Chapter: 13. The Malgudi Cricket Club
A. Answer these questions.
Swaminathan’s father admitted him to Board School because Swaminathan became “consistently stubborn” after making a “theatrical exit” from Albert Mission School following a strike. The “great satisfaction” Swaminathan found in his new school was that he excited the curiosity that all newcomers do and became the “centre of attraction in Second C.” Rajam struggled to come up with names besides “Friends Union” and “Excelsiors” the previous night, until he felt fatigued. Mani held the catalogue of Messrs Binns and read aloud the descriptions of the sports goods, particularly the bats. The boys agreed to send the order letter as Rajam had written it because Rajam refused to change “Dear Sir” to “Sir,” arguing that only clerks would use “Sir,” and he was not Binns’ clerk. R.K. Narayan’s youngest brother, R.K. Laxman, was a brilliant cartoonist. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“He still believed that his Albert Mission set was intact, though, since the reopening in June, the set was not what it had been before.”
a. “Albert Mission set” refers to Swaminathan’s group of friends from his old school, Albert Mission.
b. The phrase implies that the strong bond or close-knit nature of his old friendships had somewhat weakened or changed since the school reopened, possibly due to his actions or the passage of time.
c. Swaminathan still considered Rajam and Mani “intact” as far as his old friends were concerned. “The Government seems to tax everything in this world. My father’s pay is about 500. But nearly 200 and over is demanded by the Government.”
a. Rajam is the speaker of these lines.
b. The speaker’s main point was to convey that the government taxes almost everything, and that taxes can take a significant portion of earnings, drawing a parallel to his father’s salary.
c. Swaminathan’s question, “Look here, do you think we shall have to pay tax or something to the Government when we start the team?” prompted this response. “Bare courtesy made Rajam offer the authorship of the letter to Mani, who declined it.”
a. “The authorship of the letter” refers to the task of writing the formal order letter to Messrs Binns for the cricket goods.
b. Rajam likely offered it to Mani out of “bare courtesy” because Mani was also a key member of the club, and perhaps because it was a formal task, and Rajam felt it appropriate to offer it before taking it on himself.
c. Mani likely declined it because he might not have felt confident in his letter-writing skills, or perhaps he found it a tedious or unimportant task compared to discussing equipment, preferring Rajam to handle it. C. Think and answer.
The boys’ conversations and letter writing reflect ‘Indian English’ through their unique blend of formality and informality, and their direct, almost literal, interpretations of rules and phrases. For example, their concerns about “tax” and “complications” are serious, but their solutions (like Rajam’s explanation of MCC or his refusal to use “Sir” because he’s not a “clerk”) show a distinct, localized logic. The specific vernacular words mentioned at the start (“aiya,” “chutney,” etc.) are not directly in the dialogue, but the spirit of adapting English to local thought processes is evident in their earnest, slightly off-kilter approach to formal communication, characteristic of Narayan’s portrayal of Malgudi. If I were Rajam’s father, I would offer the following advice/changes to the letter: Proper Salutation: Explain that “Dear Sir” is a standard, polite greeting for a business, regardless of personal relationship, and advise against arguing over perceived status. Clear Payment Terms: Clarify that businesses require payment upfront or through specific credit terms, and that simply stating “We shall send you money afterwards. Don’t fear” is unprofessional and unlikely to be accepted. I would help them arrange for proper payment. Conciseness and Professionalism: Advise them to be more concise and less informal. Phrases like “quick” and “Please be urgent” are not standard business language and can sound demanding. I would suggest more polite phrasing like “at your earliest convenience.” Specifics of Order: Ensure the quantity and type of items are clearly listed without phonetic misspellings like “Vilord June-ear bat.” One Team Name: Gently suggest that for official correspondence, one clear, registered team name is sufficient to avoid confusion. The story reflects the universal appeal of sports among young people by showcasing their: Enthusiasm and Passion: The boys are consumed by the idea of starting a club, pouring over catalogues, and having intense debates. Dream Building: Sports offer a platform for grand dreams – winning, thrashing opponents, becoming famous (“Jumping Stars”). Friendship and Bonding: Sports become a powerful common interest that strengthens existing friendships and creates new shared experiences. Role-Playing and Leadership: They naturally assume roles like captain, demonstrating early forms of organization and responsibility. Problem-Solving: The “complications” they face, though humorous, are real challenges they try to overcome together, fostering teamwork and practical thinking.
This demonstrates that sports provide an outlet for energy, imagination, social connection, and the development of life skills for young people everywhere. D. Word Wonder.
The manager warned the team not to drop the ball on the new project deadline. Winning the championship against such strong opponents felt completely out of someone’s league for our rookie team. The election results were so close; it came right down to the wire until the final votes were counted. Facing difficult questions from the press, the spokesperson found herself on a sticky wicket situation. The company decided to implement a salary increase across the board for all employees.
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