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Swami's Dilemma: A Father's Help

Swami did not want to go to school on Monday morning. He convinced his mother to let him stay home by pretending to have a headache. When his father said he had to go to school, Swami told his father that his teacher Samuel was very harsh and would cane students until their hands bled. Swami's father was angry about this and decided to write a letter of complaint to the headmaster. Swami then convinced himself to deliver the letter by planning to disobey Samuel, get caned, and use that as proof for the complaint. However, when Swami went to deliver the letter he found that the headmaster was not there that week and the assistant headmaster was Samuel. Unable to

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
696 views2 pages

Swami's Dilemma: A Father's Help

Swami did not want to go to school on Monday morning. He convinced his mother to let him stay home by pretending to have a headache. When his father said he had to go to school, Swami told his father that his teacher Samuel was very harsh and would cane students until their hands bled. Swami's father was angry about this and decided to write a letter of complaint to the headmaster. Swami then convinced himself to deliver the letter by planning to disobey Samuel, get caned, and use that as proof for the complaint. However, when Swami went to deliver the letter he found that the headmaster was not there that week and the assistant headmaster was Samuel. Unable to

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  • Father’s Help

LS.

2 – FATHER’S HELP

Answer the following questions :


Q1. What were Swami’s feelings on Monday morning? Why do you think he felt so?

Ans. When Swami woke up, he realised with a shudder that it was Monday morning. It
looked to him as though a moment ago it had been the last period on Friday. He was not
willing to go to school. He hoped that an earthquake would reduce the school building to
dust. He felt so because he didn’t like to go to school and study. He wanted to stay at home
and enjoy.

Q2. How did Swami convince his mother to let him stay at home?

Ans. Swami showed his reluctance to go to school on Monday morning and pretended to
have a headache. His mother suggested him to go in a jutka but he made the excuse that it
would worsen his condition. When his mother enquired about the school work, he said that
nothing important was going on in school. His mother, who was generous, at once agreed and
permitted him to rest at home.

Q3. What did Swami tell his father about Samuel? Why did he do so?

Ans. When Swami realised that his father was determined to send him to school, he came up
with a new excuse and told his father about his teacher Samuel who was very harsh with the
students. He informed his father that Samuel caned the students on one pretext or the other
and would not stop till he saw blood on the hands. He portrayed a gruesome picture of his
teacher. He did so because he was not willing to go to school and thought that if he would tell
this to his father, he would surely allow him to take a leave.

Q4. Father’s behaviour on learning about Samuel took an unexpected turn. How did he react?

Ans. On learning about Samuel’s violent behaviour with the students, Swami’s father was
shocked and annoyed. He proposed to send Swami late to his class as a kind of challenge. He
also decided to write a letter of complaint to the headmaster of the school because he believed
that such teachers must be driven out of service.

Write the answer to the following question in your own words :

Q5. How did Swami convince himself about giving the letter to the headmaster? Why did he
not deliver the letter to the headmaster?

Ans. decided to disobey his teacher – to make him angry - would hit Swami - would be able
to justify his letter - complain - the headmaster - with proof - reached the room- found
locked- peon informed -the headmaster - taken the afternoon off - won’t come for week - also
informed - assistant headmaster was Samuel - could not deliver the letter - fled from the
place.

Common questions

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Swami's father's response—shock and annoyance—and his subsequent proposal to send Swami late as a challenge, as well as his decision to write a complaint letter to the headmaster, reveal his strong stance against unjust authority figures. This suggests he values fairness and is willing to take action against perceived injustices. His decision to confront the school authorities highlights a priority for maintaining discipline and addressing issues directly, showing a blend of protective instinct and intolerance for perceived misconduct in educational settings .

The narrative uses Swami’s vivid thought processes, such as his longing for an earthquake to destroy the school, to explore escapism by highlighting his desire to avoid school responsibilities and enjoy leisure. His imaginative creation of harsh scenarios with Samuel and the subsequent handling of his father's challenge further emphasize his struggle with confronting reality and responsibility. This inner dialogue and conflict between duty and the urge to flee from it delve deeply into the themes of escapism and the avoidance of accountability .

Swami's plan to provoke Samuel into hitting him to justify his father's complaint letter indicates a willingness to manipulate events for his benefit, reflecting a problematic moral compass. It shows his readiness to create trouble and potentially harm another's reputation for personal gain. This further indicates Swami's struggle with honesty and ethical decision-making, revealing a calculated side of his personality that prioritizes immediate gratification over moral integrity .

Swami manipulated his mother by feigning a headache and expressing reluctance to go to school on a Monday morning. When his mother suggested he take a jutka to school, he argued that it would worsen his condition, further convincing her by claiming that no important work was taking place at school. His mother's generosity and willingness to allow him to rest reinforces his skill at exploiting her kindness. This suggests Swami is clever and strategic in his manipulation, using emotional appeals effectively to escape responsibilities .

Swami's father's decision to draft a letter to the school officials about Samuel's alleged misconduct reflects societal expectations that value accountability and high standards of educational conduct. By planning to confront educational authorities, he underscores the belief that schools are foundational institutions that should uphold ethical discipline. This action illustrates a commitment to societal norms of ensuring safe and just environments for children, highlighting a broader expectation that parents actively participate in addressing educational concerns .

The communication breakdowns, such as Swami's deceptive narratives, his father's misinterpretation of the situation, and the failure to deliver the complaint due to unforeseen office closure, are pivotal in shaping the story's outcome. These breakdowns create a cascade of misunderstandings and unfulfilled intentions. Swami's storytelling, his father's reactive measures, and the thwarted complaint reflect the complexities and repercussions of miscommunication. This narrative device effectively propels the story by illustrating how incomplete or inaccurate exchanges can lead to unintended consequences and misdirected actions .

Swami's interactions with his parents highlight a dynamic where his mother is easily swayed by his emotional appeals, reflecting her nurturing and accommodating nature. On the other hand, his father's initial acceptance of Swami's excuses shows a temporary susceptibility, but ultimately he responds with a stronger stance by planning to take up the matter with the school. These interactions reveal a familial authority dynamic where Swami attempts to exploit differing parental approaches—one lenient and one assertive—to his advantage, showcasing a nuanced interplay between obedience and manipulation .

Swami was particularly anxious about attending school on Monday morning because it felt to him like only a moment ago it had been Friday. This anxiety reveals his reluctance to engage with school and his desire to avoid responsibilities in favor of comfort and leisure at home. His wish for an earthquake to destroy the school building underscores his extreme aversion to attending school. This character trait highlights Swami's tendency to avoid challenges and seek easy excuses to evade schoolwork .

Swami's false depiction of his teacher, Samuel, as violent could be motivated by several psychological factors, including fear of confrontation, aversion to authority, and a desire for control over his immediate environment. By creating a villainous image of Samuel, Swami attempts to gain sympathy and support from his father, hoping it would justify his absence from school. His actions suggest deeper-seated issues with authority figures or fear of failure that compel him to fabricate stories to avoid challenging situations .

Swami's plan to hand over the complaint letter to the headmaster is thwarted when he finds the office locked, learning that the headmaster won't be available for a week. This unexpected turn of events forces Swami to abandon his plan hastily. It conveys the significant impact of unforeseen outcomes on decision-making and actions. This situation exemplifies how reliance on premeditated strategies can fail when disrupted by elements outside one's control, prompting adaptations in behavior .

LS. 2 – FATHER’S HELP
Answer the following questions :
Q1. What were Swami’s feelings on Monday morning? Why do you think he
informed - assistant headmaster was Samuel - could not deliver the letter - fled from the
place.

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