Question

Answer any one of the following questions in 120 – 150 words:
(a) Childhood fears are deeply entrenched in our mind. Determination, hard work and right training are needed to get rid of them. Comment on the statement in the light of Douglas’ efforts to overcome his fear of water.
(b) When and why did the author say that civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India? (Indigo)
(c) How does the story, ‘The Rattrap’ show the redemptive power of love and compassion?

Answer 1

(a) In the story, ‘Deep Waters’, by William Douglas, he has shared his traumatic experiences of hydrophobia from childhood and how he overcame that fear.

• The story sheds light on the efforts he made, out of sheer determination and self-love, to get rid of a fear that had stopped him from confidently living his life.
• Childhood fears usually arise as a result of some traumatic incident and remain ingrained in the mind of the child even in adulthood.
• However, if the necessary steps are taken at an appropriate time alone, the result can be to get rid of them for ever. In the story Douglas is afraid of deep waters after almost drowning on multiple occasions.
• He makes the effort to learn to swim by constantly attending rigorous training. He struggles but never stops trying. It takes time and effort for him to learn how to swim and conquer his anxiety, but he is not giving up.
• In the end he becomes a trained swimmer and does not fear deep waters anymore. That he could do this was because of his determination and hard work.