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The Martyr’s Corner: AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English notes
Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 12 (second year) Alternative English textbook, chapter 4 The Martyr’s Corner by R.K. Narayan, which is part of the syllabus of students studying under AHSEC/ASSEB (Assam Board). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
“The Martyr’s Corner” is a short story that highlights the thriving business of a food vendor named Rama and the detrimental effect a political riot has on his trade. The story opens with a description of Rama’s ‘establishment’, a makeshift stall he sets up at a key intersection on Market Road. Between eight and ten each evening, he sets up his stall, sells his goods, and leaves, earning ten rupees. This tidy sum of three hundred rupees a month was more than many graduates of the time earned, leading some to comment on Rama’s earnings without recognising the hard work he put in daily.
At 8:15 every evening, Rama arrives at his spot, laden with so much that it seems he has four arms. His display, primarily a variety of snacks, is so enticing that no one can pass without a longing glance. The story emphasises the prime location of his stall, which is crucial to his business success. Positioned to attract cinemagoers, it is also easily accessible to the pavement’s diverse crowd—boot-polish boys, beggars, grass-selling women, and jutka drivers. It seems as if all the local earnings end up with Rama by day’s end. His customers are loyal, drawn by the low prices and the freedom to scrutinise the items before buying. Despite flouting hygiene norms, his patrons are unconcerned. Rama also shows sharp business acumen by keeping policemen and health officials at bay with occasional packets of his snacks. In short, he and his wife lead a happy and contented life. Narayan vividly and empathetically depicts a typical small town in post-independent India.
However, Rama’s routine is disrupted by an unexpected event. One evening, he arrives to find a fight brewing between two factions. The political fight escalates into chaos as knives are drawn, soda bottles are thrown, and shops are looted. The police initially try to control the situation but eventually open fire, resulting in casualties. The next day, Rama is forced to set up his stall further away and does not foresee the worsening situation. After order is restored, Rama is prevented from returning to his usual spot by young men claiming the municipality has allocated the corner for a memorial to their leader, who died in the riot. Forced to move two hundred yards down the road, Rama loses his regular customers.
With dwindling patrons, his earnings decline, and one night, he tells his wife their business is over. He takes a job as a waiter in a restaurant, sometimes finding solace in reminiscing about his days as a food vendor.
Textbook solutions
State whether True or False
1. Rama liked serving women.
Answer: False
2. Rama lived in a lane behind the market.
Answer: True
3. Soda bottles were used as missiles during the riot.
Answer: True
4. Rama came in time to catch the cinema crowd coming out after the night show.
Answer: False
Answer these questions in one or two words
1. What did Rama give free with every item?
Answer: Chutney
2. Whose arm searched for the perfect duck’s egg?
Answer: Wrestler’s
3. Where did Rama sleep?
Answer: Pyol
4. How much did four chappatis cost?
Answer: One anna
5. Where did Rama work as a waiter?
Answer: Restaurant Kohinoor
Answer these questions in a sentence or two
1. At what time did Rama wake up every day?
Answer: Rama woke up when the cock in the next house crowed, sometimes as early as three in the morning.
2. What did Rama sell?
Answer: Rama sold an assortment of edibles including bondas, dosais, chappatis, duck’s eggs, and coffee.
3. Who were Rama’s customers?
Answer: Rama’s customers included the cinema crowd, boot-polish boys, blind beggars, grass-selling women, and jutka-drivers.
4. Why did the riot break out?
Answer: The riot broke out over a fight regarding votes or something related, which escalated into a larger conflict.
Answer these questions briefly
1. Why did Rama’s customers like him?
Answer: His customers liked him because he provided coffee for six pies and four chappatis for an anna.
2. Briefly describe Rama’s attitude towards the boot-polish boys.
Answer: Rama had a soft corner in his heart for the boot-polish boys. He felt pain seeing their hungry, hollow eyes and the rags they wore, and he felt unhappy about their half-starved state.
3. Why did Rama have to move his stall two hundred yards away?
Answer: Rama had to move his stall two hundred yards away because young men wearing badges claimed that the corner was a holy spot where their leader fell and the municipality had handed it over to them for erecting a monument.
4. What did Rama’s wife do upon his arrival at night?
Answer: Upon his arrival at night, Rama’s wife opened the door, took all his encumbrances, pulled out his cloth bag with cash, and counted the money immediately.
Answer these questions in detail
1. Describe, in detail, how Rama’s business was finished.
Answer: Rama’s business began to decline when a political riot erupted at his usual spot. A crowd had gathered, leading to a chaotic situation where knives were brandished, and soda-water bottles were used as missiles. The police intervened, using tear gas and eventually opening fire, which resulted in several casualties. The next day, Rama found his corner guarded by police, forcing him to set up his stall at a farther spot. Even after normalcy returned, he was prevented from returning to his usual spot by young men who claimed the place for a memorial. This forced him to move two hundred yards away, out of sight of his regular customers. As his earnings dwindled and he started carrying back remnants, he realized his business was finished. Eventually, he put away his equipment and took a job as a waiter at Restaurant Kohinoor .
2. Do you think that Narayan has depicted many aspects of typical Indian way of life? Write a persuasive answer.
Answer: Yes, Narayan has depicted many aspects of typical Indian way of life in “The Martyr’s Corner.” The story vividly portrays the bustling market scenes, the importance of location for street vendors, and the daily struggles of small-time entrepreneurs like Rama. It highlights the socioeconomic diversity of the population, including boot-polish boys, beggars, and grass-selling women, all of whom contribute to the local economy. The narrative also touches on the impact of political unrest on ordinary lives, showing how riots can disrupt business and livelihoods. Furthermore, Narayan illustrates the communal spirit and the informal support systems among the poor, such as Rama’s sympathetic attitude towards the boot-polish boys and beggars. The detailed descriptions of food items like bondas, dosais, and chappatis, and the practice of giving chutney gratis with every item, reflect the cultural and culinary habits of South India.
Extra True or False
1. Rama’s establishment is located at the junction between Market Road and the lane leading to the chemist’s shop.
Answer: True
2. Rama worked only between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM every day.
Answer: False
3. Rama felt irritated when people remarked on his earnings.
Answer: True
4. Rama woke up every day at the sound of the cock crowing in the next house.
Answer: True
5. Rama’s lamp consumed six pies’ worth of kerosene daily.
Answer: True
6. Rama served his customers with coffee for free.
Answer: False
7. The story indicates that Rama had a soft corner for the boot-polish boys.
Answer: True
8. Rama disliked serving women because of their loud voices.
Answer: True
9. During the riot, soda-water bottles were used as missiles.
Answer: True
10. The riot was caused by a political quarrel over votes.
Answer: True
11. Rama moved his stall 200 yards away due to the establishment of a memorial.
Answer: True
12. After moving his stall, Rama’s business flourished even more.
Answer: False
13. Rama eventually took a job at Restaurant Kohinoor for twenty rupees a month.
Answer: True
14. Rama used a glass lid to cover his food to comply with health regulations.
Answer: False
15. Rama’s customers could pick up and scrutinize the food items before purchasing.
Answer: True
16. Rama’s wife counted the cash he brought home every night.
Answer: True
17. After the riot, Rama immediately found a new, equally profitable spot.
Answer: False
18. Rama’s dream included traffic constables bullying him.
Answer: True
19. The blind beggar would bring part of his collection to Rama for refreshments.
Answer: True
20. Rama’s quality of food remained the same even after moving his stall.
Answer: False
21. Rama’s establishment was frequented by boot-polish boys, beggars, grass-selling women, and jutka-drivers.
Answer: True
Extra questions and answers
1. What time does Rama set up his stall every evening?
Answer: Rama sets up his stall at 8:15 in the evening..
2. How much does Rama earn daily?
Answer: Rama earns ten rupees daily.
3. What did Rama use to illuminate his display?
Answer: Rama used a lantern consuming six pies’ worth of kerosene daily to illuminate his display.
4. Where does Rama live?
Answer: Rama lives in the second lane behind the market.
5. How did the crowd react when the riot began?
Answer: The crowd reacted violently, using soda-water bottles as missiles, looting shops, and clashing with police.
6. Why did Rama’s customers admire his stall?
Answer: Rama’s customers admired his stall for the cheap prices and the freedom to closely scrutinise the items before buying.
7. Who claimed Rama’s usual spot after the riot?
Answer: Young men claiming to erect a memorial for their leader took over Rama’s usual spot.
8. How did the riot affect Rama’s business location?
Answer: The riot forced Rama to relocate his stall two hundred yards away from his original spot, out of sight of his usual customers.
9. What job did Rama take after closing his stall?
Answer: Rama took a job as a waiter at Restaurant Kohinoor.
10. Who helped Rama set up his display at night?
Answer: No one helped Rama; he set up his display himself.
11. Describe the kind of snacks Rama sold at his stall.
Answer: Rama sold a variety of snacks including bondas, dosais, chappatis, hard-boiled duck’s eggs, and coffee. Each item had a distinct appeal, such as the puffed bondas that melted in the mouth and the limp dosais resembling layers of muslin.
12. How did Rama’s wife react to his daily earnings?
Answer: Rama’s wife eagerly awaited his return, snatched his earnings, counted the cash immediately, and together they would gloat over the profit, putting aside the capital for the next day and saving the rest.
13. What precautions did Rama take to secure his stall at night?
Answer: Rama kept a lantern near to avoid relying solely on electricity and protected his loose cash and various articles. He was vigilant about who took what from his stall.
14. Why did Rama feel sympathy for the boot-polish boys?
Answer: Rama felt sympathy for the boot-polish boys because they were often hungry and poorly clothed. He felt pain seeing their eagerness for food and wished he could do more for them, though he could only provide limited portions.
15. How did Rama handle competition from the young pretender?
Answer: Rama handled competition from the young pretender with generosity, allowing him to do business when he wasn’t there and not letting it bother him.
16. What event caused the riot that disrupted Rama’s business?
Answer: The riot was caused by a political conflict where someone was stabbed near the Sales Tax Office while distributing notices about votes, leading to widespread fighting.
17. How did Rama try to keep the authorities from bothering him?
Answer: Rama kept the authorities at bay by occasionally offering packets of his snacks to traffic constables and health department personnel, thus avoiding serious trouble.
18. Why did Rama have to relocate his stall after the riot?
Answer: Rama had to relocate his stall because the spot was taken over for a memorial to a political leader who was killed during the riot, as claimed by young men and sanctioned by the municipality.
19. How did the public and official reports of the riot’s casualties differ?
Answer: The public claimed there were three thousand casualties, while the official communiqué stated only five were injured and four and a quarter were killed.
20. How did the memorial for the political leader impact Rama’s business?
Answer: The memorial’s establishment forced Rama to move his stall far from its original location, significantly reducing his visibility and customer base, leading to a decline in his business.
21. Describe Rama’s daily routine from waking up to setting up his stall.
Answer: Rama woke up early when the cock crowed, often as early as three in the morning. He spent his day frying snacks and preparing for his evening business. At 8:15 PM, he arrived at his spot carrying his tray, stool, lamp, and other items. He set up his stall to catch the cinema crowd and stayed until late, then packed up and went home to his wife, who eagerly counted his earnings.
22. How did Rama manage to run his business despite various challenges, and what ultimately led to its downfall?
Answer: Rama ran his business by arriving punctually, selling quality snacks at low prices, and building a loyal customer base. He kept authorities content with occasional free snacks and remained vigilant about his earnings. However, a political riot disrupted his location, and subsequent memorial activities took over his prime spot, leading to a significant decline in customers and eventual closure of his business.
23. What were the immediate and long-term effects of the riot on Rama’s business and personal life?
Answer: Immediately, the riot forced Rama to relocate his stall, drastically reducing his customer base. Long-term effects included dwindling earnings, deteriorating food quality, and loss of his business. Personally, Rama faced financial hardship and eventually had to take up a low-paying job as a waiter, affecting his sense of pride and livelihood.
24. Explain the significance of the location of Rama’s stall to his business success and how its loss impacted him.
Answer: The location was crucial as it was at a strategic junction, attracting the cinema crowd and pavement dwellers. This prime spot ensured high visibility and constant foot traffic, essential for his sales. Losing this location after the riot severely impacted his business by reducing customer access and visibility, leading to decreased sales and eventual closure.
25. Discuss how Narayan portrays the socio-economic conditions of the various characters who frequent Rama’s stall.
Answer: Narayan depicts a vibrant, yet struggling lower socio-economic class through characters like boot-polish boys, beggars, and grass-selling women. These characters live hand-to-mouth, reflected in their eagerness for Rama’s affordable snacks. Rama himself represents the hardworking, small-scale entrepreneur whose livelihood is precarious and vulnerable to socio-political disruptions. The story highlights the interconnectedness and fragility of their economic existence.
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