(a) Answer any two of the following questions in 80 – 100 words each : 5 × 2=10

(i) Why did the villagers begin to guard their cattle? Which official did they approach for help?

(ii) How did Captain learn how to run a circus?

(iii) How did the Swamiji (Master) convince the crowd about his plan to bring down the Headmaster from the loft?

(b) Answer any one of the following questions in 150 – 200 words: 10

(i) How did Raja’s life change after he was captured?

(ii) What was the reaction of the crowd when the Master emerged from the school gate with the Tiger?

(iii) What do you know about the previous life of the Master (Swamiji) before he became a sanyasi?

A. (i) The villagers were worried about their reducing number of animals every day. They were worried about the safety of their cattle, so they decided to guard them. They also approached the authorities to seek help. They approached the collector through their spokesman so that defensive measures could be adopted to protect cattle. They were advised to file a written petition only then they would be able to take some official action. All this was causing a delay, which led to the vanishing of more animals. The cattle were disappearing because of the tiger who had entered their village.

(ii) Captain had started his career in the circus quite early when he was only twenty. He started by working in Dadaji’s circus. There he was mentored by Dadaji who gave him knowledge about training animals. He was also told what skills were required to become a good animal trainer. Dadaji used to teach him business methods also and looking at his fast learning and capabilities Dadaji relied more on Captain. Soon Captain became Dadaji’s partner in the circus business. Captain became responsible for running shows and kept working on them for years. This is how he learned to run a circus.

(iii) Everyone was struck by panic when they came to know about the tiger’s presence in the school building. A crowd gathered in front of the school, and everyone was shouting out of fear. The headmaster was inside the school, and he hid in the loft when he saw the tiger in his room. A hunter showed up to kill the tiger but found it too risky and therefore backed out. Just then, the Master came to know about this happening and suggested a plan. He asked the doors to be kept open and said that he would bring the tiger out of the school. In this way, the tiger would leave the school building, and the headmaster would be able to come out without being harmed. He convinced everyone for this plan, and as promised he took away the tiger. The headmaster safely got down the loft and rushed out of the school.

B. (i) Raja lost his freedom of roaming about anywhere he wanted. He was subjected to extreme conditions in the name of animal training. He was captured and put in a cage which restricted his movement. Captain used harsh training and tortured Raja to make him act in his way. He was starved and whipped to be taught obedience and follow his master’s command. Raja felt miserable and waited for the right moment to escape. One day when Raja was tickled by Captain, he became impulsive and killed Captain after which he ran away from the circus. Though he was even captured by Master he was much friendly with him, so Raja went with him willingly.

(ii) The tiger broke into the office of a headmaster in a school building. Though a hunter came to rescue the headmaster who hid in the loft, he drank so much of rum to get courage that he fell asleep. Then the Master walked in and convinced the people that he would save the headmaster. He went inside the room and talked to the tiger. Surprisingly he seemed to understand everything that the Master said. The Master told the tiger that there was no need for violence at that time, and Raja followed his instructions and sat down. The headmaster came out of the room. The Master and Raja walked out of the room like two companions, and everyone outside was startled at this sight. Both of them travelled widely and surprised everyone who saw them on the way. They were visited by people who wished to see the man who befriended a tiger.

(iii) The Master (Swamiji) had spent his life in Malgudi. His original name was Govind, Gopal or Gund. He lived in Ellaman street and went to a college. He actively took part in the freedom movement and also went to prison many times. He was married to a woman with whom he had children, but he abandoned his family and disappeared. He was no longer interested in worldly possessions and his family. His journey as sanyasi began when he started wandering through forests, mountains, and valleys. He was careless about himself and never thought about his future. When he befriended Raja and went to make their new home in a cave, his wife went to meet him and reminded him that he was the mother of his children whom he had left behind. He accepts that he was his husband once, but just as he brought a change in the tiger who no longer hunted or created any violence, he had also changed and become a sanyasi.