CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 8 Kathmandu Question Answers (Important) from Beehive Book
Class 9 English Kathmandu Question Answers – Looking for Kathmandu question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Book Chapter 8? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 9 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 8: Kathmandu now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- Kathmandu NCERT Solution
- Kathmandu Extract Based Questions
- Kathmandu Short Answer Questions
- Kathmandu Long Answer questions
Related:
Kathmandu NCERT Solution
Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.
Q1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
Ans. The author visited the pashupatinath and the Baudhnath temples in Kathmandu.
Q2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Ans. ‘All this’ refers to all the food items – the marzipan bar and the corn on the cob that he ate.
Q3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Ans. Vikram Seth compares the flutes protruding out of the flute – seller’s pole to the quills of a porcupine.
Q4. Name five kinds of flutes.
Ans. Five kinds of flutes are the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music and the clear or breathy flutes of South America.
Answer each question in a short paragraph.
Q1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
Ans. The author noticed that the flute seller was calm and quiet. He did not scream to sell his wares like other hawkers did.
Q2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Ans. The belief at the Pashupatinath temple about the end of Kaliyug is that when the small shrine will protrude completely, then the goddess will emerge out of it. The goddess will bring an end to the evil period of Kaliyug.
Q3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears
Ans.
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)
a) There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others
b) By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter.
c) A fight breaks out between two monkeys.
(ii) the things he sees
a) fruit sellers
b) flute sellers
c) hawkers of postcards
(iii) the sounds he hears
a) Film songs blare out from the radios
b) car horns sound
c) vendors shout out their wares.
Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each.
Q1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
Ans. The atmosphere at the Baudhnath temple is calm and quiet. The temple has a huge white dome with an outer ring road. The place is relaxing as there are no noises or crowds around.
On the contrary, the atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple is chaotic. There is a lot of confusion and noise as tourists, pilgrims, priests and animals roam around. As entry is restricted to Hindus only, foreigners dressed as sadhus can be seen arguing with the guards to gain entry. A rush of people can be seen elbowing each other to gain entry. One can see monkeys fighting and climbing on the shivling in the temple. There is a lot of activity going on near the holy river Bagmati that flows near the temple.
Q2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
Ans. Kathmandu’s busiest streets are lined with shops and stalls selling different things. There are small temples having deities adorned with flowers. The vendors scream to attract buyers. There are shops selling various things, namely, chocolates, camera film rolls, imported cosmetics, postcards, utensils and antiques. There are hawkers selling fruits, flutes, postcards for the tourists.
Q3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
Ans. The author says this because the sound produced by the flute is the closest to human voice. It is an extension of human voice as it is produced by exhaling into it.
Grammar Exercises
Match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
|
A |
B |
| (i) break out | (a) to come apart due to force |
| (ii) break off | (b) end a relationship |
| (iii) break down | (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing |
| (iv) break away (from someone) | (d) of start suddenly, (usually a fight a war or a disease) |
| (v) break up | (e) to escape from someone’s grip |
| (vi) break into | (f) stop working |
Ans.
|
A |
B |
| (i) break out | (d) of start suddenly, (usually a fight a war or a disease) |
| (ii) break off | (a) to come apart due to force |
| (iii) break down | (f) stop working |
| (iv) break away (from someone) | (e) to escape from someone’s grip |
| (v) break up | (b) end a relationship |
| (vi) break into | (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful Trespassing |
Use the suffixes -ion or -tion to form nouns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the spellings of the words.
Example: proclaim – proclamation
| cremate |
cremation |
act |
action |
exhaust |
exhaustion |
| invent |
invention |
tempt |
temptation |
immigrate |
immigration |
| direct |
direction |
meditate |
meditation |
imagine |
imagination |
| dislocate |
dislocation |
associate |
association |
dedicate |
dedication |
Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed.
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the __________ of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks _________.
(iii) I could not resist the ___________ to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and _____________ are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with _________ after being made to stand in the sun.
Ans.
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks action.
(iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.
Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph.
an arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched up to an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer
Ans.
An arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle. One day, he asked the tiger,” who is stronger than you?”. “You, O Lion!,” replied the tiger. “Who is more fierce than a leopard,” asked the lion. “You, sir,” replied the leopard. He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air and threw him down. “Look,” said the lion, “there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer.”
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
(i) The heart is a pump that ________ (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action __________ (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart ________ (contract). This _________ (force) the blood out into the arteries, which _________ (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it _______(dig) a pit and ________ (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule _______ (dry) and _________ (harden), but when rain ________ (come), the mud ________ (dissolve) and the lungfish _________ (swim) away.
(iii) MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher.
__________ (Do) anyone play an instrument?
VIPUL : Rohit __________ (play) the flute.
MAHESH : _______________ (Do) he also act?
VIPUL : No, he__________ (compose) music.
MAHESH : That’s wonderful!
Ans.
(i) The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This forces the blood out into the arteries, which expands to receive the oncoming blood.
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it digs a pit and encloses itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries and hardens, but when rain comes, the mud dissolves and the lungfish swims away.
(iii) MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher.
Does anyone play an instrument?
VIPUL : Rohit plays the flute.
MAHESH : Does he also act?
VIPUL : No, he composes music.
MAHESH : That’s wonderful!
Class 9 English Kathmandu Question Answers Lesson 8 – Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
A corpse is being cremated on its banks; washerwomen are at their work and children bathe.
From a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves, old offerings now wilted, is dropped into the rive
A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerges fully
the goddess inside will escape and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.
Q1. Which river is being talked about here?
Ans. The Holy river Bagmati is being talked about here.
Q2. What is being dropped into the river? And from where?
Ans. A basket of flowers and leaves is being dropped into the river from a balcony
Q3. How does the author indicate the water of the river is polluted here?
Ans. The author indicates that the water of the river is polluted as-
Children take a bath in the river
People drop old offerings into the river
Washermen wash the clothes in the river
Q4. Which temple is being talked about here and where is it located?
Ans. Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal is being talked about here.
B. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.
Q1. Kathmandu has a religious look because of :
Ans. Kathmandu has a religious look because of small shrines and flower adorned deities
Q2. What were the shopkeepers selling?
Ans. The shopkeepers were selling-
fruits and flutes
film rolls and chocolates
utensils and antiques
Q3. What kind of utensils and antiques are sold in Kathmandu?
Ans. Copper utensils and Nepalese antiques are sold in Kathmandu.
Q4. The meaning of the word ‘mercenary’ is :
Ans. ‘Mercenary’ means greedy.
C. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
I consider what route I should take back home. If I were propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se, I would go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But I am too exhausted and homesick; today is the last day of August. Go home, I tell myself : move directly towards home.
Q1. What did the author think about?
Ans. The author thought about the route he should take back home
Q2.How was the author feeling?
Ans. The author was feeling very exhausted and homesick.
Q3. Why was he feeling so?
Ans. The author was exhausted because he was travelling continuously for a long time.
Q4. Name the rivers mentioned here.
Ans. Ganga and Yamuna
D. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly,meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes sales, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.
Q1. The sound of the flute rises dearly above the noise of :
Ans. The sound of the flute rises dearly above the noise of mantras.
Q2. How does he play the flute?
Ans. He plays the flute slowly, without excessive display and meditatively.
Q3. Which of the following statements is true about the flute seller?
I. He does not shout out his wares.
II. He indulges in excessive display of his flutes.
III. He showed desperation to sell his flutes.
IV. He shouts harshly to attract customers.
Ans. He does not shout out his wares.
Q4. Why does he break off playing?
Ans. He took a break to talk to the fruit seller
E. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me : it is once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have i flute-the reed, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani class music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations.
Q1. What does the author find difficult?
Ans. The author found it difficult to go away from the flute sound.
Q2. What does the author mention here?
Ans. The author mentioned five types of flutes.
Q3. What is the quality of Chinese flutes?
Ans. Chinese flutes are high-pitched flutes.
Q4. Different countries’ flutes are different in terms of :
Ans. Flutes are different in terms of fingering and compass
Class 9 English Kathmandu Short Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from Chapter 8 Kathmandu for CBSE Class 9 exam in the coming session
Q1. Where did the writer stay in Kathmandu? Which two different places of worship did he visit and with whom?
Ans. Vikram Seth, the author, stayed in a modest lodging in the heart of Kathmandu. He went to both the holy places of Buddhists and Hindus, Boudhanath stupa and the Pashupatinath temple, respectively. He went with a couple of his acquaintances, the nephew and son of Mr. Shah.
Q2. What is written on the signboard outside the Pashupatinath temple? What does the proclamation signify?
Ans. “Entrance for the Hindus only,” reads the signboard outside the Pashupatinath temple. It represents the doctrinal prejudice used to prevent this site of worship from being treated like a tourist attraction as well as the rigorous sacredness that it is associated with.
Q3. What does the author imply by ‘febrile confusion’ in the Pashupatinath temple?
Or
What made the atmosphere in and around the Pashupatinath temple full of ‘febrile confusion’?
Ans. This statement is made by the author to highlight the intense activity that results in complete chaos. Priests, vendors, tourists, cows, monkeys, and pigeons are all crowded together around the shrine. There are a lot of worshippers inside the temple, pushing each other aside to get closer to the priest. Together, they cause complete confusion.
Q4. Why did the policeman stop the Westerners wearing saffron-colored clothes from entering the Pashupatinath temple?
Ans. The policeman prevented the Westerners wearing saffron from accessing the Pashupatinath temple since non-Hindus are not permitted inside, and he didn’t think they were Hindus although they were wearing saffron clothing.
Q5. How does the author describe the fight that breaks out between the two monkeys around the temple of Pashupatinath?
Ans. The author explains the altercation that occurs when one monkey chases the other. The fleeing monkey climbs atop a shivalinga, dash hysterically past the temples, and then descended to the sacred Bagmati River.
Q6. What activities are observed by the writer on the banks of the Bagmati river?
Ans. On the banks of the Bagmati River, the author notices several pollution-producing activities. On the banks of this respected river, he observes several washerwomen doing laundry, kids bathing, and a body being burned. Moreover, he sees someone dump a basketful of withered flowers and leaves into the river.
Q7. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Ans. The Pashupatinath temple contains a modest shrine on the banks of the revered Bagmati. This shrine has a raised stone platform on half of it. It is believed that when the shrine will emerge completely from the platform, the goddess in the shrine will escape and that will mark the end of the Kaliyug.
Q8. What are the author’s observations about the streets in Kathmandu?
Ans. The author describes Kathmandu’s streets as “vivid, mercenary, and religious.” These streets are quite congested and tight, with numerous little shrines and some statues covered in flowers. Cows that are wandering around aimlessly moo when they hear motorcycles. Radios are played at a loud volume, and vendors shout and hawk their items. Also, the noise level is raised by the car horns and the jingling of bicycle bells.
Q9. What picture of the Baudhnath stupa does the author portray?
Ans. The author gives a brief but vivid picture of the Boudhanath stupa. He respects this shrine’s tranquillity and peace. Even on the road leading up to the stupa, where several shops are run by Tibetan immigrants, there are no crowds. The stupa is distinguished by its enormous white dome that exudes peace and tranquillity.
Q10. Describing the streets around the Baudhnath stupa, why does the narrator say this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around?
Ans. The Boudhanath stupa, a Buddhist sanctuary, seems to be in a state of calm, according to the narrator. A walkway lined with little shops offering goods like felt purses, Tibetan artwork, and silver jewellery surrounds the enormous white dome. In contrast to the bustling action going on around it, the stupa’s silence strikes out. The narrator views this location as a haven of peace in contrast to the crowded streets nearby.
Q11. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola”. What does all this’ refer to?
Ans. All this is a reference to the food that the author eats while walking around the Boudhanath stupa. Along with the effervescent, carbonated drinks, Coca-Cola, he also adores a bar of marzipan and a roasted corn cob. In addition, he receives a Reader’s Digest magazine and several comics with love stories, which he can read mindlessly. The coca-cola helps him digest the food thus, he says “All this I was down with coca-cola”.
Q12. Which is the longer route from Kathmandu to Delhi? Which route does the author opt for?
Ans. The most time-consuming route from Kathmandu to Delhi is to first travel by bus and train to Patna. After that, pass Benaras and travel down the Ganges to Allahabad. Finally, cross the Yamuna to travel through Agra to Delhi. The author chose to travel directly by plane from Kathmandu to Delhi because it was the fastest choice.
Q13. Why does Vikram Seth decide to buy a ticket directly for the homeward journey?
Ans. Vikram Seth has spent a considerable amount of time away from home. He’s feeling quite worn out and lonesome. As his wanderlust tempts him to choose a longer route to get home, his tiredness and loneliness drive him to purchase an air ticket straightaway for the return flight to Delhi.
Q14. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
Or
How is the flute player’s way of selling flutes different from that of the other hawkers around?
Ans. The seller of the flute plays his instrument gently and contemplatively, the author observes, in contrast to other hawkers who shout loudly to draw people for their wares. He doesn’t overdo it with showmanship or act desperate to sell his flutes. Even if the flute player doesn’t yell, the sound of the flute can clearly be heard above the hawkers’ and the traffic’s roar.
Q15. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Or
Where did Vikram Seth find the flute seller? What did he compare his flutes to?
Ans. In Kathmandu, Vikram Seth came upon a flute vendor who was positioned in a square corner close to his hotel. He was holding a rod with a hook at the top in his hand. Around fifty to sixty flutes that protruded in all directions were inserted into this rod. The author likens these jutting flutes to a porcupine’s pointed, stiff, and upright quills.
Q16. Name five kinds of flutes.
Or
Listening to the music of the flute in the square, the author is reminded of various kinds of flutes. Which kinds does he describe?
Ans. The author is reminded of several flutes as he takes in the music being performed on the flute by the flute salesman. He names specific varieties of them, including the “cross-flutes,” “reed new,” recorder, Japanese “shakuhachi,” and Hindustani “bansuri.” Other flutes, such as “the clear or breathy flutes” of South America and the “high-pitched” flutes of China, are distinguished by their tonal quality.
Q17. What is the impact of the music of the flute on Vikram Seth?
Ans. Vikram Seth feels hypnotised by the flute’s sound. He had a hard time “tearing” himself away from the square where the flute vendor is playing this music. He is affected by its resemblance to the human voice and is drawn into the shared humanity by its power to do so.
Q18. Why does the author describe the music of the flute as “the most universal and most particular of sounds”?
Ans. As every civilization in the globe uses the flute, a musical instrument made of hollow bamboo, the author claims that its music is the most “universal.” But at the same time, its sound is the most “specific” because each flute, even when played almost identically, produces a different, special, and distinctive style of music.
19. What did the saffron-clad Westerners want?
Ans. The Europeans in saffron wished to enter the Pashupatinath shrine. But the officer of the law stopped them. They were not Hindus, so he would not permit them to enter the temple. Only Hindus were allowed to enter the temple.
Q20. How did the author want to return to Delhi? What made him change his mind?
Ans. The author intended to take a bus or train to Patna from Kathmandu. Then he would sail the Ganga though Benaras to Allahabad. Then he would sail the Yamuna through Agra to Delhi. Yet by this time, the author was exhausted. So he made the decision to fly back to Delhi.
Class 9 Kathmandu Long Answer Questions Lesson 8
Q1. How does the author describe the flute seller? What does he say about the flute music?
Ans. In a corner of the square next to his hotel, the author discovered a man selling flutes. His hand was holding a pole. The pole had an attachment at the top. It was attached to fifty or sixty flutes. These flutes stuck out in every way. These flutes were compared by the author like porcupine quills. These flutes are made of bamboo. He occasionally places the pole on the ground. He then picked up a flute and played for a while on it. The sound was audibly louder than the cries of the hawkers and the noise of the vehicles.
He played the flute slowly and thoughtfully. He didn’t advertise his goods loudly. He occasionally sold flutes to customers. The flute vendor, though, had a casual disposition. The author appreciated his outlook. He thought that this had been his way of life for a long time. It was difficult for the author to leave that place. He claimed that the flute was a very popular musical instrument and that it had always drawn him to its melody. It was prevalent across most cultures. That was the thing that united all of humanity.
Q2. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with that in the Pashupatinath Temple.
Ans. In terms of atmosphere, the Buddhist shrine of Baudhnath and the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath stand in stark contrast. The calm that rules supreme in the Baudhnath temple contrasts with the raucous chaos of the Hindu Temple. In the Pashupatinath temple, a big crowd of disorganised devotees who push one another in an effort to get closer to the priest and the deity cause complete pandemonium. There aren’t many people present within the Baudhnath stupa.
The diverse crowd of priests, hawkers, pilgrims, and tourists makes the Pashupatinath Temple environment noisy. The freedom of movement of animals like cows and dogs, as well as pigeons, add to the complexity.
Even monkeys can be seen playing and fighting on the temple grounds. Some Westerners who want to visit the temple also cause confusion.
On the other hand, the Boudhanath stupa exudes a sense of calm and silence. There is neither bustle nor commotion, despite the fact that Tibetan immigrants own modest stores on the road surrounding the shrine. The author refers to the temple as “a haven of stillness” because of how peaceful it is within and around it despite being surrounded by busy streets.
Q3. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
Ans. The author describes Kathmandu’s busiest streets as “vibrant, mercenary, and pious.” It is a stunning, colourful place with a lot of religious activity going on all the time. In addition to well-known locations like the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhnath Stupa, Kathmandu also includes smaller shrines and deities. As a popular tourist destination, a lot of business thrives in the city’s congested streets. Together with hawkers selling postcard photos, one can also find fruit vendors and flute merchants. As in any other tourist destination, there are stores selling a variety of goods such as chocolates, rolls of film, rolls of cosmetics from western nations, antiques from Nepal, and copper pots and pans.
Radios playing movie music, automobile horns, bicycle bells, and sellers shouting to draw customers all contribute to the cacophony of noise. Also, cows can be heard bellowing as they hear motorcycles. As a result, Kathmandu’s streets are a cacophony of noise.
Q4. “ To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
Ans. The author is reminded of the numerous forms of music generated by various types of flutes found in various cultures when he hears a flute being played by a flute salesman in a square close to his hotel in Kathmandu. The flute, however, is global since it is present in practically all cultures, albeit with varying tones and pitches.
The author goes on to detail the various flutes that go by different names, such as the bansuri in India and the shakuhachi in Japan. Their sound spectrums and fingering techniques vary. The South American flute produces a crisp, breathy sound, the Chinese flute produces booming, high-pitched melodies, and the Indian bansuri produces a deep sound.
The author emphasises that despite the variety of flutes and the variances in their music, all flutes’ music closely resembles the sound of the human voice. Every flute requires pauses and breaths in the same way as words and sentences are spoken in the human voice in order to generate music. Fingering a flute’s holes causes these pauses and breaths to be produced. The flutes’ distinctive feature makes the author feel “drawn into the commonality of mankind,” which gives him a sense of harmony and universality.
Q5. What ideas do you get about the author from the extract “Kathmandu”?
Ans. Vikram Seth’s travelogue, “Heavenly Lake,” contains the excerpt “Kathmandu,” which highlights some of his personality qualities. Seth exhibits great observational skills while travelling, and his fine aesthetic sense enhances his capacity to record vivid details.
His descriptive writings bring the images of Kathmandu’s temples and its packed streets to life. When he refers to the stupa as a “haven of calm,” he tacitly suggests that he is a lover of peace and tranquillity as well. Additionally, he expresses his disapproval of the harmful activities performed along the banks of the Bagmati River as an ecologist.
The fact that Vikram Seth, despite being exhausted, is still considering taking a longer path to get back to Delhi speaks something about his love of travel.
His love of music is evident when he is forced to leave the market square where the flute is being played by the vendor because he is so entranced by the flute’s music.
His reading preferences demonstrate that he favours reading light, entertaining material when he is weary. He treats himself to the food he discovers in Kathmandu’s bazaar, like any other traveller would.
Thus, the author emerges as a man with a profound fondness for travelling, love for music, a keen sense of observation, reflective mind, and an ability to portray places and people minutely and realistically.
Q6. Where does the author find the flute seller and what are his observations about him? What draws the author to the music of the flute?
Ans. At his hotel in Kathmandu, the author discovers a flute vendor among numerous other hawkers in a corner of the square. The flute dealer, however, does not operate in the same manner as the other vendors. He doesn’t shout to get people’s attention or act desperate to sell something. About fifty to sixty flutes are affixed to the top of the pole he is carrying. The author likens these flutes, which protrude in all directions, to porcupine quills. The majority of the flutes on the poles are cross-flutes and recorder variants.
The flute seller, instead of hawking loudly, places the pole on the ground every now and then, selects a flute and plays upon it slowly and in a meditative manner without ever resorting to excessive display. The sound of the flute is distinct and clear and can be heard even above the noise created by the traffic horns and the shouts of the hawkers. His business does not appear to be particularly active, and it looks that selling flutes is only a byproduct of his primary activity, which is playing the flute.
The author is drawn to the flute by its hypnotic sound. His attention is captivated by its fascinating notations. He had to compel himself to leave the square where the flute is being played because the influence is so strong. He takes this music with him to his home in India because it is permanently ingrained in his memory.
Class 9 English Beehive Book Chapter-wise Question Answers
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