What work did the ‘office boy’ do in the Gemini Studios? Why did he join the studios? Why was he disappointed?
The office boy used to do make-up the co-artists who played the crowd. During crowd days, the office- boy used to mix his paint in a big vessel and apply it quickly and noisily on the faces of players. He joined the studio in the hope that he would become a star actor or a screen writer, director or lyrics writer. But he disappointed as he failed to achieve his dream.
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.
Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios?
Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios was?
What does The God that Failed refer to?
How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at Gemini Studios?
Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the Studios?
What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
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 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 explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
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?
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
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?
What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?