The
Home-Coming: Part 3
Page
99-102
By
Rabindranath Tagore
Text
For a boy of fourteen his own home is the only Paradise. To live
in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture, while the
height of bliss is to receive the kind looks of women, and never to be slighted
by them.
It was anguish to Phatik to be the unwelcome guest in his aunt's house,
despised by this elderly woman, and slighted, on every occasion. If she ever
asked him to do anything for her, he would be so overjoyed that he would overdo
it; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid, but to get on with his
lessons.
The cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt's house oppressed Phatik so much
that he felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out into the open
country and fill his lungs and breathe freely. But there was no open country to
go to. Surrounded on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls, he would dream
night after night of his village home, and long to be back there. He remembered
the glorious meadow where he used to fly his kite all day long; the broad
river-banks where he would wander about the livelong day singing and shouting
for joy; the narrow brook where he could go and dive and swim at any time he
liked. He thought of his band of boy companions over whom he was a despot; and,
above all, the memory of that tyrant mother of his, who had such a prejudice
against him, occupied him day and night. A kind of physical love like that of
animals; a longing to be in the presence of the one who is loved; an
inexpressible wistfulness during absence; a silent cry of the inmost heart for
the mother, like the lowing of a calf in the twilight; - this love, which was
almost an animal instinct, agitated the shy, nervous, lean, uncouth and ugly
boy. No one could understand it, but it preyed upon his mind continually.
There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped and
remained silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen
ass patiently suffered all the blows that came down on his back. When other
boys were
out at play, he stood wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the
distant houses. And if by chance he espied children playing on the open terrace
of any roof, his heart would ache with longing.
One day he summoned up all his courage, and asked his uncle: "Uncle, when
can I go home?" His uncle answered; "Wait till the holidays
come." But the holidays would not come till November, and there was a long
time still to wait.
One day Phatik lost his lesson-book. Even with the help of books he had found
it very difficult indeed to prepare his lesson. Now it was impossible. Day
after day the teacher would cane him unmercifully. His condition became so abjectly
miserable that even his cousins were ashamed to own him. They began to jeer and
insult him more than the other boys. He went to his aunt at last, and told her
that he had lost his book.
His aunt pursed her lips in contempt, and said: "You great clumsy, country
lout. How can I afford, with all my family, to buy you new books five times a
month?"
That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache with a fit
of shivering. He felt he was going to have an attack of malarial fever. His one
great fear was that he would be a nuisance to his aunt.
The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. All searches in the
neighbourhood proved futile. The rain had been pouring in torrents all night,
and those who went out in search of the boy got drenched through to the skin.
At last, Bishamber asked help from the police.
At the end of the day a police van stopped at the door before the house. It was
still raining and the streets were all flooded.
Two constables brought out Phatik in their arms and placed him before
Bishamber. He was wet through from head to foot muddy all over, his face and
eyes flushed red with fever, and his limbs all trembling. Bishamber carried him
in his arms, and took him into the inner apartments. When his wife saw him, she
exclaimed; "What a heap of trouble this boy has given us! Hadn't you
better send him home?"
Phatik heard her words, and sobbed out loud: "Uncle, I was just going
home; but they dragged me back again."
The fever rose very high rose very high, and all that night the boy was delirious.
Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever, and
looked up to the ceiling, and said vacantly: "Uncle, have the holidays
come yet? May I go home?"
Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes, and took Phatik's lean and burning
hands in his own, and sat by him through the night. The boy began again to
mutter. At last his voice became excited: "Mother," he cried,
"don't beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the truth!"
The next day Phatik became conscious for a short time. He turned his eyes about
the room, as if expecting someone to come. At last, with an air of
disappointment, his head sank back on the pillow. He turned his face to the
wall with a deep sigh.
Bishamber knew his thoughts, and, bending down his head, whispered:
"Phatik, I have sent for your mother." The day went by. The doctor
said in a troubled voice that the boy's condition was very critical.
Phatik began to cry out; "By the mark! --three fathoms. By the mark-four
fathoms. By the mark-." He had heard the sailor on the river- steamer
calling out the mark on the plumb-line. Now he was himself plumbing an
unfathomable sea.
Later in the day Phatik's mother burst into the room like a whirlwind, and
began to toss from side to side and moan and cry in a loud voice.
Bishamber tried to calm her agitation, but she flung herself on the bed, and
cried: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up
and down. He said: "Eh?"
The mother cried again: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik very slowly turned his head and, without seeing anybody, said:
"Mother, the holidays have come."
Glossary
Paradise
– a place or state of perfect happiness or bliss.
Strange
– unfamiliar or unknown.
Torture
– severe physical or mental suffering.
Bliss
– perfect happiness or joy.
Slighted
– treated with disrespect or neglect.
Anguish
– severe mental or physical pain.
Despised
– looked down upon or hated.
Overjoyed
– extremely happy or delighted.
Oppressed
– burdened or weighed down.
Cramped
– confined or limited in space.
Neglect
– failure to give proper care or attention.
Surrounded
– encircled or enclosed on all sides.
Wistfulness
– a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Brook
– a small stream.
Despot
– a ruler or leader who exercises power harshly.
Tyrant
– a cruel or oppressive person.
Prejudice
– unfair dislike or opinion formed beforehand.
Agitated
– disturbed or emotionally upset.
Uncouth
– rough, awkward, or lacking manners.
Backward
– slow in learning or progress.
Overladen
– heavily burdened or loaded.
Ass
– a donkey; used figuratively for a foolish person.
Wistfully
– with a sense of longing or sadness.
Summoned
– called upon or gathered courage.
Futile
– useless or ineffective.
Torrents
– heavy downpour of rain.
Drenched
– completely wet.
Flushed
– reddened, especially due to fever or emotion.
Delirious
– in a disturbed state of mind due to illness.
Vacantly
– without expression or awareness.
Mutter
– to speak indistinctly or quietly.
Conscious
– aware of one’s surroundings.
Disappointment
– sadness from not getting what is expected.
Critical
– extremely serious or dangerous (about health).
Plumb-line
– a line with a weight used to measure depth.
Unfathomable
– too deep to be measured or understood.
Burst
– to rush or break in suddenly.
Whirlwind
– something moving violently or rapidly.
Agitation
– emotional disturbance or nervous excitement.
Restless
– unable to stay still or calm.
Ceased
– stopped or came to an end.
Darling
– a term of affection for a loved one.
Murmured
– spoke softly and indistinctly.
Symbolically
– representing something beyond the literal meaning.
Eternal
– lasting forever or without end.
Paraphrase
For
a fourteen-year-old boy, there is no place happier than his own home. Living in
another person’s house among strangers feels almost like torture, while the
greatest joy comes from the kindness of women and being accepted by them.
Phatik
felt miserable living in his aunt’s house where he was unwelcome. She despised
him and ignored him in every situation. Whenever she asked him to do something,
he became so happy that he overdid it, and then she scolded him for being
foolish and told him to study instead. The atmosphere of neglect in his aunt’s
house suffocated Phatik. He longed to go out into open spaces and breathe
freely, but there was no countryside nearby, only Calcutta’s walls and houses.
He dreamt every night of his village, wishing he could return there. He
remembered the vast meadows for flying kites, the riverbanks for singing and
wandering, the small brook for swimming anytime he wished, and his gang of
friends he used to lead. Above all, he missed his mother—even though she had
been strict with him. This natural, instinctive love for his mother troubled
his heart deeply and constantly. Phatik was the weakest student in his class.
He could not answer any question in class and silently endured beatings from
his teacher. When the other boys played outside, he stood sadly at the window,
gazing at distant rooftops. If he saw children playing on a rooftop, his heart
would ache with longing. One day, mustering courage, Phatik asked his uncle
when he could go home. His uncle replied that he must wait until the holidays
came, but November was still far away. One day, Phatik lost his lesson-book.
Even with books, studying was difficult for him, and now it became impossible.
The teacher caned him every day. He became so miserable that even his cousins
felt ashamed of him and mocked him like the other boys. He went to his aunt and
told her about his lost book. She scornfully said that she could not spend
money on buying him new books repeatedly.
That
night, while returning from school, he developed a headache and shivering—signs
of malaria. His biggest fear was that he would become a burden to his aunt. The
next morning, Phatik was missing. Searches around the area failed. It had
rained heavily all night, drenching those who went to find him. Finally,
Bishamber sought police help. By evening, a police van arrived with Phatik
soaked and covered in mud. He was shivering and feverish. Bishamber carried him
inside. When his wife saw him, she complained that the boy had been nothing but
trouble and suggested sending him home. Hearing this, Phatik began to sob and
said that he was already going home but had been brought back by the police.
His fever worsened, and that night he became delirious. A doctor was called. In
his feverish state, he asked if the holidays had come so that he could go home.
Bishamber sat beside the boy with tears in his eyes, holding Phatik’s hot
hands. The boy mumbled restlessly and suddenly cried out to his mother as if
reliving old scoldings.
By
morning, Phatik regained consciousness for a short while and looked around,
expecting someone. Finding no one, he turned his head away in disappointment.
Bishamber whispered that his mother had been sent for. The doctor declared that
his condition was critical. Phatik began muttering the words of a sailor
measuring river depth, as if he were himself sinking into the unknown. Later,
Phatik’s mother arrived in great distress, crying and throwing herself beside
him. She sobbed his name again and again. Hearing his mother’s voice, Phatik
stopped moving, slowly turned his head, and, without actually seeing anyone,
said softly that the holidays had come.
Hindi
Paraphrase
चौदह साल के एक लड़के के लिए उसका अपना घर ही सबसे सुखद जगह होती है। किसी अजनबी के घर में अजनबियों के बीच रहना उसके लिए लगभग यातना जैसा लगता है, जबकि सबसे बड़ा सुख तब मिलता है जब महिलाएँ उस पर स्नेह भरी दृष्टि डालती हैं और उसे अपनेपन का एहसास कराती हैं।
फतिक अपनी मौसी के घर बहुत दुखी था क्योंकि वहाँ उसका स्वागत नहीं था। उसकी मौसी उसे नापसंद करती थी और हर मौके पर उसे अनदेखा करती थी। जब भी वह उसे कोई काम करने को कहती, तो फतिक इतना खुश हो जाता कि वह हद से ज़्यादा कर डालता, तब मौसी उसे मूर्ख कहती और पढ़ाई करने को कहती।
मौसी के घर का उपेक्षा से भरा वातावरण फतिक को घुटन भरा लगता था। वह खुले मैदानों में जाकर स्वतंत्र रूप से साँस लेना चाहता था, लेकिन चारों तरफ़ केवल कोलकाता की दीवारें और घर ही थे। वह हर रात अपने गाँव के सपने देखता और वहाँ लौटने की इच्छा करता। उसे याद आता कि कैसे वह खुली घासभूमि में पतंग उड़ाता था, नदी के किनारे गाता और घूमता था, छोटे नाले में जब चाहे तैरता था और अपने दोस्तों के झुंड का नेता था। सबसे ज़्यादा उसे अपनी माँ की याद आती, जो उस पर सख़्त होती थी। यह मातृत्व से जुड़ा गहरा व प्राकृतिक प्रेम उसकी आत्मा को निरंतर बेचैन रखता था।
स्कूल में फतिक सबसे कमजोर छात्र था। जब शिक्षक प्रश्न पूछते तो वह चुप रह जाता और उनके डंडों को चुपचाप सहता रहता। जब बाकी लड़के बाहर खेलते, वह उदास खिड़की के पास खड़ा होकर दूर के छतों को देखता। अगर कहीं बच्चों को छत पर खेलते हुए देख लेता, तो उसका दिल तड़प उठता।
एक दिन हिम्मत जुटाकर फतिक ने अपने मामा से पूछा कि वह कब घर जा सकता है। मामा ने कहा कि छुट्टियाँ आने पर जा सकेगा, लेकिन नवंबर अभी बहुत दूर था।
एक दिन फतिक की पाठ्यपुस्तक खो गई। किताबों के साथ भी पढ़ना उसके लिए मुश्किल था, और अब तो असंभव हो गया। शिक्षक रोज़ उसे डंडे से मारते थे। वह इतना दुखी हो गया कि उसके चचेरे भाई भी उससे शर्मिंदा होने लगे और बाकी लड़कों की तरह उसका मज़ाक उड़ाने लगे। अंत में वह अपनी मौसी के पास गया और पुस्तक खोने की बात बताई। मौसी ने तिरस्कार से कहा कि वह बार-बार उसके लिए नई किताबें नहीं खरीद सकती।
उस रात स्कूल से लौटते समय उसे सिरदर्द और कंपकंपी हुई—मलेरिया के लक्षण। उसे सबसे बड़ा डर था कि वह अपनी मौसी पर बोझ बन जाएगा।
अगली सुबह फतिक कहीं नहीं मिला। आस-पड़ोस में खोजबीन की गई, पर व्यर्थ रही। रातभर ज़ोरदार बारिश हुई थी, जिससे खोजने वाले सब भीग गए। अंत में बिशम्बर ने पुलिस से मदद मांगी।
शाम तक एक पुलिस वैन पहुँची, जिसमें फतिक पूरी तरह भीगा और कीचड़ से सना हुआ था। वह बुखार से कांप रहा था। बिशम्बर ने उसे गोद में उठाकर अंदर ले गए। उनकी पत्नी ने उसे देखकर कहा कि इस लड़के ने तो बहुत झंझट दिया है, बेहतर होगा इसे घर भेज दो।
यह सुनकर फतिक रोने लगा और बोला कि वह तो घर ही जा रहा था, लेकिन पुलिस उसे वापस ले आई।
उसका बुखार बढ़ गया और रात में वह बकवास करने लगा। डॉक्टर को बुलाया गया। बुखार में उसने पूछा कि क्या छुट्टियाँ आ गईं हैं, ताकि वह घर जा सके।
बिशम्बर की आँखों में आँसू भर आए। उन्होंने फतिक के गर्म हाथ अपने हाथों में लेकर उसके पास बैठ गए। लड़का बेचैन होकर कुछ बड़बड़ाता रहा और अचानक अपनी माँ को पुकारने लगा, जैसे किसी पुरानी डाँट को याद कर रहा हो।
सुबह तक फतिक कुछ देर के लिए होश में आया और इधर-उधर देखने लगा, जैसे किसी को ढूंढ रहा हो। किसी को न देखकर उसने निराश होकर मुँह फेर लिया। बिशम्बर ने उसके कान में कहा कि उन्होंने उसकी माँ को बुला लिया है।
डॉक्टर ने बताया कि उसकी हालत बहुत गंभीर है। फतिक बड़बड़ाने लगा—जैसे नाविक नदी की गहराई माप रहा हो। वह मानो खुद अज्ञात सागर में डूब रहा था।
थोड़ी देर बाद फतिक की माँ घबराई और रोती हुई कमरे में आई। वह अपने बेटे के पास जाकर बेतहाशा रोने लगी और बार-बार उसका नाम पुकारने लगी।
माँ की आवाज़ सुनकर फतिक की हरकतें थम गईं। उसने धीरे से सिर घुमाया, किसी को देखे बिना कहा—“माँ, छुट्टियाँ आ गई हैं।
Q.1.
Multiple-Choice Questions
1.
Where does the story "The Home-Coming" take place mainly in Part 3?
a)
Calcutta
b)
Bombay
c)
Delhi
d)
Madras
Answer:
a) Calcutta
2.
How old was Phatik in the story?
a)
Twelve
b)
Thirteen
c)
Fourteen
d)
Fifteen
Answer:
c) Fourteen
3.What
is described as the only paradise for a fourteen-year-old boy?
a)
School
b)
Playground
c)
His own home
d)
His friends
Answer:
c) His own home
4.
Who took Phatik to Calcutta?
a)
His father
b)
His uncle Bishamber
c)
His aunt
d)
His teacher
Answer:
b) His uncle Bishamber
5.
How did Phatik feel living in his aunt’s house?
a)
Comfortable
b)
Free
c)
Unwelcome and miserable
d)
Excited
Answer:
c) Unwelcome and miserable
6.
What was Phatik’s aunt’s attitude towards him?
a)
She loved him
b)
She ignored and despised him
c)
She protected him
d)
She took great care of him
Answer:
b) She ignored and despised him
7.
What work would make Phatik excessively happy?
a)
Studying
b)
Being scolded
c)
Being asked to do something by his aunt
d)
Playing games
Answer:
c) Being asked to do something by his aunt
8.
What did the aunt do when Phatik overdid the work?
a)
Praised him
b)
Ignored him
c)
Scolded him
d)
Gave him sweets
Answer:
c) Scolded him
9.
What did Phatik long for most in Calcutta?
a)
His friends
b)
His school
c)
His village
d)
His games
Answer:
c) His village
10.
What city was Phatik surrounded by?
a)
Madras
b)
Bombay
c)
Delhi
d)
Calcutta
Answer:
d) Calcutta
11.
What did Phatik dream about every night?
a)
His school
b)
His home and village
c)
His uncle
d)
His classmates
Answer:
b) His home and village
12.
What was Phatik like in school?
a)
Intelligent
b)
Diligent
c)
Very backward
d)
Average
Answer:
c) Very backward
13.
How did Phatik behave when the teacher asked him questions?
a)
Confident
b)
Stayed silent
c)
Gave correct answers
d)
Argued with the teacher
Answer:
b) Stayed silent
14.
How did the teacher punish Phatik?
a)
Made him stand outside
b)
Caned him
c)
Expelled him
d)
Scolded gently
Answer:
b) Caned him
15.
What did Phatik do while others played?
a)
Joined them
b)
Slept
c)
Watched from the window wistfully
d)
Read books
Answer:
c) Watched from the window wistfully
16.
What did Phatik ask his uncle one day?
a)
For new clothes
b)
When he could go home
c)
To buy him toys
d)
To send him to another school
Answer:
b) When he could go home
17.
When did the uncle say Phatik could go home?
a)
The next day
b)
During holidays
c)
After exams
d)
After a month
Answer:
b) During holidays
18.
When were the holidays to come?
a)
July
b)
August
c)
November
d)
December
Answer:
c) November
19.
What did Phatik lose one day?
a)
His money
b)
His lesson-book
c)
His uniform
d)
His toy
Answer:
b) His lesson-book
20.
What happened after he lost his book?
a)
He enjoyed free time
b)
He was praised
c)
He was beaten daily
d)
He went home
Answer:
c) He was beaten daily
21.
How did his cousins react to his miserable condition?
a)
They helped him
b)
They mocked him
c)
They loved him
d)
They ignored him
Answer:
b) They mocked him
22.
What did Phatik’s aunt say when he told her about the lost book?
a)
She comforted him
b)
She offered to buy a new one
c)
She called him a clumsy country lout
d)
She ignored him
Answer:
c) She called him a clumsy country lout
23.
What illness did Phatik begin to suffer from?
a)
Typhoid
b)
Malaria
c)
Fever due to a cold
d)
Tuberculosis
Answer:
b) Malaria
24.
What was Phatik’s great fear during his illness?
a)
Being punished
b)
Being a burden to his aunt
c)
Missing school
d)
Losing his home
Answer:
b) Being a burden to his aunt
25.
What happened the next morning after he fell ill?
a)
He felt better
b)
He was missing
c)
He apologized
d)
He went to school
Answer:
b) He was missing
26.
How was the weather that night?
a)
Clear
b)
Cold and stormy
c)
Rainy and stormy
d)
Windy and dry
Answer:
c) Rainy and stormy
27.
Who finally helped find Phatik?
a)
Villagers
b)
Cousins
c)
Police
d)
School boys
Answer:
c) Police
28.How
did the police bring Phatik back?
a)
On a rickshaw
b)
In a van
c)
On foot
d)
By carriage
Answer:
b) In a van
29.
What was Phatik’s condition when found?
a)
Healthy
b)
Sleeping
c)
Wet, muddy, feverish
d)
Crying loudly
Answer:
c) Wet, muddy, feverish
30.
What did Bishamber do when he saw Phatik?
a)
Scolded him
b)
Ignored him
c)
Carried him inside
d)
Sent him to the hospital
Answer:
c) Carried him inside
31.
What did Bishamber’s wife say when she saw Phatik?
a)
“Poor boy, he’s sick.”
b)
“He has given us a heap of trouble.”
c)
“Send for his mother.”
d)
“Let’s call a doctor immediately.”
Answer:
b) “He has given us a heap of trouble.”
32.
What did Phatik cry after hearing his aunt’s words?
a)
“I am sorry, aunty.”
b)
“I was going home; they dragged me back.”
c)
“Please forgive me.”
d)
“I want food.”
Answer:
b) “I was going home; they dragged me back.”
33.
What did Bishamber do that night?
a)
Slept peacefully
b)
Sat with Phatik all night
c)
Beat his wife
d)
Called for friends
Answer:
b) Sat with Phatik all night
34.
What did Phatik ask in delirium?
a)
“Am I home?”
b)
“Where is my mother?”
c)
“Have the holidays come?”
d)
“Am I free to go?”
Answer:
c) “Have the holidays come?”
35.
What was Bishamber’s emotional state?
a)
Angry
b)
Indifferent
c)
Tearful and sad
d)
Happy
Answer:
c) Tearful and sad
36.
What did Phatik cry out while delirious?
a)
“Mother, I am hungry.”
b)
“Mother, don’t beat me.”
c)
“Mother, come soon.”
d)
“Mother, forgive me.”
Answer:
b) “Mother, don’t beat me.”
37.
What did Bishamber tell Phatik after seeing his disappointment?
a)
“You will soon recover.”
b)
“I have sent for your mother.”
c)
“Don’t cry, boy.”
d)
“You can go home tomorrow.”
Answer:
b) “I have sent for your mother.”
38.
How did the doctor describe Phatik’s condition?
a)
Mild fever
b)
Very critical
c)
Recovering soon
d)
Stable
Answer:
b) Very critical
39.
What words did Phatik begin to repeat like a sailor?
a)
“By the mark, three fathoms.”
b)
“By the road, keep straight.”
c)
“By the land, safe passage.”
d)
“By the time, hurry up.”
Answer:
a) “By the mark, three fathoms.”
40.
What did these words symbolically mean?
a)
Measuring time
b)
Measuring river depth
c)
Measuring life’s depth
d)
Counting numbers
Answer:
c) Measuring life’s depth
41.
When did Phatik’s mother arrive?
a)
The next morning
b)
Later that day
c)
After a week
d)
Before he fell sick
Answer:
b) Later that day
42.
How did Phatik’s mother react on seeing him?
a)
Calmly
b)
With joy
c)
By crying and throwing herself on him
d)
By fainting silently
Answer:
c) By crying and throwing herself on him
43.
What words did the mother repeat?
a)
“I love you.”
b)
“Phatik, my darling.”
c)
“Why did you run away?”
d)
“Wake up, my son.”
Answer:
b) “Phatik, my darling.”
44.
What happened when Phatik heard her?
a)
He smiled
b)
He stopped moving
c)
He cried loudly
d)
He called his uncle
Answer:
b) He stopped moving
45.
What were Phatik’s last words?
a)
“Goodbye.”
b)
“Mother, the holidays have come.”
c)
“Uncle, forgive me.”
d)
“I am going home soon.”
Answer:
b) “Mother, the holidays have come.”
46.
What is the central theme of the story?
a)
Disobedience of children
b)
Love and longing for home
c)
Friendship
d)
Importance of studies
Answer:
b) Love and longing for home
47.
What emotion dominates Phatik’s character in this part?
a)
Jealousy
b)
Anger
c)
Homesickness
d)
Hatred
Answer:
c) Homesickness
48.
How does Phatik’s character change by the end?
a)
From bold to broken
b)
From joyful to sickly
c)
From angry to peaceful
d)
From leader to lonely
Answer:
c) From angry to peaceful
49.
What does the “holiday” symbolize in Phatik’s final words?
a)
Real vacation
b)
Escape from pain and life
c)
Trip with his uncle
d)
Return to school
Answer:
b) Escape from pain and life
50.
What is the tone of the ending?
a)
Joyful
b)
Ironic and tragic
c)
Humorous
d)
Hopeful
Answer:
b) Ironic and tragic
Q.2.
One-Mark Questions
1.
Who is the main character of the story?
Answer:
Phatik
2.
How old is Phatik?
Answer:
Fourteen years old
3.
Who takes Phatik to Calcutta?
Answer:
His uncle Bishamber
4.
Who dislikes Phatik in Calcutta?
Answer:
His aunt
5.
What is the only paradise for a fourteen-year-old boy according to the story?
Answer:
His own home
6.
Where did Phatik originally live before Calcutta?
Answer:
In his village
7.
What city does Phatik move to?
Answer:
Calcutta
8.
Who neglects and despises Phatik in the house?
Answer:
His aunt
9.
What does Phatik miss the most?
Answer:
His mother and village
10.
What does Phatik’s aunt call him?
Answer:
A clumsy, country lout
11.
What did Phatik lose one day?
Answer:
His lesson-book
12.
What did he fear after losing his book?
Answer:
Being scolded and caned
23.
What illness does he suffer from later?
Answer:
Malarial fever
14.
Who calls the doctor when Phatik falls ill?
Answer:
Bishamber
15.
What did Phatik often dream about?
Answer:
His village home
16.
Where did Phatik wish to breathe freely?
Answer:
In the open country
17.
What did Phatik’s teacher do when he failed to answer questions?
Answer:
Caned him
18.
What did Phatik ask his uncle one day?
Answer:
When he could go home
19.
When were the holidays expected?
Answer:
In November
20.
What was the weather like when Phatik went missing?
Answer:
Rainy and stormy
21.
Who found Phatik and brought him back?
Answer:
The police
22.
In what condition was Phatik when found?
Answer:
Wet, muddy, and trembling with fever
23.
Who carried Phatik inside the house?
Answer:
His uncle Bishamber
24.
What did Bishamber’s wife say when she saw Phatik?
Answer:
“What a heap of trouble this boy has given us!”
25.
What did Phatik say when he heard her complaint?
Answer:
“I was going home; but they dragged me back again.”
26.
Why did Bishamber have tears in his eyes?
Answer:
He felt pity and sorrow for Phatik
27.
What did Phatik ask in his feverish state?
Answer:
“Have the holidays come yet?”
28.
Whom did Bishamber send for in the end?
Answer:
Phatik’s mother
29.
How did the doctor describe Phatik’s condition?
Answer:
Very critical
30.
What did Phatik mumble like a sailor?
Answer:
“By the mark—three fathoms. By the mark—four fathoms.”
31.
What does ‘fathom’ refer to?
Answer:
A measure of water depth
32.
Who arrived later in the day when Phatik was critical?
Answer:
His mother
33.
How did the mother react on seeing Phatik?
Answer:
She cried and threw herself on the bed beside him
34.
What words did the mother cry repeatedly?
Answer:
“Phatik, my darling, my darling.”
35.
How did Phatik respond to his mother’s voice?
Answer:
He slowly turned and said, “Mother, the holidays have come.”
36.
What did Phatik’s last words mean symbolically?
Answer:
Freedom from pain and death
37.
What emotion dominates Phatik’s heart throughout the story?
Answer:
Homesickness
38.
What does the story highlight about childhood?
Answer:
The emotional need for love and belonging
39.
What is the moral of the story?
Answer:
Neglect and lack of affection can destroy a child’s spirit
40.
Who wrote “The Home-Coming”?
Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore
41.
What nationality was Rabindranath Tagore?
Answer:
Indian
42.
What prize did Rabindranath Tagore receive in 1913?
Answer:
Nobel Prize for Literature
43.
What is the title “The Home-Coming” symbolic of?
Answer:
Phatik’s return to peace or death
44.
Who showed real compassion toward Phatik?
Answer:
Bishamber (his uncle)
45.
What physical traits describe Phatik?
Answer:
Shy, nervous, lean, and awkward
46.
What does Phatik represent in the story?
Answer:
The longing of childhood for motherly love
47.
What kind of atmosphere surrounded his aunt’s house?
Answer:
Cramped and neglectful
48.
What did Phatik love doing in his village?
Answer:
Flying kites and wandering near the river
49.
How does the story end?
Answer:
Phatik dies calling out to his mother
50.
What is the tone of the ending?
Answer:
Sad and tragic
Q.
3. Reference To Context
Extract
1"For a boy of fourteen his own home is the only Paradise."
Questions:
What
is referred to as 'Paradise' here?
Answer:
His own home
Who
is the 'boy' mentioned in the extract?
Answer:
Phatik
What
does 'Paradise' symbolize in this context?
Answer:
Ultimate happiness and comfort
What
literary device is present in 'Paradise'?
Answer:
Metaphor
Why
does a fourteen-year-old boy find home as paradise?
Answer:
Because it’s a place of love, acceptance, and care
How
is this idea important to the story?
Answer:
It highlights Phatik's homesickness in Calcutta
Extract
2
"To
live in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture, while
the height of bliss is to receive the kind looks of women, and never to be
slighted by them."
Questions:
How
does Phatik feel in his aunt’s house?
Answer:
He feels tortured and neglected
What
does 'height of bliss' mean here?
Answer:
Greatest happiness
Which
literary device is used in ‘height of bliss’?
Answer:
Hyperbole
Who
are the 'strange people' mentioned?
Answer:
His aunt’s family and new surroundings
What
is contrasted in this sentence?
Answer:
Torture of living with strangers and bliss of kindness
What
does Phatik desire most in his new home?
Answer:
Kindness and acceptance
Extract
3
"If
she ever asked him to do anything for her, he would be so overjoyed that he
would overdo it; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid, but to get on
with his lessons."
Questions:
Who
is ‘she’ in the extract?
Answer:
Phatik’s aunt
What
was Phatik’s reaction when his aunt asked for help?
Answer:
He felt overjoyed
What
did his aunt say after he overdid the work?
Answer:
Not to be stupid and focus on studies
What
does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Lack of understanding and warmth
What
is the mood in this extract?
Answer:
Disappointment and longing
What
lesson does Phatik’s aunt prioritize?
Answer:
Studies over affection
Extract
4
"The
cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt's house oppressed Phatik so much that
he felt that he could hardly breathe."
Questions:
What
does ‘cramped atmosphere’ mean?
Answer:
Constricted, unfriendly environment
What
effect did neglect have on Phatik?
Answer:
It made him feel suffocated
Which
literary device is present in 'oppressed'?
Answer:
Personification
What
emotion is described here?
Answer:
Helplessness and suffocation
Why
couldn’t Phatik breathe freely?
Answer:
The neglect and lack of love in the house
How
does this set the tone for the rest of the story?
Answer:
It shows Phatik’s suffering and desire for escape
Extract
5
"He
remembered the glorious meadow where he used to fly his kite all day long; the
broad river-banks where he would wander about the livelong day singing and
shouting for joy."
Questions:What
activities did Phatik enjoy in his village?
Answer:
Flying kites, wandering by riverbanks, singing and shouting
What
is the tone of this memory?
Answer:
Nostalgic and joyful
What
does ‘livelong day’ mean?
Answer:
The entire day
Why
are these memories meaningful to Phatik?
Answer:
They represent freedom and happiness
Name
a literary device used here.
Answer:
Imagery
How
do these memories contrast with his present life?
Answer:
His current life is suffocating; village memories are carefree
Extract
6
"There
was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped and remained
silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen ass
patiently suffered all the blows that came down on his back."
Questions:
How
was Phatik’s academic performance?
Answer:
Very poor, most backward in school
What
is meant by ‘gaped’?
Answer:
Stared in confusion
What
does ‘overladen ass’ symbolize?
Answer:
Burdened and suffering without complaining
What
literary device is present in ‘overladen ass’?
Answer:
Simile
How
did teachers treat Phatik?
Answer:
Punished him for his failures
What
does this reveal about the school environment?
Answer:
Harsh and unsympathetic
Extract
7
"One
day he summoned up all his courage, and asked his uncle: 'Uncle, when can I go
home?' "
Questions:
Who
did Phatik ask about going home?
Answer:
His uncle
What
does ‘summoned up all his courage’ mean?
Answer:
Gathered all his bravery to ask
Why
did Phatik want to go home?
Answer:
He was deeply homesick
When
did his uncle say the holidays would come?
Answer:
In November
What
emotion does Phatik’s question display?
Answer:
Desperate longing
How
does this question affect the narrative?
Answer:
Reveals Phatik’s inner pain and desire
Extract
8
"His
aunt pursed her lips in contempt, and said: 'You great clumsy, country lout.
How can I afford, with all my family, to buy you new books five times a month?'
"
Questions:
Who
speaks this line?
Answer:
Phatik’s aunt
What
does ‘pursed her lips in contempt’ mean?
Answer:
Showed displeasure or scorn
Why
does the aunt call Phatik a ‘country lout’?
Answer:
She considers him unsophisticated and useless
What
incident led to this remark?
Answer:
Phatik lost his lesson-book
What
attitude does this reflect?
Answer:
Insensitivity and lack of empathy
What
impact do such words have on Phatik?
Answer:
Further humiliation and sadness
Extract
9
"His
one great fear was that he would be a nuisance to his aunt."
Questions:
Who
is afraid here?
Answer:
Phatik
What
is Phatik’s ‘one great fear’?
Answer:
Becoming a burden to his aunt
What
does ‘nuisance’ mean?
Answer:
Trouble or annoyance
How
does this fear affect Phatik’s actions?
Answer:
He tries to avoid trouble and attention
What
mood does this line convey?
Answer:
Anxiety and guilt
How
does this highlight Phatik’s feelings about his place in the house?
Answer:
He feels unwanted and insecure
Extract
10
"Two
constables brought out Phatik in their arms and placed him before Bishamber. He
was wet through from head to foot, muddy all over, his face and eyes flushed
red with fever, and his limbs all trembling."
Questions:
Who
brought Phatik home?
Answer:
Two constables (policemen)
What
was Phatik’s physical condition?
Answer:
Wet, muddy, feverish, trembling
Who
received Phatik at home?
Answer:
Bishamber
What
does this scene indicate about Phatik’s state?
Answer:
He was very ill and helpless
Why
was Phatik in such a poor state?
Answer:
He had wandered in the rain, suffering from fever
What
is the tone of this description?
Answer:
Pitiful and tragic
Extract
11
"When
his wife saw him, she exclaimed; 'What a heap of trouble this boy has given us!
Hadn't you better send him home?' "
Questions:
Who
said this line?
Answer:
Bishamber’s wife (Phatik’s aunt)
What
does 'heap of trouble' mean?
Answer:
A lot of problems
To
whom is this sentence referring?
Answer:
Phatik
What
does she suggest should be done?
Answer:
Send Phatik back home
What
feeling does this line reveal?
Answer:
Frustration and lack of compassion
How
might this affect Phatik emotionally?
Answer:
He would feel more unwanted
Extract
12
"The
fever rose very high, and all that night the boy was delirious. Bishamber
brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever, and looked up
to the ceiling, and said vacantly: 'Uncle, have the holidays come yet? May I go
home?' "
Questions: What was Phatik
suffering from?
Answer:
High fever and delirium
Who
brought the doctor?
Answer:
Bishamber
What
does Phatik ask in his fever?
Answer:
If the holidays have come; may he go home
What
does this question reveal about his state of mind?
Answer:
Confused and desperately longing for home
What
is the mood in this scene?
Answer:
Tense and sorrowful
How
does Bishamber react to Phatik’s question?
Answer:
He wipes his tears and sympathizes
Extract
13
"The
boy began again to mutter. At last his voice became excited: 'Mother,' he
cried, 'don't beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the truth!' "
Questions:
Whom
does Phatik call out to in his delirium?
Answer:
His mother
What
is Phatik afraid of?
Answer:
Being beaten by his mother
What
does 'I am telling the truth' indicate?
Answer:
Desire for mother’s trust and affection
What
does this scene show about Phatik’s childhood experiences?
Answer:
He was often scolded/beaten but still loved his mother
What
emotion is shown here?
Answer:
Distress and longing
How
might readers empathize with Phatik in this moment?
Answer:
Understanding the pain of feeling misunderstood
Extract
14
"Phatik
began to cry out; 'By the mark! --three fathoms. By the mark-four fathoms. By
the mark-.' He had heard the sailor on the river-steamer calling out the mark
on the plumb-line. Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea."
Questions:
What
is Phatik repeating in this scene?
Answer:
Sailors’ words for measuring river depth
What
does ‘fathom’ mean?
Answer:
A unit for measuring water depth
What
does ‘plumbing an unfathomable sea’ represent?
Answer:
Facing the unknown, possibly death
Why
does Phatik recall these words now?
Answer:
He is delirious and possibly at the edge of life and death
What
literary device is used in ‘unfathomable sea’?
Answer:
Metaphor
How
does this add to the emotional tone?
Answer:
It evokes mystery and sadness
Extract
15"Phatik very slowly turned his head and, without seeing anybody, said:
'Mother, the holidays have come.' "
Questions:
Who
does Phatik address here?
Answer:
His mother
What
is the significance of ‘the holidays have come’?
Answer:
Symbolizes peace, release from suffering (possibly death)
What
is Phatik’s physical state when he says this?
Answer:
Weak, exhausted, possibly dying
What
is the emotional effect of this line?
Answer:
Deeply moving and tragic
What
literary device is present in ‘the holidays have come’?
Answer:
Symbolism
How
does this line conclude the story?
Answer:
Marks Phatik’s final release and longing fulfilled
Q.4
Two-Mark Questions
1.
Why did Phatik consider his own home as paradise?
Ans.
Phatik considered his own home as paradise because it was a place filled with
love, familiarity, and acceptance. Away from home in his aunt’s house, he felt
unloved and neglected, making him deeply long for the warmth and comfort of his
village home and mother.
2.
How did Phatik feel living with his aunt?
Ans.
Phatik felt extremely unhappy and oppressed living with his aunt. He was
neglected, despised, and often scolded despite his efforts to please her. The
lack of love and the cramped, unfriendly environment made him yearn for the
freedom and affection of his village home.
3.
What childhood memories did Phatik often recall at Calcutta?
Ans.
Phatik nostalgically recalled flying kites in the meadows, wandering along
riverbanks, swimming in the brook, and leading his band of boy companions.
These memories symbolized the freedom, joy, and belonging he missed deeply
while confined in the alien environment of Calcutta.
4.
How was Phatik’s behavior and performance at school?
Phatik
was the weakest student in school, often silent and unable to answer questions.
He was repeatedly caned by the teacher and stood isolated, watching other
children play while he felt helpless and miserable.
5.
How did Phatik react when he lost his lesson book?
Phatik
was distressed after losing his book because studying became impossible. His
aunt scolded him harshly, calling him clumsy and criticizing the expense of
replacing books frequently. This added to his humiliation and made his
situation more unbearable.
6.
Describe Phatik’s illness and its impact on him.
Ans.
Phatik developed malarial fever with high fever and shivering. His condition
worsened to delirium, and he was found wandering in the rain, wet and muddy.
His illness revealed his vulnerability and the emotional and physical toll of
neglect.
7.
What is the significance of Phatik's question about the holidays during his
illness?
Ans.
Phatik’s repeated question, "Have the holidays come?" symbolizes his
desperate wish to return home and escape the pain and neglect. It highlights
his innocent hope and his longing for relief from suffering by being reunited
with his family.
8.
How did Bishamber show care for Phatik during his illness?
Ans.
Bishamber showed compassion by staying beside Phatik throughout the night,
wiping his tears, and calling the doctor. Despite the harshness of others
around, Bishamber’s care brought some comfort to the suffering boy in his final
moments.
9.
What was Phatik’s mother’s reaction upon arrival?
Phatik’s
mother arrived in great distress, crying loudly and expressing deep sorrow. Her
emotional outburst and repeated calls to her "darling" revealed her
profound grief and love for Phatik, despite past strictness.
10.
How does the story use the sailor’s call “by the mark—three fathoms”
symbolically?
Ans.
The sailor’s call symbolizes Phatik’s journey toward death, as if he himself is
measuring the depths of an unfathomable sea. It metaphorically represents his
traversal through the unknown realm between life and death.
11.
Why does Phatik say "Mother, the holidays have come" at the end?
Ans.
This phrase symbolizes Phatik’s final peace and release from pain. It indicates
that he has found what he longed for—home, love, and rest—even if in death. It
is a poignant conclusion expressing escape from hardship.What does the story
reveal about neglect and childhood?
The
story emphasizes that neglect and lack of affection in childhood cause deep
emotional harm. Phatik’s suffering shows the essential need for love and
understanding for a child’s healthy development and happiness.
12.
How does the story portray the impact of environment on a child?
Ans.
The story shows that a hostile and uncaring environment can suffocate a child’s
spirit and health. Phatik’s miserable life in his aunt’s house contrasts
sharply with his joyful village memories, illustrating environment’s profound
effect on wellbeing.
13.
What is the central theme of “The Home-Coming”?
Ans.
The central theme is the universal longing for love, belonging, and home. It
explores the pain of separation from family and how emotional neglect can harm
a child profoundly.
14.
How does Rabindranath Tagore use imagery in this story?
Ans.
Tagore uses vivid imagery in village scenes, Phatik’s suffering, and the
metaphoric sea to create emotional depth and make readers empathize with
Phatik’s pain, longing, and final release.
Q.5.
Three-Mark Questions
1.
Why was Phatik unhappy living in his aunt's house in Calcutta?
Ans.
Phatik was unhappy because he felt neglected and unloved in his aunt's house.
She despised him and often scolded him harshly, even when he tried to please
her. The cramped and unfriendly atmosphere made him feel suffocated, and he
sorely missed the love and warmth of his village home. The constant feeling of
being an unwelcome guest deeply affected his spirits and health, leading to his
overwhelming homesickness and despair.
2.
How does Rabindranath Tagore portray Phatik’s childhood innocence and
vulnerability?
Ans.
Tagore portrays Phatik’s childhood as fragile and filled with innocent longing.
Despite being backward at school and repeatedly punished, Phatik’s heart is
full of love and yearning for his mother and home. His physical weakness,
emotional pain, and childish questions during illness reveal his vulnerability.
His delirious calls to his mother and wishes for holidays show the pure
innocence of a child desperate for affection and comfort in a harsh world.
3.
What role does the uncle, Bishamber, play in the story?
Ans.
Bishamber represents a figure of compassion and responsibility amid the neglect
Phatik faces. Though not perfect, he cares deeply for Phatik, staying by his
side during his illness and arranging medical help. Bishamber sympathizes with
the boy's suffering and shows emotional pain himself, evident when he wipes his
tears. He also takes the crucial step of sending for Phatik’s mother,
understanding the importance of family love in the child’s final moments.
4.
Explain the symbolic meaning of “holidays” in Phatik's last words.
Ans.
The “holidays” in Phatik’s final words symbolize freedom from suffering and a
return to peace. Throughout the story, holidays represent the long-awaited
release to return home, a symbol of comfort and safety. In his dying moments,
“the holidays have come” expresses his soul’s escape from physical pain and
neglect. It poetically suggests that Phatik has finally found eternal rest and
reunion with his mother, the ultimate sanctuary he longed for in life.
5.
How does the story use the imagery of the river and the sailor's call?
Ans.
The imagery of the river and the sailor's call deepens the story’s themes of
journey and transition. Phatik hears the sailor calling “by the mark—three
fathoms,” a measurement of depth, symbolizing the depth of his own suffering
and approach toward death. The metaphor of “plumbing an unfathomable sea”
captures the mystery and inevitability of death, making his physical and
emotional pain resonate as a universal human experience.
6.
What is the significance of Phatik’s relationship with his mother in the story?
Ans.
Phatik’s relationship with his mother is central, symbolizing unconditional
love and refuge. Despite her strictness, she embodies the warmth and acceptance
he craves. His longing to be reunited with her drives the emotional core of the
story. The mother’s arrival in his final moments and his calling out to her
underline the powerful bond between mother and child, reinforcing themes of
love, belonging, and the pain of separation.
7.
Discuss the theme of neglect and its effects depicted in the story.
The
story highlights how neglect, especially in childhood, can cause deep emotional
and physical harm. Phatik’s suffering under his aunt’s coldness and lack of
affection leads to his isolation, poor health, academic failure, and eventual
death. Tagore illustrates the tragic consequences of ignoring a child's
emotional needs, emphasizing that care and compassion are crucial for a child's
wellbeing and growth.
Image courtesy: Google
COURTESY:
Perplexity, Meta AI & ChatGPT
Compiled by Dr. Shankar D Mishra
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