ENGLISH Answer the Questions [S.U.][2 MARKS]

It is true that the Indian society has evolved way beyond what has been portrayed in the story. The way Shyama arranged Ranga’s marriage is not how it happens in the modern times. Children today do not want to stay dependent on their parents or elders to choose their life partners. They now want to take control of their lives. They take the lead and decide themselves who they want to spend their lives with. The society has opened up to love marriages. However, it should be noted that love marriages are not modern; this culture has existed since times immemorial. Many cases of love marriage can be traced back in the history. Shakuntala did love marriage (Gandharva vivah), Sita and Draupadi chose their partners on their own (swayamavar). Hence, it is difficult to say whether arranged marriage is an old tradition or love marriage. Now that we have been independent for decades and have moved far ahead of Medieval and Modern India, it can be observed that the culture of arranged marriage is returning. Hence, we can be sure of at least one thing that these are trends that come and go and people follow what is in fashion.

Astrologers perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars is effectively brought through the character of Shastri in the story. It is said that astrology is a science and all the calculations done in astrology are based on the movement of various celestial bodies in our solar system. However, there are claims that all that the astrologers predict is based on hearsay and there are rare astrologers who are known for their accurate predictions. In the story, Shyama, the narrator, went to the astrologer, Shastri and told him how he has to make possible, an alliance between Ranga and Ratna. Later when he returned to the Shastri along with Ranga, and asked him to predict what the planets told about Ranga, Shastri pretended to make certain calculations and said that Ranga was contemplating marrying a girl whose name’s initial is ‘R’, which was Ratna. He added that the name of the girl was something found in the ocean. Then Shyama said that the girl in Rama Rao’s house was Ratna and Shastri was very positive about the proposal working out. Thus, it is difficult to say whether astrologers’ predictions are based on mere hearsay or are actually what they learn from the movements of stars.

The narrator has very poignantly brought out the influence of English language on the way of life in the story. When the Britishers came to our land, they did not bring the industrialization alone but carried with themselves their culture, their religion and their language which was to leave an impact on us forever in the future. Even after so many years of independence, we Indians are not able to do away with the English language. We consider those superior who know the English language. It is nothing but a language after all, why feel so proud about it when it is not even ours. Yes it is a global language and it is good to know foreign languages, however, we must treat a language as language only and not as a status symbol. This falsehood has been reflected very well in the story. The narrator, Shyama, showed how when Ranga returns from Bangalore, after completing his studies, the way people anticipated his return and the excitement on knowing that Ranga now knew English, “a priceless commodity”. They all wanted to see if there has been any change in Ranga after studying English in Bangalore. However, there was no change or little change in Ranga’s personality. He even did the traditional namaskar to Shyama by bowing down and touching his feet.

Astrology is a business like any other and most of the times used to deceive people. There is a very less genuine effort in the interpretation that is reached and is mostly deduced out of common sense and power of observation and conversations that happen around. An example of this is Shastri in the story, who claims that his shastras are powerful and mighty beyond the normal human perception. But we see him acting on Shyama’s plan in order to pair up Ranga and Ratna. And in this, his shastras did not have any role, but when confronted, he denies that saying he developed on the hints and the shastras indicated it. But the reader can very well conclude, that Shastri had no merit of his own and he could not have done anything to pair Ranga and Ratna without Shyama’s help.

The narrator claims that the “priceless commodity” that speaking English is, was not much widespread back then and that is why Ranga’s homecoming was such big deal. People were curious to find out whether Ranga has changed or not. His courtyard was filled with so many people, that had they been accommodated in the room inside, then it would have been a tragedy like the “Black Hole of Calcutta”. Everyone was surprised to see that Ranga was the same as before, and did not turn into a English speaking arrogant Sahib. After realising that Ranga was same as he was six months ago everyone lost interest and left.

The narrator goes to great lengths in glorifying his humble but beautiful village. He explains his great dismay how the English sahibs have ignored this small village. The narrator is annoyed at the arrogance of the cartographers as to ignore the existence of a full village, but he does not brood over it. The narrator is smitten with the beauty and glory of his village, and in order to justify his glorification, he says that there is a doctor in his village called The Gundabhatta, who has been to many places yet agrees with the narrator’s view. The narrator goes on to describe the specialities of his village a raw mango so sour that it can’t be eaten whole, the fine pristine water of the village pond, the creeper growing in it which has beautiful flowers, and leaves with which one can have his lunch served. The narrator, aware of his digression, switches the topic saying that if the reader’s wanted to visit the village, they should just contact him. The tone of the narrator is humble and simple, in first-person narrative and it is almost as if someone is having a conversation with the reader.

After returning from Bangalore after completing his studies, Ranga had deterred from the traditional concepts of arranged marriage that was prevalent among his fellow villagers. He wanted to marry a mature girl who was mature enough to comprehend his words and not misunderstand them. He even gave example of Kalidasa’s play where Dushyantha fell in love with Shakuntala who was very mature, thus, making him convinced that he could only marry a girl he could admire.

According to our narrator, the English language, which was earlier not very prevalent in his small humble village, has now become a “priceless commodity” that everyone wants to behold. He is not very happy about the fact these English speaking people defiling their mother tongue and bring foreign words into in the daily life communication. He is also disappointed at the fact that Indian geographers instead of correcting the mistake of English Sahibs, who did not bother to put their beloved village on any map, they are blindly following their so-called ‘greatness’.

The narrator in the beginning of his narration explains to his readers that although he could have given a more “mouth-filling name” to his story rather than calling it “Ranga’s Marriage”, for example, like “Ranganatha Vivaha” or “Ranganatha Vijaya” but the story is about someone he is close to, his Rangappa, who was born and brought up in his beloved village Hosahalli and it is indeed the story of his wedding. The word “marriage” gives a personal touch and also serves to reminisce the western influence which Ranga went under when he was sent to Bangalore for studying.

• Ranga was the accountant’s son in the village of Hosahalli. He was the first one to be sent to Bangalore for further studies. When he returned after six months the narrator Shyama gave him blessing for getting married soon.
• However, Ranga was of the opinion that he didn’t want to get married immediately. He needed to find the right mature girl.
• Shyama had planned to marry him off to Rama Rao’s niece Ratna who was a beautiful girl of eleven. She could play the harmonium and veena and she also sang melodiously.
• Shyama called for the girl at his place and made her sing a song for him; meanwhile he called for Ranga and saw to it that he heard Ratna singing. Ranga gets interested in Ratna.
• Shyama wanted this but he informed Ranga that Ratna was already married. He saw this was not liked by Ranga. Then Shyama went to the astrologer Shastri and tutored him to make fake predictions when he brought Ranga to him.
• When Ranga came to Shastri he pretended to make some astrological calculation and concluded that a girl Ratna would be a perfect match for him and he needed to get married to her.
• Shyama got in touch with Rama Rao and got Ranga and Ratna married. They named their first born after him as a sign of gratitude.

• Ranga the accountant son was the first one from village Hosahalli to go for further studies to Bangalore. When he was back after six months it turned out to be a big event for the villagers.
• Everyone turned up at Ranga‘s house to see what changes had taken place in him. They wanted to see if the modern education had in anyway made Ranga forget his religious and cultural traditions.
• The people from the entire village had collected at his place. Today leaving one’s home town for further studies is very common. There is a feeling of pride as before but people don’t come to see the person when he returns as though he is a foreigner or one who has lost his native culture.
• Secondly Ranga’s marriage to Ratna was planned affair by the narrator Shyama. It was almost like an under aged marriage for Ratna. Today child marriages are rare and even illegal.
• Nowadays there are arranged marriages but there are also love marriages, mixed religion Marriages. Boys and girls also prefer to become financially independent so they like to complete their studies and prefer to choose a life partner who will gel with them.
• Astrology played an important part in Ranga’s marriage. Today people may refer to it but may not lay more stress on it. Meeting of minds, friendship and family is given more importance.

• Mrs. Dorling was an acquaintance of Mrs. S, the mother of the narrator. She had come to know the fears of the mother regarding the war. She had befriended Mrs. S and had taken advantage of the narrator’s mother’s fears about the war. She made Mrs. S, the narrator’s mother part with all her nice things.
• She promised to keep them safe until the war was over. I would not justify her behavior because her intention was to take away the things and never give them back. After the war when the narrator went to her house to get her mother's belongings Mrs. Dorling refused to even recognize her leave alone inviting her into the house. She made no effort to return her mother’s belongings.

• The narrator Shyama got Ranga and Ratna married. Ranga was always indebted to him for his intervention in which he found a suitable bride in Ratna. Therefore, he invited the narrator on the occasion of his son‘s third birthday.
• He had also gone on to name his first born ‘Shyama’ after his mentor. He also informed him that Ratna was with their second child. The narrator was close to Ranga’s son.
• In this way Ranga honored his mentor by treating him as an important person of his house and family.

• The narrator wanted Ranga to be married to Ratna. When he found that Ranga preferred to remain a-bachelor for some time though he had taken some liking for Ratna he took the help of Shastri, the village astrologer.
• He tutored him to manipulate the planetary conditions and convince Ranga that Ratna was the right girl for him to marry. He brought Ranga to Shastri who was ready with his paraphernalia, the cowries and the book of Palmyra for his assistance.
• He pretended to calculate the planetary positions according to Ranga’s stars and predicted that the confusion in his life was about a girl whose name had the name of something found in the ocean.
• At last Ratna’s name was brought forward. The narrator who had formerly said that Ratna was married went to Rama Rao’s house and brought good news for Ranga. In this way the educated Ranga was fooled to believe that astrology had brought Ratna to him for marriage and he accepted it as the truth of the shastras.

• Shyama is the narrator of the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’. When Ranga returned after studying at Bangalore, he blessed him and wished that he gets married soon. He felt that Ratna who was Rama Rao’s niece would be the right life partner for Ranga. He had make Ranga meet her first.
• He went to Rama Rao’s house and asked his wife to send Ratna to fetch some buttermilk from his house. When Ratna came to his house he requested her to sing for him.
• Meanwhile he sent for Ranga. When Ranga arrived at threshold he was captivated by the melodious voice and he was curious to see the singer. He peeped in and when Ratna saw him she didn’t know him so she stopped her singing midway. However, Shyama was successful in making them meet each other.

• The narrator of the Story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ was a frequent visitor to Rama Rao’s house. He knew that his niece had come to stay with him from a big town. She was a Pretty girl of eleven.
• Unfortunately both her Parents had died so she was orphaned. She knew how to play the veena and the harmonium. She also had a sweet voice. The narrator felt she would make an apt bride for Ranga so he went all out of his way to get them together.

• In the village of Hosahalli, the accountant’s son Ranga was the first one who had gone outside the village to Study at Bangalore. When he came back the narrator wished that he should get married soon.
• However, Ranga was not ready for marriage. He said that he wanted to marry a mature girl and cited an example of an officer he knew who got married at the age of 30 to a girl who was about 25.
• He felt they would be comfortable with each other as they had married at the right age. He felt if he married a very young girl then she would not understand him and there would be misunderstandings so he felt that he needed to wait till he found a mature girl. Otherwise he would prefer to remain a bachelor.

• The writer Masti Venkatesh lyengar talks about Hosahalli village in South India which didn’t have many people who knew English a few years ago.
• The accountant was the first courageous man who sent his son Ranga to Bangalore to study. Ranga was coming back to the village after six months. People had flocked to his house and his homecoming had become a great event for the villagers.
• If all had gone inside his house, the place would have turned into the Black Hole of Calcutta. People met Ranga and when they found he was the same as before and wearing his sacred thread. They left Satisfied.

• The narrator Shyama confesses that the obscure village of Hosahalli in the erstwhile state of Mysore was not exposed to the English language. He cites an example that a village lady selling firewood was told by Rama Rao’s son that he had no ‘change’ to pay in exchange of the firewood.
• The lady couldn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘change and went away muttering to her. The narrator was also not aware of the word and had to ask Rama Rao’s son the meaning. However, he considered English to be a priceless commodity and when Ranga the accountant’s son studied from Bangalore and came to the village, his return was considered to be a big event.

• Shyama was the narrator of the story ‘Ranga’s marriage’. In the story he described his village Hosahalli as one which was obscure and had negligible geographical importance. However he said that it was as important to the erstwhile state of Mysore as the filling was to the sweet called karigadabu.
• The mango trees of his village bore very sour raw mangoes and there was a flowering creeper which grew in the village pond. Its leaves could be used for serving the afternoon meal. Also a decade ago people didn’t know the English language and even few words like ‘change’ were unknown to the local people including him.