Plus Two Chapter 04 HOREGALLU

Words Meaning & Question Answers

About the Author 

Sudha Murty was born in 1950 at Shiggaon in North Karnataka.

 An M.Tech in Computer Science, she teaches Computer Science to postgraduate students.  A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written novels, technical books, travelogues, collections of short stories and non-fiction pieces. ‘Horegallu’ is taken from The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India, 2006, Penguin Books, New Delhi 

Succour = സഹായം


Horegallu = ഭാരം താങ്ങുന്ന ഒരു പ്രത്യേകതരം കല്ല്


Inextricably = രക്ഷപ്പെടാൻ സാധിക്കാത്തവണ്ണം സങ്കീർണ്ണമായ

Incredulous (adj) : doubtful = വിശ്വസം വരാത്ത
 
Uncannily (adv) : strangely, mysteriously = ബീഭത്സമായി

1. What is a “horegallu”? What is its purpose?     

A)-Horegallu literally means ‘a stone that can bear weight.’ It was a large flat stone place horizontally over two vertical ones, thus making a stone bench on which anyone could sit and rest a while, chat with a fellow traveller and exchange news of the road. 

2. What are the special memories the author associates with “horegallu”?               

A)-The horegallu in his village holds special memories for  as it is 
inextricably linked with my grandfather. He was a retired schoolteacher and would spend hours every day, sitting under the banyan tree and talking to those resting there. When I would get tired of playing, I would sit next to him and observe the people he was speaking to and listen to their conversations. 

3. How does the grandfather refresh the travellers?                  

A)-They spoke about the difficulties they lived with. My grandfather could only listen to them but just talking to him seemed to refresh them for the journey. After some time, they would pick up their 
burdens with some ease and go on their way. 

4. Is “horegallu” essential in a journey? Why?         

A)-The author said    Child, a horegallu is essential in any journey.  Because of We all carry our burdens according to our situations and capacities. But every once in a while, we need to stop, put down that burden and rest.  

5. “Horegallu” gives everyone the opportunity to regain their strength. What does the author try to indicate here?           

A)-Author said we carry our burdens according to our situations and capacities. But every once in a while, we need to stop, put down that burden and rest. Only then can we be refreshed enough to pick up the load once more. The horegallu gives everyone that opportunity to do so. It helps people regain their strength.' 
 
6. Bring out the symbolic significance of the word “burden”.

A)-Burden symbolically means our troubles and tribulations.  There is no body in the world that has no problem at all. Each problem is a burden. When she share a problem,our burden , with others, it will definitely relieve us.   

7.   Comment on the expression “infectious cheerfulness.”  
              
A)-Infectious means contagious something that spread fast like certain diseases, emotions are also infectious in the sense that they spread fast. When attend a funeral everyone wears look like sad. But when you attend a wedding you have a happy look. A happy person brings smile to your person.
  
8. What does Ratna do during lunch hours?       

A)-Ratna would sit with some person is one of the room during their lunch hours, they would  be chatting.
   
9.What is Ratna’s simplistic outlook? 
               
A)-She was young and incredulous at such a simplistic Outlook.  Ratna answered with the same patience and affection that she must have used with all my colleagues, ‘She is not a trained counsellor or an intellectual. No one can solve your problem. You have to do it yourself.
 
10. . The author wishes there were many more of “horegallus” in the world. Comment.             

A)-Horegallu literally means ‘a stone that can bear weight.’ It was a 
large flat stone placed horizontally over two vertical ones, thus making a stone bench on which anyone could sit and rest a while, chat with a fellow traveller and exchange news of the road. Travellers spent some time sitting under it and catching their breath before going on their way. To make them comfortable, there was a 'horegallu' under the tree.