KARMA

                       KARMA 

                                      Khushwant Sing

1. Bring out the significance of the title 'Karma'.

Or

Discuss the central idea of the story 'Karma'

The term 'karma' expresses the Hindu religious concept of the result and subsequent effects of one's actions. The story revolves around the identity of Sir Mohanlal. Sir Mohanlal had a negative view and attitude towards all things Indian and was influenced by the British people and culture. On the other hand his wife Lachmi is a village woman. Although Sir Mohanlal abused Lachmi, Lachmi never complained against her husband. Mohanlal liked British customs and sought the company of the English. When two English soldiers entered the same room, Mohanlal made up his mind to welcome them. But the English could not tolerate the presence of an Indian in their room and threw him out of the room along with his belongings. Thus Sir Mohanlal's karma of his display of false pride, indifference and hatred towards his own culture and mistreatment of his wife etc. make him face the real truth at the end of the story. Thus Sir Mohanlal got his Karma for his misconceptions(ভ্রান্ত ধারণা) about life. On the other hand Lachmi's karma succeeds in making a comfortable journey for her.

2. "You are a bit of all right old chap",who said this? Who has been referred to as 'old chap'? What picture of the person's character here spoken to, is revealed in this line?

Here the speaker is a mirror of the first class waiting room of the railway station.

Here Sir Mohan Lal is called Old Chap.

This line highlights Sir Mohanlal's attitude (মনোভাব) towards common Indians and his futile(ব্যার্থ) attempts to become an English gentleman. Mohanlal wanted to see himself in the mirror as a distinguished(বিশিষ্ট), hard-working and virile(সুপুরুষ) Englishman. So he had a trimmed moustache, wore a suit from Saville Row and had a carnation in his buttonhole. His body smelled aroma of eue de cologne, talcum powder and perfumed soap. It was this demeanor(বেশভূষা) that fitted him almost perfectly with the image of an Englishman.

3."You are very much like everything else in this country inefficient, dirty, indifferent,"-who said this to whom? Discuss the speaker's attitude towards Indian people and culture through these words.

Sir Mohanlal said this to the mirror of the first class waiting room of a railway station.

Educated in English manners and culture, Mohanlal always ignored(উপেক্ষা করা) Indians. To him Indians were dirty, unskilled(অদক্ষ) and indifferent. They showed their bad breeding(কুশিক্ষা) by rushing(ছুটে যাওয়া), fussing(কোলাহল করা) and getting excited. Indians also had a habit of showing interest in talking to Englishmen. They were very noisy, quarrelsome and stubborn(একরোখা). According to sir Mohanlal illiteracy(অশিক্ষা) of Indians made them a laughing stock(হাসির বিষয়বস্তু) to the English people. All these reflections highlight Sir Mohanlal's contempt (অবজ্ঞা) for the people and culture of India.

4. Discuss the character of Lachmi.

Lachmi is portrayed (চিত্রায়িত করা) as an Indian village woman. She is short, fat and she is in her 40s. She likes to wear jewelry. She wears a woman's white saree. The brass tiffin box filled with chapati and mango pickle reveals (প্রকাশ করা) her simplicity. When she starts talking to the coolie, it becomes clear that she does not discriminate(ভেদাভেদ) between the rich and the poor. She is a village woman who fails to attract her husband because she could not accept British manners. Mohanlal did not like her relatives. Lachmi hides her sadness from everyone and always keeps a smile on her face. She loves to a little gossip(গল্প). A clear proof of her naivety(সাদা -সিধা ভাব) is her timid(ভীতু) obedience(মান্যতা) to her husband. Finally, throwing a betel pick like an arrowhead(তীরের ফলার মত) shows her indifference to western etiquette(শিষ্টাচার) and so-called urban decency(তথাকথিত শহুরে ভাব).

5.Describe the encounter of sir Mohanlal with the English soldiers.

Sir Mohanlal eagerly awaited the Englishmen who would be his companions. Bill and Jim, two British soldiers, boarded in the first class cabin even though they were only entitled to travel in second class. He decided to invite them to his room. But instead of being impressed by Sir Mohan's English accent (উচ্চারণ) or his clothes, the uncivilized soldiers who behaved rudely to him called Sir Mohan a "nigger". Due to their racism(জাতের অভিমান), The soldiers threw away his suitcase, thermos flax, bedding and 'The Times', which he was so proud of. Jim punched Sir Mohan Lal in the face and after the train whistle, the soldiers immediately threw him off the train onto the platform. Humiliated by the insult, Sir Mohanlal stumbled and fell on top of his suitcase.

6."It almost sounded like English, but they knew better than to trust their inebriated(নেশাগ্রস্থ) ears."

Do you think it was sir Mohanlal's well-bred(সুশিক্ষা) manners that prevented him from protesting the English soldiers in his mother tongue?

From the very beginning of the story, Sir Mohanlal's great attraction towards English culture and language has been brought before us. He followed everything western, even hated Indians. This imitation(অনুকরণ) forced him to be full of restraint(প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা) and decency(শালীনতাপূর্ণ আচরণ) in the face of impudent(অভদ্র) Jim and Bill. He always thought that excitement(উত্তেজনা) and extreme aggressive(প্রচন্ড আক্রমনাত্মক আচরণ) behavior were signs of these bad habits. He wanted to maintain his western manners while proving(প্রমাণ করা) himself to the British soldiers. He was certainly(নিশ্চিতভাবে) ahead (সামনে) of them in seriousness(গাম্ভীর্য). He kept his patience(ধৈর্য) till the end where Jim and Bill behaved rudely in all respects(সমস্ত ব্যাপারে) which was the complete opposite of so-called(চিরাচরিত) English manners.