TUTORIALevolution
Leela’s Friend
---by R.K. Narayan
The Source:
The present story,
Leela’s Friend, is one of his best-known short-stories taken from R. K.
Narayan's Malgudi Days.
Summary :
Siddh is appointed as a servant at Sivasankar’s house to do all
household works. Sidda is a simple natured fellow who draws everybody's
attention within a short span of time. He becomes a good friend of Leela, the 5
years old daughter of Sivasankar. Sidda and Leela comes to a close relationship
through playing together. A bitter time comes to the story when
Leela's necklace is found missing one day. The family thoughtlessly considers
Sidda to be the offender. Leela's mother accuses him of stealing the necklace.
Her belief is so strong that she calls in the police. Sidda is arrested. Though
She is charged with theft, there is no proof against him. Leela is
very sad as Sidda is still innocent to her. The loss of her necklace is not so
pathetic as the loss of a friend to her. She longs for her friend to play with
him. After a few days, her necklace is found suddenly hidden in a
tamarind pot. They realise Sidda's honesty as it becomes clear that Sidda is
not a thief. Mr.Sivasankar decides to release Sidea from the police custody,
but he does not reemploy Sidda at their house.
The Features/Theme/Central
Idea :
It is clear from the title ‘Leela’s Friend’ that the story is about Leela and her friend Sidda. The story brings forth the class-conflict between the high and the low of society. Sidda becomes the victim of that conflict. Poverty leaves a permanent wound to Sidda’s life. Though he tries to overcome his dark past and is proved guiltless at the end of the story, he is neither allowed to continue his job nor provided with an apology. The so-called society remains indifferent to his sorrows and sufferings. Sidda’s punishment is unjust and also a blunder. But the protector of the law escapes counter punishment. This is not a case to Sidda only, but its roots lie in every sphere of the society making it worse and gloomy. R. K. Narayan has raised his voice to protest against this through the present story. Herein lies his craftsmanship.
Short Answer Type Questions (Mark: 1 each) : (Try to write in a sentence)
1. What would Sidda do when there was a big moon?
2. Who persuaded to employ Sidda?
3. What did Leela ask to do with the ball?
4. Who is Sidda?
5. What made Leela scream?
6. How old is Leela?
7. Where did Sidda live?
8. What did Sidda and Leela play with?
9. What was Sidda’s attitude towards Leela?
10 What idea do you get about Leela’s nature?
11 What picture could Leela draw?
12 How many letters of the alphabet did Leela know?
13 How did Sidda seek relief from Leela's class?
14 Where would Sidda place himself to tell his incomparable stories?
15 When did Leela’s mother notice that Leela’s gold chain was missing?
16 What action did Mr.Sivasanker take after he came home?
17 Why was the police inspector furious?
18 Why did Mr.Sivasanker lodge a complaint against Sidda?
19 Why didn’t Sidda protest?
20 Why was not Sidda taken back even when he was proven innocent?
21 Why didn’t Leela inform that she had kept the chain in tamarind pot?
22 How would you classify the story Leela’s Friend’?
23 On what condition did the police inspector agree to release Sidda?
24 How did Sidda look at Leela before being taken to the police station?
25 Where the chain was ultimately found?
26 How did Leela react to her mother’s scolding?
27 What was the problem Mr.Sivasankar brooding about?
28 What was Sidda doing when Mr.Sivasankar was standing in the veranda and thinking deeply?
29 What did Sidda tell Mr.Sivasankar about his previous job?
30 “He called his wife”- Who called his wife and when?
31 What was the the opinion of Mr.Sivasankar’s wife about Sidda?
32 “And that decided it.”- What does ‘it’ refer to here?
33 How was Sidda paid for the work in Mr.Sivasankar’house?
34 Which work did Sidda do in Mr.Sivasankar’house?
35 “Sidda, Come and play!”- How did Sidda respond to the call of Leela?
36 Which game did Sidda&Leela play together?
37 Why did Leela long for Sidda’scompany?
38 What did Sidda tell Leela when the ball thrown upward came down?
39 Why did Sidda tell Leela to look at the ball quickly?
40 How, according to Sidda, one can touch the ball?
41 She pitied him…”- Why did she pity him?
42 How was Sidda as Leela’sstudent?
43 What kind of story did Sidda tell Leela?
44 “Sidda vanished into the night…”- Why did Sidda vanish into the night?
45 What thought make Leela’s mother panicky?
46 What did Mr.Sivasankar come to know about Sidda from the police?
47 “Leela was in tears…”- When was Leela in tears?
48 “Nothing can make them confess…”- Who said this and about whom?
49 And all this bother on account of her…” – Who, according to the speaker was responsible for all the botheration?
50 What was the final assessment of Mr.Sivasankar about Sidda?
51 What idea do you have about the character of Mr.Sivasankar?
