NCERT Solutions - The Portrait of Lady

Quick Recap

The Portrait of a Lady is a short narrative written by Khushwant Singh about his grandmother. It draws on his real-life experiences and childhood memories and highlights the close bond he shared with his grandmother, who was a deeply religious and caring woman.

Let's have a look at the questions from the textbook.

Q: Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
The thought was almost revolting
An expanse of pure white serenity
A turning-point
Accepted her seclusion with resignation
A veritable bedlam of chirrupings
Frivolous rebukes
The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum

Ans:
The thought was almost revolting: The idea that the author's grandmother had once been young and pretty seemed hard for the author to accept; it surprised him and felt almost unbelievable.
An expanse of pure white serenity: This phrase describes the grandmother's calm, peaceful character. She is compared to a wide, quiet snowy landscape that suggests tranquillity and purity.
A turning-point: This refers to a decisive change in the relationship between the author and his grandmother, especially when they moved to the city and their daily closeness changed.
Accepted her seclusion with resignation: This shows that the grandmother quietly accepted her solitary life and routine without protest when the author grew more distant.
A veritable bedlam of chirrupings:  It refers to the noise, confusion, and chaos caused by the chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around the author's grandmother.
Frivolous rebukes: These are light, casual scoldings. The grandmother's reproaches to the sparrows were not harsh but playful and harmless.
The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum: This points to the worn-out, shabby condition of the drum; its skins were loose and the instrument looked neglected.

Understanding the Text

• Early childhood: The first phase was the period of the author's early childhood. During this phase, he used to live with his grandmother in the village. The grandmother used to take care of him from waking him up and getting him ready, to accompanying him to school. Both shared a good friendship with each other.
• Boyhood: The second phase was the time when the author and the grandmother moved to the city to live with the author's parents. This was a turning point in their friendship because now they saw less of each other.
• Early youth: The third phase was the time the author joined University. He was given a room of his own and the common link of their friendship was snapped. The grandmother turns to wheel spinning and reciting prayers all day long. She accepts her seclusion with silence.

Q2: Mention three reasons why the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
Ans: 
The author's grandmother was disturbed when he began attending the city school for three main reasons. 

• First, she could not help him with subjects like English and science and did not value Western learning. 
• Second, she was hurt that religious instruction and teaching of scriptures were absent from his new school. 
• Third, she disapproved of music lessons because she considered music to be associated with low dignity and improper occupations.

Talking About the Text

The grandmother's religious devotion is clear from her daily habits and behaviour. She was often seen counting the beads of her rosary and moving her lips in silent prayer. Each morning she rose early to perform her prayers in a steady, sing-song manner. She would sit in the temple while the author studied and she was visibly upset by the absence of religious teaching at his English school. In later life she withdrew from family conversation to focus solely on prayer and the rosary, showing a constant, inward devotion.

The relationship between the author and his grandmother changed significantly over time due to their circumstances. Initially, they were close friends living together in the village. However, a pivotal moment occurred when they moved to the city to live with the author's parents. In the city, the author attended an English school, while his grandmother remained at home, unable to accompany him. This separation marked the beginning of a shift in their bond. At the new school, the grandmother felt disturbed because she could not assist the author with his studies. She disapproved of the education he received, particularly the absence of teachings about God and scriptures. To cope with her feelings, she turned to spinning and feeding the sparrows in the courtyard. As the author grew older, he went to university and eventually abroad, further distancing himself from her. Despite the physical distance, their feelings for each other did not change. The grandmother accepted her isolation with resignation, continuing her daily routines. Although they saw less of each other, their emotional connection remained intact. Even when the author returned after five years, the grandmother did not show signs of age or emotional upheaval. She remained devoted to her prayers and her beloved sparrows, illustrating that their bond, though altered by circumstances, was still strong.

Yes. The grandmother showed strength of character in several ways. She was content with simple living and firm in her views about education and religion. When she felt lonely she occupied herself with spinning, prayer and feeding sparrows rather than complaining. She accepted the author's decision to study abroad without visible distress, and on his return she expressed joy calmly by singing for hours. Even in her last days, she chose to withdraw from family talk and focus on prayer, showing steadiness and resolve.

Yes, I have known someone similar: my own grandmother, who passed away recently. The sense of loss was deep and painful, since I had spent many years with her and shared a close bond.

OR
No, I have never known someone the way the author knew his grandmother. Thus, I have not experienced the same sense of grief.

Thinking About the Language

Q1: Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
Ans: The author and his grandmother most likely used their mother tongue to converse. Since Khushwant Singh came from Punjab, they probably spoke Punjabi.

Q2: Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
Ans: My elderly relatives understand both English and Hindi. I usually greet them in English, but I feel more at ease and speak more freely with them in Hindi.

Q3: How would you say 'a dilapidated drum' in your language?
Ans: The expression in our language for 'a dilapidated drum' is "phata-hua dholak".

Q4: Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?
Ans: Come back !
Back to the land of your birth.
Meadows are still green
Air as fresh as you left them.
Come and see those gurgling brooks
They will reflect your childhood.
Come back ! Years that rolled by
Will come to life once again.

Working with Words

I. Notice the following uses of the word 'tell' in the text.
a. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
b. I would tell her English words and little things about Western science and learning.
c. At her age one could never tell.
d. She told us that her end was near.
Given below are four different senses of the word 'tell'. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.
1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. Give information to somebody
Ans: 

1. Make something known to someone in spoken or written words: I would tell her English words and little things of western science and learning.
2. Count while reciting: Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
3. Be sure: At her age, one could never tell.
4. Give information to somebody: She told us that her end was near.

II. Notice the different senses of the word 'take':
(i) to take to something: to begin to do something as a habit
(ii) to take ill: suddenly become ill
Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.
Ans: 
In the narrative these phrases are used as follows:
(i) to take to: She took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house.
(ii) take ill: The next morning she was taken ill.

III. The word 'hobble' means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition.
Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking.

Ans: The words referring to a manner of walking are: shuffle, stride, waddle, swagger, trudge, slog.