Leela’s Friend – Data Bank for MCQ and SAQ

Writer: R K Narayan (1906-2001).

Source: Lawley Road (Originally), but Malgudi Days (Later).

Setting: Probably in the town of Malgudi .

Main Characters: Leela, Sidda, Mr Sivasanker and Mrs Sivasanker.

Leela: Only child (five-year-old daughter) of Mr and Mrs Sivasanker.

Sidda: A servant in Mr Sanker’s household.

Mr Sivasanker: A rich man.

Mrs Sivasanker: An ordinary housewife.

Sidda worked before: in a doctor’s house.

Sidda was given by Mr Sanker: Two meals a day and four rupees a month.

Sidda had to: Wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop wood and look after Leela.

Sidda and Leela played: With a red ball.

Leela held a class: For Sidda at dusk.

Leela’s box contained: Catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils.

At bed time Sidda used to tell Leela: Incomparable stories of animals in the jungle, of gods in heaven, of magicians who could conjure up golden castles and fill them with little princesses and their pets.

Sidda slept: Outside the house.

Leela accompanied: Sidda when he went out to buy sugar one evening.

Leela’s mother noticed: That a gold chain Leela had been wearing was missing when she came home with Sidda.

Sidda was accused of: Stealing the gold chain.

A complaint was lodged: By Mr Sivasanker to the police.

Sidda was arrested: Four days later.

Ultimately the chain was found inside: A tamarind pot by Mrs Sivasanker.

Textual Grammar Class XI WBCHSE | Leela's Friend - English Studies 2020

Textual Grammar Class XI WBCHSE | Leela’s Friend Textual Grammar :

A. Change the Voice:

1. Don’t send him away.
Ans: Let him not be sent away.

2. Sidda was given two meals a day and four rupees a month.
They gave Sidda two meals a day and four rupees a month.

3. His company made her supremely happy
Ans: She was made supremely happy by his company.

4. Now throw the ball into the sky.
Ans: Now let the ball be thrown into the sky.

5. Now this has touched the moon.
Ans: Now the moon has been touched by this.

6. Leela keenly examined the ball for traces of the moon.
Ans: The ball was keenly examined by Leela for traces of the moon.

7. He covered the ball tightly with his fingers.
Ans: The ball was covered tightly by him with his fingers.

8. He allowed her to peep through a little gap.
Ans: She was allowed by her to peep through a little gap.

9. Can we touch the sky ?
Ans: Can the sky be touched by us ?

10. I will show you something nice.
Ans: You will be shown something nice by me.

11. He took her to the backyard.
Ans: She was taken by him to the backyard.

12. I have asked it to follow us about.
Ans: It has been asked by me to follow us about.

13. She knew two of three letters of the alphabet.
Ans: Two or three letters of the alphabet were known to her.

14. She could draw a kind of cat or crow.
Ans : A kind of cat or crow could be drawn by her.

15. You are always abusing and worrying Sidda.
Ans : Sidda is always being abused and worried by you.

16. The thought of Sidda made her panicky.
Ans: She was made panicky by the thought of Sidda.

17. Leela made a noise of deprecation.
Ans A noise of deprecation was made by Leela.

18. They will pick him up very soon.
Ans: He will be picked up by them very soon.

19. A police inspector and a constable brought in Sidda.
Ans: Sidda was brought in by a police inspector and a constable.

20. Leave him alone.
Ans: Let him be left alone.

21. He hasn’t taken the chain.
Ans: The chain hasn’t been taken by him.

22. Mr. Sivasanker carried Leela back into the house.
Ans Leela was carried back into the house by Mr. Sivasanker.

23. She washed off coating of tamarind on it.
Ans: The coating of tamarind on it was washed off by her.

24. Did you put it in ?
Ans: Was it put in by you ?

25. She must have dropped it into the pot sometime.
Ans: It must have been dropped into the pot sometime by her.

26. We couldn’t have kept a criminal like him in the house.
Ans: A criminal like him couldn’t have been kept in the house by us.

B. Change the Mode of Narration:

1. “Sir, do you want a servant ?” Sida asked.
Ans: Addressing Mr. Sivasanker as Sir, Sidda asked him if he wanted a servant.

2. “Where were you before ? he asked.
Ans: He asked where he (Sidda) had been before.

3. “They left the town, master,” Sidda said.
Ans: Addressing Mr. Sivasanker as ‘master’ Sidda said that they had left the town.

4. And then she said, “Now throw the ball into the sky.”
Ans: And then she said (to Sidda) to throw the ball into the sky then.

5. “Have you done it ?” asked Leela.
Ans: Leela asked if he (Sidda) had done it.

6. She said, examining his effort, “Is this how I have drawn the cow?
Ans: Examining his effort, she asked (Sidda) if that was how she had drawn the cow.

7. “Tell me a story, Mother,” Leela said.
Ans: Leela entreated her mother to tell her a story.

8. “Can’t you tell the story of the elephant ?” Leela asked.
Ans: Leela asked (her mother) if she could not tell her the story of the elephant.

9. Leela said, “Sidda is gone because he wouldn’t be allowed to sleep inside the house just as we do.”
Ans: Leela said that Sidda was gone because he would not be allowed to sleep inside the house just as they did.

10. “Don’t go near him”, the inspector said, stopping her.
Ans: Stopping her, the inspector told not to go near him.

11. “Why did you run away without telling us ?” asked Leela’s mother.
Ans: Leela’s mother asked why he had run away without telling them.

12. The inspector said to the constable, “Take him to the station.”
Ans: The inspector told the constable to take him to the station.

13. Leela ran behind them crying, “Don’t take him. Leave him here, leave him here.”
Ans: Running behind them crying Leela requested not to take him. She repeatedly told them to leave him there.

14. Mr. Sivasanker’s wife asked, “Any news of the jewel ?”
Ans: Mr. Sivasanker ‘s wife asked if there was any news of the jewel.

15. “What a rough fellow he must be !” said his wife with a shiver.
Ans: His wife exclaimed with a shiver that he must be a very rough fellow.

16. “How did it get into the tamarind pot ?” Mother asked.
Ans: Mother asked (Leela) how it had got into the tamarind pot.

17. “Did you put it in ?” asked Mother
Ans: Mother asked (Leela) if she had put it in.

18.Why should not Sidda sit in our chair, Mother ?” Leela asked.
Ans: Leela asked her mother why Sidda should not sit in their chair.

19. “Why didn’t you say so before ?” Leela’s mother said to Leela.
Ans: Leela’s mother asked Leela why she had not said so before.

20. Mr. Sivasanker said, “Didn’t I tell you that I saw her carrying it in her hand once or twice ?”
Ans. Mr. Sivasanker asked if he had not told her that he had seen her carrying it in her hand Once or twice.

C. Split into Simple Sentences:

1.Sidda was hanging about the gate at a moment when Mr. Sivasanker was standing in the front veranda of his house, brooding over the servant problem.
Ans: (a) Sidda was hanging about the gete. (b) Mr. Sivasanker was standing in the front veranda ot his house at that moment. (c) He was brooding over the servant problem.

2. Leela, their five-year-old daughter, come out, looked at Sidda and gave a cry or Joy.
Ans: (a) Leela was their five-year-old daughter. (b) She came out. (c) She looked at Sidda. (d) She gave a cry of joy.

3. Sidda clutched the ball, closed his eyes for a second and threw the ball up.
Ans: (a) Sidda clutched the ball. (b) He closed his eyes for a second. (c) He threw the ball up.

4. He covered the ball tightly with his fingers and allowed her to peep through a little gap.
Ans: (a) He covered the ball tightly with his fingers. (b) Affer that he allowed her to peep through a little gap.

5. She had a box filled with catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils.
Ans: (a) She had a box. (b) It was filled with catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils.

6. But that good fellow, through an adept at controlling the moon, was utterly incapable of plying the penal.
Ans: (a) That good fellow was an adept at controlling the moon. (b) But he was utterly incapable of plying the pencil.

7. Leela would drop the pencil and run out of the room, and the school hour would end.
Ans: (a) Leela would drop the pencil. (b) She would run out of the room. (c) The school hour would end in that way.

8. She had to go back into the kitchen for a moment because she had left something in the oven.
Ans. (a) She had left something in the oven. (b) So, she nad to go back into the kitchen for a moment.


9. She shuddered to think what a villain she had been harbouring all these days.Ans: (a) She had been harbouring a villain al these days. (b) That thought made her shudder.

10. A days later, putting her hand into the tamarind pot in the kitchen, Leela’s mother picked up the chain.Ans: a) A few days later Leela’s mother put her hand into the tamarind pot. b) The tamarind pot was in the kitchen. c) She picked up the chain from that.

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Meeting at Night – Important Short Questions

Meeting at Night – Important Short Questions (SAQ) for Class XI Students, WBCHSE, West Bengal.

Meeting at Night – Important Short Questions:


Short Answer Type Questions (SAQ)

1. Why is the poet’s persona out on a journey at night?

Ans: The poet persona is out on a journey at night because he wants to meet his beloved secretly.

2. How does Browning describe the moon in the poem?

Ans: In the poem Browning describes the yellow half moon as large and low.

3. What is the colour of the sea?

Ans:  The colour of the sea is grey.

4. How long is the sea-scented beach?

Ans: The sea-scented beach is one mile long.

5. Why does the lover tap at the pane?

Ans: The lover taps at the pane to announce his arrival to his beloved.

6. Where does the boat slow down?

Ans: The boat slows down as it reaches the cove and touches the slushy sand.

7. What does the poem “Meeting at Night” record?

Ans: The poem “Meeting at Night” records the lover’s journey and his secret meeting with his beloved.


8. What does the word ‘prow’ mean?

Ans: The word ‘prow’ means the pointed face of a boat or ship.

9. What does the ‘fiery ringlets’ stand for?

Ans: The ‘fiery ringlets’ stand for the secret passion and anticipation of the lover before meeting his beloved.

10. In the poem what does the word ‘cove’ mean?

Ans: Here the word ‘cove’ means bay.

11. Where do the lovers meet?

Ans: The lovers meet secretly at a farmhouse quite at a distance from the sea.

12. Why does the waves startle?

Ans: The waves startle because of the approaching boat which, according to the poet, wakes them up from their sleep.

13. How is the land described in the poem?

Ans: In the poem the land is black which indicates that the time of the journey was night.

14. What did the beloved do to announce her presence?

Ans: The beloved scratches a matchstick which gives out a blue spurt of light to announce her presence.

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Leela's Friend -broad / long / descriptive important questions and answers for Class - 11th

Leela's Friend broad / long / descriptive important questions and answers for Class - 11th ( WBCHSE and other board )

Leela’s Friend – Important Questions and Answers. Descriptive or Broad Questions for XI Students of West Bengal, WBCHSE.


Q.Why Sidda’s company made Leela ‘supremely happy’ ?

                                 OR

Why was Leela so fond of Sidda’s company ?


Ans:-In Leela's Friend Leela, five years old daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Sivasanker makes friendship with their newly appointed servant, Sidda.Sidda’s stay at Sivasanker’s house turned out to be much enjoyable and invigorating to little Leela.In him Leela found a reliable companion who would be willing to carry out her orders and demands beyond his routine jobs, thereby, Sidda’s company made her supremely happy. On the other hand, Sidda was an imaginative storyteller who could easily touch the imaginative mind of Leela. Sidda showed Leela the tricks regarding the ball and the moon. He motivated her to believe that it touched the moon before coming down and a little bit of the moon stuck to it. Even in the bed time, Sidda had to be ready with a story. He sat down on the floor near the bed and told incomparable stories: of animals in the jungle, of gods in heaven, of magicians who could conjure up golden castles and fill them with little princesses and their pets. In this way Sidda come closer of Leela who perhaps had never received such company and close friendship from her parents.These are the things that made Leela supremely happy.

Q. What were Sidda's duties at Mr. Sivasanker's house? What was he given in return of his work ?

                                  OR

What duties did Sidda perform at Sivasanker’s house? What was given to Sidda in exchange of his duties? Was he merely a servant ?


Ans:-In the short story Leela’s Friend by R.K Narayan, Sidda worked as a servant at Mr. Sivasanker’s house. His duty was to wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop the wood and look after Leela.
                  In exchange of his work, Sidda was given two meals a day and four rupees a month. He had to sleep outside the house as he was the servant of the house.
                   There is no denying of the fact that Sidda joined the house as a servant but gradually he became Leela’s favourite friend. Though he was ill treated by Leela’s parents, but Leela always wanted to be in his company.


Q.Describe Leela as a teacher of Sidda.                                        OR
How Leela attempts to ‘educate’ Sidda ?


Ans:-The small girl Leela had an opportunity to overrule Sidda when she was a teacher. At dusk, she held a class for him. She had a box filled with catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils. It gave her great joy to Sidda. She made him squat on the floor with a pencil between his fingers and a catalogue in front of him. She had another pencil and a catalogue and commanded, ‘Now write.’ And he had to try and copy whatever she wrote in the pages of her catalogue. She knew two or three letters of the alphabet and could draw a kind of cat and crow. But none of these could Sidda even remotely copy said, ‘Is this how I have drawn the crow? Is this how I have drawn the B?’ She pitied him and redoubled her efforts to teach him. But that good fellow, though an adept at controlling the moon, was utterly incapable of plying the pencil. Consequently, it looked as though Leela would keep him there pinned to his seat till his stiff, inflexible wrist cracked. To get relief from this pain Sidda would say that her mother was calling her for dinner.’ Leela would drop the pencil and run out of the room, and the school hour would end.

Q. Why did Sidda tell Leela that he knows the moon ?

Answer: In Leela's Friend we see that Sidda’s company made Leela supremely happy. She flung a red ball at him and he flung it back. And then she asked him to throw the ball into the sky. He clutched the ball, closed his eyes for a second and threw the ball up. When the ball came down again, he said that the ball touched the moon and came back. Then he asked to see a little bit of the moon sticking. She keenly examined the ball for traces of the moon and said that she did not see the mark. He told her that he knew the moon because he wanted to make her happy. And Leela also blindly believed that.

Q.Describe Leela’s character.

Answer: Leela is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sivasankar. She is five years old cute and sweet girl. She likes to listening stories at bed time. Leela is a very good girl. She is interested to play and listening stories. Leela approved Sidda's appointment and told her parents that he was ok. This shows the intelligence and confidence of Leela. She always liked to play with her servant Sidda. Her parents loved Leela very much.  But Leela believes Sidda more than her parents and spent more time with Sidda. One day Sidda tells Leela that he knows the  moon but she believed the words of Sidda blindly. The innocent girl believes every word of Sidda. Immediately he expressed her desire to touch the moon. This shows the interest and excitement to learn about new things . One day she lost her gold chain her mother doubted Sidda as a thief. Leela asked her mother why Sidda was not  allowed to sleep inside the house because she does have respect for a servant. She blames her mother for Sidda's disappearance . She has not get maturity of mind to know about the people and the society but she had the ability of judging man. Basing on these we understand that Leela is innocent and good girl . Only she had the belief that Sidda was not a thief which was seen at the end the story.

Q.How did Leela try to teach Sidda ?

Ans:- Leela was a little girl who got the oppertunity of teaching Sidda, the servant of their family. Leela used to make Sidda squat on the floor with a pencil between his fingers and a catalogue in front of him. She then used to command him to write and Siidda had to try to copy whatever Leela wrote in the pages. When Sidda would fail to copy Leela’s writings and drawings, Leela would rebuke Sidda and redouble her efforts to teach him. But Sidda, though he had an excellent rapport with the Moon, was incapable of studying and Leela used to keep him there, pinned to his seat, till his still, inflexible wrist cracked. Sidda then used to say that he thought Leela’s mother was calling her to dinner and that would end the school hour. Thus she tried her best to teach Sidda.

Q.Describe the character of Sidda.

Ans:- In Leela's Friend Sidda has been described as a very responsible servant of the Sivasanker family and a reliable and constant companion of Leela. He performed all his duties faithfully and took good care of Leela. He had a great imaginative faculty and from his imagination sprung stories that enthralled Leela. He had great power of convincing little Leela and he made her believe that he had the power to control the moon. He had no interest in studies and never learnt anything that Leela tried to teach him. He also had no idea how to prove his innocence when he was accused of stealing the chain. He remained speechless throughout and fell victim because he belonged to the lower class whose voice is never heard. He was misunderstood but was not allowed to work again in their family.

Q.What message is conveyed by Mr. Sivasanker’s final words in the story: ” In any case, we couldn’t have kept a criminal like him in the house” ?

Ans:- The above quoted line is the last words of Mr Sivasanker which exposes the class division of the society and the utter indifference of the higher class towards the feelings and sufferings of the poor people. Though it was proved that Sidda did not steal Leela’s gold chain, Mr Sivasanker did not repent Sidda’s police custody and whatever information the inspector provided him about Sidda’s past became the basis of the understanding of Mr. sivasanker. He was eloquent in saying that a criminal like Sidda could not be kept in the house. The poor, thus, are not given a chance to live properly and honourably by the rich who always tend to pronounce judgement on them. Truly this pathetic system of class division should be abolished from society.

Q.How did a sweet relationship of love and trust grow between Sidda and Leela? Why was there a breach in the relationship ?

Ans:-An extremely sweet relationship grew up between Leela and Sidda. Sidda loved Leela and took very good care of her. In the absence of proper love and care from her parents Leela became entirely dependent on Sidda for almost all her needs ranging from roaming, playing, eating and going to sleep.There was actually no breach of trust between Leela and Sidda. They continued to love and trust each other but their relationship ended as Leela’s parents wrongly framed Sidda on charges of stealing and refused to give him entry in the house for a second time even though his innocence was proved.

Q.What did Leela’s parents think of Sidda after his escape from the house ? How did Leela make her mother responsible for the disappearance of Sidda ?

Ans:-Leela’s parents thought that Sidda had stolen the chain which Leela wore when Sidda escaped from the house that night. They felt that Sidda stole the chain and thinking about police he runs away.
             Leela knew that Sidda had not taken the chain. When her mother scolded Sidda and threatened police action against him and Sidda ran away as a consequence, Leela made her mother responsible for this. She told her mother that she was unnecessarily rude towards Sidda and that Sidda was angry because he was not allowed to dine with them and was made to sleep outside. Leela made her mother responsible for creating a division between them and Sidda. Thus Sidda was misjudged and was not allowed to work again.

Q.”Leela’s Friend” is actually the tragedy of Sidda. Discuss.

Ans:- The story is the story of friendship between Leela and Sidda. But at the end of the story “Leela’s Friend” we feel that it is really tragic.  Sidda has been described as a constant companion on whom the little Leela depended for all her needs. In the course of the story Sidda makes no mistake and does not steal the gold chain. He makes an error of judgement by running away from the household and is thus branded a thief by Mr and Mrs Sivasanker. This brings about his downfall and he again becomes a “nobody” with no one to love and nowhere to find shelter. He, in this way, becomes a real tragic character , though not a super hero like Macbeth or Hamlet. He was the victim of the system of society.

Q.How did Sidda’s company make Leela supremely happy ?

Ans:- In the story Leela's Friend Leela's family servant Sidda was always ready at the beck and call of Leela and used to give her company whenever Leela desired it. Sidda used to play with Leela, tell her about the moon which had an excellent rapport with him, take her wherever he went, acted as her student so that she could play as a teacher, make her eat her food and sing her to sleep. In this way he kept Leela with him throughout the day and took care of her as her friend, guide and guardian Whatever need an imaginative little girl had, Sidda used to fulfil that with his expertise in dealing with children. For all these reasons, Sidda’s company made Leela supremely happy.




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Leela’s Friend – Important Questions and Answers. Descriptive or Broad Questions for XI Students of West Bengal, WBCHSE.

Leela’s Friend – Important Questions and Answers. Descriptive or Broad Questions for class XI Students of West Bengal, WBCHSE.



1. Who was Sidda? How was he treated in the house of Sivasankers?

Ans: In the story “Leela’s Friend” by R.K. Narayan, Sidda was the servant in Mr. Sivasanker’s house.

In spite of being responsible, good-natured and a man of immaculate character, Sidda was badly treated by Mr. and Mrs. Sivasanker. Mrs. Sivasanker abused him without any reliable reason. Ahough he was innocent and good, he had to tolerate insult. Though he did not steal the chain, the inspector called him a devil. Mrs. Sivasanker also called him a thief. He was sacked from his job without any valid reason. In this way Sidda got injustice. The rich may do injustice to him, the law may treat him unjustly, but he would live for ever being an embodiment of humanity in the minds of the grief-stricken readers.





2. “Day by day she clung closer to Sidda” -How did Leela cling closer to Sidda day by day?

Ans: Leela’s attachment for Sidda increased day by day because she got everything she desired from Sidda. Leela liked to play the teacher to Sidda and Sidda agreed to be her obedient student. She insisted on his learning a few letters and Sidda underwent the drudgery of learning. When he felt such pressure unbearable, he diverted her attention. He would say to her that her mother was  calling her. Leela failed to understand his trick. She was, however, very happy to be with Sidda. Even she was lulled to sleep by the fantastic and surprising stories of Sidda. Thus, she clung closer to Sidda day by day. She accompanied him whern he was chopping wood or tending the garden. She was also with him when he was sent on errands. She was so happy with him that she always wanted his company for all her waking hours.

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Leela’s Friend – Important Short Questions For Class XI, WBCHSE, West Bengal.

Leela’s Friend – Important Short Questions For Class XI, WBCHSE, West Bengal.


1. Who is Leela?

Ans. Leela is the five-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sivasanker.

2. Why was Sidda asked to come in?

Ans. Sidda was asked to come in because Mr. Sivasanker was looking for a servant and Sidda was looking for a job of a servant.

3. Who is Mr. Sivasanker?

Ans. Mr. Sivasanker is Leela’s father.

4. Who is Mrs. Sivasanker?

Ans. Mrs. Sivasanker is Leela’s mother.

5. Who is Sidda?

Ans. Sidda is Leela’s friend who is the main character of the short story.


6. When did Leela hold class for Sidda?

Ans. Leela held class for Sidda at dusk.

7. What did Leela know to write and draw?

Ans. Leela knew to write two or three letters of the alphabet and draw a kind cat and crow.

8. Why did Leela run to her bed after dinner?

Ans: After dinner Leela ran to her bed because Sidda was ready there with stories of animals, jungle.

9. Who climbs the coconut tree to touch the moon?

Ans: Sidda climbs up  the tree to touch the moon.

10. Why did Sidda lose his last job?

Ans: Siddha lost his last job because the doctor who was his employer had left the town.

11. What work would Sidda do in Mr Sivasanker’s house?

Ans: Sidda would wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop woods and look after Leela.

12. What did Leela ask Sidda to draw?
Leela asked Sidda to draw the crow and the letter B

13. How much would Sidda be paid for the work in Sivasanker’s house?

Ans: They paid Sidda four rupees per month and two meals a day for the work in Sivasanker’s house.

14. Why did Leela refuse to go to bed after her meal?

Ans: Leela refused to go to bed after her meal because she wanted Sidda there to tell her stories, but Sidda was not there.

15. Give the name of the collection from which the story “Leela’s Friend” is taken.

Ans: The short story Leela’s Friend is taken from the collection “Malgudi Days”.

16. Who first noticed that Leela’s gold chain was missing?

Ans: Mrs. Sivasanker, Leela’s mother,  noticed that Leela’s gold chain was missing.

17. Who was suspected to have stolen the gold chain of Leela?

Ans: Sidda was suspected to have stolen the gold chain of Leela

18. Who did not believe that Sidda was not a thief?

Ans: The little girl Leela did not believe that Sidda was a thief.

19. Where was Mr Sivsanker standing when Sidda was hanging about the gate?

Ans: Mr Sivasanker was standing in the front veranda of his house when Sidda was hanging about his gate.

20. How did Sidda look when Mr Sivasanker subjected him to a scrutiny?

Ans: When Mr Sivasanker subjected Sidda to a scrutiny, he did not seem to be a bad sort and he looked tidy enough.

21. “She clung to Sidda’s hand” – Who is referred to here as ‘she’ in the line?

Ans: Here “she” refers to Leela, a 5 year old girl and the friend of Sidda.

22. What was Mr. Sivasanker brooding over standing in the veranda of his house? (2018)

Ans: Standing in the veranda of his house Mr Sivasanker was brooding over the servant problem.

23. What is Mr Sivasanker’s first impression of Sidda?

Ans: The first impression of Mr Sivasanker about Siddha was that he did not seem to be a bad sort and looked tidy.

24. Why did Sidda leave the old Master’s house?

Ans: Sidda left the old Master’s house because they left the town.

25. What kind of job Sidda do in the Sivasanker’s  household?

Ans:In the Sivasanker’s household Sidda had to wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop woods, and look after Leela.

26. Who asked Sidda to throw the ball into the sky?

Ans: Leela asked Sidda to throw the ball into the sky.

27. What filled Leela’s box?

Ans: Catalogues, illustrated books and stumps of pencils filled Leela’s box.

28. What did Leela ask Sidda to draw?

Ans: Leela asked Sidda to draw a cat and a crow.

29. How did Sidda put Leela to sleep?

Ans: Sidda put Leela to sleep by telling some stories of animals, birds, magicians, princess and their pets.

30. Where did Leela go with Sidda?

Ans: Leela went out to buy sugar with Sidda.


31. “I have not taken it” – What does it refer to here?

Ans: Here ‘it’ refers to the missing gold chain of Leela.

32. Where did Leela’s mother find the chain?

Ans: Leela’s mother found the chain in a tamarind pot.

33. How many letters of the alphabet did Leela learn?

Ans: Leela learnt two or three letters of the alphabet.

34. How, according to Sidda, can a man touch the sky?

Ans: According to Sidda, a man can touch the sky if he stands on a coconut tree.

35. What made Leela supremely happy?

Ans: Sidda’s company made Leela supremely happy.

36. Who asked Sidda to throw the ball into the sky?

Ans: Leela asked Sidda to throw the ball into the sky.

37. Give the name of the only person who believed that Sidda was not a thief.

Ans: The name of the only person who believed that Sidda was not a thief was Leela.

38. Why was Leela’s Mother unable to tell her story when requested?

Ans: When Leela’s mother was requested by Leela to tell story, she was unable to tell story because her mind was disturbed and thought of Sidda made her panicky.

39. Where was the gold chain found?

Ans: The gold chain was at last found in the tamarind pot.

40. What did Sidda do to seek relief from Leela’s class?

Ans: Sidda sought relief from Leela’s class by saying that Leela’s mother was calling Leela in to dinner.

41. “Her mother gave her a slap.” – Why did her mother give her a slap?

Ans: Leela’s mother slapped her because Leela lost her gold chain.

42. “Let us keep him in our house.” – Who said this?

Ans: Leela said this.

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On Killing a Tree | Bengali Meaning | Bengali Translation

ON KILLING A TREE

Gieve Patel

     Bengali Translation // বঙ্গানুবাদ 

It takes much time to kill a tree,      একটা গাছকে মারতে অনেক সময় লাগে,

Not a simple jab of the knife             ছুরির একটি সাধারণ খোঁচা

Will do it. It has grown                     এটা করতে পারেনা। এটা বড় হয়েছে

Slowly consuming the earth,            ধীরে ধীরে মাটিকে শোষণ করে,

Rising out of it, feeding                    এটার মধ্যে থেকে ওঠে, প্রতিপালিত হয়    

Upon its crust, absorbing                 এটার আস্তরণের উপর, শোসন করে  

Years of sunlight, air, water,    সূর্যের আলো, বাতাস, জল বছরের পর বছর ধরে

And out of its leprous hide              এবং এটার  রুক্ষ ছালের মধ্যে 

Sprouting leaves.                             লুকিয়ে থাকে নতুন পাতা।

So hack and chop                          তাই এটাকে কেটে টুকরো টুকরো করে দাও

But this alone won't do it.                কিন্তু শুধু এটাই তাকে মারতে পারবেনা।

Not so much pain will do it.           এর অসহ্য বাথাও তাকে মারতে পারবেনা

The bleeding bark will heal            ওই রক্তাক্ত ছাল আবার ঠিক হয়ে যাবে

And from close to the ground          এবং মাটির কাছ থেকে 

Will rise curled green twigs,            জন্মাবে কুকড়ানো সবুজ ডাল,

Miniature boughs                             ক্ষুদ্র ডালগুলি

Which if unchecked will expand again /  যেগুলি যদি লক্ষ্য করা না হয়, আবার বিস্তারিত হবে

To former size                                          আগের আকারে।

No                                                  না

The root is to be pulled out-            শিকরটাকে তুলতে হবে-   

Out of the anchoring earth;             মাটির ভেতর থেকে বাইরে; 

It is to be roped, tied,                      এটাকে দড়ি বাঁধতে হবে শক্ত করে

And pulled out-snapped out           এবং উপড়ে ফেলতে হবে, ছিঁড়ে ফেলতে হবে

Or pulled out entirely,                     অথবা পুরোটাই টেনে তুলতে হবে,

Out of the earth-cave,                     পৃথীবির গহ্বর থেকে          

And the strength of the tree exposed, এবং গাছের শক্তি উন্মুক্ত হয়ে যাবে,

The source, white and wet,              ওই উৎসটা, সাদা এবং ভেজা, 

The most sensitive, hidden              যেটা সবথেকে অনুভুতিশীল, লুক্কায়িত ছিলো

For years inside the earth.               বছরের পর বছর ধরে মাটির মধ্যে।

Then the matter                               এর পরের ব্যাপারটা হল

Of scorching and choking                ঝলসানো আর শ্বাসরোধ করা

In sun and air                                   রৌদ্রে এবং বাতাসে

Browning, hardening,                      বাদামি করা, শক্ত করা,

Twisting, withering,                         মোচড় দেয়া, শুকিয়ে ফেলা,

And then it is done                          এবং তবেই এটা হবে।

                   

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