An Astrologer's Day by R. K. Narayan

English (New syllabus)

Textual Questions Brainstroming activities and Other Activities of All the Prose (Unit 1)

STD -12th

Dr. Uday P. Shirgave

Balvantrao Zele College, Jaysingpur, Kolhapur (Maharashtra)

Unit No 1.1 An Astrologers Day

ICE BREAKERS

1. Discuss with your partner and complete the activity. What are your strength?

Strengths Why do you feel so? Dream Career

Painting and Drawing Can Visualize and express Commercial artist,

cartoonist

Cooking Creating new food and taste Chef, International Cook

Teaching inspire and educate young Coach, Lecturer,

generation Counselor

Farming main source of livelihood, Organic High-tech backbone of the economic Farming

Defense the most prestigious and Indian Army, BSF,

respected job Police, Navy.

2. The scene in a local market of a village/town/city is very attractive. People with different occupations sell their wares. Discuss with your partner the variety of activities at the local market. 1. selling flowers, selling grocery 2. Selling Cloths, Chapples etc

3. Selling Fruits and nuts 4. Selling Vegetables

5. Selling Home Décor items 6. Agriculture items

3. In a village /town /city it is quite a common sight to see an astrologer sitting by the roadside with his professional equipment. Discuss with your partner and list the requirements for his trade.

1. parrot, cards etc. 2. Book of astrology 3. Rings, Gadgets and stones 4. Photos of God, Charts. 5. Lockets, Holy Ash, Saffron, threads. 6. Cowries, Shells

4. There are certain unreasonable beliefs among people living in our society. Certain common events are linked with superstitions. List such events, discuss the superstitions linked with them and the means of their eradication.

List of Superstitions / Beliefs

Linked with / Supposedly

i. Breaking a mirror - Seven years of back luck .

ii. Trimming nails at night -Raise in debit or expenses.

iii. Whistling at night - Invite sneaks at home.

iv. Do not sweep after sunset - Drives away Laxmi/ luck.

v. An itchy left palm - Money is coming to you

vi. Hanging lemon and chillies - Keep away evil things

vii. Eat curd before heading out - Get Success / Good Start

viii. Cat crosses your path - Bring bad luck and failure

xi. Clicking sound of Lizard - Said Truth

Means of Superstitions Eradications

1. Develop scientific attitude, scientific method, scientific application, scientific interest etc., among the individuals.

2. Parents play an important part in removing all the fears and beliefs in superstitions

3. Public meetings and lectures on various topics-pseudo sciences like Vastushastra, Phalajyotish (astrology).

4. Attend or Join programs like books exhibition, science exhibition etc.

5. Arrange awareness programs, workshops and camps.

6. Demonstration the fact, truth and expose the fake things.

7. The media like newspaper , T.V. radio, internet and other gadgets should acts more responsibly.

8. Teacher should encourage healthy and scientific talk among student this can dismiss student’s belief in superstitions.

An Astrologer’s Day Story

1. Characters :

The Astrologer – He is basically a son of farmer but now working as an astrologer in South Indian small village (Malgudi). The astrologer has great presence of mind. He is punctual about his work as well as he is coward, cheater (Conman) and cunning person. He is intelligent man earning money by telling tricky and universal prophets to all. He considered himself as a killer.

Wife of Astrologer – She has a Very little role but devotee of her husband. She is a cheerful woman, wife and caring Mother

Guru Nayak - He is a person with skeptical attitude, untrustworthy and weak point of gambling . Resented, determined and revengeful person.

2. Setting : R. K. Narayan’s mostly stories work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi or an

imaginary town place nearby center hall town park from midday to evening.

3. Theme: An Astrologers Day comprises various themes like irony, deception and revenge. The story also depicts the theme of fear, guilt and identity.

4. Message : Only we ourselves are responsible for what we have done and don’t run from mistake. Fate plays an important role in our life. Nothing happens by accident and all human actions have consequences.

5. Vocabulary :

• Cowrie Shells: small to large sea snails

• Obscure : difficult to understand

• To gleam: to reflect light

• To be well disposed: friendly, favorable, sympathetic

• Paraphernalia: a large collection of small objects

• Sacred ash: holy powder made from fired wooden.

• Vermilion : saffron colour

• Whiskers : beard and mustache

• Dahlia stalk : flower

• Flank : line, way

• Vociferousness : being loud and noisy

• To look careworn: to look worried

• To feel piqued: to feel angry because someone damaged your feelings of being proud of yourself

• Cheroot : Cigar , Chilim

6. TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

1. If the astrologer had stayed in the village then he would have carried on – the work of tilling land , which was the work of his forefathers. He would have married and grown old in cornfield and ancestral home.

2. The Astrologer could understand the problem in five minuets. How?

The astrologer had a good knowledge and study of mankind's troubles like marriage, Money, and tangles of human ties. His long practice had sharpened his perception. Initially he allowed his customer to speak about their problem and he suggest universal solutions which was apply to all commonly.

3. Guess the meaning – pies.

A pie (abbreviated as Ps) was a unit of currency in India, Burma and Pakistan until 1947. 1/12 of Anna (Apporx. 1 anna means 6 Paise).

4. How Could the astrologer tell the person about his life? OR Guess The astrologer remain silent for ten minuets.

Initially the astrologer remain silent for ten minuets because he carefully listened his Clients and gathered sufficient information from them which was important to answering their questions. It was his very intelligent move.

5. Guess the meaning.

Tilting – To bend towards or in leaning position

Bluffing - an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can do something

6 Guess the meaning.

glimpse – a quick look

7. The man was left for dead because -

After a quarrel the astrologer stabbed a knife in his chest and pushed him into a well.

Astrologer consider him as a dead so he was ran away in a fear of being caught.

8. Guess the meaning.

• Passerby – a person walking nearby

• Peep - quick look

• Overwhelmed – have a strong emotional effect on

• Groaned - make a deep inarticulate sound conveying pain, despair, pleasure, etc.

9.What was the load on astrologer’s mind?

In his youth he had tried to kill a man in order to save himself from revenge he forced to hide his identity and left his village for ever. The astrologer thought that he had killed a man but when the astrologer saw the same man alive in the form of customer he got rid of this load (burden).

7. BRAINSTROMING QUESTIONS

A1) (i) Given below are some descriptions. Discuss them with your partner and find out one word for each of them. An example is given for you.

(a) The scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies -- Astronomy

(b) The study of the movements of the planets, Sun, Moon, and Stars in the belief that these movements can have an influence on people's lives -- Astrology

(c) A prediction of what will happen in the future – Prophecy / Foretelling.

(d) Scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behaviour in humans and other animals – Psychology

ii) In the story we are told that the Town Hall Park was a remarkable place in many ways for an astrologer to build his business. Discuss it in a group and list the exceptional qualities of the place.

Ans -

1. A surging crowd

2. Crisscross and busy road 3. Always busy from morning till night 4. Center of various business and occupation 5. Attractive market place of town 6. Enchanted place at night

(iii) The astrologer never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes. Discuss the reasons behind his act.

Ans -

(a) He is good at reading the people. (b) He carefully listened his Clients (c) He gathered sufficient information from them (d) It was important to answering their questions. (e)It was his very intelligent move.

(A2) (i) The tactics used by the astrologer to earn his wages are...

•Analysis of human problems

•Initially Remain silent for ten minuets.

•Gather enough stuff from client to advice & answer

•Ask Common questions to all

•Act as if he knows all about astrology

•Wisely selected a crisscross and semi dark place to cheat

•Used to tell astonishing and pleasing things to customer

(ii) An astrologer's appearance helps to create an impression on his clients. Complete the following.

a. The turban on his head.

b. Pious ash and vermilion on his forehead.

c. Eyes has abnormal spark and sharp.

d. The dark whiskers which grown to cheek.

(iii) Choose the Correct one.

(a) The astrologer says that if Nayak does not leave his village again, he would -

(1) return the money

(2) face danger.

(3) go back home and stop looking for the man who tried to kill him

(4) not find the killer.

(b) According to the narrator the astrologer's success in his profession is primarily due to

(1) luck

(2) the bargains he drives

(3) his appearance

(4) his understanding of people.

(c) The story suggests that the astrologer's comments and observations please people by

(1) promising them success and good fortune

(2) proving, as time passes, to have been true

(3) flattering them or supporting their own views.

(4) helping them to learn to solve their own problems

(d) Guru Nayak consults the astrologer because he wants to –

(1) understand the past

(2) find out who the astrologer is

(3) make some money through a bet

(4) get the answer to a specific question.

(e) Guru Nayak is looking for the man who tried to kill him -

(1) to take revenge.

(2) to get an apology

(3) to demand an explanation

(4) to prove that the man was unsuccessful

(f) The astrologer's remark makes Guru Nayak feel all of the following except-

(1) Relieved (2) suspicious. (3) impressed (4) disappointed

(g) Reactions of the astrologer's wife to his news suggest that she –

(1) was unaware of his past.

(2) has been worried about his safety

(3) has known him since he was young

(4) is concerned about her future with him

(iv) Read the following sentences and find out True and False sentences. Correct the False sentences.

(a)The astrologer gave a correct prediction to the client about his past that he was

stabbed, thrown into a well and left for dead. True

(b) When the astrologer came to know that the man whom he killed is alive he felt that he was relieved of his guilt. True

(c) The astrologer tried to back out of the deal and talked about the client's past. False

(The astrologer tried pact with him and talked about the client's past.)

(d) The astrologer rescued himself from Guru Nayak's revenge. True

(e) The moral of the story is that we must be responsible about what we have done and

should not run away from our mistakes. True

(v) The astrologer has changed his appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city. Give specific reasons.

Ans - In his youth he drank and had quarreled with a man (Guru Nayak), in that fierce he tried to kill a man. He stabbed him with a knife and pushed into the well. He thought that the man had died and in order to save himself from revenge or punishment he changed his his identity, appearance and persona. So he came to city with his family and started a new life as an astrologer.

(vi) 'The darkness load that was inside the astrologer has disappeared'. Through this sentence, explain the significance of the title 'An Astrologer's Day'..

Ans - The Astrologer as a youngster was quarrelsome by nature. Once at dark he had passed a knife through a stranger and taking him as death, he pushed him in a well. In the fear of being caught, he left his village and settled in the city as an astrologer. He secrately carried that dark episode with him as a burden but when he encounters the person, whom he had thought was dead. That guilt and burden which he carried inside his heart was disappeared. At last he satisfied the stranger with accurate answer and description . Astrologer made a lot of money and return home with great relief. The life of the astrologer was altered and load of guilt was disappeared when touched by fate. He made his day. So title is apt.

(vii) The astrologer feels relieved that Guru is not dead as it relieves a great burden from him. Critically justify the statement and explain it.

Ans - The Astrologer as a youngster was quarrelsome by nature. Once at dark he had passed a knife through a stranger and taking him as death, he pushed him in a well. In the fear of being caught, he left his village and settled in the city as an astrologer. He encounters the person, whom he had thought was dead. He identified that stranger is no one but Guru Nayak. He made his day with a lot of money, great relief from the great burden of murder. So the astrologer feels relieved that Guru is not dead as it relieves a great burden from him.

(viii) The astrologer wins/gets the sympathy of criticism of the reader in the end. Express your opinion with the support of the main story.

Ans – In my opinion the astrologer wins/gets sympathy of readers because basically he was a son of farmer. Though he had a habit of drinking and gambling, he was not criminal by profession. We don’t know the exact reason of quarrel and why he stabbed the stranger with the knife and pushed him into the well. He had repentance about his act. He doesn’t deserve any punishment for nothing. As the stranger (Guru Nayak) was not dead.

(ix) If we have to eradicate the superstitions and other ill practices from our society, what steps would you like to suggest?

Ans – I will suggest following steps to eradicate the superstitions – I will ….

1. Try to develop scientific attitude and interest among the individuals.

2. Convey the parents and teachers guide the children about the fears and beliefs insuperstitions.

3. Try to arrange public meetings and awareness lectures on various topics-pseudo sciences like Vastushastra,

Phalajyotish (astrology).

4. Arrange awareness programs, workshops and camps , science exibition.

5. Demonstrate the fact, truth and expose the fake things.

6. Encourage healthy and scientific talk among student this can dismiss student’s belief in superstitions.

(x) In the story, astrologer has a great listening power. Listening helps in developing good relations with people. Express your opinion.

You may have heard the proverb, “We have two ears but only one mouth”—that means listening can be twice as important as talking. If we listen, we can learn things about the person thoroughly and it’s help in developing good relations with people. Proper listening helps a person understand and evaluate his nature which is helpful to maintain good relation.

A.3 (i) In the story, the following characters reveal their qualities through words and actions. Pick out the words that describe them from the box and write in the appropriate columns.

Astrologer Guru Nayak Astrologer's wife

Shrewd manipulative caring

mystical arrogant humanistic

smart overconfident protective

demanding gullible intuitive

rational aggressive

cunning impetuous

mean

skeptical

antagonist

Suspicious

sharp

worried

mean

clever

A.3 (ii) Match the suffixes with the words and make nouns. One is done for you.

Word suffix noun

auction er auctioneer

enchant ment enchantment

know ledge Knowledge

prepare tion preparation

proceed ure procedures

appear ance appearance

remark able remarkable

(iii) 'An Astrologer's Day' has ironic elements where the astrologer pretends to have 'supernatural knowledge' that coincidently turns out to be the truth.

Irony means a situation or statement characterized by a significant difference between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is understood and what is meant.

Find out the examples of irony from the story and write them down. One has been done for you.

Ans - a) He knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself the next minute. (b) He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customer. But it didn’t seem to matter at all. He said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice and shrewd guesswork. (c) He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. (d) His eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted.

(iv) In the story, many Indian words are used. • 'Cowrie shells'. This is an example of code-mixing (Use two different language in a word, a pharse, a sentence). Find out other such words from the story and write them down.

Ans - Cowrie shells, a bundle of palmyra, sacred ash and vermilion, dahlia stalks, Bombay ice-cream, Delhi Almond, Raja’s Delicacy, three pies, an anna, lit a cheroot, jutka drivers, on the pyol .

(v) There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully. One is done for you.

crowning achievement, To crown the effect, crown of thorns, crowning glory, to crown it all

To crown the effect, he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. (a) The works of Shakespeare are the crown of throwns of English drama. (b) Amitabh has given us awesome movies throughout five decades. But his crowning glory is his performance in the movie 'Black'. (c) In her pursuit of success, Radha has distanced herself from her family. Her fame has become a real to crown the effect . (d) They threw a wonderful party for me with costumes, games and crown it all my favourite kind of ice cream. (e) Medical science has great inventions, but organ transplantation is definitely a crowning achievement for human beings.

Extra Activity Questions –

1. The astrologer had great presence of mind. Justify.

The astrologer has great presence of mind. This is emphasized in the way he reacts to the encounter with his last customer. The line, “The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the match light” tells us that the astrologer has quickly recognised his customer. The astrologer realises that the man he once thought dead was actually alive. He very cleverly reveals vague details of Guru Nayak’s past. These details are just enough to keep his customer’s attention and convince him that the he was telling the truth. The astrologer succeeds in saving his own life by convincing Guru Nayak that the man he sought was dead, being crushed under a lorry.

2. Explore the character of the astrologer in R.K. Narayan’s story An Astrologer’s Day.

The story An Astrologer’s Day, the astrologer is portrayed as a calm, observant and deceptive character. We realize towards the end of the story that the astrologer had been forced to live in fear every day of his life. He was afraid that his past would come back to haunt him. The astrologer makes a living deceiving people by making observations about their attitudes and behaviour. By using a clever disguise, he gives out an aura of piety. A sharp abnormal gleam in his eyes is mistaken for a prophetic light by his simple customers. With his forehead smeared with “sacred ash and vermillion” and a saffron turban, he makes his customers feel comfortable in his presence and sends them away as believers.

Important Topics

1. An Astrologer Appearance (Opening Scence)- An astrologer sat with his paraphernalia at the town Hall Park which was one of the most common center place of the town. He gave a bright reflection with holy ash and vermilion on his forehead. He weared a saffron coloured turban on his head. He is a sparkling eyes give people an impression of prophetic light. A number of shops street vendors and the crowd of people gave him the advantage of attraction of many people.

2. Situation that forced him to leave town or become an Astrologer - He was not a professional astrologer that he had left his village secretly with worry. He had unwillingly accept the profession of an Astrologer. In his youth he had tried to kill a man in order to save himself from revenge he forced to hide his identity and left his village for ever. The astrologer thought that he had killed a man but when the astrologer saw the same man alive in the form of customer he got rid of this burden. The life of an ordinary man, when touched by fate, had altered dramatically

3.Advise of Astrologer to stranger (Guru Nayak)

The astrologer advised the stranger to go back to his village as he saw that his life was in danger he added that the stranger should never travel South ward again.

4. The Astrologer Encounter with a Stranger (Guru Nayak) - One day, when the astrologer was just winding up he saw a man Standing in front of him. The stranger man who is a customer challenged he is a talent and warned him that he could not a soul he is a problem. After sometime the astrologer got a ready for a deal but when the stranger lit up his cigarette the astrologer was surprised because he left his village because of that person . He thought that he had killed him but seeing him alive he was happy at last he satisfied him accurate answer and description . At last he made a lot of money and return home with great relief. He made his day. 5. Theme of the Chapter - The story, An Astrologers Day is an interesting incidence from the life of a person who had left his village to escape from his crime of murdering a man. He came to the city and started new life as an astrologer. His appearance was a great irony which actually disguise from crime.

6. A Cheater - The author opens the story by explaining the physical appearance of the astrologer. He is a man with sacred ash and vermillion in his forehead. He has a turban around his head. This costume of the astrologer attracts people towards him. He does not know anything about astrology. He does not even know what would happen to him in the next 10 minutes, but he cheats his customers. He acts as if he knows all about astrology. He cheats many people by pleasing them and by saying astonishing things. The criss-cross light around him helps him to cheat those people because they cannot see his face clearly, as he lies. He is a liar even to his own wife. He hides the secret of his past life. Even at the end he says only a little of his past guilt of drinking, gambling and stabbing Guru Nayak. This shocks his wife and the readers.

7. So Cheap and Mean - The astrologer is a miser. He does not have a light on his own. He depends upon the light rays from the shops that are around him. During nights, he uses the dim green light. He closes his business when the nuts vendor moves. This stingy nature is an advantage for him. He feels happy with the criss-cross light.

8. Brilliant Person

The astrologer, though he is a cheat, is admired for his brilliance. He faces his customers in an astonishing way. He tackles all his customers and sends them satisfied.This quality he has got from his experience. He says things that 9 out of 10 people would agree. In case of Guru Nayak, the astrologer is extremely brilliant. He identifies him with a small light from the match and says all about him in a safe way. He escapes from him very easily. He is very brilliant.

9. Cheated

When the story ends, we see the astrologer as a cheated person. From the beginning, he cheats others but at the end, he stands cheated. Guru Nayak instead of giving one rupee gives just 12 and half annas.

Summary of Story -

An Astrologer started his work at midday and continue till the evening. He used to sit under a tamarind tree. He sat in a noisy area. He earned moderately every day. It was a very suitable place because the people of all trades passed by that road and it was very busy place. He selected such road where he could easily caught the attention of the people for prophecy. He dressed and looked like an astrologer. He had rubbed pious dust and vermilion on his forehead, a saffron coloured turban on his head dark and long whiskers with all equipments of an astrologer spread before him. He took with him a dozen of Cowrie shells square of cloth with obscure mystic charge on it written notebook and a bundle of Palmyra writings. He could satisfied customers because he had studied about the general problems of the people. He had much experience about common problems of the people. In the making a guest of problems of his clients he let them speak first as much as they could. He listened to them patiently and about their problems at least up to ten minutes. He charged three paies per question.

One day when he was ready to go home a man named Guru Nayak came to him in the dark. When an astrologer saw his face in the light a cheroot. There comes a change in his behaviour. He was afraid and wanted to go but the customer insisted and stopped him. He recognized the man that in the past the astrologer had stabbed with a knife and leave him to death. Astrologer consider himself as a murder so he was always a fear of being caught. But now he come to know that his enemy was alive and searching for him. Astrologer then starts talking about a past incident in the life of the customer. He told him that once someone tried to kill him. The customer asked him where could he get him but astrologer told that the man had already died when he was crushed under a lorry. He convinced the customer guru Nayak to go back and never come there saying that it was a risk to his life. The customer went away with full satisfaction and the story ends in a happy mood. At last he made his day with a lot of money, great relief from the great burden of murder.