Q1 of 12 Page 116

Enact the conversation bits with your partner.

Let’s suppose there are two friends Shalini as land lady and Angad( he was black in appearance ) as a tenant:


Shalini as landlady: Hello, Shalini this side. Who’s this?


Angad as a tenant: Hello, ma’am I am Angad. I called you because I am seeking for a place to take on rent.


Shalini: Okay, so what you want to know say?


Angad: Like what is rent? How about the place?


Shalini: Rent is 10,000 per month and place is off premise.


Angad: Price is reasonable ma’am but off-premise this will be an issue and I am an African.


Shalini: With a strange silence, African? ARE YOU DARK? VERY DARK? ARE YOU LIGHT? OR, VERY LIGHT?


Angad: I am ‘West African sepia,’ facially, I am brunette but madam you should also see rest of me, the palm of my hand, soles of my feet “


And at last he ended up with a statement that ‘Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’


More from this chapter

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7

Why do you think that the poet has chosen the title ‘Telephone Conversation’? If you were to suggest another title for the poem, what would it be?

 8

The power of poetry lies in suggestion and understatement. Discuss this with reference to the poem.

 2

Attempt a description of:

a. the place from which the call was made


b. the lady at the other end


c. the speaker in the poem.

 3

The poem evokes a mental picture of the scene. Draw a rough sketch to illustrate the episode.