Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.
No, Saheb was not happy because at this time he was no longer his own master. He had lost his freedom. He used to work on a tea-stall where he was being paid 800 rupees along the meal. But he lost his carefree look and lost his freedom to do anything as he was like a slaw there.
Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?
Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Strike out what is not true in the following.
a. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) delegate.
(iv) a landlord.
b. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.
What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?
What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Why was he amused by this idea?
Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?
The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?
Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?