Page 152 - DENG103_English - I

Unit 15: Malgudi Days: Comprehension Passages

IN THE ill-ventilated dark passage between the front hall and the dining-room, Swaminathan’s Notes
grandmother lived with all her belongings, which consisted of an elaborate bed made of
five carpets, three bed sheets, and five pillows, a square box made of jute fibre, and a small
wooden box containing copper coins, cardamoms, cloves, and areca-nut. After the night
meal, with his head on his granny’s lap, nestling close to her, Swaminathan felt very snug
and safe in the faint atmosphere of cardamom and cloves.
Swaminathan slept with his grandmother. He talks about his classmate Rajam to her. ‘Oh,
granny !’ Rajam is a great fellow. He has got a real police dress. His father is police Superintendent.
Swami goes on talking about Rajam. Granny however starts recollecting about her husband
who was a Sub-Magistrate. Swami gets annoyed. Granny assures Swami that she is listening
to him with all attention. Granny now starts the story of Raja Harishchandra but soon Swami
goes to sleep.

15.2 Summary

• Swami is a small child in Malgudi living with his family and grandmother. Once while
reading a newspaper, his father reads an article about bravery shown by an 8-year old
boy and feels that Swami should do something like that.
• Leela’s Friend: Sidda works as a domestic help in an affluent household. His main task
is to play with the daughter of the household Leela who is just a small girl. Leela is very
fond of Sidda. One day her gold chain goes missing and Sidda is accused and handed
over to the police. The chain is found in later but it does nothing to the prejudice of the
people.

15.3 Keywords

Throe : Intense or violent pain and struggle
Dilemma : A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or
more alternatives
Intruder : A person who intrudes, especially into a building with criminal intent
Affluent : Wealthy
Dishevelled : (of a person’s hair, clothes or appearance) Untidy.

15.4 Review Questions

1. Who is the author of “Malgudi Days”?
2. Who is Swami?
3. To whom Swami has to deliver his father’s letter.
4. After the nightmare with whom Swami started sleeping.
5. What is the name of Leela’s mother?
6. Where did Kamla work?
7. Who was accused and handed over to the police?

8. What message R.K. Narayan wanted to transmit through Malgudi Days?

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