10th Class THE STOREYED HOUSE - 1 (Segment-3)
Important questions and answers for better comprehension
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
Exchanging pleasantries with people he met on the way,
Bayaji reached the public building called Takkya in the untouchables'
settlement. The building was named Buddha Vihar by those who had embraced
Buddhism. As Bayaji neared Buddha Vihar, the children, who were playing with a
ball made of rags, finished their game and cried out, 'Baiju Nana is here,
Baiju Nana is here!' and scampered in the direction of Bayaji's house. Bayaji's
eighty-five-year-old mother quickly scrambled to her feet. She had aged much
but her old-worn frame was still sturdy, and her teeth were strong enough to
break grams. She could thread a needle without help. When she heard of Bayaji's
arrival her heart swelled.
As Bayaji came in, his wife concealed her joy with the
end of her sari and took down the box from his head. His grandchildren clung to
him and began to twist the folds of his dhoti. The neighbouring children
watched the scene in idle curiosity.
'Come, get into the house, children!' said Bayaji. His
mother walked out with a bent back and told Bayaji to wait outside the door.
Bayaji obeyed.
The old woman came forward, poured some water over the
piece of bread in her hand, moved it around Bayaji's face and flung it away as
an offering. She ran her palms over his cheeks and pressed her fingers on her
temples. All eight fingers gave out a cracking
sound.
Bayaji's family was doing well. He had eight children
in all, six sons and two daughters. The daughters had been married off and had
given birth to children. The elder son looked after the fields, the next two
sons were in government service, the one after them was a school- teacher and
the sixth one was still studying. Since they knew that Bayaji was coming home
for good, the elder son in service and the two daughters were already home to
greet him. All of them wondered what their father had got for them from his
lifetime earnings.
The next day when Bayaji opened the box, it revealed
only some pots and pans, nails and photographs.
Looking at these, the elder daughter asked, 'Nana, how
is it that you haven't brought
anything for us?'
Bayaji was amused that his daughters thought in this
childish manner even after they
had children of their own. He ran his eyes over all his children and
said, 'Look here, children, if I had brought new clothes for you, they'd tear,
if I had brought an ornament it would soon wear out. Out of my earnings I wish
you to have something that'll last longer.
Bayaji paused after these words.
His eldest son was godly. He said, 'Neither we nor our
wives want anything. Tell us
what you'd like us to do.'
'Look children, ours is such a large family. Even at
mealtime, we've to eat by turns or
sit crowded, knocking our knees together. I wish to build a house out of
my earnings, and it has to be a storeyed house; the usual three-portioned house
won't be adequate for us.'
All were happy with this plan.
The plan was finalised and the foundation of the
storeyed house was laid on the auspicious New Year Day.
1.Name the public building
mentioned in the passage?
The public building mentioned in the passage was Takkya.
2.Bayaji exchanged pleasantries
with people he met on the way home. Who do you think the people he met on the
way?
The people he met on the way home might be his relatives, childhood friends,
known people or elders.
3.Who named (Takkya) Buddavihar?
Takya was named Buddavihar by the people who embraced Buddhism.
4.Who were playing with a ball of
rag?
Some of the children might be Bayaji’s relatives and others might be
their neighbours.
5.What did the children shout?
The children shouted when they saw Bayaji – “Baiju Nana is here, Baiju Nana
is here”
6.Have you ever shouted seeing
someone coming to your house? Who visited? Why did you shout?
Yes, of course. I shouted seeing my grandma coming our home. I love her
and hence I shouted.
7.How old was Bayaji’s mother?
Bayaji’s mother was eighty-five.
8.Why do you think Bayaji’s
mother was still sturdy?
She might have gotten a sturdy frame from the birth and she might have
been working hard for years together. Thus, she might be still sturdy.
9.Bayaji’s mother’s heart
swelled. Why?
Whoever it might be the son, a mother always happy to see her child.
Thus, Bayaji’s mother’s heart swelled with happiness as her son came home after
a long time for good.
10.Who took down the box from
Bayaji’s head?
Bayaji’s wife took down the box from his head.
11.Bayaji’s wife concealed her
joy. Why?
Usually women conceal their emotions particularly of husband. Hence,
she might conceal her joy of her husband’s arrival.
12.Do you think women must conceal
their feelings? Why?
No, definitely not. Women are par equal with men. Then, why do they
conceal their feelings. They too can express their emotions par with men.
13.Why do you think his grandchildren
clung to him?
Generally, grandchildren like grandparents because they care. Thus,
they clung to Bayaji expecting something from him.
14.Who were in idle curiosity?
The neighbouring children were in idle curiosity.
15.Bayaji’s mother asked him to
wait outside the door. Why?
Bayaji’s mother asked him to wait outside the door to offer some fire
bath (dishti thiyadam).
16.She ran her palms over his
cheeks and pressed her fingers. Does anybody do it for you? Why? What does it
indicate?
Yes, my mother and other elder women do the same for me whenever I feel
dizzy or ill.
17.How many children did Bayaji
have?
Bayaji had eight children. Six among them were sons and the two were
daughters.
18.Who looked after the fields of
Bayaji?
The elder son of Bayaji looked after the fields.
19.What were Bayaji’s sons?
Bayaji’s sons were farmers, government employees, teachers and some
others students.
20.What do you think the children
of Bayaji expect from him when he returned?
The children of Bayaji expected some gifts from him when he returned
home for good.
21.What were there in the box
actually?
There were pots, pans, nails and some photos in the box.
22.The elder daughter of Bayaji
expected something like a child even after her marriage and having her own
children. Have you ever expected something from your elders when they return
home?
Yes, of course. I, as a child, ever expect something from my father or
mother when they return home like fruits, chocolates or soft drinks.
23.Why was Bayaji amused at his
daughter?
Though she was married and got children of her own she behaved like a
child expecting something as a gift from Bayaji. Hence, he was amused at his
daughter.
24.‘I wish you to have something
that’ll last longer.’ What did Bayaji think of the long-lasting gift?
Bayaji wished to build a storeyed house for his family from his
retirement benefits as the long-lasting gift for them.
25.How did they have their meal
time according to Bayaji?
According to Bayaji
they had their meal time by turns or sit
crowded, knocking their knees together as it was a small house.
26.What was Bayaji’s wish?
Bayaji’s wish was to build a storeyed house for his family.
27.The plan was finalized. What
was the plan?
The plan to build a storeyed house was finalized by the family members
together.
28.When was the foundation laid?
On the new year day the foundation laid.
29.After laying foundation Bayaji
must have felt happy about his dreaming house. What would be his thought then?
30.Bayaji plans to lay foundation
on the auspicious New Year Day. Now prepare an invitation for the foundation
ceremony behalf of Bayaji to invite all the friends and relatives. Mention the
date, time, venue etc.
31.Bayaji revealed his plan to
build a storeyed house in front of the family members. Now write a possible
conversation regarding the scene.
32.Convert the storeyed house – 1
into a drama script.
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