The Devoted Son
by Anita Desai
Summary:
Anita Desai is a well-known
Indian author. She has written several English-language novels. Almost every
story she writes is about everyday Indian life and individuals. A Devoted Son
is a short story about a father and son’s bond.
The story revolves around Dr
Rakesh. He’s from a poor Indian village. Varma, his father, was a vegetable
vendor. His father wished for a well-educated son. Rakesh is the first member
of his family to attend college. Rakesh completed his medical exams with the
highest marks in the country, which is a cause for celebration. Varma informs
everyone who would listen about Rakesh’s grades and how he can now go to
medical school in America. Some people are frightened that Rakesh would forget
his roots. Varma is unconcerned about this and is pleased that everyone knows
his son’s name.
Rakesh spends a significant
amount of time in America to complete his degree; he successfully completes the
degree and has job offers from major US hospitals. The awards he receives are
returned to his family for them to admire and preserve. This allows him to stay
in touch with his family. He adores America, but he adores his family more, and
he has always intended to come home. He’ll return as soon as he’s gained enough
experience and money. He intended to work in his hometown. His parents disagree
with some of his life choices, such as why he wants to return home and why he
marries a local girl with little schooling. Varma believes he should have
higher ambitions.
Later, he
begins working in a city hospital, which differs from the American hospitals he
had previously worked in. He wants to work there because he wants to make a
difference in his community. He rises quickly through the ranks and eventually
becomes director. When his mother dies, his father, Varma, is heartbroken.
Rakesh no longer has as much time to devote to Varma now that he has his own
family. He does not want to lose his father any time soon, so he applies his
medical expertise.
He forbids Varma from eating
sweets to help him with his stomach. Varma tries to get sweets from his
grandson, which frustrates Rakesh. Rakesh wants his son to have a positive
relationship with Varma, just like Rakesh does. Varma tells Rakesh and his wife
that he dislikes them, but he still keeps an eye out for Varma. Rakesh finally
lets Varma leave, knowing that he has done everything he can for Varma.
Exercise
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How did the morning papers
bring an ambience of celebration to the Varma family?
Answer: The morning
papers displayed the result of Varma's son, Rakesh who scored the highest rank
in the country for his Medical Examination and brought ambience of celebration
in the Varma family as it was a matter of pride for the family.
b. How did the community
celebrate Rakesh’s success?
Answer: The community
people celebrated Rakesh’s success by visiting his small yellow house,
congratulating the parents, filling his house and garden with the sound and
colour festivals and offering gifts like fountain pens and watches.
c. Why was Rakesh’s success a
special matter of discussion in the neighborhood?
Answer: Rakesh’s
success was a special matter of discussion in the neighborhood because he was
the first son in the family to receive an education, and he further topped in
the medical examination as well.
d. How does the author make
fun with the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’?
Answer: The author
makes fun with the words "America" and "The USA" by
associating them with Verma’s nature of dealing with the words as he considered
"the USA" as more prestigious than "America". He said that
America is the term to be called by his ignorant Neighbours.
e. How does the author
characterize Rakesh’s wife?
Answer: The author
characterizes Rakesh’s wife as an old fashioned, plump and uneducated girl. She
was so placid, complaisant and lazy but too good-natured and pretty fat one.
f. Describe how Rakesh rises
in his career.
Answer: Rakesh started
his career as a doctor in the city hospital and quickly reached the top of
administrative: organization and was made a director. Then, he opened his own
private clinic, bought a car and became known not only as of the best but also
the richest doctor in town.
g. How does the author describe
Rakesh’s family background?
Answer: The author
describes Rakesh's family background as a man born to illiterate as well as
very poor parents. His father worked for a kerosene vendor and his mother spent
her life in a kitchen and his grandparents worked as vegetable sellers.
h. What is the impact of
Rakesh’s mother’s death on his father?
Answer: Rakesh's
father was stricken with grief by the death of his wife as well as his
retirement. The old father very quickly went to pieces and fell ll so
frequently with such mysterious disease named a peevish whim (sudden irritation
in mind) that even his son could no longer make it out.
i. What did Rakesh do to make
his father’s old age more comfortable?
Answer: Rakesh brought
his father his morning tea in the old man’s favorite brass tumbler, and sat at
the edge of his bed, comfortable and relaxed his father’s night-shirt, and read
out the morning news to him to make even more comfortable in his old age.
j. Why did the old man try to
bribe his grandchildren?
Answer: The old man
tried to bribe his grandchildren by the trick so that he could get a chance to
eat Jalebis because his oy fried food and sweets were prohibited by his son.
k. Are Mr Varma’s complaints
about his diets reasonable? How?
Answer: From the point
of view of an old father, Mr. Verma's complaints about his diets may be
reasonable to some extent but in fact, Rakesh as a devoted and obedient son and
by profession, a doctor is right in his performances and activities because he
conducts such activities for the healthy and better life of his sick father.
Reference to the Context
a. How did the Varma couple
make sacrifices for their son’s higher education?
Answer: Verma couple
was from a poor background, and they were illiterate as well. His father worked
for a kerosene dealer and his mother in the kitchen. Even his grandparents
worked as vegetable vendors. His parents worked hard and sacrificed their life,
time, money and everything they have for the higher education and medical
college of his child, Rakesh.
b. Mr Varma suffers from
diseases one after another after his wife’s death. Would he have enjoyed better
health if she had not died before him? Give reasons.
Answer: Mr Varma
suffered from diseases one after another his wife’s death. I think all this
happen to him due to his wife’s death as it makes him alone and scattered. He
thinks most of the time about his life partner which leads him stricken with
grief. The old father very quickly went to pieces and fell ill. Thus, if she
had not died before him, he would have enjoyed better health for few more days.
c. Dr Rakesh is divided
between a doctor and a son. As a son, he loves his father and worries about his
weakening health but as a doctor, he is strict on his father’s diet and
medicine. In your view, what else could Rakesh have done to make his father’s
final years more comfortable?
Answer: Dr Rakesh is
divided between a doctor and a son. As a son, he loves his father and worries
about his weakening health but as a doctor, he is strict on his father's diet
and medicine. In my view, Rakesh could have done the following things to make
his father's final years more comfortable:
Rakesh would have been more
polite and respectful in his behavior with his father in the final years.
He wouldn't have been so strict
and miserable while regulating his father's diet and food. His loud-speaking
towards his father- “No butter?”, “No oil’, “No more bread?" makes the old
man very troublesome and miserable.
d. What does the story say
about the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren?
Answer: Desai’s story
“A Devoted Son” shows loving companionship between grandfather and
grandchildren. They have good bonding. But in the story, grandfather is
attracted towards his grandchildren to get some sweets like ‘Jalebis’ from them
by using the trick as his oily fried food, and sweets were prohibited by his
son, Rakesh. Anyway, we find innocent, tricky, trusty and bonding relationships
between grandfather and his grandchildren in the story.
e. Do you call Rakesh a
devoted son? Give reasons.
Answer: Yes, I call
Rakesh a devoted son because of the following reasons:
He shows a great degree of tender
regard for his mother.
He touches his fathers on every
good occasion.
Even though he studies in
America, Rakesh does not bring back a foreign bride to his parents' home.
He marries an uneducated, old-fashioned
village girl of his mother's choosing.
Though he treats his father as a
medical professional, he does this for the better health and life of his
father.
Thus, he is a perfect son, a
loving father and husband, and a good physician.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on The
Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society. You must give at least
five examples.
Answer: Family refers
to a wide network of extended relationships. Parents have great ambition for
their children in Nepali Society. Most of the parents of the children are
predetermined and preoccupied with the prejudices that their children to be the
best person in the society such as the best doctor, the best engineer, the best
teacher, and many more. Some instances provoke such ideas:
Due to parents’ ambition for
their children, some children labor hard to achieve their destination and got
succeed in the end.
Parents are the facilitator and
guides who can lead their children to the right path of success and help them
to obtain achievement in life.
Every parent wishes their child
to become the brightest star in the group. In some cases, their pushing to
their kids leads them to succeed and help them to be better in life.
Sometimes, parent’s determining
the future of their children do not prove how good their parents are and it
leads destruction of life as well. Thus, parents should listen to the voice and
aim of their children as well for their better in future.
Anyway, the duty of parents is to
stay close to their children, spend time together, playing and relaxing which
will provide them with a sense of security and build a positive bond for their
future.
b. Medicines replace our diets
in old age. What can be done to make old ageless dependent on medicine?
Answer: Medicines replace
our diets in old age. With age, the number of calories you need begins to ‘decline. "As we get older, the body becomes less efficient at absorbing
some key nutrients," says Katherine Tucker. In addition, the ability to
taste food declines, blunting appetite. Some foods become difficult to chew or
digest. Thus, medicines become the best option to replace our diets in old age.
To make old ageless dependent on medicine, they should do the following things:
Eat plenty of colorful fruits
and vegetables such as fruits like pineapples, oranges and vegetables such as
carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.
Eat cereals, bread, crackers,
rice or pasta every day mostly high fiber varieties.
Have low-fat or fat-free dairy
(milk, or cheese) that are fortified with vitamin D to help keep your bones
healthy.
Use of mustard oil or olive oil
as a cooking medium as both prevent high cholesterol and improve good
cholesterol in the blood.
Egg whites are a good source of
protein to repair worn-out cells and tissues.
Vegetable soups without cream and
thickening agents are a healthy meal to be taken as a supper.
Drink about 10-15 glasses of
water a day to prevent dehydration especially in summer.
Also, exercise regularly, stretch
and do yoga to ensure absorption of nutrients well.
Balancing physical activity and a
healthful diet is the best recipe for health and fitness.
Set a goal to be physically
active for at least 30 minutes every day.
c. Write an essay on “Care of
Elderly Citizens” in about 300 words.
Answer: Care of
Elderly Citizens
Elderly citizens refer to old
people who have crossed middle age. Old age is the final period of human life.
During this time a person needs love and affection and proper elderly care. An
old man doesn't have many requirements. He/she only need a little affection,
care, and a homely environment to spend his/her final stage of life.
Elderly people spend a major part
of their lives in the building and shaping of our life and carrier, and thus it
is our responsibility to repay them in their old age. Unfortunately, in today's
world, some youth ignore their responsibility towards their parents. They are
seen forgetting their moral duties towards elders. They aren’t ready to understand
the importance of elderly care and instead of caring for their parents during
their old age, they prefer to send them to old age homes. They prefer to live
an independent life rather than living with their parents. This is not a good
sign for our society. Being social animals, we need to know how to take care of
old people. They should know how to take care of their elderly parents.
In fact, getting old is a natural
process. During old age, people need utmost love and care. Caring for the
elderly is not only a responsibility but also a moral duty. Old people are the
backbone of a family. They are well experienced with the hardships of life. It
is said that life teaches us lessons. Old people teach us how to grow, how to
survive in this world and how to shape our carrier as well. They establish us
in this world with their immense effort. It is our responsibility to pay them
back during their old age.
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