Gandhi's Appeal 

Important words

 

 Hypnotized: - capture the whole attention of (someone); fascinate.

 Seek: - attempt to find (something).Distinctions:- a difference or contrast between similar things or people

 Downtrodden: - oppressed or treated badly by people in power.

 Lulled: - calmed

 Inauspicious: - unlucky.

 Slender:-thin

 Depressed: - suffering the damaging effects of a lack of demand or employment.

 

Objective type questions

 

 What did Padma’s husband ask her to do before going to Gandhi’s meeting?

Ans: - To remove her jewels

 

 Where was the meeting going to take place?

Ans: - In the royal theatre

 

 When was the meeting going to be addressed by Gandhi?

Ans: - At five

 

 What should shouts did the people race on seeing Gandhi?

Ans: - “Gandhi ki Jai” and “Bharat mata ki Jai”

 

 What did Gandhi want the people to give up?

Ans: - The evil of untouchability

 

 How much money did Badmash husband drop into the box when a volunteer came round collecting money?

Ans: - 50 rupees

 

Short Answers

 

 Describe in a few words the scene before Gandhi’s arrival?

Ans: - There were volunteers in home-spun clothes. They had white caps on their heads. They also kept crowd in order. The hall was full. People sat on windows and ventilators also. The passages were choked.

 

 What did the elderly gentleman with the dropping moustache do?

Ans: - He read out an address, welcoming Gandhi. He also set forth the work done by the local branch of the Servants of Untouchables Society.

 

 What did Gandhi say about his mission?

Ans: - Gandhi said that he had come with the mission of reform. He wanted the people to give up the evil of untouchability. He said that all were equal in the eyes of God.

 

 What kind of gifts were collected and what did Gandhi do with them?

Ans: - The gift collected included silver plates, trays, vases, fountain pens, watches, jewels and garlands. Gandhi auctioned them and converted them into cash.

 

Long Answers

 

 Relate in your own words the impact of Gandhi’s speeches on the minds of people?

Ans: - Once Gandhi was to address a meeting at The Royal theatre. Padma a young married woman, wanted to attend the meeting. Her husband asked her to remove her jewels before going to the meeting. He was aware of Gandhi’s influence on the minds of people. Padma’s husband however had no mind to attend the meeting. Padma removed all her jewels but she didn’t remove very slender bangles she covered them with saree. When Gandhi, arrived he spoke for about forty minutes at the meeting.

Then he appealed for funds to help the depressed classes. No sooner did Gandhi make this appeal then there was a rush on the platform in no time. Padma had all the time covered her bangles with the sari. When Gandhi looked at her she felt that she had been found out. She removed the bangles and placed them before Gandhi. Then Padma came back to her home and when she told her husband about the bangles she was surprised to know that her husband too had gone to the meeting and give all the 50 rupees he had in his pocket. This shows the influence of Gandhi on the minds of the people.

 

Long Answers

 

 What did Gandhi address the gathering at the meeting?

Ans: - Gandhi had a very powerful influence on the minds of people. His words appeal to their n hearts. He was a man of the masses. When he n arrived at the meeting, he was heaped with n flowers and garlands. They bowed him before n with folded hands. He was the leader of his n people. His words came from the core of his heart. He said in the meeting that he did not believe in the distinctions of caste and creed. All people are equal in front of God irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion. It is not possible that eyes and ears gets priority then arms and legs. The same way people are also equal. No one should get priority. For him all were equally important. He also asked for the fund to give to the needy. He worked for the poor and the downtrodden. Therefore Gandhi had a great influence on the minds of people.

 

Summary

 

“Gandhi’s appeal” is a story written by R K Narayan. This story is about a lady named Padma. She decides to go to the royal theatre where Gandhi was addressing a meeting. Her husband told her not to take her jewellery along with her. But still she took the bangles to the meeting. Gandhi started addressing the gathering. Gandhi did not believe in the action of caste and creed. For him all were equal. He said that all are equal in front of God. A man of such noble ideas was for sure to win the confidence of people. The story “Gandhi’s appeal” shows Gandhi’s influence on the minds of the people. He appealed for funds. There was a good response. Men gave the money and women parted with their ornaments. Firstly Padma didn’t want to give her bangles but when Gandhi forced and pointed her out she had to give the bangles to him. When she returned home she was scared of telling her husband about the bangles so she waited until the next morning. But when she told him she found out that her husband also gave 50 rupees to Gandhi. This shows that Gandhi had a great influence on the minds of people.