[Literature] Question 11 (i) - Teachoo Sample Paper 2 - English Class 12 - Solutions to CBSE Sample Paper - English Class 12 - English Class 12

How does Bama learn about the practice of untouchability in her village? What is her reaction to it?

Answer as written by the student:

Bama learns about the practice of untouchability in her village when she sees an elderly man from her community carrying a packet of snacks by its string and bowing low before a landlord who sits and eats them. She is puzzled by this sight and asks her elder brother Annan about it. He tells her that the man belongs to their caste, which is considered untouchable by the upper castes, and that he cannot touch the snacks or the landlord with his hands. He also tells her that they face many such humiliations and injustices because of their caste. 

Bama is shocked and angry to hear this. She feels that it is unfair and cruel to treat some people as inferior and others as superior based on their birth. She also feels that they are human beings like everyone else and they should not be discriminated against. 

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

This answer consists of two sentences: one that answers how Bama learns about the practice of untouchability, and one that answers what her reaction to it is.

• The first sentence answers how Bama learns about the practice of untouchability by describing the incident that makes her aware of it. The sentence uses words like “when”, “sees”, “carrying”, “bowing”, and “asks” to show the sequence of events that lead to her discovery. The sentence also uses words like “elderly”, “community”, “string”, and “landlord” to provide specific details about the people and objects involved in the incident. The sentence also uses quotation marks to indicate that Annan’s words are direct speech.
• The second sentence answers what her reaction to it is by describing her emotions and thoughts after learning about the practice of untouchability. The sentence uses words like “shocked”, “angry”, “unfair”, “cruel”, “inferior”, “superior”, and “discriminated” to show the intensity and nature of her feelings. The sentence also uses words like “feels” and “should” to show her personal opinion and moral judgment. The sentence also uses words like “they” and “everyone else” to show her sense of identity and solidarity with her community.