to the class the writer also draws a leaf. When the teacher asked the class
to queue up and began to critically examine their efforts one by one, the writer was
frightened When it was writer's turn, he stared at the drawing for an alarmingly long
time and asked author, whether he has drawn it himself Then he told the teacher
fumblingly that because the teacher asked only, he has drawn the picture, to
his great surprise and joy, the teacher held his slate up before the class and
announced, how nicely Laxman (author) has drawn the leaf. He then says that he will
be an artist one day and told him to keep it up. He gave him ten marks out of ten. He
was very impressed by the perfect shape of his peepal leaf and the details of the veins
branching out along the midrib. The writer had seen these leaves countless times
strewn on the road under the peepal tree, and he could draw them effortlessly. The
writer was inspired by this unexpected encouragement.
The writer's drawing on the floors, walls and doors of his house began to proliferate
after this incident Once he saw Father sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper. for
the writer, his father‟s profile looked like that of a Roman senator, which stood out
clearly and the fringe of gray hair circling his bald head looked like a wreath added to
his imposing appearance. The writer sketched him on the floor with chalk which made
his mother laugh. The writer‟s talent in imagination drawing was clear from many of
incidents like these.

The writer liked to read prose which taught the moral values such as truthfulness,
honesty, showing respect to elders and so on, expressed through characters in folklore
and mythology. The themes of the poems were taught also urged the writer to
internalize the principles of noble conduct. An active imagination, fuelled by a keen
sense of absurdity, could even see the human resemblance to inanimate objects such
as old buildings, the shape of bottles in a drugstore, or to certain models of
automobiles.

One of the most powerful poems was about a cow called Punyakoti, who was
accosted by a huge hungry tiger and demanded that she become his meal. Punyakoti
promised to come back and offer herself as his dinner after suckling her hungry calf.
The tiger let her go, but to his utter surprise she was true to her promise and returned
after some time and the tiger so moved by Punyakoti‟s honesty that he cried bitterly
and threw himself from the edge of the cliff.

The writer listened to the teacher and paid unflagging attention to the text, meaning
and moral content of the lessons. But he disliked the arithmetic class. He used to
choose a seat at the back during this period. The arithmetic teacher matched his
dreaded subject in appearance with the vertical white-red-white caste mark on his
forehead which gave him a permanent frown. The writer could not help thinking that
he resembled a tiger cub he had seen in the zoo.

One day he was listening to the drone of his voice without paying attention to what he
was saying. He had covered the blackboard with numbers, along with several plus,
minus and equal signs and multiplication and division symbols. He had asked class to
copy down the whole problem and solve it. he could not make head or tail of it but
pretended to be engaged in the task too.

Actually the writer was doodling and sketching figures in the margin of his exercise
book. He was prowling quietly between the desks, inspecting their work. Suddenly he
felt a piercing pain in his left ear. The teacher was twisting it and at the same time
pulling him up by it calling him rascal, he shouted, and asks is he making fun of him
and he will make him answer for this mischief. When the writer asks where have he
made fun of him, He moans, and shouted shoving the exercise book on his face and
pointing to a creature like a tiger cub he had drawn. He slapped writer‟s cheek and
asked in a dangerous low tone.
Somehow the crisis subsided after arguments on both sides, with the teacher insisting,
it was his distorted image, while writer pleaded in tears, that it was only a harmless
doodle of a tiger cub. It was no doubt a very unpleasant incident for the writer.

But many years later writer realized, as he matured in his profession, that the
confrontation with the teacher was indeed beneficial. It was a moment of discovery
vital to his understanding of the art of caricature. Behind the mask of the teacher‟s
public face, a person like a tiger cub could be discerned. There were other teachers
whose looks could be associated with those of animals and birds.

An active imagination, fuelled by a keen sense of absurdity, could even see the human
resemblance to inanimate objects such as old buildings, the shape of bottles in a
drugstore, or to certain models of automobiles. This observation would certainly seem
crazy to those with normal vision and thinking habits. A cartoonist born with a cock-
eyed vision manipulates a face or a human situation and distorts it without losing the
essence of humor.
 Chapter 3

Homeless in the global village - Vandana Shiva

About the author

VandanaShiva, is an Indian philosopher, environmentalist, author, professional

speaker, anti-globalization author and social activist. She has received the Right
Livelihood Award in 1993, an honor known as an "Alternative Nobel Prize”. The
present essay is taken from the book 'Ecofeminism' jointly authored by Maria Mies
and Vandana Shiva. She argues how developmental activities uproot the ecological
and cultural bonds with nature.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is culturally homeless?

The transnational corporation executive, who finds a home in every Holiday Inn and
Hilton, is homeless in terms of deeper cultural sense of rootedness.

2. How are the tribal people made physically homeless?

The culturally-rooted tribal is made physically homeless by being uprooted from the
soil of her/his ancestors.

3) What has made homelessness a cultural characteristic of the late 20th

century?

Colonialism, development and the marketplace has made homelessness a cultural

characteristic of the late twentieth century.

4) Name the temples of new religion.

Dams, mines, energy plants, military basis are the temples of the new religion

5) What is sacrificed at the altar of the new religion?

At the altar of the new religion, nature‟s life and people's life are sacrificed.

6) The victims of progress and state perceived each sacrifice as not a big one for
the larger national interest. True/False?

True.

Both the victim and the state perceived each sacrifice as a small one for the larger
'national interest'.
7) The victims of progress have sacrificed their links with the soil to
accommodate -mines, dams, factories, and wildlife parks.

8) The forests of Gandmardhan are known for

Rich source of plant diversity and water.

The forests of Gandmardhan are known for rich plant diversity and water resources.

9) Who desecrated Gandmardhan? Why?

It has to be desecrated by the Bharat Aluminum Company (BALCO) to mine for

bauxite.

10) What is the geological significance of Amarkantak Mountain?

Amarkantak is the source of the rivers Narmada, Sone, and Mahanadi. The region is
rich in bio diversity endowed with dense forests along with a variety of medicinal
plants. Destruction of Amarkantak was a high cost to pay for reserves.

11) Why are the tribal‟s homelands in the Chotanagpur plateau being destroyed?

In Bihar, the homelands of tribals in the Chotanagpur plateau were being destroyed to
mine coal and iron ore and to build dams on its rivers.

11) Give one reason for building Suvarnarekha dam.

The World Bank-financed Suvarnarekha dam was being built, primarily to provide
industrial water for the expanding steel city of Jamshedpur.

12) Why did the Balliapal farmers reject compensation offers?

The Balliapal farmers have rejected compensation offers because cash cannot
compensate for the broken links with the soil which has nurtured and sustained
generations of Balliapal farmers.

Paragraph Answer Questions

1) Which are the two classes of homeless emerging in the „global village‟?

The two classes of the homeless seem to be emerging in the 'global village 'are: one
group was mobile on a world scale, with no country as home, but the whole world as
its property; the other had lost even the mobility within rootedness, and lived in
refugee camps, resettlement colonies and reserves.
2) 'Bullets, as well as bulldozers, are often necessary to execute the development
project.‟ Why?

Bullets, as well as bulldozers, were often necessary to execute the development

project, because people, who hold soil as sacred, will not voluntarily allow themselves
to be uprooted. Development' required a police state and terrorist tactics to wrench
them away from their homes and homelands, and consign them as ecological and
cultural refugees into the wasteland of industrial society. So bullets, as well as
bulldozers, were often necessary to execute the development project.

3) Why do we see the word 'mati' used in songs and slogans of protesters against
development?

One word which was echoed and reverberated in the songs and slogans of Indian
people struggling against 'development' was 'mati' - soil. For some people soil was not
simply a resource, it provided the very essence of their being. For large segments of
Indian society the soil is still a sacred mother.

4) Write a note on Gandmardhan movement.

Gandmardhan, one of the bauxite rich hill ranges, was regarded by tribals and
peasants as their mother who provides them with food, firewood, fodder and also
water for cultivation and drinking purposes. The forests of Gandmardhan are a source
of rich plant diversity and water resources. They feed 22 perennial streams which in
turn feed major rivers such as the Mahanadi.

Gandmardhan movement took place to protect Gandmardhan hill from mining

operation of BALCO.' It has to be desecrated by the Bharat Aluminium Company
(BALCO) to mine for bauxite. BALCO had come to Gandmardhan . To feed its
100,000 tonne aluminium plant at Korba in Madhya Pradesh, BALCO had moved to
Orissa to begin the rape of the Gandmardhan hills. ' Mati Devata, Dharma Devata' --
the soil is our Goddess; it is our religion' 'these were the words of adivasi women of
the 'Save Gandmardhan‟2 movement as they embraced the earth while being dragged
away by the police from the blockade sites in the Gandmardhan hills in Orissa.

Dhanmati, a 70-year-old woman of the movement had said, 'that they will sacrifice
their lives, but not Gandmardhan and they want to save the hill which gives them all
they need'. Any such mining projects would have an adverse impact on the life and
livelihood of the local and the environment of the region. Therefore, in the local
organisation of the agitations women‟s groups took an active part through picketing,
processions and public hearings.
 5) Discuss the geographical and mythological significance of Gandmardhan
forests.

Gandmardhan, one of the bauxite rich hill ranges, was regarded by tribals and
peasants as their mother who provides them with food, firewood, fodder and also
water for cultivation and drinking purposes. The forests of Gandmardhan are a source
of rich plant diversity and water resources. They feed 22 perennial streams which in
turn feed major rivers such as the Mahanadi. According to Indian mythology,
Gandmardhan is the sacred hill where Hanuman gathered medicinal herbs to save
Laxman's life in the epic Ramayana; the saviour has now to be destroyed for
'development'. It has to be desecrated by the Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO)
to mine for bauxite. BALCO had come to Gandmardhan after having destroyed the
sanctity and ecology of another important mountain, Amarkantak -- the source of the
rivers Narmada, Sone, and Mahanadi. To feed its 100,000 tonne aluminum plant at
Korba in Madhya Pradesh, BALCO moved to Orissa to begin the rape of the
Gandmardhan hills.

Essay Questions
1) How has development destroyed the bonding between man and nature?

Human beings live in the realm of nature. They are constantly surrounded by it and
interact with it. Man is constantly aware of the influence of nature in the form of air
he breathes, the water he drinks, the food he eats and the flow of energy and
information.

Nature is necessary for our physical and mental health. Interaction with nature teaches
us how to live in relation with one another without dominating over the other. But
man, in the name of development, is actually breaking the ecological and
cultural bonds with nature, and within society. In reality nature's life and people's life
are sacrificed at the altar of the religion of development .The sacraments of
development are made of the ruins and desecration of other sacred's, especially sacred
soils. They are based on the dismantling of society and community, on the uprooting
of people and cultures.

Soil is the sacred mother, the womb of life in nature and society, its security has been
the organizing principle for societies. The ‟development‟ has declared this as
backward and primitive. From the point of view of the managers of
development, sacred bonds with the soil are obstructions which are to be shifted and
sacrificed.

Humans require space for both farmland and for industries. The increased human
population had resulted in the clear cutting of forests resulting in severely damaged
Ecosystems. With the shortage of enough trees to filter air, the carbon dioxide levels
had increased causing potential damage to the nature and all living beings. The large
amount of usage of fossil fuels also resulted in the rise of carbon dioxide thus adding
to the threat of extinction of thousands of species. The change of climate is also
related with the development of industry and technology

Ecosystems, species, water populations and many species of plants and animals are all
vanishing due to destruction caused by development. Human development activity
alone has attributed to the cause of huge extinctions in the last two centuries.
According to an international data, approximately eighteen million acres of trees are
cut every year for development projects and for making wood products. Over 40 years
of planned development, the planned destruction of nature and society no longer
appears negligible; and the larger 'national interest' turns out to be embodied in an
elite minority without roots.

Fifteen million people have been uprooted from their homelands in India during the
past four development decades. They, and their links with the soil, have been
sacrificed to accommodate mines, dams, factories, and wildlife parks. But for large
segments of Indian society, the soil is still a sacred mother. Wherever development
projects are introduced, they tear apart the soil and sever the bonds between people
and the soil:

Gandmardhan is the sacred hill where Hanuman gathered medicinal herbs to save
Laxman's life in the epic Ramayana; the saviour has now to be destroyed for
'development'. It has to be desecrated by the Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO)
to mine bauxite. BALCO had already destroyed the sanctity and ecology of another
important mountain, Amarkantak ---- the source of the rivers Narmada, Sone, and
Mahanadi.

In Bihar, the homelands of tribals in the Chotanagpur plateau are being destroyed to
mine coal and iron ore and to build dams on its rivers. The World Bank-financed
Suvarnarekha dam is being built, primarily to provide industrial water for the
expanding steel city of Jamshedpur. These dams will displace 80,000 tribals. In
coastal Orissa, the people of Balliapal are resisting the setting up of the national
rocket test range which will displace 70,000 people from their fertile homeland.

Human beings should reset their relationship with nature by valuing its indispensable
resource.Rather than destroying the natural world in the name of development, we
need to apply nature based solutions to overcome our greatest challenges.
2) 'Though the destruction of natural resources is not necessary, yet in India it
continues'. Discuss with examples narrated by the author.

It is a truth that though the destruction of natural resources is not necessary, yet in
India it continues. The forests of Gandmardhan are a source of rich plant diversity and
water resources. Gandmardhan is the sacred hill where Hanuman gathered medicinal
herbs to save Laxman's life in the epic Ramayana; the saviour has now to be destroyed
for 'development'. It has to be desecrated by the Bharat Aluminum Company
(BALCO) to mine for bauxite.

BALCO had come to Gandmardhan after having destroyed the sanctity and ecology of
another important mountain, Amarkantak - the source of the rivers Narmada, Sone,
and Mahanadi. The destruction of Amarkantak was a high cost to pay for reserves . To
feed its 100,000 tons aluminium plant at Korba in Madhya Pradesh, BALCO has now
moved to Orissa to begin the rape of the Gandmardhan hills.

Since 1985, the trials of the region have obstructed the work of the company and
refused to be tempted by its offers of employment. Even police help has failed to stop
the determined protest. The conflict and destruction were totally unnecessary. This
was because India did not needed so much aluminium, as it already had surplus. The
mining activity was dictated not by the needs of the Indian people but by the demands
of industrialized countries .These countries are closing their own aluminium plants
and encouraging imports from countries like India. Japan has reduced its aluminium
smelting capacity from 1,200,000 tons to 140,000 tones and now imports 90 percent
of its aluminum requirements. The same Japanese companies have proposed setting
up joint ventures in Indian export processing zones to manufacture aluminium
products with buy-back arrangements . The survival of the trials of Gandmardhan is
thus under threat. This is because the rich countries want to preserve their
environment, their economies and their luxurious lifestyle.

Japan has reduced its aluminium smelting capacity from 1,200,000 tons to 140,000
tones and now imports 90 percent of its aluminum requirements. The same Japanese
companies have proposed setting up joint ventures in Indian export processing zones
to manufacture aluminum products with buy-back arrangements. The survival of the
trials of Gandmardhan is thus under threat because the rich countries want to preserve
their environment, their economies and their luxurious lifestyle.

In Bihar, the homelands of tribals in the Chotanagpur plateau are being destroyed to
mine coal and iron ore and to build dams on its rivers. The World Bank-financed
Suvarnarekha dam is being built, with a US$127 million loan, primarily to provide
industrial water for the expanding steel city of Jamshedpur. These dams will displace
80,000 tribals. In 1982, Ganga Ram Kalundia, the leader of the tribal anti-dam
movement was shot dead by the police. Seven years later, his fellow tribals continue
to resist the building of the dam because it will tear them away from the soil of their
birth, the soil which has provided them sustenance which links them to their
ancestors.

Thus the destruction of natural resources in India continues even though it is not
necessary only for the demands of industrialised countries.

3) How are "the soil and society, the earth and its people" intimately connected?

The soil and society, the earth and its people are intimately connected. Soil is the
sacred mother, the womb of life in nature and society, its security from violation has
been the organising principle for societies. This is declared by the 'development' as
backward and primitive.

But these people are our contemporaries, having a different concept of what is sacred,
what must be preserved. The sacred is the bond that connects the part of the whole.
The sanctity of the soil must be sustained; limits must be set on human action. One
word echoes and reverberates in the songs and slogans of Indian people struggling
against 'development': 'mati' used soil.

For these people soil is not simply a resource, it provides the very essence of their
being. For large segments of Indian society the soil is still a sacred mother.
'Development' has meant the ecological and cultural rupture of bonds with nature, and
within society, it has meant the transformation of organic communities into groups of
uprooted and alienated individuals searching for abstract identities.

What today called as ecological movements in the South are actually movements for
rootedness, movements to resist uprooting before it begins. And what are generally
perceived as ethnic struggles are also, movements of uprooted people seeking social
and cultural rootedness. These are the struggles of people taking place in the ruins
wrought by development to regain a sense of selfhood and control over their destinies.
Soil

For communities who derive their sustenance from the soil it is not merely a physical
property situated in Cartesian space; for them, the soil is the source of all meaning. As
an Australian aborigine said, 'My land is my backbone. My land is my foundation'.

Soil and society, the earth and its people are intimately interconnected. In tribal and
peasant societies, cultural and religious identity derives from the soil, which is
perceived not as a mere 'factor of production' but as the very soul of society. Soil has
embodied the ecological and spiritual home for most cultures. It is the womb not only
for the reproduction of biological life but also of cultural and spiritual life; it is a

perfect example for all the sources of sustenance and is 'home' in the deepest sense.
The Hill Maris tribe in Bastar see 'bhum', or soil, as their home. 'Shringar Bhum' is the
universe of plants, animals, trees, and human beings. It is the cultural spiritual space
which constitutes memory, myths, stories and songs that make the life of the
community. 'Jagha Bhum' is the name for the concrete location of social activities in a
village.

The soil is thus the condition for the regeneration of nature's and society's life. The
renewal of society therefore involves preserving the soil's integrity; it involves
treating the soil as sacred.

4) Ecological destruction and industrial development are a threat to everyday

life. Elaborate.

'Ecological destruction and industrial development are a threat to everyday life.

Development' has meant the ecological and cultural rupture of bonds with nature, and
within society, Ecological destruction is caused by the increasing human population,
who are constantly expanding development, by means of natural asset exhausting and
polluting technology. Particularly since the industrial revolution, the humans have
exerted a greater influence on natural resources and ecosystems. The rapid economic
growth and the rising standards of living in many parts of the world had dramatically
increased the use of natural resources and energy consumption.

Humans require space for both farmland and for industries. The increased human
population had resulted in the clear cutting of forests resulting in severely damaged
ecosystems. With the shortage of enough trees to filter air, the carbon dioxide levels
had increased causing potential damage to the nature and all living beings. The large
amount of usage of fossil fuels also resulted in the rise of carbon dioxide thus adding
to the threat of extinction of thousands of species.

The change of climate is also related with the development of industry and
technology .Pollution of atmosphere by greenhouse gases is now considered as one of
the major global environmental issues. It occurs largely as a result of combustion of
fossil fuels, emissions from agriculture and land use changes that accompany the
destruction, clearance and burning of forests.

The impacts of climate change can lead to changes in global mean temperature,
changes in sea level, changes in the ecosystem function, changes in the distribution of
species, changes in the climatic zones etc.
Another serious threat of ecological destruction and industrial development is the
depletion of ozone layer due to the pollution of atmosphere by CFCs.

This is a significant concern as the lack of ozone layer at higher altitudes will result in
increased level of harmful UV-B radiations reaching the surface of the earth. This can
cause a series of ecological and health related impacts on nature and all the species on
earth.

Next threat due to industrial development is the degraded quality of air and water
Many air and water pollutants are responsible for the degradation of quality of air and
water. Worldwide estimates show that about one billion people inhabit areas around
industrial cities where unhealthy levels of air pollution occurs. Similarly water quality
is also seriously contaminated by waste from industries, oil spills, accumulation of
plastics, mining processes, fertilizers from agriculture etc. These degrade and damage
the marine environment and also give rise to a range of health related effects and also
cause ecological effects such as damage of coral reefs.

Land contamination is another threat which occurs as a result of chemical pollution.

It may cause a great level of ecological effect and also presents serious constraints to
development. Soil erosion and soil degradation also has become a major factor of
concern as these also affect the functioning of ecosystems.

The loss of biodiversity in the serious and major threat as many species of plants and
animals are threatened with extinction due to spread of diseases, direct exploitation or
destruction of their habitats. Threats to biodiversity is not confined to terrestrial
ecosystems but to marine and coastal wildlife species also due to result of pollution,
acidification of ocean and seas and also due to over exploitation.

Scarcity of fresh water for drinking is the next threat faced in many parts of the
world due to over abstraction of water and due poor water resource management
methods. Improper irrigation practices have also lead to depletion of local water
sources.

Thus ecological destruction and industrial development have become a threat to

everyday life.
 4. Caged bird
-Maya Angelou

About the author

Maya Angelou was an American poet, and civil rights activist. She published
seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was
credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She
received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou is best known
for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult
experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which brought her
international recognition and acclaim, is about her life up to the age of 17.She was
respected as a spokesperson for black people and women, and her works have been
considered a defence of black culture. “Caged Bird” is a poem which considers
the conditions of the „free bird‟ and the „caged bird‟. Actually this contrast between
the birds enables her to express her own emotions about freedom and isolation. The
reader can extend this feeling of being „caged in‟ to the human condition as well.

The poet describes a bird with clipped wings. Its feet have been tied, and it has been
placed in a cage that prevents it from flying away. Despite its fear, the caged
bird continues to sing of freedom. Angelou describes the joy that a free bird takes
in soaring through the sky. Angelou then describes a bird that has been caged, its feet
tied and wings clipped. The caged bird rails against its imprisonment. In spite of its
fear, it sings of freedom.

Short answer questions

1. How does the poet describe the flight of the free bird?

According to the poet a free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream
till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the
sky.

3. Who/what does the free bird symbolise?

a. The people who live in this world unconstrained by prejudice of any type

b. The shackled feet of the oppressed

c. The unheard cries of the suppressed

4. What does “bars of rage” refer to in the second stanza?

The “bars of rage” refer to the bird‟s held up frustration and anger at its situation of its
helplessness.

5. The word “clipped” in the poem means

Literally the meaning is the wings are clipped and

metaphorically it means freedom is taken away

6. “And his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream” suggests that

b. the bird has no hope for freedom and shouts out loud

c. the bird is scared of its nightmares and it shouts at the top of its voice

The words shadow and nightmare scream gives the inner meaning that the cries of the
bird will not be heard and shows the powerless situation of the bird. But it is not ready
to accept the defeat and still hopes that it cries will be heard.

7. What is the tone of the poem?

In this poem "Caged Bird", the tone and attitude changes between, when the poet is
talking about the free bird and and the caged bird. While describing the situation of a
caged bird, who cannot enjoy the outside world with its wings clipped and feet tied,
the poem creates a tone of depression and evokes sympathy of the readers. When the
poet describes the free bird the tone and attitude become a lot more optimistic and
joyful. Still in the poem we can see that the caged bird's spirit is resilient and it still
desire to soar despite the bindings. The overall tone of the poem is sorrowful but
persevering.

8. Mention two examples of imagery in the poem.

The two examples of imagery used in this poem are

i)"free bird" and "back of wind" are images for sight and feelings
ii)"orange sun rays" is for sight
iii)"Throat to sing" is for feelings

9. The poetic devices used in the poem are

a. Alliteration
b. Personification
c. Imagery
d. All the above
Paragraph Answer Questions

1. What are the fears of the caged bird as described in the poem?

In the poem caged bird by Maya Angelou, the fears of the caged bird has meant
several things. The poet here either means that the caged bird fears about the things
that are still unknown but it still longs for it. The bird is said to sing with a fearful trill.
The word trill means a rapid alteration of played notes. By those words the poet has
meant that the melody of the bird‟s song was quavering indicating a certain level of
uncertainty within its song. The bird's fear of uncertainty can be whether it will ever
achieve freedom which the bird so desires. The fact that the bird is confined by its
own bars of rage also suggests that even if the bird truly achieves freedom,
it may never be able to be free of the resentment built up as a result of its oppression.
The fear within the trill can represent the things unknown, the uncertainty that will
accompany true freedom.

The blacks‟ dream of liberty is very old. Despite their continued struggle, they have
suffered defeat and frustrations repeatedly. Thus, the caged bird‟s fear is about the
uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. Its fears reflect those of the blacks who
no more wish to go through the pains of racism, discrimination and bestial treatment
at the hands of the whites

2. Explain the figures of speech used in the poem.

Metaphor is a figure of speech which is an indirect comparison between two different

things are made.

In the poem caged bird, the title caged bird itself is a metaphor for the poet. The term
represents the misery and distress and the inhuman treatment from the whites , the
poet had to face as an African-American.

Personification is also a figure of speech in which ideas that are abstract are invested
with the attributes of living beings.

In this poem we can the example of personification such as "his shadow shouts on a
nightmare scream"

3. Why does the caged bird stand on the “grave of dreams”?

The caged bird has no freedom. It is locked up behind a cage with its feet tied and
wings clipped. The birds movement is limited to a great extent and its condition is
similar to a night mare. By the lines “grave of dreams” the poet is indicating the state
of the bird who has given up on its dreams of freedom. The caged bird stands on the
“grave of dreams” because the cage is like a graveyard to the dreams and hopes of the
bird who wants to leaps on the back of the wind and float downstream till the current
ends and dip his wing in the orange sun rays .

4. Describe the free bird‟s surroundings and the effects the surroundings have in
the poem.

The free bird lives in a colorful bright and dreamy world. The surroundings of the free
bird consists of the whole world including the boundless sky, rivers, streams and the
entire earth itself.

If at one moment the free bird is up in the sky then at the very next moment it is
floating effortlessly down the gentle current of a river. He enjoys the sun by dipping
his wings and glides as if he claims the whole sky. The endless sky is unrestricted for
him to fly .

A “free bird thinks of another breeze” that he can enjoy the “sighing trees” and be free
to find his own food. These lines shows that the bird revels in the pleasant breeze ad
then it hears the sighing trees when the soft trade of the wind blows through them.
And when it is hungry there is plenty of fat worms waiting for the free bird on a dawn
bright lawn to be fed by it.

Thus the environment of the free bird consists of the whole world which includes the
boundless sky, rivers streams and it is at its liberty to enjoy the bounties of nature. The
free bird is at its liberty to enjoy as much as it wants with the bounties of nature. It
never needs to think of freedom as the bird is simply free. The free bird spends its
time living and doing what it wants. Thus for the free bird freedom is natural.

Essay Questions

1. Explain in your words the message conveyed by the poem.

The poem caged bird talks about the bird who lives in a cage and one who lives in the
free world. The caged bird has no freedom. It is locked up behind a cage with its feet
tied and wings clipped. The birds movement is limited to a great extent and its
condition is similar to a night mare.. The caged bird stands on the “grave of dreams”
because the cage is like a graveyard to the dreams and hopes of the bird who wants
to leaps on the back of the wind and float downstream till the current ends and dip his
wing in the orange sun rays .The bird is said to sing with a fearful trill. The bird's fear
of uncertainty can be whether it will ever achieve freedom which the bird so desires.
The poet distinguishes between a free bird and a caged bird and shows the importance
of freedom to the people. The poet is writing metaphorically about the plight of
African- Americans, as represented by the "caged bird" which sings of freedom,
despite the fact that its dreams have been broken. The free bird lives in a colourful
bright and dreamy world. The surroundings of the free bird consists of the whole
world including the boundless sky, rivers, streams and the entire earth itself. He
enjoys the sun by dipping his wings and glides as if he claims the whole sky. The
endless sky is unrestricted for him to fly .The bird revels in the pleasant breeze .When
it is hungry there is plenty of fat worms waiting for the free bird on a dawn bright
lawn to be fed by it.

Thus the environment of the free bird consists of the whole world which includes the
boundless sky, rivers, streams and it is at its liberty to enjoy the bounties of nature. It
never needs to think of freedom, as the bird is simply free. The free bird spends its
time living and doing what it wants. Thus for the free bird freedom is natural, whereas
a caged bird has no freedom. The birds movement is limited to a great extent .The
poet Maya Angelou wants to point out that freedom is the most important necessity
of any living being. Oppression and imprisonment are the ills of the society which
needs to be broken down. The primary message of the poem seems to be that freedom
is so obviously a natural state for a bird—or, metaphorically speaking, a person.

The bird which has been oppressed feels "rage" on a daily basis. He knows that his
wings have been "clipped," and he is unable to do the things that come naturally to
him. However, he also knows that there are free birds in the world who have not been
treated in this way and who have access to the "distant hill" which the caged bird still
knows is there. The oppressed people represented by the caged bird feel tied down
and trapped in the cages. The message of the poem then is largely related to the
emotional and psychological effects of being oppressed

In this poem Caged bird,, the poet Maya Angelou expresses the struggle of being
black, a woman, and an author. Living in America then, she felt like a slave and her
voice wasn't paid attention to. Her poem most importantly conveys the message that
the desire to be free will always be expressed, despite circumstances that might quell
the spirit.

2. Discuss how the theme of self-awareness is brought out in the poem.

In the poem Caged bird, the poet Maya Angelo has brought the theme of self-
awareness through the situations of free bird and caged bird. Both the free bird and the
caged bird in the poem are self-aware, because they both entertain no illusions about
who they are. The free bird is free and enjoys the benefits of that to the fullest. The
caged bird knows that it is imprisoned and resents it. Thus both the birds clearly
understand their situations. The theme of self-awareness is shown in the poem when
the poet highlights how the caged bird has a rage within itself. This rage is because it
senses it is missing out on a freedom that other birds and living creatures know. This
bird “.stalks down his narrow cage.” because the bird is prowling for release from his
restricted way of life. This bird is self-aware that it is living in an unnatural
environment. To this caged bird the bars of the cage are “bars of rage.” In addition,
self-awareness is conveyed by the fact that this bird makes a bold effort to sing.
Because its wings and feet are restricted as it is clipped and tied, its only way to let
anyone know of its desire to be free is to sing. The bird sings to let anyone who will
listen that it is straining for freedom. Self-awareness is shown by the fact that the bird
longs for something that is unknown and desires this unknown because it feels that the
unknown is better than being caged , where it cannot spread its wings and soar. This
feeling of being „caged in‟ can be extended to the human condition as well.

The free bird doesn't question its place in life at all, since it has everything it wants. It
soars and takes everything it sees. The environment of the free bird consists of the
whole world which includes the boundless sky, rivers ,streams and it is at its liberty to
enjoy the bounties of nature. It never needs to think of freedom, as the bird is simply
free. The free bird spends its time living and doing what it wants. Thus for the free
bird freedom is natural, whereas a caged bird has no freedom.

The free bird doesn't think about the caged bird at all. With this, the poet is
highlighting the fact that people who are born into freedom don't often think about
those who are not born without freedom. Many people feel trapped in their respective
life situations. Every day, many people are crying out, through their words and
actions, for some kind of release from their burdensome stations in life, where they
feel caged and unable to realise their dreams. They are self-aware, as this bird is, that
there is a better way of life that must be fought for, even though this better way of
living can be elusive. The metaphor of a caged bird holds so much meaning for
Angelou.

3. Why do you think the metaphor of a caged bird holds so much meaning for
Angelou? Do you think the metaphor applies to her life? Elaborate.

In Maya Angelou‟s poem “Caged Bird” the poet provides a comparison of a free
bird‟s life with that of a caged bird. The metaphor of a caged bird holds so much
meaning for Angelou. This caged bird is a metaphor for the African American
community‟s past and on-going experience of race-based oppression in America. The
poet Maya Angelou expresses the struggle of being black, a woman, and an author.
Living in America then, she felt like a slave and her voice wasn't paid attention to.
Her poem most importantly conveys the message that the desire to be free will always
be expressed, despite circumstances that might quell the spirit.

The free bird symbolises people who live in this world, not burdened by any kind
of prejudice. The free bird has the opportunity to move through life enjoying in its
abundance. The free bird doesn't question its place in life at all, since it is not denied
of anything. It flies high and takes everything it sees. The environment of the free bird
consists of the whole world and it is at its liberty to enjoy the bounties of nature. It
never needs to think of freedom, as the bird is simply free. The free bird spends its
time living and doing what it wants. The people who are afforded this freedom, are
able to make their own decisions and choices. Just like the free bird who is able to
experience life as an enjoyable adventure, for people who are free and do not face
oppression, sky is the limit.

The “caged bird” stands for none other than the oppressed blacks. For centuries,
lacking of liberty and basic human rights, the blacks have led a painful life full of
sufferings. Its song of freedom demonstrates the rage and optimism of the blacks that
toughen them to remain in existence. the blacks for ages was seeing the dream of
liberty. The poet‟s ancestors have spent their whole lives hoping to see the light of
freedom. The blacks‟ dream of liberty is very old. Despite their continued struggle,
they have suffered defeat and frustrations repeatedly. Thus, the caged bird‟s fear is
about the uncertainty of achieving freedom in the future. The fears of the caged
bird reflect the fear of the blacks who no more wish to go through the pains of
racism and discrimination of the whites. The word “nightmare” is indicating
unspeakable suffering of the blacks‟ and “scream” reflects their pain.

The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true
freedom, deep down that bird still knows that it was created to be free. To the caged
bird, even though the freedom is “fearful” because it is “unknown”, yet the bird sings
with “a fearful trill” because it still longs for freedom. This is similar to the African
American struggle in poet‟s time. She feels that black Americans wrote and sang
and cried out for the freedom they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant
voice. But it did not stop them from shouting out for equality and freedom because
they knew they were made for freedom and as human beings had every right to enjoy
the freedom they were created to enjoy.

Thus the metaphor of a caged bird holds so much meaning for Angelou and
applies applies to her life.
 Chapter 5

Wall -D.S. Dadhalkar

visit website https://sugarybloom.blogspot.com for all bcom subjects notes

Short answer questions

1) What is the contract taken by the poet?

The poet has taken contract to demolish the walls of the building to demolish the
walls of buildings.

2) The poet wants to demolish the walls of villages also.

3) According to Dadhalkar, the world wars were fought for the walls of nations

4) Walls are built by

1. Kings 2. Grandpas 3. Grandmothers

5) Why were the walls hardened?

The walls were hardened to protect human beings.

6) The people had raised their hands against these walls before. (True/False)

True

7) What does the poet want to learn from history?

Poet learned that his eyes had been entombed in walls and his organs of sense lay
mutely by those walls like motionless refugees.

8) Mention the figure of speech in the line, „like motionless refugees‟.

simile

9) What should the wall be replaced with?

1. Walls 2. New house 3. Gardens

10) Who are eligible to live in the new house?

Only those who can endure space wide enough to gallop in should live
11) What is the prayer of the poet?

The poet will offer a memorial prayer, and be done with.

12) The “Compass” stands for

1. Right direction 2. Wrong direction 3. A geometrical instrument

Paragraph Answer Questions

1) How does the speaker wish to demolish the walls?

The speaker had recently taken a contract to demolish the walls of buildings. “Wall”
renders both literal and metaphorical interpretations. Social evils are referred as wall
by the speaker in the poem. He desires to bring down the walls of destruction that
steals peace and harmony of the society. Walls of destruction mean the discrimination
existing on the basis of caste, creed, race and language. For centuries, caste, creed,
race and language have stood as barriers, thereby destroying the peace and harmony
between nations . Hence, the speaker determines to destroy these walls of barriers to
restore peace and harmony. He is predetermined to demolish these walls, but he is
unsure of the period that the labour requires because those are reinforced walls which
hammers cannot break.

2) What happened to those who raised their hands against the walls?

Many people on many occasions have raised their hands against the walls. For some,
their hands became stained with blood. While the flags of others succeeded in
fluttering, countless innocent people have been killed and no consideration was given
to their lives. These walls of differences taught the conservatives to be as wild as
animals for protecting caste, creed and customs, and the walls merely altered their
humanity. Social reformers who have raised their hands against this cruel inhuman
behaviour, were simply labelled as rationalist. The author states that the rationalists
are strung up to bloodshed, but the conservatives have been welcomed in the society
and their flags are fluttering: “while the flags of others succeeded in
fluttering” signifies that the conservatives are given red carpet welcome in the
society.

3) What is the picture of the wall the poet had before reading history?

Before reading history the poet is uncertain about the birth of those evil motive walls
and has zero knowledge about the number of generations that have elapsed through
those walls. He did not know the truth behind the walls and how social activists and
reformers have raised their hands against in humanness and how distressingly their
hands were bloodied and were labelled as rationalist .After reading history he realises
that even his eyes had been entombed in walls and his organs of sense was
lying mutely by those walls like motionless refugees. On enquiring, he found out the
walls themselves had drugged them with opium .Poet reveals that, grandpas were the
founders of the evil walls and countless generations have travelled with those walls.
They have stood as a sensitive barrier for generations and have snatched away
innumerable lives. The poet is sad about the past as he realises the truth behind the
walls . He says he himself should break down these evil walls and become a compass
to them.

4) What will happen after the walls are demolished?

The extract conveys that the poet is going to smash the walls, thereafter new houses
will take birth, and thus it is a call to the people to enter into the new house. New
houses refer to a new society that gives away all language ,caste and cultural
difference .“Spacious and lovely” metaphorically imply the broad-mindedness of the
people. When people's mind and their way of thinking are widened, automatically
love and happiness will be established in the society. The poet wants the people to be
renovated and transformed so that they can enter the new houses which are spacious
and lovely. The poet has employed the terms „spacious‟ and „lovely‟ to symbolize
the pleasant living of people in a rationalized society.

But the people who are really renovated will enter into the new spacious house and
begin living a new lovely life. Conservatives who have turned down the invitation of
the poet are unfit to set foot in the new houses, therefore had to stay in their old
houses that are constructed with evil walls. The poet is certain that they have no
security for their life and they will be removed out when the walls are
demolished, They will remain along with dust and will be buried along with dust and
eventually the poet will conduct a memorial prayer for them.

Essay Answer Questions

1) Explain the metaphoric significance of wall in the poem.

D.S. Dadhalkar is a renowned Marathi poet, and the poem “Wall” is originally written
by him in Marathi and later translated to English . The metaphorical interpretation is
firmly evident in the poem "Wall". “Wall” renders both literal and metaphorical
interpretations. Social evils are referred as wall by the poet in the poem. The poet is
uncertain about the birth of those evil motive walls and has zero knowledge about the
number of generations that have elapsed through those walls He desires to bring down
the walls of destruction that steals peace and harmony of the society. Walls of
destruction mean the segregation's existing on the basis of caste, creed, race and
linguistic difference.

The poet desires to bring down the walls of caste, creed, race and linguistic difference
which had caused so much destruction and has stolen the peace and harmony of the
society. The poetic lines, “But these walls built by grandpas” metaphorically reveal,
ancestors are the founders of the evil walls and countless generations have travelled
with these walls. They have stood as a sensitive barrier for generations and have
snatched away innumerable lives.

The poet is undoubtful about demolishing the walls, and considers it as an important
time to renovate the society. For centuries, caste, creed, race and language have stood
as barriers, thereby seizing the peace and harmony that prevailed between countries
and nations which the poet hates. Hence, the poet determines to destroy these walls of
barriers to restore peace and harmony. He is predetermined to demolish these walls,
but he is unsure of the period that the labour requires because those are reinforced
walls which hammers cannot break.

The poet is doleful about the past, therefore he desires to design a society wherein
brand new houses are going to be born and the people with renovated mindset are
welcomed to room in. Metaphorically, new houses emblematic the refurbished souls
and minds. Dadhalkar determines and decrees to take up the role of a compass, which
figuratively signifies a Guide. Therefore, being a Guide, he has positioned himself to
lead and reform the corrupted society and to induct a sluiced ambience wherein
people become unimpeachable and dynamic. He is determined to proclaim himself as
a Guide of the society

2) Do you think the poet is optimistic at the end of the poem? Substantiate your
view.

The poet is optimistic at the end of the poem. He has exhibited optimism by
repeatedly composing in his poem that he will demolish the evil walls of language,
caste, creed and race.

The extract conveys that the poet is going to smash the walls, and after that new
houses will take birth, and thus it is a call to the people to enter into the new house.
New houses refer to a new society that gives away all linguistic and cultural
difference . When the minds of people are renovated, they are treated as new better
personalities to enter into the new houses which are spacious and lovely. “Spacious
and lovely” metaphorically imply the broad-mindedness of the people, and when
their thinking is widened, automatically love and happiness will be established in the
society. When people are narrow-minded, their awareness about the society is
narrowed and that creates problems . The view of conservatives is to protect the walls.
The poet wants the people to be renovated and transformed so that they can enter the
new houses which are spacious and lovely. The poet has employed the terms
„spacious‟ and „lovely‟ to symbolize the pleasant living of people in a rationalised
society.

The narrow minded people who have turned down the invitation of the poet are unfit
to set foot in the new houses, and hence they are denied to enter the new spacious
house. They had to stay in their old houses that are constructed with evil walls. If they
are going to remain in the old house, the poet is certain that they have no security for
their life and they will be removed out when the walls are demolished, which shows
that they will be treated same as dust.But the people who are really renovated will
enter into the new spacious house and begin living a new lovely life. Whereas, others
will remain along with dust and will be buried along with dust and eventually the poet
will conduct a memorial prayer for them. Therefore, it is evident that the call of the
poet sounds to be both as an invitation and a warning. It literally sounds to be an
invitation to get into the new house and to begin a transformed life, and on the other
hand, it is a warning that if they do not accept his invitation, they are welcome to die.
The poet has exposed his intelligence by spreading awareness with his rational
thoughts and opinion and has proved himself as a rationalist and a reformer of the
conservative society. He desires that transformation must take place in his society that
too in his time. The poet is exceedingly certain that transition can be witnessed only
when the walls of evil scheme are bulldozed.

The poet has exhibited and established himself as an optimist by repeatedly

saying that he will demolish the evil walls of caste, creed and race. The poet firmly
stays on the idea that the social evils can be removed forever only with the support of
rationalised approach and is determined to do so by becoming a compass for the
society. Thus we can see that the poet is optimistic that the evil walls can be
removed and a positive change can be brought in the society.

3) The walls are usually built but here in the poem the speaker is demolishing the
„walls‟? Explain the paradox.

The walls are usually built but here in the poem "Wall" the speaker is demolishing the
„walls‟. The paradox, in the poem is that social evils are referred as wall by the poet.
The term “Wall” renders both literal and metaphorical interpretations. By wall, the
poet is referring to social evils. He desires to bring down the walls of destruction that
steals peace and harmony of the society. Walls of destruction mean the
discrimination's existing on the basis of caste, creed, race and language.

“Wall” refers to social evils by the poet in the poem. He desires to bring down the
walls of destruction that steals peace and harmony of the society.

The poet is uncertain about the birth of those evil motive walls and has zero
knowledge about the number of generations that have elapsed through those wall .For
centuries, caste, creed, race and linguistic difference have stood as barriers, thereby
seizing the peace and harmony that prevailed between nations which the poet hates.
Hence, the poet determines to destroy these walls of barriers to restore peace and
harmony. He is predetermined to demolish these walls, but he is unsure of the period
that the labour requires because those are reinforced walls which hammers cannot
break.

The poetic lines, “But these walls / built by grandpas” metaphorically reveal,
grandpas are the founders of the evil walls and countless generations have travelled
with these walls. They have stood as a sensitive barrier for generations and have
snatched away innumerable lives. The poet is doleful about the past, therefore he
desires to design a society wherein brand new houses are going to be born and the
people with renovated mindset are welcomed to room in. Metaphorically, new houses
emblematic the refurbished souls and minds. Dadhalkar determines and decrees to
take up the role of a compass, which figuratively signifies a Guide.Therefore,being a
guide, he has positioned himself to lead and reform the corrupted society and to induct
a sluiced ambience wherein people become unimpeachable and dynamic. He is
determined to proclaim himself as a guide of the society.

Thus we can see that the walls which poet want to destroy are the evil customs and
thoughts existing in the society which destroys the peace and harmony among people
and hence he wants to demolish it.

4) What are the reflections of the poet about „walls‟?

The poem reflects the truth of the present society which is projected as modern and
well developed, but still conservative and discriminating, on the basis of language,
caste, race and creed. The poet has tagged these discrimination's as social evils.
Though it is believed that education has gifted modernization and rational thinking to
the society, it is clear that the present era has not brought in change that poet has
expected and so he has composed “Wall” to record his resentment in a highly polished
tone. The poet does not want to see modernization just in labels rather he wanted to
experience and witness it in society.

Even though the poet, had not directly used the terms caste, creed, race and language
to imply the metaphorical walls, it is evident that the poet wants to point out these
indirectly. The walls were created by ancestors for unknown reasons and countless
generations have travelled with these walls. These walls have stood as a sensitive
barrier for generations and have been carried out from generation to generations
snatching away innumerable lives and now it evolves to be a monster waiting to
snatch away even more. Therefore, poet decides to break down these evil obstacles
and eliminate these terms with his intellectual excellence.

The poet is unhappy about the past, and he desires to design a new society where new
houses are going to be born and the people with renovated mindset are welcomed to
stay in. Metaphorically, new houses symbolizes the reformed souls and minds. New
houses refer to a new society that gives away all linguistic and cultural difference.
When the minds of people are renovated, they are treated as new better personalities
to enter into the new houses which are spacious and lovely. By “spacious and lovely”
poet metaphorically implies the broad-mindedness of the people, and believes that
when their thinking is widened, automatically love and happiness will be established
in the society. When people are narrow-minded, their awareness about the society is
narrowed and that creates problems . The view of conservatives is to protect the evil
walls. The poet wants the people to be renovated and transformed so that they can
enter the new houses which are spacious and lovely. The poet has employed the terms
„spacious‟ and „lovely‟ to symbolize the pleasant living of people in a rationalised
society. Poet determines and pronounce to take up the role of a compass, which
signifies a guide to show the right path just like a compass.Being a guide, he had
positioned himself to lead and renew the corrupted society where people become
trustworthy and dynamic. He is determined to proclaim himself as a guide of the
society.