Snapshots- Chapter 3: Ranga's Marriage

English
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Chapter 3: Ranga’s Marriage

Class: XI
(Snapshots)

Exercise number – 1

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 1

When the English came to our land, they didn’t bring the industrialisation alone. They brought with themselves their religion, their culture and their language to our home. We, who had been ruled by the Slaves and the Moguls for centuries were now just about to face yet another foreign invasion and dominance, which was to leave an impact on us that was going to live forever in the future. The biggest of all influences was their language- English. Even today, after so many years of independence, we Indians aren’t able to pull ourselves away from this inferiority complex. They ruled our nation once and today even though so many decades have passed, they still rule our minds. We contemplate those who do not know the English language as inferiors. It is just a language after all, why do we feel so proud about it when it is not even ours. Yes it’s a global language and it’s good to know a foreign language, although we must treat a language as a language only and not as a symbol of someone’s status.
This falsification has been reflected very well in the story. The narrator, Shyama, depicts how when Ranga returns after completing his studies from Bangalore, the way people awaited his return and the excitement on knowing that Ranga now knew English, "a priceless commodity". All of them wanted to see if there has been any change in Ranga after studying English in Bangalore. However, there was no change in Ranga’s personality. He even bowed down and touching Shyama’s feet and did the traditional namaskar.

Question 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.

Answer 2

Many say that astrology is a science while some others say it is a pretence. It’s true that all the calculations done in astrology are based on the movement of various celestial bodies in our solar system. However, there are various claims that all that the astrologers predict is based on hearsay and is general to everyone. There have been claims that there are these rare astrologers who are known for their accurate predictions. There have been famous astrologers, like Linda Goodman, who have been recognised and appreciated for their astrological knowledge. Many people are stalwart believers of this study. Late President Roosevelt, of the United States of America, asked astrologers to calculate the auspicious moment to swear in as the President of USA.
In the story, Shyama went to the astrologer and told him what was on his head about a possible association between Ranga and Ratna. Later when he returned to the Shastri and asked him to predict what the planets told about Ranga, he told what he was actually told by Shyama and said that Ranga was contemplating marrying a girl whose name’s initial is ‘R’, which was Ratna. Thus, it is hard to say whether astrologers’ predictions are based on mere hearsay or are actually what they learn from the movements of the stars.

Question 3

Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.

Answer 3

The institution of marriage is as old as the hills but the way how the matches are made have changed with the passage of time. In the Indian society marriages are usually arranged by the parents. Love marriage is still not the order of the day. Even court marriages aren’t accepted by the elders. In the story, Shyama plays a decisive role in the arranging Ranga’s marriage with Ratna. The times have changed now; the law has laid down certain norms regarding the age at which one can marry another and its compulsory registration. The youngsters often choose their life partners themselves.

Question 4

What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?

Answer 4

The narrator of Ranga’s Marriage, Shyama is a person who is very much attached to his soil and his village. When the story begins the reader expects that something about a marriage is happening. However, the narrator takes the reader on a tour of his village named Hosahalli explaining its specialities. He doesn’t believe in the culture of the English. He tells us about how 10 decades ago there was no sign of such culture and how he thinks that the language has changed the atmosphere wholly. How a distinction has descended between those who can speak in English and those who can’t. Shyama is person who respects a person who believes in her/his culture; for instance, when Ranga paid homage to him, he bowed down and touched Shyama’s feet as a namaskar, this made Shyama happy that even after studying away from home Ranga hadn’t forgotten his roots. Even though Ranga was an educated boy and was determined to get married to a girl who was mature enough, Shyama got him married to Ratna, who was much younger than him and not at all the kind of girl he would have married. This shows his beliefs in arrange marriage & also that he was a resolute person who always got done what he had decided. Shyama was a strong believer of his tradition and culture.