Here is a compilation of the most trending questions that Indian students are currently searching online in June 2023 regarding authors relevant to their coursework.
QUESTION 1
Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
The story describes the entire phase of relationship shared by the author and his grandmother. The author shared a strong bond with his grandmother in his early childhood. However, the friendship loosened a little when they both shifted to his parents’ city house. She no longer accompanied him to the school and could not help him with his lessons. There was a further crack in the relationship when the author joined university as he was given a private room and the common link between them was snapped. They were further distanced from each other when the author went abroad for five years.
Despite changes in the course of the relationship (due to the demands of the situation), their feelings for each other remained unchanged. Though she did not display her emotions, when the author was leaving for abroad, she wholeheartedly celebrated his homecoming when he returned.
QUESTION 2
Why did the author go to Bridport?
The author went to Bridport to meet Mrs. Jim Macpherson and deliver to her Jim’s letter.
QUESTION 3
How does the author describe Kathmandus busiest streets?
The author says that Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets. There are fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate or copper utensils, and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows, vendors shout out their wares. The author buys a com-on- the-cob roasted in a charcoal brazier on the pavement. He also buys coca-cola and orange drink.
QUESTION 4
What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
The author comes across many shoeless rag-picker children in her neighbourhood. According to her, one explanation for this habit of remaining barefoot is that it is a tradition among the poor children of this country. However, the author quickly mentions that calling it a tradition could be just a means of justification for utter destitution.
QUESTION 5
What does the author notice on Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
On Sunday afternoon, while the author was on her dining table doing her homework, she noticed that there was smoke emerging in the room, and it kept on getting denser. Soon they realized that fire had broken into their house. Her mother panicked but still succeeded in bringing everyone safely out. She even went back into the house again and saved all their important belongings too in a heroic way.
QUESTION 6
What did the author find in a junk shop?
The author found a roll-top desk for sale in a junk shop. It was made of oak wood, but it was in a very bad condition.
QUESTION 7
Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity? (A House is Not a Home)
The author is deeply embarrassed because he was wearing the same dress he had worn to church the previous morning. He had kicked off his shoes before the fire and now had to wear his aunt’s tennis shoes. The clothes he was wearing looked weird, he had no books or homework and his backpack was gone. The words such as ‘outcast’ and ‘geek’ show his insecurity. He even says that he just wanted to curl up and die. If this was what growing up felt like, he did not want to do so.
QUESTION 8
What does the author notice on Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
On Sunday afternoon, while the author was on her dining table doing her homework, she noticed that there was smoke emerging in the room, and it kept on getting denser. Soon they realized that fire had broken into their house. Her mother panicked but still succeeded in bringing everyone safely out. She even went back into the house again and saved all their important belongings too in a heroic way.
QUESTION 9
How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
The author has described his father as a man following austerity, but giving due care to all needs of his family. He has described his mother as a woman with a large heart who used to cook for everyone visiting the household. Moreover, Abdul Kalam has described himself as a short and thin boy from tall and handsome parents.
QUESTION 10
Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
The author and his grandmother might have used their mother-tongue to converse with each other. As the author, Khushwant Singh, belongs to Punjab, the language used by them might be Punjabi.