Question

the professor seems to be a satire on the fallacies of the so called educated class of the modern India. Do you agree? Substantiate your answer with the evidences from poem.

Answer 1

Nissim Ezekiel often focusses the flaws of Indian traditions, customs, and beliefs of Indians in his poems. Through 'The Professor' he highlights the fallacies of the so-called modern society. A professor is supposed to be an intellectual, sophisticated and popular among his students. The professor in the poem introduces himself to his ex-student and the poem comprises a sort of monolog where the professor has initiated the conversation in Indian English. The English used in the poem is replete with grammatical errors which reflect on how the Indians speak English. The professor takes pride in his sons possessing cars as if owning a car is a standard of success. Similarly, the names of his daughters Sarla and Tarla mock at the habit of some Indians to have rhyming names of their children. He talks about his own health and except for some aches and pains qualifies the check of good health and wishes to live till he is hundred years old. At the same time, he wants to know whether his student is thin as he used to be or he has become a man of weight and consequence. The style of conversation is typically Indian where the main discussion is about well-being, family, and their status. 

The professor expresses his consent about planning family when he comes to know that hs student has three children but proudly tells about his eleven grandchildren. At the end, he invites his student if he comes near his house.