Atithi (Guest) Story Long Answer Questions

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 6 The Atithi (Guest)

Atithi (Guest) Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Was Tarapada a normal boy? If so, why did he escape from home to different destinations at regular intervals?
Answer:
Tarapada was a normal boy like hundred others. It was only his insatiable curiosity coupled with a penchant for wandering just as to know people, nature, landscape etc, and that compelled him to escape from his comfortable domesticity. He was no nomad. He was always a “Guest” either to a group of people or a family where his presence was desired with all hearts.

His nature is best explained by Gerald Gould in his poem, “The Wander Thirst”!
“ beyond the East the sunrise, beyond the West the sea,
and East and West the Wander-thirst that will not let me be;
It works in me like madness, dear, to bid me say good bye;
for the seas call, and the stars call, and oh! the call of the sky!”

Tarapada, the central character in Tagore’s short story, “The Guest” (Atithi), was from a family of five brothers and three sisters. His father was dead, but mother was still alive .All of them loved him dearly and so did the villagers.

He had no valid reasons to run away from home at regular intervals. But still, it had become his habitual obedience to escape from his loved ones and the comfort of home. His cherubic innocence, large eyes, fair complexion and easy going habit charmed the zamindar family of Kanthalia in whose boat Tarapada boarded to go to Nandigram. During the journey, he helped the boatmen in their cooking, did his bit with the oarsmen, sang songs for the Zamindar family, swam into the river and thus interwove himself with everything around.

He had no terminal destination to go. He was supposed to go to Nandigram , but very soon his mind was lost in the beautiful landscapes on either side of the river, and he never noticed when Nandigram came and passed by. However, his sojourn at Kanthalia didn’t make much of a difference, simply because there too his stay was transitory.

He had an inborn urge to break away from all human bonding, but that was not known to Motilal babu and his wife in whose home Tarapada stayed afterwards as their ‘Guest’! That was why he had joined a theatre group, and then left it for a travelling group of minstrels and then, again a gynamnast group, and now to

Kan: ialia from where he would flee to Kurulkata. His transitory destinations seemed to have no end. He was a quick learner of things and an absorber of human minds. As he had no attachment or involvement, he had no feeling of guilt or remorse for either the people or the places he had been leaving after his brief stay. His cherubic innocence thus had a heartless or rather a cruel side which he failed to realize. He moved like boundless wind without caring for anything. He always roamed because perhaps he thought.

Question 2.
Why was Charushaslii so intolerant, dominant and pugnacious about Tarapada?
Answer:
Charushashi was the nine year old girl of a rich zamindar named Motilal Babu and his wife Annapumna. Bom in a rich family Charushashi was moody and unpredictable by nature. She was rather Whimsical and obstinate too. At times she was amenable to anything in good mood but threw tentrens on filmsy ground.

Where Tarapada, the young beautiful teenager was winning the heart of Motilal and Annapurna with his talent of enacting the story of Lav and Kush, Charushashi felt jealous of Tarapadas accomplishment. Nevertheless, Tarapada was intrigued and amused by this blackeyed girl. Tarapada with his soulful heart and spontaneous nature mixed with people of all age group and classes.

Only, Charushashi did not come under his influence. Tarapadas visit to Sonamoni’s house created jealousy in the heart of Charushashi and she quarrelled with Sonamoni over flimsy ground, and being blind with rage she smashed the flute of Tarapada, who remained unperturbed. Charushashi even threw ink on Tarapadas books and stationeries butTarapada kept his poise. This created feeling of guilt in her mind. She wanted to seek I Tarapada’s forgiveness, but she could not do so

openly because of fear of hurting her pride and self respect. Love-hate pop-up at different occasion because of the fact that Charushashi was too possessive in nature. Her parents tried to reconcile with her wild nature. They decided to marry her to Tarapada, but the boy runs away into his own world of free will. Over possessinevess made Charushashi so intolerant and pugnacious about Tarapada- who is portrayed as a spirit who is endowed with the spirit of actualisation and often transcendental.

Atithi (Guest) Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
In what activities Tarapada was involved before meeting Motilal Babu?
Answer:
Tarapada was a handsome young boy who had the capability to win other’s heart. He had the wander lust, so he could not remain confined to one place and not bound to any person. Before meeting Motilal Babu, Tarapada, impelled by his curiosity to know life to its fullest, first left his village and joined a “Jatra”-troupe. Then he joined “panchali” – singer and later he joined gymnast and also learned playing the flute.

Question 2.
Inspite of being a darling of his family and his neighbourhood why Tarapada left?
Answer:
Inspite of being a darling of his family and his neighbourhood for his pleasant personality, Tarapada left because he was a wanderlust and impelled by his curiosity to know life to its fullest he left his near-dear ones without any remorse. He could not be bound to any person.

Question 3.
Who was Charushashi?
Answer:
Charushashi loving called ‘Charu’ was nine years old daughter of the zamindar Motilal Babu and his wife Annapurna. She was the only child, the sole claimant of their affection.

Question 4.
Describe the nature of Charushashi?
Answer:
Charushashi loving called “Charu” had been described by the author as wilful, obstinate child. She had her own opinion about food, clothes and hair-styles. She often threw tantrums over trifles. She was quite unpredictable and jealous in nature. Being sole claimant of affection of her parents, she could not tolerate anybody whom her parent’s praised.

Question 5.
Describe Tarapada In short
Answer:
Tarapada was a fair-skinned teenage boy who has been beautifully delineated. He is portrayed as handsome, very beautiful to look at. His smiles and large eyes had the grace of youth. His body was nicely built. There was no grossness of any

Question 6.
How did Tarapada make the most of his time on the boat?
Answer:
Tarapada was ready to take up any job in helping the boatman or in steering the boat. He was actively involved in getting provisions and rowing the boat. Though his eyes and his fingers were very alert, yet he was indifferent and detached to the world around him.

Question 7.
How Tarapada popularise as a singer and flute player?
Answer:
On evening Motilal Babu was reciting Ramayana when Tarapada appeared before him and informed him that he could enact the story of Kush and Luv with songs on flute. His sweet voiced mesmerised the boatman and the passer-by. Annapurna, wife of Motilal Babu felt like hugging him and Motilal Babu thought of adopting him as his son.

Question 8.
Why did Charushashi smash Tarapada’s flute?
Answer:
Tarapada’s intimacy with Sonamani and her family created jealousy in Chain’s mind. She quarrelled with her friend Sonamani over flimsy grounds. One day anger overpowered her so muchafter a quarrel with Sonamani that she picked up Tarapada’s flute and smashed it badly. She wanted to teach Tarapada to avoid Sonamani in future. Tarapada remained unperturbed and engaged himself in studies sincerely.

Question 9.
Why did Charushashi’s parent decide to get their daughter married to Tarapada?
Answer:
Both Motilal Babu and Annapurna thought of marrying their only daughter Charushashi to Tarapada because, according to them, he was the fittest to keep Charushashi’s whimps under check.

Question 10.
What made this story interesting?
Answer:
This story, Tarapada becomes a member of the Zamindar family where the parents decided to make him their son-in-law. But his wander lust remains unrestrained and he escapes like a free bird before her marriage to Charushashi. He appeared to be the guest of this vast universe which he wants to see in its fullest vastness and beauty. This disappearance of the main character, Tarapada at the end of the story, makes this story more interesting.

Atithi (Guest) Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Tarapada left home because____
Answer:
he was a restless wanderer

Question 2.
Tarapada wanted to go to Nandigram because_______
Answer:
The landlord of Nandigram was setting up a new theatre company

Question 3.
Charushashi’s heart felt like bursting with envy and resentment because______
Answer:
she didn’t want Tarapada to share her parents love and affection

Question 4.
Tarapada didn’t notice when the boat passed by Nandigram because_____
Answer:
He was busy enjoying the landscapes on either side of the river

Question 5.
Tarapada stayed at Kanthalia far beyond his usual number of days at any place perhaps because____
Answer:
Charushashi didn’t come under his control

Question 6.
The village kids saw Tarapada walking up and down the deserted riverside because______
Answer:
He was trying to memorize English poems.

Question 7.
But now Tarapada began to feel an electrifying thrill because _____
Answer:
He was an adolescent and could feel the difference of touch between a nine-year-old girl and an eleven-year-old girl

Question 8.
Motilal babu sent people to fetch Tarapada’s mother because ______
Answer:
He decided a particular date of marriage of Charushashi with Tarapada.

Question 9.
But Tarapada couldn’t be seen the next day because____
Answer:
He went away to Charulata.

Atithi (Guest) Story MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Tarapada wanted a lift up to —
a. Kanthalia
b. Kamalpur
c. Nandigram
d. Kurulkata
Answer:
c. Nandigram

Question 2.
He was neither – nor – but ate only as much as he wanted to
a. coward, timid
b. shy, obstinate
c. stupid
d. bold, brave
Answer:
b. shy, obstinate

Question 3.
She — other sons and — daughters
a. three, two
b. four, three
c. two, four
d. five, four
Answer:
b. four, three

Question 4.
Tarapada was the — child of the family
a. fourth
b. third
c. second
d. fifth
Answer:
a. fourth

Question 5.
It is from this — group that he had escaped last
a. theatre
b. minstrels
c. gymnastics
d. magicians
Answer:
c. gymnastics

Question 6.
Annapurna got — and — from the village they were passing
a. rice, dal
b. dhoti
c. sugar, spices
d. milk, sweets
Answer:
d. milk, sweets

Question 7.
But at the same time he was — and — to the world around him
a. temperamental, rude
b. indifferent, unattached
c. discerned, unmindful
d. absentminded, careless
Answer:
b. indifferent, unattached

Question 8.
Small Charushashi’s heart felt like bursting with – and – resentment
a. indifference, unattached
b. antipathy, melancholy
c. envy, resentment
d. rage, reproach
Answer:
c. envy, resentment

Question 9.
“Ma, what a — you are all making”
a. raucous
b. racket
c. clamour
d. dissonance
Answer:
b. racket

Question 10.
After — more days of journey, the boat reached Kanthalia
a. ten
b. seven
c. eight
d. six
Answer:
a. ten

Question 11.
He was a kid with kids, and mature vet with the elderly
a. respectful
b. reticent
c. retarding
d. admirable
Answer:
a. respectful

Question 12.
When she finally came, Charu began to tell her of their newly acquired —
a. Gem
b. Jewel
c. diamond
d. property
Answer:
b. Jewel

Question 13.
Tarapada picked up the flute and burst out — at the condition it was in.
a. crying
b. laughing
c. outrageously
d. angrily
Answer:
b. laughing

Question 14.
— years went by in this fashion
a. three
b. two
c. four
d. five
Answer:
b. two

Question 15.
Ever light-hearted, ever unattached, now he began to get unmindful and have—
a. hallucinations
b. nightmares
c. reveries
d. daydreams
Answer:
d. daydreams

Atithi (Guest) Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 6 The Atithi (Guest)