Key Words
| 1) Water | 8) Wada (Dalit settlement) |
| 2) Untouchability | 9) Oppression |
| 3) Struggle | 10) Panchama (Dalits who were considered outcastes) |
| 4) Injustice | 11) Tsunami |
| 5) Tears | 12) Mineral water |
| 6) Thirst | 13) Blood |
| 7) Village | 14) Life |
Metaphors
- Water as a witness: The poet uses water as a metaphor for centuries of oppression and injustice. Water has “seen” the suffering and discrimination experienced by the lower castes.
- Water as a movement: Water represents a powerful symbol of the Dalit struggle for equality and dignity, much like the Mahad struggle.
- Water as a commodity: The transformation of water into “mineral water” and its commodification by multinational corporations is metaphorical of how basic rights and resources of the poor are taken away and exploited.
- Water as life and death: Water is depicted both as a giver of life and a force that can “devour” lives, as in the case of floods and the tsunami.
Imageries
- Thirst of the wada: The image of the wada (Dalit settlement) parched for water, contrasted with the rest of the village, creates a strong visual of inequality.
- Strained muscles: The imagery of children walking miles and straining their necks to carry heavy pots of water symbolizes the physical and emotional burden placed on the marginalized.
- Burning Malapalle: The description of Malapalle burning to ashes for want of a pot of water paints a picture of destruction and the dire consequences of water scarcity.
- Blood like streams: The metaphor of blood flowing like streams emphasizes the violence and bloodshed in the struggle for water.
- Tsunami wave: The image of the tsunami wave represents the devastating power of water when it turns destructive.
- Bisleri bottle: Water sitting innocently in a “Bisleri bottle” contrasts sharply with the struggles depicted earlier, symbolizing commercialization and the disconnect from the human suffering associated with water.
Major Themes
- Caste-based Discrimination: The poem brings out the deep-rooted caste system in Indian society, where access to basic resources like water is denied to the marginalized.
- Gender and Social Injustice: Water symbolizes not just the struggle of the lower castes but also the compounded suffering faced by Dalit women, who bear the double burden of gender and caste oppression.
- Water as a Symbol of Power and Oppression: Water is central to the poem as a symbol of life but also becomes a tool of oppression. The denial of water rights to the Dalits and the commodification of water by corporations highlights the imbalance of power.
- Struggles for Equality: The poem reflects historical struggles like the Mahad movement, where Dalits fought for the right to access public water sources.
- Commodification of Natural Resources: The transformation of water from a basic necessity into a market commodity underlines the exploitation of resources by the wealthy and the powerful.
- Human Rights and Social Movements: Water serves as a metaphor for larger human rights issues, suggesting that basic necessities are often denied to the underprivileged while being freely available to others.
- Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.
(2 Marks Questions)
- What does the water represent in the poem?
Answer: The water represents the struggles and hardships faced by the marginalized communities.
- Why does the poet say that water knows everything?
Answer: The poet says water knows everything because it has witnessed the pain, suffering, and injustice faced by generations.
- What does the poet remember when she sees water?
Answer: The poet remembers how her community struggled for water and the long distances they had to walk to get it.
- How does the poet describe the difference between the village and the wada?
Answer: The poet describes that the wada (where the lower caste people live) often thirsted for water, while the village had easy access to it.
- What is the significance of the ‘Mahad struggle’ in the poem?
Answer: The ‘Mahad struggle’ symbolizes the fight for equal rights to access water, especially for the oppressed classes.
- How does the poet describe the transformation of water into ‘mineral water’?
Answer: The poet describes how water, once a basic need, is now turned into a market commodity like ‘mineral water.’
- Why is water important to the wada community?
Answer: Water is important because it is scarce for them, and they have to fight for every drop, unlike the rest of the village.
- What does the poet mean when she says ‘water is not simply H2O’?
Answer: The poet means that water is not just a scientific element; it holds deep social and emotional significance for marginalized communities.
- How did the lack of water affect the Malapalle community?
Answer: The Malapalle community suffered greatly due to a lack of water, with their homes burning down in the process.
- What does the poet say about the power of water?
Answer: The poet says water can give life but also take lives through natural disasters like floods and tsunamis.
- What is the main issue discussed in the poem?
Answer: The main issue discussed is the unequal access to water between different communities, especially the marginalized.
- Who are the wada people in the poem?
Answer: The wada people are from the lower castes, and they face discrimination in accessing water.
- Why is the poet angry about the commercialization of water?
Answer: The poet is angry because water, which is a basic need, is now being sold as a product, making it inaccessible to the poor.
- What struggles do the wada children face according to the poet?
Answer: The wada children walk long distances to fetch water, carrying heavy pots on their heads.
- What does the poet say about the village bathing habits?
Answer: The poet says that the village people could bathe twice a day, while the wada people had to wait for a weekly bath.
- How did the water impact the Dalit woman in Karamchedu?
Answer: The Dalit woman, Suvarthamma, used her water pot as a symbol of protest when the landlords tried to stop her from accessing water.
- What happened to the Malapalle due to water scarcity?
Answer: The Malapalle burned to ashes because they didn’t have enough water to protect their homes.
- How does water become dangerous, according to the poem?
Answer: Water becomes dangerous when it causes natural disasters like floods and tsunamis, destroying entire villages.
- Why does the poet say that water contains the world?
Answer: The poet says this to show that water holds many stories of struggle, life, death, and injustice.
- What do the poet’s memories of childhood reveal about water?
Answer: The memories reveal that fetching water was a difficult task for her community, and they had to make great efforts to get it.
- How does the poet use water as a metaphor in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses water as a metaphor to represent the struggles, oppression, and resistance faced by marginalized communities.
- How does the poem show the connection between water and human rights?
Answer: The poem shows that access to water is a basic human right that has been denied to certain communities, leading to injustice.
- Why is water both a symbol of life and death in the poem?
Answer: Water is a symbol of life because it sustains us, but it is also a symbol of death when it causes floods or is denied to those in need.
- Answer the following questions in about 60 words each
(3 Marks)
- What does the poet mean when she says water knows the “generations-old strife” between the village and the wada?
Answer: The poet uses water as a symbol of awareness. She suggests that water has witnessed the long history of conflict and discrimination between the upper-caste village and the lower-caste wada. This strife is primarily about the inequality in access to basic resources like water, reflecting the social injustice suffered by the wada community.
- How does the poem describe the daily challenges faced by the wada people in accessing water?
Answer: The poem explains how the wada people have to wait by the well for someone from the higher castes to arrive and draw water for them. They cannot draw water themselves because of untouchability. The poem highlights the physical and emotional struggle involved in something as basic as getting water for the lower caste people.
- Why does the poet say that water is not just H2O for her community?
Answer: The poet says water is not just H2O because, for her community, it represents a long history of struggle, pain, and resistance. While water is a simple element for others, for the marginalized communities, it is a symbol of their fight for equality, dignity, and access to basic human rights.
- What is the significance of the Mahad struggle in the poem?
Answer: The Mahad struggle represents a historical movement where Dalits fought for the right to access public water sources. In the poem, the Mahad struggle becomes a symbol of the larger fight for equality and justice, especially in securing the right to basic necessities like water, which had been denied to the lower castes for centuries.
- How does the poet highlight the impact of water scarcity in the Malapalle community?
Answer: The poet vividly describes how the lack of water led to the burning of the Malapalle community. The scarcity of water caused destruction and suffering in this community, reflecting how something as vital as water can become a matter of life and death, particularly for marginalized groups who face discrimination and deprivation.
- Why does the poet use the image of blood flowing like streams in the poem?
Answer: The image of blood flowing like streams symbolizes the intense struggle and sacrifices made by marginalized communities in their fight for equal access to water. The poet emphasizes that their battle for water has been long and painful, marked by bloodshed and suffering, yet they have never fully won the right to a sufficient and fair share of water.
- How does the poem show the difference between the lives of the village people and the wada people?
Answer: The poem contrasts the lives of the village people, who enjoy easy access to water and can bathe twice a day, with the wada people, who must walk long distances to collect water and have to wait for a weekly bath. This comparison highlights the inequality and injustice faced by the wada community regarding their access to basic necessities like water.
- Why does the poet describe water as both life-giving and destructive?
Answer: The poet describes water as life-giving because it sustains life, but also as destructive because it can cause natural disasters like tsunamis and floods, which destroy villages. Water can also destroy lives when people are denied access to it, as in the case of the marginalized communities who struggle to get enough water for survival.
- What does the poet mean by saying water can ignite struggles between communities?
Answer: The poet means that access to water can lead to conflicts between different groups, especially when some communities have more access than others. This unequal distribution can create tensions, as people fight for their right to water. The poem suggests that water has historically been a source of conflict and continues to be so.
- Why does the poet mention “mineral water” and its role in the poem?
Answer: The poet mentions “mineral water” to highlight the commercialization of water, where it is bottled and sold for profit by corporations. This reflects how something as essential as water, which should be available to everyone, is being turned into a product for the wealthy, making it even harder for the poor and marginalized communities to access clean water.
- What struggles does the poet’s community face when trying to access water?
Answer: The poet’s community faces the challenge of walking long distances to fetch water and being denied the right to draw water from wells due to untouchability. They have to rely on higher-caste people to pour water from a distance, and even then, they are often humiliated. The poet describes this daily struggle as a symbol of larger social injustices.
- How does the poet describe the well as a symbol of untouchability?
Answer: The poet describes the well as a place where the practice of untouchability is evident. The lower-caste people are not allowed to touch the well or draw water from it themselves. They must wait for someone from a higher caste to help them, often facing discrimination and humiliation in the process. This symbolizes the deep- rooted caste-based discrimination in society.
- What does the poet mean by “a single drop of water embodies tears shed over several generations”?
Answer: The poet suggests that water holds deep emotional and historical significance for her community. Every drop of water represents the pain and suffering experienced by generations of marginalized people who have been denied access to this basic resource. It symbolizes the tears, struggles, and resistance of those who have fought for equality and justice.
- Why is the weekly bath described as a “wondrous festival” for the poet’s community?
Answer: The weekly bath is described as a “wondrous festival” because it is a rare event for the poet’s community, who usually have limited access to water. Unlike the village people who can bathe daily, the wada people have to wait for their chance to bathe once a week, making it a special and significant occasion for them.
- How does the poem portray water as a symbol of injustice?
Answer: The poem portrays water as a symbol of injustice by showing how marginalized communities are denied equal access to it. The poem highlights how something as basic as water is withheld from certain groups, forcing them to fight for every drop while others enjoy it freely. This unequal access reflects the broader social and castebased injustices in society.
- What is the poet’s reaction to the commercialization of water?
Answer: The poet is critical of the commercialization of water, describing how it has been turned into a product sold by multinational companies. This transformation from a natural resource into a market commodity makes it even harder for poor communities to access clean water, deepening the existing inequality and injustice surrounding water.
- Why does the poet describe water as a powerful force that can “devour lives”?
Answer: The poet describes water as a powerful force that can “devour lives” because it has the potential to cause natural disasters like floods and tsunamis, which destroy entire communities. Water can also “devour” lives when people are denied access to it, leading to suffering and death, as seen in the struggles of the marginalized communities.
- What does the poet mean by saying “the poor are but playthings in its vicious hands”?
Answer: The poet means that the poor are often the most vulnerable when water becomes scarce or destructive. They suffer the most during natural disasters like floods and droughts, and they are also the ones who are denied access to clean water. The poor have little control over the distribution of water, making them helpless in the face of its power.
- How does the poet use the example of the wada girl to highlight social injustice?
Answer: The poet uses the example of the wada girl who is humiliated by a higher-caste person pouring water from a distance. When he accidentally touches her, it causes uproar, highlighting the deep-rooted practice of untouchability. This example emphasizes how everyday actions like fetching water are fraught with discrimination and social injustice.
- What message does the poet convey through her memories of fetching water as a child?
Answer: Through her memories, the poet conveys the hardships faced by her community in accessing water. She describes the physical strain of carrying heavy pots of water over long distances, and how water was a rare and precious resource for them. Her memories reflect the larger issue of water scarcity and social injustice faced by marginalized communities.
- How does the poet use her personal experiences to convey the theme of social injustice in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses her personal experiences, such as fetching water as a child and witnessing the humiliation faced by her community, to convey the theme of social injustice. These experiences reflect the discrimination and hardship endured by the lower-caste communities in accessing basic resources like water, making the theme of social injustice more relatable and powerful.
(FROM QUESTION BANK)
- What according to the speaker knows the ground’s incline in ‘Water’?
Answer: According to the speaker, water knows the ground’s incline.
- Generations-old-strife in ‘Water’ refers to the dispute between
- leather and spool.
- village and wada.
- Samaria woman and Jesus.
Answer: b) village and wada.
- What according to the speaker never disappears in ‘Water’?
Answer: According to the speaker, the water never disappears.
- Whose agony is for a pot of water as mentioned in ‘Water’?
Answer: The agony of the wada people is for a pot of water.
- Who is entitled to pour water into Panchama’s pot as mentioned in ‘Water’?
Answer: The upper caste people are entitled to pour water into Panchama’s pot.
Answer: The wada girl faced humiliation when a higher caste person accidentally touched her while pouring water.
- Whom did Karamchedu Suvarthamma mentioned in ‘Water’ oppose?
Answer: Karamchedu Suvarthamma opposed the upper caste people.
a) social injustice. b) pollution of pond c) ground’s incline.
Answer: a) social injustice.
- What is the speaker in ‘Water’ reminded of when she sees water?
Answer: The speaker is reminded of the generational struggles for water.
- Where did the Mahad struggle mentioned in ‘Water’ take place?
Answer: The Mahad struggle took place in Maharashtra.
- What would the speaker’s wada mentioned in ‘Water’ thirst for all day?
Answer: The speaker’s wada would thirst for a pot of water all day.
a) glass of water b) pot of water. c) puddle of water.
Answer: b) pot of water.
- What was welcomed as a wondrous festival according to the speaker in ‘Water’?
Answer: The weekly bath was welcomed as a wondrous festival.
- When does the speaker remember her childhood in ‘Water’?
Answer: The speaker remembers her childhood whenever she sees water.
- What was burnt to ashes for want of a pot of water according to the speaker in ‘Water’?
Answer: The speaker mentions that the village of Malapalle was burnt to ashes for want of a pot of water.
- are playthings in the vicious hands of water according to the speaker in ‘Water’?
a)TheMNCs b) The landlords c) The poor
Answer: c) The poor.
- What according to the speaker can water ignite in ‘Water’?
Answer: According to the speaker, water can ignite struggles between communities.
- Where does water finally become a commodity according to the speaker in ‘Water’?
Answer: Water finally becomes a commodity in multinational markets.
- What is now a multinational market commodity mentioned in ‘Water’?
Answer: Bottled water is now a multinational market commodity.
- What is the new name of water mentioned in ‘Water’?
Answer: The new name of water is “mineral water.”
- Answer the following questions in about 100 words each
(4 Marks)
- How is water witness to centuries of social injustice mentioned in ‘Water’?
Answer: In Water, the poet describes water as a silent witness to centuries of social injustice, particularly in the context of caste discrimination. The speaker recounts the agonizing experiences of marginalized communities who are denied access to water due to their lower social status. Water knows the long-standing struggles between the village and the wada, the untouchability practices, and the unfair treatment that has persisted for generations, symbolizing how social inequalities are deeply rooted in society.
- What are the things that the water knows in the poem ‘Water’?
Answer: In the poem, water is portrayed as an omniscient element that understands many injustices in society. It knows the incline of the ground and the generational conflicts between the village and the wada. Water is aware of the untouchability that never disappears, the agony of the Panchama waiting for a pot of water, the humiliation of the wada girl, and the rage of Suvarthamma. It also knows the disparities between communities, the commercialization of water, and its role in both sustaining life and causing destruction.
Answer: When the speaker sees water, she recalls various painful memories associated with it. She remembers her wada, which thirsted for water all day, and the struggles her community faced to access even a small amount of water. The speaker also reflects on how they cherished their weekly baths as a wondrous festival, in contrast to others who bathed luxuriously every day. She remembers walking long distances to fetch water from the canal, and how the village of Malapalle was burned to ashes for the lack of water.
- How can water give life and devour lives according to the speaker in ‘Water’?
Answer: According to the speaker, water has the dual power to both give life and devour it. On one hand, water is essential for sustaining life, quenching thirst, and nourishing the land. On the other hand, it can also be destructive, as seen in the case of natural disasters like tsunamis and floods that wipe out entire villages. Water’s ability to create and destroy highlights its immense power and the contrasting ways it affects different communities.
Answer: The irony in the speaker’s remark about the innocence of water lies in the fact that while water is an essential, life-giving element, it is also the source of immense suffering for marginalized communities. Water appears innocent and pure, yet it has been manipulated by society to create division and perpetuate inequality. The fact that something so necessary for life can be denied to certain people based on their caste or status reveals the deeper social injustices at play, making water’s “innocence” seem cruelly ironic.
Answer: Water highlights the stark disparity and discrimination that exists in society, particularly through the lens of caste-based injustice. The speaker recounts how marginalized communities, such as the wada people, are denied access to basic necessities like water, while the upper castes live in comfort. The poem reveals the ongoing struggle for equal access to water, a resource that should belong to all. The commercialization of water further deepens this divide, as those who can afford it gain access, while the poor continue to suffer.
Answer: In Water, the speaker attributes human-like qualities to water, suggesting that it “knows” about the humiliations, violence, and injustice experienced by lower-caste communities. Water knows the agony of those denied access to it, the humiliations faced by women, and the struggles of individuals like Suvarthamma who resist the dominance of the upper castes. These memories of water reflect the long history of social oppression and highlight the ongoing fight for equality and basic rights, such as the right to clean water.
- The right to water is not given equally in our society. How does the poem ‘Water’ prove this?
Answer: The poem Water illustrates the unequal distribution of water in society, particularly focusing on castebased discrimination. The speaker describes how the lower-caste communities are denied the right to draw water from wells, forced to rely on others for this basic necessity. The disparity is further highlighted by the commercialization of water, where those who can afford it have access to clean, bottled water, while the poor continue to struggle for even a drop. The poem brings to light the deep-seated injustice surrounding the access to water.
- Water that ignites struggles and strife can also be a market commodity. Examine the statement in the light of ‘Water’.
Answer: In Water, the poet illustrates how something as essential as water can be the cause of both social conflict and commercialization. For marginalized communities, access to water is a daily struggle, leading to social tensions and strife. At the same time, water has been commodified by corporations, transforming it into a market product, such as bottled mineral water. This commercialization highlights the irony that, while water is a source of conflict for the poor, it is also a profitable commodity for the wealthy, widening the social divide.
- Water is a luxury for one class and a struggle for another in our society. How does the poem ‘Water’ present this contrast?
Answer: The poem Water presents the stark contrast between those for whom water is a luxury and those for whom it is a daily struggle. The speaker recalls how the upper castes bathed luxuriously twice a day, while the lower-caste communities would walk long distances for a single pot of water. The poor cherished their weekly baths as a rare occasion, whereas the wealthy took water for granted. This contrast underscores the inequality in the distribution of water and reflects the broader social divide based on caste and economic status.