What was for swami the most fearful region of arithmetic?
Answers
Explanation:
The story opens with the first chapter titled as Monday Morning. The first chapter of the
novel is in the nature of an exposition or introduction. We are introduced to Swaminathan or
Swami, the child-hero of the novel, to his school, The Albert Mission School, to his teachers and
to his friends. The action takes place in the town named Malgudi, situated on the bank of the
river Sarayu. The river has a bridge over it, and it is visible with the trains passing over it, from
the windows of the school.
Swami is a student of the First Form (Section A). It is Monday morning, and Swami hates
Mondays, for it means activity, discipline and work, after the holiday he has enjoyed on Saturday
and Sunday. As Swami sits on the table in his ‘room’ - which is merely a table in the dressing-
room of his father - he finds that he has a lot of home work to do, and only two hours for doing
it. He feels bored and tired, and is in no mood for work.
He reaches the class in time, and we are introduced to the fire-eyed Vedanayagan, the
class-teacher and also arithmetic teacher. Swami does not like him and we get a taste of
Narayan’s verbal humour. All the sums of Swami are wrong, they are crossed out, the remark
‘very bad’ is given and he is very severely pinched over his left ear, and told to go back to his
seat. Then comes the history period, and the teacher is Dr. Pillai. His method of teaching is
interesting, but it does not conform to any known principles of education. It is followed by the
scripture period and the teacher, Ebenezar, is a fanatic Christian. He constantly criticises and
abuses Hindu Gods who, for him, are merely so many pieces of stone. When Swami puts a
question, his ear is severely pulled and pinched. Swami complains to his father who writes a long
letter to the Headmaster asking him to take action against the teacher, otherwise Hindu boys will
be withdrawn from the school and the matter referred to higher authorities. But nothing comes
out of it, except the reprimand to Swami from the Headmaster, who is there to take care of the
boys. He tells Swami that he must come to him if he wants any help, before he goes to his father.
Swaminathan furtively glances at Ebenezar, who writhed in his chair. The principal scolds
swami for the matter of the complaint. Swami is not a good student but his life at school is not