English Literature Made Easy for Students: June 2021

Sunday 27 June 2021

The Refugee by K.A.Abbas: Video 2 of 3 Questions and Answers

Wednesday 23 June 2021

The Refugee by K.A.Abbas: Questions and Answers

The Refugee by K.A.Abbas: Questions and Answers

1.Very Short Answer-type Questions Textual): Answer the following questions using a word, a phrase or one or two sentences:

Q1. What does the word ‘storm’ symolise here?

Ans.It symbolises or it stands for the partition of India.

Q2.Where were the two weak women blown to?

Ans.The two women were blown to Bombay.

Q3.Which place was the ‘whole world’ for Maanji before the partition?

Ans. It was Rawalpindi.

Q4. Point out the simile used in the opening sentence.

Ans. like autumn leaves

Additional Very Short Answer-type Questions: Answer the following questions using a word, a phrase or one or two sentences:

Q1. What kind of house did Maaanji live in Bombay?

Ans. It was a one-room house.

Q2. What was Maanji’s complexion and stature?

Ans. Maanji was a lady of short stature and fair complexion.

Q3. Who is the writer of the story ‘The Refugee’?

Ans. K. A Abbas

Q4. Whom did Maanji help with food, bedding, and blankets?

Ans. She helped the Muslim refugees who came there from East Punjab.

Q5.Was Maanji disturbed on reading the newspaper?

Ans.Not at all. She was not disturbed.

Q6.Who came from East Punjab with the bitter feelings of revenge?

Ans. The Muslim refugees came from East Pakistan with bitter feelings.

Q7.What was published in newspapers in June 1947?

Ans. It was about the partition of India.

Q8.What was the only source of income for her?

Ans.Rent from the shops was the only source of her income.

Q9.How many rooms were in Maanji’s house?

Ans. Only one room was there.

Q10.Who reached Bombay the same day?

Ans.The narrator’s and his friend’s mothers had reached Bombay the same day.

Q11. What frightful scene did Manji witness in front of her house?

Ans.Some Muslims killed a Hindu who used to drive a tonga.

Q12.What did Maanji do after witnessing the frightful scene?

Ans. Then she decided to leave Rawalpindi.

3.Exercise 3. (Short Answer-type Questions (Textual); Answer in about 40 to 70 words each:

Qa. Which are the regions that the writer uses to set his story of the partition of India? How does he trace the movements of his characters?

Ans. The narrator uses Rawalpindi, Panipat, Delhi and Bombay (Mumbai) as the regions to set the story ‘The Refugee’.

The narrator’s mother (A Muslim woman) lived in Panipat. The narrator’s friend’s mother (A Sardar woman) lived in Rawalpindi before Partition.

The narrator’s mother along with other women and children of the family were evacuated (moved to a safer place) from Panipat in a military truck and brought to Delhi. After three weeks, they were brought to Mumbai in a plane as it was still unsafe to travel in train.

The narrator’s friend’s mother, along with her old husband travelled in a refugee caravan from Pindi to Amritsar. From there, they reached Delhi and finally, they reached Mumbai.

Qb. How did the ‘two women’ arrive in Bombay?

Ans. The narrator’s mother lived in Panipat, while his friend’s mother was in Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan). But it was a strange coincidence that both of them reached Bombay on the same day. The narrator’s mother, along with other women and children of their families were brought to Delhi by a military truck. She had to stay there for three weeks in a crowded room with two other families. After that, she was brought to Bombay by plane. The narrator’s friend’s mother, along with her husband reached Amritsar in a refugee caravan from Rawalpindi. After that, they reached Delhi, and finally, from there, they reached Bombay.

Video 1 Ends

Qc. Prior to partition, what did Manji think of Muslims?

Ans. ‘Maanji was the mother of the narrator’s friend, who was a Sikh. She lived in Rawalpindi along with her husband. She always thought of the Muslims and the Sikhs or the Hindus as brothers. She even helped the Muslim refugees, who reached Rawalpindi from east Punjab. She allowed them to stay in her house. She gave them clothes, blankets, beddings, etc. She was not able to imagine how Muslims and Hindus or Sikhs could become enemies of each other. But later on, one gruesome (ghastly/horrible) incident snapped (broke) the last thread of her faith. In front of her house, a Hindu tonga-wallah was brutally killed. The killers did not even spare his horse, the dumb animal that had no religion or a caste.

Qd. How did the old ‘Sardar’ couple reacts to the news of the impending partition?

Ans. It was in June 1947 when the newspapers published the news regarding the impending (sure to happen) partition. The old Sardarni (Maanji) or Sardarji was not at all worried at the bad news of the partition. They thought it just a political issue. They believed that it made no difference to them whether they lived in Pakistan or in Hindustan. Their small world was their neighbourhood. They knew that their neighbours were very friendly with them. In that situation, they needed nothing to bother about. They were not ready to leave their house and neighbourhood.

4.Answer the following in about 150 to 200 words each:

a.’The Refugee’ proves that men and women are capable of behaving both as uncouth (uncivilised) animals and noble human beings. Discuss.

Ans.The story ‘The Refugee’ definitely proves that both men and women are capable of behaving as uncouth (uncivilised/bad-mannered) animals and also as noble beings. After reading the text of the story, we have some examples that prove the above statement.

The narrator’s friend’s mother ‘Maanji’ lived in Rawalpindi along with her husband, old Sardarji. She had deep faith in all good feelings of fraternity, brotherhood, cooperation, compassion, and all that make a person a true human being. She was a living example of that. She had given her shops on rent to the Muslims, who paid her rent. There was a cordial relation between the Muslims and the Hindus or the Sikhs there. She would also distribute the butter milk to the whole neighbourhood.

But when the inter-communal riots spread, the fire of hate and violence made people behave like beasts. They started killing brutally even the people who lived in their neighbourhood, forgetting all human values. In that violence, even old men, women, and children were not spared. Manji was deeply shocked when she witnessed (watched) a Hindu tonga-wallah being killed mercilessly along with his horse in front of her house. Then her deep faith in humanity was totally shaken.

This was also true that when the Muslims from East Punjab left their villages or cities, they were given full protection and help by the Hindus. The same thing was also done in Western Punjab. But there were people in both the communities who behaved like beasts and forgot all human values.

b. Would you consider ‘The Refugee’ as a story about displacement—geographical, social, political and spiritual?

Ans. The partition of India took place in 1947. It was really a displacement at several levels: geographical, social, political, moral, and spiritual.

It was a displacement at the geographical level because millions of people from both sides had to migrate from their native places. They had to leave their homes, land, and other properties.

It was also a social displacement. The society in which they were rooted deeply left behind. They had to live in other societies in which they were not accepted called ‘refugees’. Their social, cultural ties with their own people were snapped. It was a political decision taken by the leadership in Delhi as a last resort to avoid volatile (explosive) situation that prevailed there at the centre.

The partition of India was also a displacement of moral values. Many people indulged in immoral activities with the displaced people. At a spiritual level also, the partition was a displacement.

Many people from both communities behaved like beasts. They forgot all about their religious principles and human values. The thousand-year-old joint family system was shattered beyond repair.

Age-old friends and neighbours were ruthlessly (cruelly) separated. The pattern of brotherhood was broken beyond measures.

Video 2 Ends

Some More Questions

Q1. Describe the life of Maanji in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Ans. Manji used to live in a house of six spacious rooms, wide verandahs and a big courtyard. But in Bombay, she had to live along with her husband and a son in a single room tenement (apartment building). A dhobi occupied the room on one side and coal shop on the other. The kitchen was made in a small room and it also served as a dining room, bathroom and storeroom.

The narrator’s friend’s mother made the room, though it was small, spotlessly clean and everything well arranged.

Beds are covered with white sheets with embroidered pillowcases. The floor shines with constant scrubbing and no particles of dust can be found anywhere.

She cooks food herself with her own hands, washes the dishes, and sweeps the floor herself.

She always keeps smiling. She welcomes her son’s friends whenever they come and never lets them go without at least a cup of tea.

Manji had to leave all her life’s savings and possessions at Rawalpindi. Now, from a prosperous landlady in Rawalpindi, she has become a refugee in Bombay, but her hospitality was never lost.

Q2. Describe how the old Sikh couple lived in Rawalpindi.

Ans. The old Sikh couple had an ancestral house. She had a double-storeyed house in Rawalpindi. She lived in the upper part of the house. There were some shops on the ground floor. Those were on rent to Muslim shopkeepers or artisans.

The Muslim women living in the neighbourhood called the old Sardarni ‘Behnji’ while the woman of the younger generation addresses her as ‘Maanji’ or ‘Chachi’. That was the pattern of living there in Rawalpindi and all over Punjab.

Maanji’s family had a buffalo of their own, which gave ten seers of milk every day. They used to prepare butter and distribute buttermilk to the whole of neighbourhood. All thanked her and would say:

Manji also had a piece of agricultural land that was given to some farmers on lease. They would produce wheat, maize or bajra. Manji had a small bit of regular income from the rent of shops. Milk, butter, and ghee were also available at home. Thus, the old couple lived a contented and peaceful life.

Q3. Which incident shattered ‘Maanji’s’ faith?

Ans. One day, something happened that shattered ‘Maanji’s’ faith of living in brotherhood. She saw that a tonga-wallah was stabbed to death just in front of her house. She came to know as to why he was killed. She said, “It was bad enough that the tonga-walla was killed. They killed him because he was a Hindu—but they did not spare even the horse.. You know, a horse has neither religion nor caste. And yet, they went on stabbing the poor animal with their daggers till the poor, dumb creature bled to death. Then I knew the madness had gone too far, and human beings had become something else, something horrible and evil, that we could no longer feel safe in Rawalpindi.’

Q4. Who were the two women in the story? Why did they have to leave their homes?

Ans. The two women in the story are the narrator’s mother and his friend’s mother. The narrator’s mother lived in Panipat and his friend’s mother lived in Rawalpindi.

But the cruel decision of India’s partition forced them to leave their homes for ever.

The narrator’s friend’s mother, along with her old husband travelled in a refugee caravan from Pindi to Amritsar. From there, they reached Delhi, and finally, they reached Mumbai.

The Refugee by K.A.Abbas: Video 1 of 3 Questions and Answers

Sunday 20 June 2021

The Journey-Temsula Ao-Questions-Answers-Video 4 of 4 -English for B.A. ...

Wednesday 16 June 2021

Question: I am an engineering dropout currently pursuing BA in English literature after graduation will I be able to apply for UPSC?

Ans. Yes. If you complete your B.A., I think there is no way you cannot appear in UPSC Exams. But you will have to increase your knowledge in other subjects that are selected by you from the syllabus prescribed by UPSC.

The-Journey-Temsula-Ao-Questions-Answers

Lesson 3: The Journey by Temsula Ao

Part A: Very Short answer-type Qs

Q1. Which place or region has been described in the story?

Ans. A tribal village in the Naga Hills

Q2. Why was the journey so difficult?

Ans. The journey was difficult because Tinula was to reach her boarding school walking on foot and passing through the thick jungle and intricate (difficult) ways of the mountains.

Q3. Do you encounter such difficulties while coming to college?

Ans. No.

Q4. Who is Winnie?

Ans. She was Tinula’s friend.

Q5.What does the story focus on?

Ans. It focuses on Tinula’s physical and emotional journey.

Q6. Who is the main character in the story?

Ans. Tinula

Q6.At what time of the day does the story begin?

Ans. Early in the morning

Q7.At which place did Tinula spend her night in the town of Mariani?

Ans. She spent night in the loft of a kind shop-keeper.

Q8.How did Tinula wake up early in the morning?

Ans.

Q9.Why was the journey possible only in winter time?

Ans. There the water in the streams was not so deep in winter.

Q10. Why did Tinula’s brother ask her to walk faster?

Ans. It was getting dark and there was danger of wild animals after the sunset.

Q11.Where did Tinula keep her favourite dress?

Ans. She kept her favourite dress in a trunk made of tin

Q12. What was Tinula’s brother’s name?

Ans. Temjenba

Q13. What is ‘singaras’?

Ans. It is a snack item like a ‘samosa’ in the North East of India

Q14. Which was the last station nearest to her boarding?

Ans. Farkating

Q15. Who gave Tinula the pair of shoes she was wearing at that time?

Ans. It was given to her by a senior student at her school.

Q16.Where did they eat their midday meal?

Ans. They ate (had) their lunch at the bank of a river.

Q17. In which vehicle they reach school from the station?

Ans. They reached school in a car (ambassador car).

Q18. Where did the superintendent give shelter to Tinula?

Ans. The superintendent gave her shelter in the infirmary (medical room).

Q19. To whom did Tinula share the bed?

Ans. Tinula shared the bed with Winnie.

Q20. What information did Winnie share with Tinula?

Ans. Winnie told Tinula that her (Tinula’s) boyfriend had a new girlfriend.

Q21. What was the age of Tinula? Or how old was Tinula?

Ans. She was thirteen years old.

Q22. What kind of journey is mentioned by the author at the end of the story?

Ans. The author mentions Tinula’s emotional journey at the end.

Part B: Answer the following questions in four or five lines.

Q1. Discuss the relevance of the title of the story ‘The Journey’?

Ans. The title of this story is quite appropriate. The author describes Tinula’s two types of journey. One is taken by her at the physical level. The second is her emotional one. She reaches her boarding school after passing through the difficult ways of the jungle and climbing up and down the mountains. After reaching there, she had to sleep with her friend Winnie. She told her about Hubert, her boyfriend, who had had a new girlfriend. It is then she had a new feeling that takes her on an emotional journey.

Q2.How does the story bring out the importance of the efforts of the community in helping an individual?

Ans. The efforts of the community in helping individuals like Tenula are very important. During the journey, she was helped by her brother and the other members of her community in one way or the other. Some women of the group dropped pieces of meat in her leaf plate at mealtime.. They catch each other’s hands while crossing the rivers or streams. A kind woman of the group took her shoes to make her comfortable. Once she was lagging behind, then, other members of the group waited for her. A co-passenger gave her a seat in the train. At the station, they were given a lift in a car. Such incidents show that community plays a very important role in helping individuals.

Video 1 Ends

Q3. Assess the brother-sister relationship as described in the story.

Ans. Temjenba and Tenula are siblings. Tenula is a girl of thirteen years. Both of them have a strong bonding between them. The text of this lesson shows that they have to undertake two difficult journeys on foot in the terrains of Naga Hills. First, Temjenba brings his sister back to their village from the boarding school. Then, after the summer vacation, he accompanies (goes with) her to her boarding school. During both the journeys, Temjenba shows a lot of concern for his sister. Sometimes, she lags behind and feels tired. Then he encourages her to move fast in order to reach the target before sunset. He helps her cross the streams and the rivers on the way. Temjenba brings some snacks and tea for her at the stoppage of the train. She felt obliged to him at that time.

Q6. Describe the train journey of Tenula and her brother.

Ans. Anyhow, Tinula and her brother reached the railway station. They had no time to purchase tickets, so they entered the train without tickets. After some time, a passenger adjusted Tinula on his seat. At a small station, her brother Tenjenba went out quickly and bought something for her to eat. It was a samosa-like snack. He also brought some tea also. Tinula felt obliged to her brother. After a tiring journey, the train reached Farkating. It was the nearest station to her boarding school.

Q7. Describe the experience of Tenula and her brother from the station to the school.

Ans. After coming out of the railway station of Farkating, now they were to reach School. It was three or four miles away. But it was late at night and darkness was everywhere. He was in confusion about what to do. Even the station master was locking his office. Temjenba was just thinking about it when a man from the dark came near them. He offered them a lift in his car. It was God’s blessing sent to them. They both followed the man up to the car. It was an Ambassador car. Tinula was almost squeezed among other passengers in the car.

The car reached the school gate. They came out of it and in this way they reached the school gate.

Q8. Write a note at the beginning of the story ‘The Journey’.

Ans. Tinula, a thirteen-year-old girl lives in a tribal village surrounded by jungles and hills in Nagaland. The day has dawned when she has to return to her boarding school, situated at a far-off place after two months’ vacation. She wakes up suddenly due to the squealing of a piglet. She has to travel on foot today through thick jungle and intricate ways of the mountains to reach her boarding school.

It was still dark when she woke up. She was alert because it was the day she reached her school after two months’ winter break.

She still remembered the minute detail of her previous journey when she had come up to her village by traversing the plains of Assam to her village in the Naga Hills.

Q9. Describe Tenula’s experience at the school boarding.

Ans. After reaching the school gate, Tinula and Temjenba moved towards the Superintendent’s bungalow. A lady opened the door. First, she seemed annoyed at being awakened at such an odd hour of the night. But when she saw them shivering, she told Temjenba to go back home.

The superintendent took the girl to the school infirmary (medical room). It was temporarily being used for the students who reached school late at night after their holidays. Tinula had to share the bed in which her friend, Winnie was sleeping. Before creeping into the warmth of the bed, she washed her feet as best as she could. She enjoyed the warmth of the soft bed.

Video 2 Ends

Part C: Long Answer-type Questions

Q1. With reference to the story ‘The Journey’, write about the natural beauty of the North-East. (In about ten to fifteen lines)

Or What is special about the landscape portrayed in the story?

Ans. The writer gives a very minute (microscopic) detail of the landscape in this story. Tinula’s village is situated in Naga Hills. These hills are full of green trees and bushes. The way to reach anywhere is full of difficulties. Wild animals also live in dense forests. There are rivers and streams that have to be crossed. There are no bridges on them. It is very difficult to cross these rivers in the rainy season. The water in these rivers is reduced only in winter. Life in these hills is very tough. So, the people have to live from hand to mouth only.

Q2. Describe Tinula’s journey from her boarding school to her village.

Ans. After eating rice and curry in the morning, Tinula along with her brother and some other members of the group set out on their journey forming a line.

The way was rough and full of dangers. After traversing (walking with difficulty), she felt tired. But her brother was encouraging her to move faster and faster. The other members had reached the halfway mark on the bank of Disoi River.

As Tinula and her brother reached there, they started eating food. Some women dropped pieces of meat on the girl’s leaf plate to make her feel happy. Having eaten food, they resumed their journey. They entered a river. Her brother and a man held her up by putting their hands under her armpits and carried her safely to the river bank.

The road became steep soon after crossing the river. The girl was unable to walk further. She sat down on a stone step and started crying. She sat down on a stone-step and started crying. The others had gone far and they didn’t notice it. But, her brother was with her feeling worried. He tried to soothe her pointing to the sun that was moving westward and told her once again the dangers of the jungle.

The girl remembered now as to how she struggled over every step. The sun had almost set when they reached the village.

Q3. Describe the journey of Tinula and her brother from the village to her boarding school.

Ans. After having a morning meal, Tinula and her brother, Temjenba, began their journey to reach the place where they could board a bus or a train to reach the town. It was a downward journey almost steep (straight).

Both of them were to reach their target Mariani by four in the afternoon. They ate their midday meal on the bank of the river. It was almost dry. Tinula was helped by her brother and the woman cross the river.

Now, they had reached the plain. The girl felt thirsty because the direct rays of the sun were falling on her face. But she had to keep pace with others. Sometimes she had to run to join them under the fear of some wild animal. They reached the railway station almost at the sunset of the winter evening. They hurriedly boarded the train. They did not get seats. After some time, a passenger offered Tinula to adjust with him on his seat. At a station, her brother brought some snacks and tea for her. At last, the train reached Farkating. It was the last station that was also nearest to her boarding school. It was nearly midnight when they came out of the station.

Now they were to walk on foot to cover the distance of three or four miles to reach the boarding school. But a kind person offered them a lift in his ambassador car and then he left them near the school's main gate.

Video 3 Ends

Q4. Describe Tinula’s emotional journey mentioned at the end of the story.

Ans. In this story, Tinula undergoes two types of journeys. Her first journey was at the physical level and the second one was at her mental level. After completing her first journey, Tinula had to experience a sudden change in her emotions. It was an emotion she had never experienced before. She had to share her friend Winnie’s bed to pass the night.

First Winnie told her about Herbert, whom she liked. She told Tinula that he had a new girlfriend. It was Winnie’s willing attempt to hurt her. That made her feel disturbed and hurt. But to save her face, she had giggled at that time. After many years, she recalls the incident but she did not know if she had laughed or cried at that time.

But Winnie’s attempt of mentioning Herbert’s girlfriend really brought about a change in her mind. She had a strange realisation that she had never had. It was the emotion that had overtaken her and was forcing her to look at the warm body lying next to her in a different way.

She wished to leave the bed and go somewhere else. But it was not possible as it was too late and the superintendent had gone to her room. Besides, she had also no reason to explain to her why she wanted to sleep elsewhere. So, she just turned her back and pretended to sleep though her body continued to shake for a long time.

Q5.How does the story bring out the importance of the efforts of the community in helping an individual?

Ans. In this story, we come to know how the efforts of the community in helping individual like Tinula are important. She had to undertake two journeys on foot along with her brother and a few members of her community through the thick jungle and all the difficulties of the intricate (complicated/very difficult) way.

During the journey, she was helped by her brother and the other members of her community in one way or the other. We know how some women of the group dropped pieces of meat in her leaf plate at mealtime. A kind shopkeeper gave them shelter to sleep in the loft of his shop. While crossing the streams and rivers on the way, Tinula was helped by them. They catch each other’s hands while crossing the rivers or streams.

At one time, Tinula was facing a problem in walking while picking up her shoes in one hand. Then a kind woman of the group took her shoes to make her comfortable. Once she was lagging behind, then, other members of the group waited for her. A co-passenger gave her seat on the train. At the station, they were given a lift in a car. Such incidents show that community plays a very important role in helping individuals.

Q6. How do people of the hill community prepare for the journey?

Ans. The people of the hill community form a group if a journey to somewhere is undertaken. Tinula’s brother also formed a group of his community members to help Tinula reach her boarding school. They make some necessary arrangements before starting on a journey.

Every member of the group has to take a basket at his or her back. It has salt, dry fish, some bottles of hair oil, and even kerosene oil for the lamps. The author also tells us that it was a custom to bring some rice and some other required material by each member of the group to prepare a meal during the journey. A big pot for preparing food is also to be carried by one of the members of the group. Each one would contribute one cup full of rice each time they prepare a meal.

Firewood is also collected for cooking meals before the start of the journey. After having the morning meal, they start their journey in a single file (line).