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Chapter 3 Ranga’s Marriage

Text Book Questions and Answers

Ranga’s Marriage About the Author

Masti Venkatesha Iyengar (6 June 1891 – 6 June 1986) was a well-known writer in Kannada language. He was the fourth among Kannada writers to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India. He was popularly referred to as Maasti Kannadada Aasti which means “Maasti, Kannada’s Treasure”.

He is most renowned for his short stories. He wrote under the pen name Srinivasa. He was honoured with the title Rajasevasakta by the then Maharaja of Mysore Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadeyar. A prolific writer, he wrote more than 123 books in Kannada and 17 in English, for over seventy years. He won the Jnanpith Award in 1983 for his novel Chikavira Rajendra. The story was about the last Raja of Kodagu. He died on his 95th birthday in 1986. Since 1993, an award in his name, “Masti Venkatesha Iyangar Award” is awarded to well-known writers of Karnataka.

Ranga’s Marriage Main Theme

‘Ranga’s Marriage’ is a delightful story set in Hosahalli Village near Mysore. The narrator is an elderly person who is very proud of his village and generally likes to be involved in the lives of the fellow villagers.

Ranga was the son of an accountant who had been sent to Bangalore for higher studies. When he came back’ the narrator decided to have him married even though Ranga had many new fangled ideas about marriage.

The narrator arranged that Ranga saw Ratna, the daughter of Rama Rao. Ranga liked her instantly, but the narrator told him that she was married. Then Shyama, the narrator, met an astrologer and told him what to say when he brought Ranga to him. Next he took Ranga to the astrologer who told him that he was thinking about a girl and if they approach the family for marriage, they would be successful. Ranga was delighted to discover that Ratna was not married. Ranga and Ratna were married.

Ranga’s Marriage Reading with Insight

Question 1.
Comment on the influence of English—the language and the way of life—on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English? ‘
Answer:
The narrator of the story Shyama lived in a remote village in Karnataka. He has written of the time when English language was not used in the village. Not many knew English or used English words in their speech. Therefore when the accountant sent his son Ranga to Bangalore to study, it was a revolutionary step.

When Ranga returned to his village everyone came out to see if he had changed due to the influence of his education. Ranga showed the influence of English on his thinking when he named his child after Shyama who had brought about his marriage. The narrator does not know English. He is sarcastic too and resentful of English language.

Question 2.
Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.
Answer:
The astrologer plays an important part in the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’. Shyama, the narrator, wanted to bring about the marriage of Ratna with Ranga. Shyama met an astrologer and gave him certain instructions. Then he took Ranga to meet him. The astrologer told him that the girl he was thinking about could be his if he approached the family. Ranga was able to marry Ratna because of what the astrologer said. Astrologers do not always say what the stars tell.

Question 3.
Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.
Answer:
In the past, marriages in India were usually arranged by parents or relatives. The story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ shows how the narrator arranged Ranga’s marriage with the help of an astrologer. But now the Indian society has moved a long way from the manner marriage is arranged in the story. After independence, certain changes have come in the Indian society.

Women empowerment and women education have changed the attitude of grooms towards them. Now the consent of the bridegroom as well as bride is seriously considered. Earlier opposition to love marriages has now weakened. Though dowry is a demon, troubling the girl’s party, the girl’s opinion about the boy or his family does carry some weight. Inter-caste marriages which were a strict no-no in the earlier limes, now find some acceptance, especially, among the educated and employed youth.

Question 4.
What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?
Answer:
The narrator is a talkative person who rambles from topic to topic in the course of his conversation. He is an elderly gentleman. He is a keen observer of human behaviour, has a sense of humour. He neither likes English nor its influence. He is proud of his village. He takes interest in the lives of villagers.

He not only understands human nature and behaves accordingly by but is also a good strategist. He cleverly arranges a meeting between Ratna and Ranga. He introduces Ratna to Ranga indirectly so that his interest is aroused, later he fixes up a meeting with the astrologer. He was a perfect match-maker between Ranga and Ratna. He is respected and liked by the villagers. Ranga names his child after him.

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