Key Characters
1. Narrator: The protagonist who finds himself in a precarious situation in a foreign city. He reflects on human nature and the kindness of strangers.
2. Restaurant Keeper: An antagonist who embodies the cruelty and mercilessness of the city’s inhabitants. He threatens the narrator when he cannot pay for his meal.
3. The Stranger: A tall, fair-complexioned man who rescues the narrator by paying his bill. He represents mercy and kindness in a harsh environment. He remains nameless, symbolizing the idea that true goodness does not seek recognition.
Major Themes
1. Human Kindness vs. Cruelty: The story contrasts the harshness of the city’s inhabitants with the unexpected kindness of the stranger, highlighting the duality of human nature.
2. Survival and Desperation: The narrator’s struggle to survive in a foreign land without money or support illustrates the desperation faced by many in difficult circumstances.
3. Identity and Anonymity: The stranger’s lack of a name emphasizes the idea that acts of kindness do not require recognition or reward, suggesting that true humanity lies in selfless actions.
4. The Nature of Evil: The story reflects on the prevalence of evil in society, as seen through the actions of the restaurant keeper and the general demeanor of the city’s people.
5. Hope and Redemption: Despite the overwhelming negativity, the act of kindness from the stranger serves as a beacon of hope, suggesting that goodness can exist even in the darkest places.
Key Concepts
1. Predicament: The narrator’s situation serves as a catalyst for exploring themes of vulnerability and the unpredictability of life.
2. Mercy: The concept of mercy is central to the story, embodied by the stranger who acts selflessly to help the narrator.
3. Cultural Displacement: The narrator’s inability to communicate effectively in the local language highlights the challenges faced by migrants and the feeling of isolation in unfamiliar environments.
4. Materialism vs. Humanity: The restaurant keeper’s obsession with money contrasts sharply with the stranger’s willingness to help without expecting anything in return, raising questions about societal values.
5. Memory and Reflection: The narrator’s recollection of the event years later underscores the lasting impact of kindness and the importance of remembering those who help us in times of need.
II. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.
(2 Marks Questions)
1. Who is the author of “Oru Manushyan”?
Answer: The author of “Oru Manushyan” is Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
2. What profession does the narrator have in the city?
Answer: The narrator teaches English to migrant labourers.
3. How much money did the narrator have in his wallet?
Answer: The narrator had fourteen rupees in his wallet.
4. What meal did the narrator order at the restaurant?
Answer: The narrator ordered chapatis and meat curry along with tea.
5. What did the restaurant keeper threaten to do to the narrator?
Answer: The restaurant keeper threatened to gouge out the narrator’s eyes.
6. Who rescues the narrator from the restaurant?
Answer: A tall, fair-complexioned stranger rescues the narrator.
7. What does the stranger ask the narrator to do after paying the bill?
Answer: The stranger asks the narrator to put on his clothes.
8. What does the stranger tell the narrator to do before leaving?
Answer: The stranger tells the narrator to go away without turning around.
9. What does the narrator call the stranger when he learns he has no name?
Answer: The narrator calls the stranger “Mercy.”
10. What is the main theme of “Oru Manushyan”?
Answer: The main theme is the contrast between human kindness and cruelty.
11. Why does the narrator feel vulnerable in the city?
Answer: The narrator feels vulnerable because he has no money, cannot speak the local language, and is in a dangerous environment.
12. How does the restaurant keeper’s behaviour reflect the nature of the city’s inhabitants?
Answer: The restaurant keeper’s cruel and threatening behaviour reflects the mercilessness and greed prevalent among the city’s inhabitants.
13. What does the stranger’s action of paying the bill signify?
Answer: The stranger’s action signifies selflessness and the existence of kindness even in a harsh environment.
14. How does the narrator’s perception of human nature change throughout the story?
Answer: The narrator’s perception changes from seeing the world as predominantly evil to recognizing that kindness can exist amidst cruelty.
15. What role does memory play in the narrator’s reflection on the incident?
Answer: Memory plays a crucial role as the narrator reflects on the kindness of the
stranger years later, highlighting its lasting impact.
16. Why is the stranger’s anonymity significant in the story?
Answer: The stranger’s anonymity emphasizes that true acts of kindness do not seek recognition or reward.
17. How does the setting of the story contribute to its themes?
Answer: The harsh and cruel setting of the city amplifies the themes of survival,
desperation, and the contrast between kindness and cruelty.
18. What does the narrator learn about human beings through his experience?
Answer: The narrator learns that while there is much evil in the world, there are also individuals capable of great kindness.
III. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each.
(3 Marks Questions)
1. Who is the author of “Oru Manushyan”?
Answer: The author of “Oru Manushyan” is Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. He is a celebrated writer in Malayalam literature, known for his unique storytelling style. Basheer’s works often explore the lives and struggles of ordinary people, capturing deep human emotions. His contributions to literature have made him a beloved figure among readers in India.
2. What profession does the narrator have in the city?
Answer: In the city, the narrator works as an English teacher for migrant laborers. His job is important because it helps these individuals learn English, which is essential for their communication and survival in a new environment. Teaching English empowers them to find better job opportunities and integrate into society, highlighting the value of education.
3. How much money did the narrator have in his wallet?
Answer: The narrator had fourteen rupees in his wallet, which represented all his savings at that moment. This small amount was insufficient to cover his meal at the restaurant, leading to a tense situation with the restaurant keeper. The limited money emphasizes the narrator’s vulnerability and the precariousness of his situation in the unfamiliar city.
4. What meal did the narrator order at the restaurant?
Answer: The narrator ordered chapatis and meat curry, along with a cup of tea, for his meal at the restaurant. This choice reflects his desire for a satisfying and hearty meal after a long day. However, the situation quickly turns tense when he realizes he cannot pay for the food, leading to a confrontation.
5. What did the restaurant keeper threaten to do to the narrator?
Answer: The restaurant keeper threatened to gouge out the narrator’s eyes if he could not pay the bill. This extreme reaction illustrates the harshness and cruelty that can exist in urban environments, especially towards those who are vulnerable. It highlights the theme of survival and the often unforgiving nature of city life for individuals in need.
6. Who rescues the narrator from the restaurant?
Answer: A tall stranger with a red turban rescues the narrator from the restaurant by paying his bill. This act of kindness comes unexpectedly and changes the narrator’s perspective on human nature. The stranger’s intervention not only saves the narrator from a humiliating situation but also restores his faith in the goodness of people in the city.
7. What does the stranger ask the narrator to do after paying the bill?
Answer: After paying the bill, the stranger asks the narrator to put on his clothes. This request signifies a moment of dignity for the narrator, allowing him to regain his composure after the distressing encounter with the restaurant keeper. It emphasizes the stranger’s role in helping the narrator maintain his self-respect during a challenging time.
8. What does the narrator call the stranger when he learns he has no name?
Answer: The narrator calls the stranger “Mercy” when he learns that the stranger has no name. This name symbolizes the kindness and compassion that the stranger has shown in a moment of crisis. It reflects the narrator’s gratitude and recognition of the stranger’s selfless act, which stands out in a world filled with cruelty and indifference.
9. Why does the narrator feel vulnerable in the city?
Answer: The narrator feels vulnerable in the city because he is alone, without money, and unable to communicate effectively in the local language. This sense of isolation makes him an easy target for exploitation and mistreatment. His lack of resources and support highlights the challenges faced by many individuals who migrate to urban areas seeking better opportunities.
10. How does the restaurant keeper’s behaviour reflect the nature of the city’s inhabitants?
Answer: The restaurant keeper’s cruel behaviour reflects the harsh realities of urban life, where many people prioritize profit over compassion. His willingness to threaten the narrator for a small debt illustrates a broader theme of survival of the fittest in the city. This behaviour serves as a commentary on how desperation can lead individuals to act unkindly towards others.
11. What does the stranger’s action of paying the bill signify?
Answer: The stranger’s action of paying the bill signifies an act of selflessness and compassion in a world that often lacks kindness. By helping the narrator, the stranger demonstrates that there are still good people who care for others, even in difficult circumstances. This act serves as a reminder that kindness can emerge unexpectedly, providing hope in challenging situations.
12. How does the setting of the story contribute to its themes?
Answer: The setting of the story, a bustling and often harsh city, contributes significantly to its themes of survival, kindness, and cruelty. The urban environment amplifies the struggles faced by individuals, showcasing the contrast between the harsh realities of city life and the moments of compassion that can arise. This setting serves as a backdrop for exploring the complexities of human interactions.
13. What does the narrator learn about human beings through his experience?
Answer: Through his experience, the narrator learns that while cruelty exists in the world, there are also individuals capable of great kindness. The stranger’s selfless act teaches him that compassion can emerge unexpectedly, even in the most challenging situations. This realization fosters a deeper understanding of human nature, encouraging him to appreciate the goodness that can be found in others.
(FROM QUESTION BANK)
1. How far was the big city from the narrator’s home-town?
Answer: About 200 kilometers.
2. The people in the city were not known for the quality of.
Answer: Kindness.
3. The people of the city were.
a) Honest b) cruel c) obedient
Answer: b) cruel.
4. By tradition, the people of the city were.
a. soldiers b. beggars c. teachers
Answer: a. soldiers.
5. Where would many people serve as watchmen in the big city?
Answer: In the streets and at various establishments.
6. What was highly valued by the people of the city?
Answer: Money.
7. What were the daily occurrences in the city?
Answer: Theft and violence.
8. How did the people earn money in the city?
Answer: By working in various low-paying jobs or through dishonest means.
9. For money, people would do anything, even commit.
Answer: Crimes.
10. Where did the narrator stay in the big city?
Answer: In a small, inexpensive lodging.
11. What did the narrator do to earn his living?
Answer: He taught English.
12. Who was taught English by the narrator?
Answer: Migrant laborers.
13. When did the narrator teach English to migrant laborers? Answer: In the evenings.
14. was considered great education in the city.
a) Learning English b) Teaching English
c) Learning to write an address in English
Answer: c) Learning to write an address in English.
15. People paidto write an address in English at the post office.
a) eleven annas b) four annas c) fourteen rupees
Answer: b) four annas.
16. When did the narrator wake up every day?
Answer: At dawn.
17. Why did the narrator have food only in the evening?
Answer: He could not afford to eat during the day due to his limited funds.
18. What was the narrator’s life’s savings?
Answer: Fourteen rupees.
19. How much did the narrator have in his wallet?
Answer: Fourteen rupees.
20. What did the narrator eat in the restaurant?
Answer: Chapatis and meat curry.
21. How much was the bill of the narrator in the restaurant?
Answer: Two rupees.
22. In ‘Oru Manushyan’, the narrator put his hands into his pockets and found that his.
a) wallet was not there b) wallet was there c) pocket was torn.
Answer: a) wallet was not there.
23. What was the threat of the owner of the restaurant to the narrator if the money was not paid?
Answer: He threatened to gouge out the narrator’s eyes.
24. The people in the restaurant looked like hungry.
a) wolves b) tigers c) lions
Answer: a) wolves.
25. The narrator was not ready to take off his.
a) coat b) shirt c) trousers
Answer: c) trousers.
26. Why was the narrator not ready to take off his trousers?
Answer: He felt embarrassed and wanted to maintain his dignity.
27. The man who came forward to pay the narrator’s bill was.
a) a man with a red turban b) a man dressed in a suit c) a money lender
Answer: a) a man with a red turban.
28. What did the narrator call the man who paid his bill?
Answer: He called him “Mercy.”
29. Who had picked the narrator’s wallet?
Answer: A thief in the city.
30. Where did the man with the red turban take the narrator?
Answer: He took him away from the restaurant to safety.
31. How many wallets did the thief have in his pockets?
Answer: Several wallets.
32. Who saved the narrator by paying his bill?
Answer: The man with the red turban.
IV. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each (4 Marks)
1. Describe the people and the place where the narrator stayed.
Answer: The narrator stayed in a big, busy city that felt very different from his small hometown. The people in the city were often unkind and focused on their own problems. Many seemed to care more about money than helping others. The streets were crowded and noisy, making the narrator feel lost and alone. He noticed that many people were struggling to survive, which made him feel scared and vulnerable. Overall, the city felt harsh and unfriendly, and the narrator found it hard to connect with the people around him, making his experience even more challenging.
2. What was the routine of the narrator in the big city?
Answer: The narrator had a busy and difficult routine in the big city. He woke up early every morning and spent his day looking for ways to earn money. His main job was teaching English to migrant workers in the evenings. During the day, he often walked around the city, trying to find work or help others. He usually skipped meals and only ate in the evening after his classes. This routine showed how hard it was for him to adjust to city life while trying to make a living and maintain his dignity in a challenging environment.
3. What was the narrator’s profession? What kind of people lived in the city?
Answer: The narrator was an English teacher, and he taught migrant workers who needed to learn the language for better job opportunities. The city was filled with many different people, but most of them were not very kind. Many residents were focused on making money and often acted selfishly. Some people worked hard, while others resorted to stealing or cheating to survive. This made the city feel dangerous and unfriendly. The narrator often felt scared and alone among the people living there, which made it difficult for him to connect with anyone in this harsh environment.
4. Describe the embarrassing experience suffered by the narrator in the restaurant.
Answer: The narrator had a very embarrassing experience in the restaurant when he realized that his wallet was missing. After enjoying a meal of chapatis and meat curry, he found out he couldn’t pay the bill. The restaurant owner became angry and threatened him, saying he would take away his dignity. The narrator felt ashamed and scared as he stood there without money. He was even asked to take off his trousers as a form of payment, which was incredibly humiliating for him. This experience made him feel very vulnerable and exposed in front of everyone, highlighting the harsh realities of his situation in the city.
5. How did the narrator lose his wallet? How did he finally pay the bill?
Answer: The narrator lost his wallet when a thief picked his pocket while he was walking through the busy streets of the city. He didn’t notice it was gone until he tried to pay for his meal at the restaurant. When he realized he had no money, he felt panic and embarrassment. Luckily, a kind stranger with a red turban saw what was happening and decided to help him. The stranger paid the bill for the narrator, saving him from a very embarrassing situation and showing that kindness still exists in the world, even in a tough city.
6. Who had picked the narrator’s wallet? How was he saved from a stranger?
Answer: A thief picked the narrator’s wallet while he was walking through the crowded streets of the city. This made it difficult for him when he went to the restaurant and found he had no money to pay for his meal. Just when he thought he was in big trouble, a tall stranger wearing a red turban came to help him. The stranger noticed the narrator’s distress and offered to pay the bill, which saved him from embarrassment. This act of kindness showed that even in a tough city, there are still good people willing to help others in need.
7. How did the stranger come to the help of the narrator?
Answer: The stranger came to help the narrator at a very important moment. When the narrator was in the restaurant and couldn’t pay his bill, he felt scared and embarrassed. The restaurant owner was threatening him, and he didn’t know what to do. The stranger, who wore a red turban, saw the narrator’s trouble and decided to step in. He offered to pay the bill, which saved the narrator from a humiliating situation. This kind act showed that even in a harsh city, there are people who care and are willing to help those in need, restoring the narrator’s faith in humanity.
8. The story ‘Oru Manushyan’ depicts the transformation in a man. Discuss.
Answer: The story “Oru Manushyan” shows how the narrator changes as he faces different challenges in the big city. At first, he is hopeful and believes in the goodness of people. However, as he experiences the harshness of city life, he becomes more aware of how cruel some people can be. The turning point comes when he is humiliated in the restaurant, which makes him feel vulnerable and alone. But when the kind stranger helps him, he learns that there is still kindness in the world. This experience transforms him, making him realize that even in difficult times, there are people willing to help.
9. “I have some vague notions about human beings,” says the narrator in ‘Oru Manushyan’. Do you agree with him? Elaborate.
Answer: I agree with the narrator’s statement about having vague notions about human beings. Throughout the story, he encounters both unkind and kind people, which makes it hard for him to understand humanity fully. His experiences in the city show that while some individuals are selfish and focused on their own problems, others are willing to help those in need. This mix of behaviors can create confusion about what people are truly like. The narrator’s journey reflects the complexity of human nature, where kindness and cruelty can exist side by side, leading to a deeper understanding of people over time.