Discuss how the story Ranga’s Marriage is an Indian story.
Answers
Reading with Insight
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?
A. The story talks about the influence English language had decades ago in his village. Not many people in the village at that time could understand or talk in English. Only a few courageous people would send their children to study in cities like the village accountant sent Ranga to Bangalore. When Ranga came back to the village, everyone was keen on seeing how their culture had transformed him.
As far as cultural influence is concerned, the story mentions how Ranga wanted to marry a girl who was mature, someone who understands him and is compatible with him. This is completely in opposition to the arranged marriages that were widely prevalent in those times.
The narrator finds it disgraceful when people mix Kannada language with English. He recounts how one day a lady delivered firewood to Rama Rao’s place and he told her to come the next morning because he had no “change”. The lady did not know what “change” meant and left while muttering to herself. The narrator confesses that he too did not know what it meant until he asked Rama Rao.
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.
A.The story throws light upon how Shastri predicted what was going on in Ranga’s mind. He did it using two sheets of paper, some cowries and a book of palmyra leaves in the form of his paraphernalia. He even revealed that Ranga has some girl on his mind whose name related to something that belonged to the ocean. All this made Ranga believe in the power of Astrology.
While in reality, it was our narrator Shyama, who had tutored Shastri to say so in a meeting prior to the one with Ranga. Shastri made it seem like no big deal when Ranga left and Shyama called it “his marvellous shastra”. He said he could have guessed it with his numbers even if Shyama had not staged it for him.
Hence, the story portrays Astrologer’s perceptions to be based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the stars.
3. Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.
A.It is true that Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Earlier, there was no concept of love marriage and only arranged marriages took place like the one being talked about in the story. Ranga’s marriage was arranged by his uncle Shyama. In present times, the bride and the groom have a say in the matter unlike decades ago where even their consent was not considered important.
Our society has come a long way since then, especially when it comes to the rights of females.
Earlier, the bride’s families were pressurized into paying dowry which has been illegalised now. It is also against the law to marry individuals who have not yet attained a specific age; 18 in case of girls and 21 in case of boys.
4. What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?
A.The narrator is a man of his land as he introduces his village with such enthusiasm that every reader would want to visit it at least once. His hospitality can also be appreciated as he promises to take good care of his readers. He is someone who believes in maintaining the authenticity of his culture that is why, he thinks it’s a disgrace to mix Kannada with English.
He is a man with good judgement of character. He knew what type of man Ranga was and that Rama Rao’s niece Ratna would be a perfect partner for him. Shyama seemed like someone who knows how to make his own way. The whole set-up he staged with the village Shastri in order to get Ranga and Ratna married, pose as evidence for that. He is also funny by way of which he teased the village Shastri. Although clever, he seems to be a man with best intentions at heart.
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