Fight Manju Fight Chapter
2. After dinner, when the children were in bed, Mrs Parelkar spoke to her husband
about Manjula's paintings. Manjula did not understand why her father's voice was
raised. He never raised it in front of her mother.
a. What did Manju's father tell her mother? Do you think his point of view was justified
b. In the extract Manju appears surprised to hear her father's raised voice. At more
than one point elsewhere in the story there are suggestions from the author that
Manju's father was not as unsympathetic a person as his behaviour here might
seem to suggest. Locate these hints and offer your own opinion of him.
Answers
Answer:
‘Manjula Parelkar knew she was no Hussain.’ In what context is this opening statement appropriate? (2 mark)
Manjula Parelkar was a deformed girl. She was born with two fingers each for both her hands. In spite of her deformity, Manjula was passionate about art. She proved to be an exceptional painter in a short period of time. On the other hand, M F Hussain was a renowned, multi-talented painter. By exposing Manjula’s difference from M F Hussain is that Manjula was passionate and skilled but her disability came in her way. If she were not disabled, she could have made her own place!
Who among Manjula’s family members supported her the most? Why do you think so? (2 mark)
Pick out an instance of the determination in Manjula’s father’s character. How does it reflect his determination? (1 mark)
Why did Manjula’s father discourage her from painting? (2 mark)
Why did Manjula abandon painting for good? (2 mark)
‘It was all papa’s fault,’ she wanted to say, but deep inside she knew it was not.