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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?
The story 'Ranga's Marriage' is set in a village Hosahalli, which was in the erstwhile Mysore state. In
those days, there were very few people in Hosahalli who knew English. Like today, even during those
days, English occupied a very prominent place in the hearts and the minds of people. The village
accountant mustered enough courage to send his son, Ranga, to Bengaluru for higher studies.
When Ranga returned home, it became almost a festive occassion for the entire village.
People had a lot of respect for Ranga because he knew English, which was a very precious
commodity, but very few people in the village knew English. Even a simple word in English like
'change' was not heard of. When Rama Rao's son uses this word, even the narrator could not
understand. He had to ask Ranga the meaning of the word. The author, in his narration, shows that
he has a positive attitude towards English, but he also asserts that learning a foreign language or
.knowing it need not affect our tradition and culture. This is evident by the emphasis on Ranga
wearing the sacred thread and doing 'namaskars' to the elders.
2. Astrologers' perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the
study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.
In today's India and India of yesteryears, there is not much of a difference as far as the belief in
astrology is concerned. People believed in astrologers then and now. What we do not understand is
that no one can predict God's design. The astrologers like Shastri, themselves, do not really know
the correct calculations of the planets, but they pretend to do so. Most of these predictions are based
upon the information supplied earlier by someone. In the story, 'Ranga's Marriage', the Shastri is
very well tutored by the narrator in advance. He tells Ranga exactly the same thing what the narrator
asks him. He pretends to do all the calculations and moves his lips but these are all pretentions.

3. Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.
In the story 'Ranga's Marriage', the entire process of choosing a bride for Ranga is based upon the

system, which was followed long back in our country. Now the scenario has changed completely.
Rarely, marriages happen at a young age. People have become conscious about the fact that if the
marriage has to last, a certain sense of maturity is required and this maturity can be obtained
through education only. When the boys and the girls decide to get married, they always make a
conscious decision. Now-a-days in India, marriages take place after the girl and boy consent to do
so. Sometimes, the parents and the society do not approve but the Indian law supports this decision.
In the story, 'Ranga's Marriage', the initiative for Ranga and Ratna's wedding was taken by the
narrator. However, these days, we see a lot of changes taking place as far as the marriage scenario
is concerned in India.

Ranga's Marriage
How did the narrator carry out his resolve to get Ranga married to Ratna?(2 Marks)
The narrator felt that Ranga and Ratna were a suitable match for each other. He arranged a
meeting in which Ranga could meet Ratna and get impressed with her quality of singing .He
manipulated things in a clever way and made Ranga fall in love with her. He finally got them
Who was Ranga? What was special about him? How did the villagers react to it? (2 Marks)
Ranga was the village accountants son who had gone to Bangalore to study. People thought
that city education would change him but they were wrong. After his return from Bangalore
where he had been studying for six months, much to everyones surprise, he was just the
same. His homecoming became a great event for the villagers. He still showed respect
towards elders in the village and wore the sacred thread. People rushed to his door step
wanting to have a look at him. An old lady even ran her hand over his chest, looked into his
eyes and remarked that the janewara was still there. He hadnt lost his caste.
What are the special features of Hosahalli and in what respect are they so?(2 Marks)
In the village of Hosahalli the mango trees produce sour mangoes whose sourness go
straight to the skull bones. There is also a creeper growing in the ever-so-fine water of the
village pond. The flowers are a feast to behold and the leaves can be used to serve
afternoon meals.
What impression do you form of the narrator? How does he add to the humour of the story?
(2 Marks)
The narrator appears to be a very talkative man. He jumps from one topic to another. There
are too many digressions in his narration. He takes a lot of interest in village affairs. He
decides to get Ranga married to Ratna as soon as he realizes that they seem suitable for
each other. His narration evokes the humour in the story when he manipulates the situation
in a clever way. The astrologers remarks and the meeting between Ranga and Ratna add to
the humour of the story.
Why does the narrator refer to the Black Hole of Calcutta?(2 Marks)
During the British rule, in Calcutta, hundreds of people were herded together in one room,
hence leading to the death of many due to suffocation. The narrator compares the crowd to
the Black Hole of Calcutta saying that so many people who had come to see Ranga, would
have turned the place into a black hole if they had all gone inside.

What exactly had happened ten years ago?(2 Marks)

Ten years ago, the village accountants son was the first one to be sentto Bangalore to
study. At that time, not many in the village knew English and noEnglish words were
usedwhile talking inthe native language
What are the narrators views on English Language?(2 Marks)
The narrator did not like English Language. English was not spoken by the villagers. Ranga
was the first person to go out of the village to study English. People felt that he would be
a changed person after getting English education.
Why is there no mention of Hosahalli in any Geography book?(2 Marks)
The village of Hosahalli had not been mentioned in any geography book. The Sahibs in
England , writing in English, perhaps did not know that such a place existed.
Give an example to show that the narrator is proud of his village.(2 Marks)
The narrator seems to be very proud of his village. He says that Hosahalli is to Mysore State
what the sweet Karigadabu is to a festive meal.
Why was Rangas homecoming a great event?
(2 Marks)
Rangas homecoming was a great event because he had gone to Bangalore to study.
He was the first person in the village to have done so. His homecoming was a delight for the
villagers and they all thronged to his house to see if city education had changed him or not.
What were Rangas views on marriage?(2 Marks)
Ranga was of the view that one should not marry a very young girl. A person should marry
a girl who is mature. According to him, a man should marry a girl whom he admires.
Did Ranga select his bride according to the views he held on the subjectof marriage?
(2 Marks)
No, Ranga did not select his bride according to his ideas on marriage. He fell in love with an
eleven year old girl Ratna and got married to her.
Why does the narrator compare himself to a he-goat and Ranga to a lion?
(2 Marks)
The narrator referred to a story in which a clever he-goat was able to scare away a lion.
Here, he compares himself to the shrewd goat who has laid a plot for Rangasmarriage. Just
as the lion was unable to escape the clever moves of the goat, Ranga was also taken in
by his manipulations.
What arrangements did the narrator make with Shastri, the astrologer?(2 Marks)
The astrologer had been briefed by Shyama about what to say. He acted accordingly.Ranga
was already interested in Ratna. He told her that he could possibly marry thegirl he was
thinking of marrying.
This is a humourous story. Which part did you find the most amusing?(2 Marks)
The description of the village of Hosahalli evokes some humour in the story. Thenarrator and
Rangas visit to the astrologer and their conversation produce a fewcomic moments in the

How did the narrator arrange that Ranga should meet Ratna?(2 Marks)
The narrator was a frequent visitor to Rama Raos place and Ratna was quite freewith him.
On a Friday, he called Ratna to his house to deliver the buttermilk made byRama Raos wife.
He asked Ratna to sing for him and sent for Ranga at the sametime. Ranga arrived while
Ratna was rendering the melodious song.In thisway,Ranga was able tomeet her there.
Words, mere words! The fellow said he would leave but he did not makea move. How can
one expect words to match actions in these days of Kaliyuga? Who said these words and in
what context?(2 Marks)
The narrator spoke these words when Ranga came to his house only to find Ratnasinging
beautifully. Ratna stopped singing when she saw Ranga watching her. Rangafelt guilty that
his arrival had made her stop singing. It was then that the narratorspoke these words.
Character sketch of the narrator.(10 Marks)
Shyama, the narrator of the story Rangas Marriage is also the central character. His style
of narration evokes a lot of humour in the story. He is an elderly gentleman, humble servant
and refers to himself as a dark piece of oil cake. He is passionately in love with his village
and the villagers and rambles incessantly while describing it. He is a keen observer of his
surroundings and uses a colourful style of narration. He shrewdly manipulates the people
around him through his cunning intelligence. He is a good judge of peoples mind and he
regards Ranga as a generous and considerate fellow. He is conservative at heart and feels
unhappy at Rangas decision to remain single. He means well and his intentions are good.
He schemes to get Ranga married. He calls Ranga when Ratna was singing. He also
arranges a meeting with Shastri whom he had tutored thoroughly. He had decided that
Ratna would be a suitable bride for him. He is a shrewd contriver as he tells Ranga that
Ratna was married. This he does in order to rouse Rangas desire for the unattainable. The
way in which the story unfolds has the mark of an man whose humour is inimitable.

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