Kanthapura-Short Answer-type Qs
Q41. How has Brahma been described by the
Harikathaman?
Ans. According to the Harikathaman, Brahma was a
self-created God in heaven. Once he was lying on his serpent when a sage named
Valmiki reached there. Lord Brahma duly respected the sage and asked him the
reason for his visit to heaven. Then the sage told Brahmaji about the miserable
condition of his (Brahma’s) beloved daughter ‘Bhartha’ on the earth. He also
suggested to Brahmaji that Siva himself go there to free ‘Bhartha’ from the
slavery of the British.
Q42. How has the Harikathaman described Bhartha?
The Harikathaman described Bhartha, Brahma’s
chief daughter, the goddess of wisdom and well-being (prosperity and health).
Brahmaji gave Bhartha the sag e-land Himalayas in the north, seven seas to the
south Ganges to meditate on, Godavery to live by and pure Cavery to drink in.
She has also been given the riches of gold and diamonds and great kings like
Chandragupta and Vikramaditya.
Q43.How is India equated with Sita in the novel?
Ans. The Harikathaman equated India with Sita in
his Harikatha. India was overpowered by the evil forces of the British. Sita
was also overpowered by the Chief of the evil forces, Ravana. Lord Vishnu
incarnated himself as Rama and freed Sita from Ravna’s slavery. The
Harikathaman said that Lord Vishnu again has incarnated himself as Gandhiji to
free India from British rule.
Q44.Where does the policeman Bade Khan find a
place to live in?
Ans. Bade Khan could not find a place to live in
Kanthapura. Patel Gowda and the village Patwari did not pay attention to him
because of his rude behavior. He left Kanthapura in a huff (irritation and
anger) and went to the Skeffington Coffee Estate. He was given a hut there. It is
also said that later he started living with a pariah woman, who was alone.
Q45. How did the villagers come to know that
they were being followed?
Ans. One day, two villagers, named, Bhima and
Motu saw a hefty (fat), bearded man. He was sitting on the village platform and
smoking a cigarette. When Bhima and Motu entered Pariah Street, the bearded man
started following them. Then they doubted that someone had come to live in
their village, who could spy on the freedom fighters of Kanthapura.
Q46. Write a short note on Bhatta’s money
lending business.
Ans. Bhatta had also started giving money on
loans to people all of a sudden. He was always ready to do sale and purchase
deeds. He would mortgage people’s land to give them loans at a very high rate
of interest. During elections, he was the person who lent money to people
inside or outside Kanthapura. He had also financed Seenappa’s and Chandra
Shekhara’s elections. He exploits people’s problems and charges high rates of
interest if his clients are in serious problems.
Q47. What vision does Moorthy have about
Gandhiji?
Ans. Moorthy’s vision about Gandhiji is great.
He is inspired by his ideology of non-violence and truthfulness. Like Gandhiji,
Moorthy also imagines India to be a country in which people show respect to
both, non-violence and social responsibility.
Q48. Who is Savitharamma? What happened to her?
Ans. Savitharamma was Bhatta’s first wife. She
was a kind woman. She died in an accident. She had gone to bring water from the
Champak well. But she slipped and fell down She died on the spot. Bhatta never
cared for her health. After her death, Bhatta married the daughter of a rich
person and had a rich dowry also.
Q49. What kind of life do widows lead in the
village Kanthapura?
Ans. The widows in Kanthapura do not live
respectable life. They are looked down upon there. They are forced to follow a
social code of conduct. They are not allowed to wear clothes in the manner the
‘suhagan’ married women do. They are also not allowed to talk to men and take
part in social and national activities.
Q50. Give a brief character sketch of the
Swamiji.
Ans. The character of the ‘Swamiji’ has not been
sketched in good colours in the novel. He is a dominating Brahmin. He
lives in a city and sends his orders through Bhatta to the people of
Kanthapura. He is against Gandhiji. He is also against giving equal rights to
the people of the Pariah caste. He threatens Moorthy of excommunicating if he
does not stop getting mixed with the Pariahs.
Q51. Who is Narsamma? Write a short note on her.
Q52. How does Moorthy’s mother Narsamma
react to the threat of Moorthy’s ex-communication?
Q53.What hopes does Narsamma have for her son
Moorthy? Are they fulfilled?
Q54. Why is Narsamma angry with her son,
Moorthy?
Q55. How does Moorthy’s mother Narsamma react to
the threat of Moorthy’s ex-communication?
