The Journey

 

The Journey

1. ‘I finally decided against it.’ What did the writer decide? Why?

   - The writer decided against taking unpaid leave. He had used all his paid leaves. Marriage had increased his responsibilities and he had got into debts. So he couldn’t take unpaid leave.

 

2. Why did the writer not find the porter during his return journey?

   - It might be the monsoon season. All the villagers were busy in their fields. No one had time to spare for the writer. So the writer couldn’t find any porter during his return journey.

 

3. What made the writer shun physical labour? Do you support his feelings?

   - The writer’s education and his government job made him shun physical labour. I don’t support his feelings. Education and the profession should not make us more self-conscious. We should continue to do physical labour.

 

4. What was the solution given by his father? Did the writer agree with his father?

   - The writer didn’t find the porter. Father came up with a solution that he would carry the writer’s luggage to the bus stop. The writer didn’t agree with him. But he couldn’t convince him.

 

5. Why did the writer think that it was improper to make his father carry his luggage?

   - The writer’s father provided everything for his education. It was because of him, he became a government officer. His father was old and it was very difficult for him to walk through hilly area. So he thought that it was improper to make his father carry his luggage.

 

6. What made the writer stay away from carrying his own luggage?

   - His education and white-collar job made the writer more self-conscious. He felt that the people would laugh at him if he carried his own luggage. So he stayed away from carrying his own luggage.

 

7. “I had been able to realize his dreams”. What might be the dream of the writer’s father?

   - The writer said that he had been able to realize his parents’ dream. His father’s dream was to see his son in a respectable position. He wanted his son to get a government job.

 

8. Do you feel that the writer did the right thing in making his father carry his luggage? Why or why not?

   - I feel that the writer did wrong in making his father carry his luggage. His father was old and couldn’t walk through the hilly terrain. The writer was young and could easily carry the trunk box. He should have carried his own luggage.

 

9. How were the feet of the writer’s father? Why did they resemble those of an elephant?

   - Father’s feet resembled those of an elephant. He never wore shoes. He always walked barefoot. So, they had developed cracks and looked like those of an elephant.

 

10. What do you think is the reason for the protest of the father to buy new shoes?

    - Father didn’t like to waste money on buying new shoes. He wanted a pair of old shoes. They would serve his purpose. So he protested against buying new shoes.

 

11. In what way were the journeys of the writer and his father different?

    - Journeys of the writer and his father were different. The son and his father had to travel in opposite directions to reach their destinations. In the other sense, the writer’s way was a luxurious one as he was an educated one and a government officer. He didn’t need to lead such a hard and laborious life like his father used to lead. When compared with his life, his father’s life was much harder.

 

12. If you were in the place of the writer, what would you do when your father had asked you to give an old pair of shoes?

    - If I were in the writer’s place, I would feel pity for my father. I would buy new shoes for him. I wouldn’t give him old shoes though he protested.