Panchlight (Comprehension passage)

 

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

 

Gulri Kaki’s daughter, Munri, wanted to say something. The words were itching to roll off her tongue. But how could she? She knew that Godhan knew how to light a Panchlight, but she also knew that he had been ostracised by the panchayat. Munri’s mother had complained to the panchayat that Godhan would look at her daughter and sing romantic songs from the movie. The panchayat members had been itching to teach Godhan a lesson: he had come from another village and started living here without ever having given so much as a paisa to the panchayat. He couldn’t care less about the panchayat members. So now when the opportunity presented itself, they fined him ten rupees, and as he did not pay up, forced the villagers to ostracise him. The ban was still in place—Godhan was not allowed to talk to anyone from the toli or mingle socially with them. He could not even smoke from their hukkahs, so how could he be called now? How could Munri take his name? On the other hand, there was the question of the entire community losing face. Munri dropped the suggestion cleverly in her friend Kaneli’s ear. Kaneli smiled, ‘But Godhan is debarred!’ Munri said, ‘Why don’t you tell the chief to send for him.’

‘Godhan knows how to light a Panchlight!’ Kaneli announced.

‘Who? Godhan? Does he? But. . .’

The chief looked at the secretary and he secretary looked at the other panchayat members. They had all taken a unanimous decision to ostracise Godhan. The entire village was fed up with Godhan singing lewd songs and making sheep’s eyes at the girls. But the chief said, ‘Why quibble over banishment from the community when the community’s honour is at stake?’

 

Who is Munri?

Answer: Munri is Gulri Kaki’s daughter and is the reason for Godhan’s excommunication.

 

 Why was Godhan ostracised?

Answer: Godhan was fined ten rupees by the panchayat on Gulri Kaki’s complaint for casting glances at Munriand singing romantic film songs. Godhan did not pay the fine and it was used as an opportunity by the panchayatto teach a lesson to him by ostracising him.

 

 How did Kaneli help Munri?

Answer: Munri wanted to tell that Godhan knew how to light a petromax but could not do so because Godhan had been ostracised on her account. She whispered it to Kaneli who announced it to the gathering.

 

 What was the Panchayat Chief’s reaction to Kneli’s announcement?

Answer: Panchayat Chief showed reluctance to ask Godhan to light the petromax.

 From the passage, what do you gather about Munri’s attitude towards Godhan?

Answer: In spite of her mother’s complaint and subsequent ex-communication of Godhan she had a secret liking for him.

Comprehension 2

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

The elders of Mehto Toli bought a petromax at this year’s Ramnavami fair from the fines and penalties collected over the past fifteen months. There are eight Panchayats in the village, one for each community. All the panchayats have their own durries, jajim, mats and a petromax lamp, which the villagers call the panchlight. After buying the Panchlight, the panchayat members decided to buy offerings for puja with the ten rupees that were left over, for it would be most inappropriate a technical object with nuts and bolts without first having it suitably blessed. After all, even in the time of the British Bahadur, a sacrifice would be offered to appease the gods before work could begin on building a bridge. All the panchayat members returned home from the fair well before sunset—the orderly in front carrying the box with the Panchlight on his head, followed by the chief, the secretary and the other members. Phutangi Jha of the Brahmin Toli Stopped them at the outskirts of the village and asked, ‘How much did you buy this lantern for?’

1.      Who bought a Petromax?

Ans. The elders of Mahto Toli bought a petromax.

2.      At which fair the Petromax was bought?

Ans. The Petromax was bought at Ramnavami fair.

3.      How many Panchayats were there in the village?

Ans. There were eight Panchayats in the village.

4.      What did the members of the Panchayat decide?

 Ans. The members of the Panchayat decided to buy offerings for puja with the Ten rupees that were left over.

5.      Who was carrying the Panchlight?

 Ans. The orderly in the front was carrying the box with the panchlight on his head.