Swami and Friends is the simple and charming story set in the 1930s of ten year old
Swaminathan and his experience of growing up in Malgudi, a town created by R.K.
Narayan. Swami lives in a world of “bossy adults-parents and teachers - as well as his
friends in school. Pleasing his demanding peers as well as the adults is a tough job
indeed. But Swami tries to manage it to the best of his ability. Swami is impulsive,
mischievous and innocent. And he has a very warm heart. Through his eyes we get to
see a complete picture of South India during the pre-Independent era. We get to know
how simple folk lived in the colonial days and about the uprisings, the rebellions and
the strange mixture of resentment and reverence which ordinary people felt for the
British.
2. Swami is a student of the Albert Mission School established by the British. So the main
focus of the school is on “English education and Christianity. Swami has four friends -
Somu, the monitor who carries himself with an easy air; Mani, the good-for nothing;
Sankar, the most brilliant boy in the class and Samuel, known as the “Pea'. All four
share a common trait - their ability to laugh at everything Swami's relationship with
each one is different but they share a genuine common friendship.
3. Swami’s happy-go-lucky life changes drastically with the arrival of Rajam, a symbol of
colonial power. This is how Narayan describes him: “He (Rajam) was a newcomer; he
dressed very well-he was the only boy in class who wore socks and shoes, fur cap and
tie, and a wonderful coat and knickers. He spoke very good English, exactly like aCBSEguide.com.
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European; which meant that few in the school could make out what he said."
4. But despite the difference Swami and Rajam become friends. Unlike Swami, Rajam
wants to impress everyone and become a leader. He is neither affectionate nor
particularly loyal to his friends. But he never loses his cool and has the proverbial
'stiff upper lip'. But Swami is really impressed by him and is both loving and loyal to
him although this causes misunderstanding with his other friends. Rajam is crazy
about cricket and forms a cricket club. Swami comes for cricket practice to please
Rajam even if it means missing his drill class and he gets into trouble for playing
truant,
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the questions
given below by selecting the most appropriate option from the given Oils.
a. Malgudi is ..... in the story 'Swami and Friends'.
(i) a character (ii) a town (iii) Swami's friend (iv) a tiger.
b. The passage suggests that Swami ......
i. bossed over his friends.
ii. tried to please his friends and other adults.
iii. Cared little about his peers,
iv. Wanted to impress everyone.
c. ..... is common to Swami and his friends,
(i) Being good for nothing (ii) Being good at fighting (iii) Ability to laugh at
everything (iv) Ability to dress well.
d. The story Swami and friends' describes in detail. (i) Swami’s enemies (ii) English
education (iii) Christianity (iv) South India.
Answer the following questions briefly.
e. Name one negative trait that Rajam possesses.
f. Why did Albert Mission school focuses on Christian?
g. What was quite challenging for Swami?
h. When Rajam spoke only a few could understand. Why?
i. Who did impress Swami?
j. According to Narayan what does Rajam stand for?
k. Find words/ phrases from the passage which mean the same as each of the
following
Answers
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What a interesting story
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Hi there. Here are the answers to your questions:
a. (ii) a town
b. (ii) tried to please his friends and other adults
c. (iii) Ability to laugh at everything
d. (iv) South India
e. Rajam is neither affectionate nor particularly loyal to his friends.
f. The Albert Mission school focuses on Christian because it teaches English education and Christianity.
g. It was quite challenging for Swami to please his demanding peers as well as the adults.
h. Because Rajam spoke very good English, exactly like a European.
i. Swami was impressed by Rajam.
j. According to Narayan, Rajam stands as a symbol of colonial power.
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