b) Discuss in your own words the influence of Haripal in the life of Ruskin Bond, as stated in the lesson,
'Interlude:
Answers
Explanation:
What remains a mystery to the narrator when he recollects his first meeting of Haripal?
Although the narrator and Haripal had been friends since childhood, the narrator is not very much certain about his first meeting of Haripal. He guesses that it was another friend Ranbir who introduced Haripal to him although he can’t be sure about Major_Ahluwalia_with_Smt_Indira_Gandhithat.
Why does the narrator say that Haripal was one he had to meet some time or other?
Since the narrator first met Haripal, the two have been friends. Since the very beginning, the narrator Ruskin Bond shared a deep bond with Haripal.
How does the narrator describe Haripal’s appearance?
Haripal was a year younger than Ruskin, the narrator. He was tall, thin and supple (flexible). Although he was not powerful, Haripal was strong. His nose was wonderfully big and well-shaped. Ruskin Bond calls Haripal’s nose ‘good-natured and artistiMaj._Haripal_Singh_Ahluwaliac.’ Like his nose, Haripal himself was quite good-natured.
Why was Ruskin Bond indifferent to joining army?
In Ruskin Bond’s opinion, being in the forces (army/navy/air-force) was horrible. It is a life devoid of (without) freedom and independence. It is a life ruled by orders of the commanders. In most cases a soldier has to do what he doesn’t like to do.
Why did Haripal think that Ruskin Bond needed to go to England to be a writer?
At the time when the two friends met and discussed their future plans (1950s), there were few Indian writers who wrote in English. In Haripal’s opinion, one should go to England to be a writer because English education was not very much possible in India during that time.
What were Haripal’s apprehensions about British people who stayed back in India?
Haripal believed that British colonists who stayed back in India could not survive here comfortably. He was of the view that British people in India could not bear to accommodate themselves in the extreme heat of India. As for mosquitoes, Haripal found it surprising that the British natives like Ruskin Bond survived in a land of mosquitoes, beggars and snakes.
Why did Haripal suspect Ruskin Bond’s being a genuine British?ruskin-bond
Ruskin Bond was born in India to British parents. For him, India was his birth place and native land. Due to his interactions with the locals here, he had lost his British accent as well as the British color, probably. Owing to these transformations, Haripal, a close observer, suspected Ruskin Bond’s being a native British.
Why did Ruskin say that he was proud of his accent?Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond was born in India although he was British. Over the years of his bringing up, his accent got mixed up with the local accent and became a unique one. He was proud of this uniqueness.
Haripal had a genuine love for people around the world. Comment.
Haripal was different from boys of his age and culture. He was not bred by the feeling of just self-sufficient Indian but was ready to accept everyone – Indian or outsider. He had taken avid interest in Ruskin Bond since his childhood. He liked to have Ruskin at his home although the two had different views about life and chose different careers. Haripal had pen-friends at the age of fifteen and was fond of communicating with them. Apart from this, he had intense love for their culture and language as well.
“Hari says you will do my English homework if I am your friend.”
Name the speaker.
Somi, Haripal’s younger brother, is the speaker. (Notice the two commas and understand their importance)
How did Haripal respond to this?
Haripal was not happy that Somi had told a secret between them to Ruskin. It was possible that Haripal had told Somi so but when the reckless Somi said that very openly, Haripal felt uncomfortable so he cast an angry look at Somi and asked him not to be funny.
Like Haripal, Somi also was a sweet-heart and friendly. Explain.
On meeting Ruskin, Somi was very glad. Although Haripal had told Somi to befriend Ruskin to get his English homework done, Somi was genuinely interested in his friendship. After observing Ruskin for a while, Somi urged him not to go.