Ranga's Marriage by Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
CBSE Guide NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English Supplementary Reader
NCERT Answers of Chapter 3 Snapshots Exercise Questions
Question.
1: Comment on the influence of English- the language and the way of life- on
Indian life as reflected in the story.
What is the narrator's attitude to English?
Answer:
The story 'Ranga's Marriage' gives us a realistic picture of rural India in the
past years when there were hardly any people in the villages who knew English. And
those who knew it never mixed up English words while talking in their own
language. But no doubt, that the knowledge of English language and its use has
greatly influenced Indian lifestyle. People who have learnt English often bring
English words even while talking in their mother tongue. It may create confusion
if the other person does not happen to know English. For instance, one day someone
in the Rama Rao's house bought a bundle of wood from a woman. The woman asked
to pay four pice for it. Rama Rao's son, who came to pay for it, told her that
he did not have any "change". The poor woman couldn't understand the English
word "change" and went away muttering to herself.
The
narrator considers English to be 'a priceless commodity'. Though the narrator's
attitude towards English seems to be positive but he does not approve the use
or mixing of English words while talking in our own language. However, it is not necessary that English will
have an adverse effect on the religious and cultural practices. For example
Ranga who went to Bangalore and received education in English, did not forget
his own culture. He was still wearing the sacred thread, 'the janeswara' and bending
low to greet his elders with 'namaskara'.
Question.
2: Astrologer's predictions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what
they learn from the study of stars. Comment with reference to the story.
Answer:
Astrology is based on the study of observing the positions and movements of the
stars in belief that they have a certain influence on the affairs and activities
of every human being. While there should not be any doubt about the effects of
astrology, but the problem of finding a true astrologer is always there. Very
few astrologers draw their perceptions from the study of stars. Nor do they
have proper knowledge about the movement of the planets and their effect on
human life. Most of them are like Shastri as we have seen in the story 'Ranga's
Marriage' whose perceptions are based on mere hearsay and conjecture.
The
narrator meets Shastri and tutors him beforehand in all what he wants him to
say to Ranga. Thereafter the narrator takes Ranga to Shastri (the astrologer)
and asks him the reason of Ranga's unhappiness. Shastri performs like a parrot and utters what
the narrator had already asked him to say. He merely uses some false
professional skills to give his words a touch of mystery and to impress the unsuspecting
person. For instance, he pretends to utter something and make some calculations
before saying in a serious tone, "It's about a girl". Knowing already
that the girl's name is Ratna which is also the name of a precious stone found
in the ocean, he says in a mysterious voice that she probably has the name of
something found in the ocean.
The
poor fellow (here Ranga, visitor to the astrologer) being ignorant of
everything, believes that whatever the astrologer predicts is "absolutely true".
Question.
3: Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in
the story. Discuss.
Answer:
In the story Ranga's Marriage, the marriage was performed in a remote village
many years ago when old conservative values and customs were prevalent in our
society. During those days a formal consent of bride or bridegroom was taken
for granted and marriages in India were usually arranged by parents or relatives.
India
has gone through many socio-economic changes during the past few years. The
twenty-first century is not the age of arranged marriages. Though in the
villages and some families still continue practicing arranged marriages, but
boys and girls no more need a helper for this purpose. Women empowerment have prepared
and given them a sense of equality with men and not to remain only in the
confinement of home. Girl's education and employment have also changed the
attitude of boys towards them. A girl is now looked upon as a partner in
marriage for her worth, qualities and capabilities rather than the dowry or a
mere home-maker.
Unlike
as we see in the story 'Ranga's Marriage' where the girl was a minor, now there
is a minimum age of 18 and 21 for marriage of a girl and boy respectively. At this
age they attain physical, emotional and mental maturity. In fact, child
marriages have been declared illegal.
Now-a-days
marriageable boys and girls have more say in choosing their life-partners. Before
deciding and going for marriage, they talk with each other over phone, chat
over internet, and also meet to understand each other. The parents simply give
their approval and grace the occasion. Thus, Indian society has really moved a long
way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story.
Question.
4: What kind of a person do you think the narrator is ?
(Not so important)
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