Khetaram needs to submit information about himself for getting an identity card. While reading the text, fill up the following information sheet for Khetaram.
Sub-Questions
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions. Extract: “Akaal or famine is a way of life here. In a good year, I get one crop of bajra. That cannot feed my family of five. We would starve without this job,” he says. And for each family which resides in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative.
(i) it cannot feed his family of five
(ii) Famine is a frequent and persistent reality in the arid land, making it a normal part of their everyday existence rather than an exception.
(iii) The single crop of bajra he gets in a good year is not enough to feed his family of five, and they would starve without the income from the job.
(iv) job
(v) A year in which they are able to get at least one crop of bajra, as opposed to a year of complete famine.
The extract highlights the harsh living conditions in the arid land where Khetaram resides. For part (i), the text explicitly states that one crop cannot feed his family of five. For (ii), famine is termed a 'way of life' because it is a constant, defining reality for the residents. For (iii), Khetaram needs the job to avoid starvation since farming yields are insufficient. For (iv), the analogy contrasts the survival means of other families (money orders) with Khetaram's means (his job). For (v), a 'good year' is defined in the text by the yield of one bajra crop.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Read the extract carefully to understand the harsh conditions of the arid land.
Step 2: Locate the specific line 'That cannot feed my family of five' to answer part (i).
Step 3: Infer the meaning of 'way of life' as a constant, frequent occurrence to answer part (ii).
Step 4: Identify the threat of starvation and insufficient crop yield to answer part (iii).
Step 5: Compare the source of survival for others (money orders) with Khetaram's source (job) to complete the analogy in part (iv).
Step 6: Define 'a good year' using the textual reference 'I get one crop of bajra' for part (v).
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions. Extract: There is one letter delivery he dreads. The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. “Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house,” says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits. “Bad news must be destroyed,” he mutters philosophically.
(i) Option B. The sender of the letter tears the right corner off to signify that the missive bears news of death, serving as a pre-arranged signal for the postman.
(ii) he wants to ensure the bad news is read accurately before destroying it
(iii) Khetaram’s philosophy regarding bad news was that it is inauspicious and must not enter a home. He explicitly believed that 'Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house' and that 'Bad news must be destroyed'.
He acted upon this philosophy by refusing to take the letter inside. Instead, he stood outside the house, read the letter out twice to ensure he conveyed the message accurately, and then tore it to bits. By doing so, he ensured that the physical bearer of bad news was destroyed, aligning his actions perfectly with his beliefs.
(iv) False. Khetaram’s action of tearing the letter did not differ from his beliefs; rather, it perfectly aligned with them. He strongly believed that 'Bad news must be destroyed' and that it cannot be carried into the house. By tearing the letter to bits, he acted exactly in accordance with his personal philosophy.
(v) One aspect of Khetaram’s temperament revealed through this extract is his philosophical nature, which is evident when he mutters philosophically that bad news must be destroyed. Alternatively, his compassionate and sensitive temperament is revealed by the fact that he dreads delivering news of death and takes care to read it twice before destroying it.
The extract highlights Khetaram's reaction to letters bearing bad news. For part (i), the sender tears the corner to signify death, making B the correct option. For (ii), reading it twice ensures accuracy before the letter is destroyed forever. For (iii), his philosophy is explicitly stated as 'Bad news must be destroyed' and 'Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house', which he acts upon by tearing the letter. For (iv), his actions and beliefs are consistent, making the statement false. For (v), his muttering 'philosophically' reveals his philosophical temperament, while his dread and care reveal his compassion.
(Employer) India Post
(Key responsibilities) Delivering dak/post from home to home, reading out letters to villagers, and drafting replies for them
(Mode of transport used) On foot
(Official address) Not mentioned in the provided context
(Position) Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS)
Explanation
The text identifies Khetaram's position as a Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) who works for India Post. While his specific official address is not provided in the context, his workplace is the post office. He primarily travels on foot, as indicated by the phrase 'striding off with his sack on his shoulder' (though he occasionally gets a lift from the BSF). His key responsibilities go beyond just delivering mail; they include carrying the post from home to home, reading out letters to the villagers, and neatly drafting replies for them.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify 'Position' from the text which mentions Khetaram continuing as 'GDS' (Gramin Dak Sewak).
Step 2: Identify 'Employer' as 'India Post' from the sentence 'Through the GDS, India Post has also been able to reach rural depositors'.
Step 3: Note that a specific 'Official address' is not provided in the given context.
Step 4: Determine 'Mode of transport used' as 'On foot' based on the phrase 'striding off with his sack on his shoulder'.
Step 5: Deduce 'Key responsibilities' from the text: delivering dak from home to home, reading out letters, and drafting replies for villagers.