The Child's Return | BOSEM Class 10 English

 Class - X

English Literature Reader

Chapter - 3

The Child's Return

Rabindranath Tagore

I. Answer the following questions in a sentence each.

1. How could Raicharan get a complete hold over Anukul's new-born son?

Ans.: - Raicharan was able to establish a strong bond with Anukul's newborn son by showering the child with unconditional love.

2. What was to Raicharan an epoch in human history?

Ans.: - Raicharan considered it a momentous event in human history when the baby started to walk.

3. What was Raicharan doing when the search party reaches him?

Ans.: - When the search party locates him, Raicharan is discovered running back and forth in the field, calling out "master, Master, Little Master" with tears in his eyes."

4. Why did Raicharan melt down his wife's ornaments?

Ans.: - Raicharan decided to melt his wife's jewelry to create gold bangles and anklets for his son.

5. How did Anukul receive Raicharan when he went to him after many years?

Ans.: - Anukul felt a deep affection for his former servant and kindly offered to rehire him.

6. What was Phailna's feeling when he saw that he was the son of a wealthy magistrate?

Ans.: - Phailna felt furious, believing that he had been deceived for so long about his rightful inheritance.

7. The money Anukul sent to Raicharan in his village came back. What does this show?

Ans.: - When the money Anukul sent to Raicharan in his village were returned, it indicated that Raicharan had not gone back to his village.

II. Answer briefly.

1. How did Raicharan show his ingenuity to the Little Master?

Ans: - Raicharan was required to act as a horse, holding the reins in his mouth and prancing with his feet. Additionally, he was expected to engage in play-wrestling with the Little Master, simulating defeat, as any failure to do so would result in an outcry.

2. Whenever Raicharan took the Little Master out for a walk, what ritual did Raicharan do with ceremonial pride?

Ans.: - Whenever Raicharan took the Little Master for a walk, he would dress the child in gold bangles, anklets, a satin waistcoat, and a gold embroidered cap, doing so with a sense of ceremonial pride.

3. Describe the Padma in flood.

Ans.: - When the Padma river flooded, it resembled a colossal, voracious serpent. It engulfed terraces, villages, cornfields, and the riverbank, causing the soil to erode from the banks. The powerful roar of the rushing water could be heard from a distance. The swiftly moving masses of foam vividly demonstrated the speed of the current.

4. Why was the little Master attracted to the Kadamba flower?

Ans.: - A short while back, Raicharan crafted a go-cart using a kadamba flower ball. The Little Master was thrilled to pull it around with a string, keeping him so occupied that he didn't request Raicharan to play horse with him the entire day. This new creation captivated the boy's attention.

5. "...Raicharan was at his wits end." Why was Raicharan at his wit's end?

Ans.: - One day after the rain had ceased, Raicharan accompanied the young Master for a stroll. Amidst the flood water, the young Master spotted a Kadamba tree in full bloom. The child then requested Raicharan to gather some Kadamba flowers. Raicharan attempted to divert the boy's attention, but to no avail, leaving him at his wit's end.

6. "The mother went so far in her wild grief as to think it possible that Raicharan himself had stolen the child." What did the mother do?

Ans.: - The young Master vanished without a trace, leaving everyone puzzled about his whereabouts. Speculations arose, with some suggesting that gypsies could have been responsible for his disappearance. Even the mother entertained the unsettling thought that Raicharan, the caretaker, might have been involved, perhaps lured by the valuable gold ornaments adorned by the child.

7. Why did Raicharan resent his child?

Ans.: - Raicharan harboured feelings of resentment towards the child born to him. He believed that the child was born to replace the little Master in his affections. His deep love for the little Master made it impossible for him to love any other child, including his own son.

8. What are the arguments in favour of Raicharan's belief that his son was the little Master born as his son?

Ans.: - The reasons were as follows:

• His son was born soon after the little Master's death.
• His wife could not have accumulated enough merit to give birth to a son in middle age.
• The new baby said Ba-ba and Ma-ma just like the little Master.

9. Why did Raicharan's son not look on his father as a father?

Ans.: - Phailna did not consider Raicharan as his father, as Raicharan, despite showing fatherly affection, behaved more like a servant. Additionally, Raicharan never disclosed to anyone that he was Phailna's father.

10. How did Raicharan run into shortage of money?

Ans.: - The funds Raicharan obtained from selling his land had run out. His employer criticized his work due to his age, while the boy kept asking for increasing amounts of money.

11. "Have you any proof?" Why did Anukul ask this question?

Ans.: - Anukul, a magistrate, was accustomed to seeking evidence before reaching a verdict. This inclination led him to request proof from Raicharan when the latter claimed that Phailna was his son.

III. Answer the following question in about 80 words each.

1. How was the little Master lost?

Ans.: - One day, Raicharan took the young Master for a walk, and they arrived at a rice field by the bank of the river Padma. Suddenly, the child spotted a Kadamba flower tree in full bloom and expressed a desire to gather some flowers from it to make go-carts out of the flower balls. Raicharan, aware of the potential danger of leaving the child unattended, attempted to steer the child away from the tree. Despite Raicharan's efforts, the child remained determined to gather the flowers. Eventually, Raicharan cautioned the child not to leave the go-cart and went into the mud to pick some flowers. However, the child soon made his way to the river bank and pretended to fish. When Raicharan returned, he discovered that the boy was missing, and thus, the boy was lost.

2. Bring out the mother's reaction when she lost her son, the little Master.

Ans.: -  When Raicharan and the little Master didn't return until late afternoon, the mother grew very worried. She organized search parties in all directions. Later, when she found out that she had lost her son, she was extremely distressed. Everyone suspected that Padma might have taken the child. However, in her intense grief, the mother considered the possibility that Raicharan might have taken the boy for the gold ornaments he was wearing, although this was an irrational suspicion. In her distraught state, anything seemed possible to the mother. Ultimately, she instructed Raicharan to leave her home..

3. Why did a change come over Raicharan with regard to his son?

Ans.: - Raicharan found it difficult to love his own son because his heart was still filled with love for the deceased little master. He believed that it would be wrong to transfer his affection to his own son after what had transpired with the little Master. However, Raicharan's perspective gradually shifted as he began to observe similarities between his child and the little Master. He noticed that the way his child crawled, laughed, and cried resembled those of the little Master. Furthermore, when the child cried, Raicharan felt as though his little Master was crying from the land of the dead, yearning for his Chan-na. As his own child learned to say "Ba-ba" and "Ma-ma" with a baby accent, Raicharan suddenly realized the truth. The familiar sounds made it clear to him that the little Master could not escape the bond with his Chan-na, and thus had been reborn in his own home.

4. Why did Raicharan pamper the boy?

Ans.: - Raicharan noticed a striking resemblance between the deceased little Master and his own son, Phailna. He believed that the little Master cherished him so deeply that he couldn't bear to be separated from his Chan-na, and therefore, was reborn into the household as Phailna. These thoughts led Raicharan to alter his approach toward Phailna. He resolved that the boy would not endure any form of neglect from him. Consequently, he made the decision to raise Phailna as if he were the son of a wealthy magistrate. To achieve this, Raicharan melted down his late wife's jewellery to craft bangles and anklets for the boy, and he procured exquisite attire for him. Raicharan prohibited Phailna from mingling with other village children and, subsequently, ensured that he received an upbringing befitting that of a wealthy individual's son, even during his schooling. In this manner, he lavished the boy with care and attention.

5. Why did Raicharan decide to take Phailna to Anukul's house?

Ans.: - Raicharan continued to age, and his employer consistently criticized him for his inadequate work. He had been depriving himself of food for the sake of the boy. Consequently, he became physically frail and unable to perform his duties effectively. His memory faltered, and his mind became sluggish. Despite this, his employer demanded the same level of service without considering his condition. The money Raicharan had brought from the sale of his land was depleted. The boy frequently complained about his clothes and asked for more money. Additionally, Raicharan desired to repay his Master and Mistress, knowing they were grieving over the loss of their only child. Perhaps Raicharan sacrificed his own happiness for the future of his son.

6. "It would be wiser to believe." Why did Anukul decide that it would be wiser to believe that the boy Raicharan had brought was his son?

Ans.: - When Raicharan brought Phailna to Anukul's home, the mistress was ecstatic. She embraced him, laughing and crying simultaneously, showering him with affectionate touches and kisses. Her eager, longing gaze revealed her acceptance of him as her own son. Witnessing this heartfelt scene, Anukul felt a sense of joy. However, his professional instincts as a magistrate led him to seek evidence to confirm the boy's identity. Raicharan, feeling remorseful, admitted that only God knew he had taken the boy. Despite this confession, Anukul remained unconvinced. Nevertheless, observing his wife's immense happiness, he hesitated to press for proof, recognizing the potential distress it could cause her. Ultimately, he chose to believe for the sake of his wife's well-being.

Extra Questions

1. "The bay had gold ornaments on his body. Who knows?" Relate the reason why the Mistress accused Raicharan in the given manner.

Ans.: - After the evening had passed, Raicharan and the little Master did not return. The mistress, feeling anxious, sent men in all directions to search for them. The search party eventually found Raicharan, who was running around and calling out the little Master's name. When they asked him about the missing child, he admitted that he did not know anything about how or where his little Master had disappeared.

As people speculated about the situation, some suggested that the child might have been taken by gypsies. The mother, in her distress, even entertained the thought that Raicharan himself might have been involved in the disappearance, especially because the child was wearing gold ornaments.

2. "He was filled with remorse for his past neglect." Bring out how Raicharan tried to compensate for his past neglect.

Ans.: - Raicharan devoted himself entirely to the new baby, becoming its dedicated attendant. He raised the child as if it were the son of a wealthy man, purchasing a go-cart, a yellow satin waistcoat, and a gold-embroidered cap for the baby. He insisted that the child not play with anyone else, becoming the child's sole companion. As the baby grew, it was pampered and dressed in such luxurious attire that the villagers considered Raicharan to be unreasonably obsessed with the child.

When the time came for the boy to attend school, Raicharan sold his small piece of land and went to Calcutta. There, he struggled to find employment as a servant, but eventually succeeded in order to send Phailna to school. Raicharan spared no effort to provide the best education, clothing, and food for the boy, even though he himself lived on a meagre diet of just a handful of rice.