Chapter 7: Fair Play

WORKING WITH THE TEXT

A. Match the sentences under I with those under II.

I

1. Jumman and Algu were the best of friends. – (a) He believed that his friend would never go against him.
2. Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him. – (b) She wanted justice.
3. The aunt decided to appeal to the panchayat. – (c) In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
4. Algu was unwilling to support the aunt. – (d) The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
5. Jumman was very happy to hear Algu’s name as head Panch. – (e) The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was very strong.

II

1. He believed that his friend would never go against him.
2. She wanted justice.
3. In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
4. The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
5. The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was very strong.

Answer:

1. Jumman and Algu were the best of friends. – (c) In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
2. Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him. – (d) The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
3. The aunt decided to appeal to the panchayat. – (b) She wanted justice.
4. Algu was unwilling to support the aunt. – (e) The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was strong.
5. Jumman was very happy to hear Algu’s name as head Panch. – (a) He believed that his friend would never go against him.

B. Who says this to whom and why?

Question 1. “My wife knows best how to run the house.”

Answer:Jumman told this to his aunt. He did not want to give the old lady any allowance. He just wanted to get rid of her.

Question 2. “But is it right, my son, to keep mum and not say what you consider just and fair?”

Answer:The old aunt told these words to Algu Choudhry. Algu was not ready to speak anything against his friend Jumman.

Question 3. “What have you to say in your defence?”

Answer:Algu asked it to Jumman after being nominated as the head Panch. He wanted to do justice and both Jumman and the old lady were equal before him.

Question 4. “I can’t pay you a penny for the wretched beast you sold me.”

Answer:Samjhu Sahu told these words to Algu. Algu sold his bullock to Sahu. The bullock died within a month. When Algu demanded his money, Sahu refused to pay him a penny.

Question 5. “Victory to the panchayat. This is justice.”

Answer:Algu said these words to everyone sitting for the panchayat. Jumman gave his verdict in favour of Algu and asked Sahu to pay money to him. Therefore, Algu shouted in joy and welcomed the verdict.

C. Answer the following questions.

Question 1. “Then the situation changed.” What is being referred to?

Answer:The situation changed after a couple of years. After Jumman and his family started misbehaving with the old lady and became indifferent towards her. He and his wife began to ill-treat their aunt.

Question 2. When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house, what arrangement did she suggest?

Answer:Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not wanted in his house and asked for monthly allowance so that she could cook separately and not get insulted every day.

Question 3. What was the villagers’ reaction when the aunt explained her case to them?

Answer:The old lady was seeking support from the villagers. Some of the villagers sympathised with her, others laughed at her and a few others advised her to make it up with her nephew and his wife.

Question 4. Why was Jumman happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch?

Answer:Algu and Jumman were best friends, therefore Jumman thought that Algu will give – the verdict in his favour. So, he was happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch.

Question 5. “God lives in the heart of the Panch,” the aunt said. What did she mean?

Answer:The aunt meant that a person who acts as a judge becomes free and fair. A judge is not biased and everybody is equal in front of him. He has to do justice irrespective of his emotions and feelings.

Question 6. What was Algu’s verdict as head Panch? How did Jumman take it?

Answer:Algu heard the case and gave a fair verdict. He asked Jumman to either pay his aunt a monthly allowance or else the property goes back to her. Jumman was shocked to hear these words and became his enemy. He wanted his revenge.

Question 7. Algu found himself in a tight spot. What was his problem?

Answer:Algu was worried because one of his fine pair of bullocks died and he sold the other to Samjhu Sahu. Sahu was supposed to pay the price of the bullock, but he refused to pay as the bullock died within a month.

Question 8. Why was Algu upset over Jumman’s nomination as head Panch?

Answer:Algu was upset because Jumman was annoyed with him for the previous judgement. Jumman wanted his revenge and he got an opportunity to do so.

Question 9. What was Jumman’s verdict as head Panch? How did Algu take it? (14,15)

Answer:Jumman said that Sahu has to pay Algu the price of the bullock as it suffered from no disease when Sahu bought it from Algu. This was the right decision and Algu appreciated it and said it was a victory of the panchayat.

Question 10. Which of the following sums up the story best?

1. “I also know that you will not kill your conscience for the sake of friendship.”
2. “Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity.”
3. “The voice of the Panch is the voice of God.”

Give a reason for your choice.

Answer:“Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for the sake of friendship or enmity.” This sums up the story best because the one who occupies the position of a judge becomes fair and free. He has to give fair judgement irrespective of his personal feelings.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE

A. Replace the italicised portion of each sentence below with a suitable phrase from the box. Make necessary changes, wherever required.

look after   swallow    make it up      keep mum   go into
ease one's conscience   as ill luck     would have it
a tight spot            take changes    my heart sank

1. The best way to avoid an unnecessary argument is to remain silent.
2. Unfortunately, the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.
3. He has been told not to take risks while driving a car through a crowded street.
4. The patient needs to be properly taken care of.
5. Why don’t the two of you end your quarrel by shaking hands?
6. I was in a difficult situation till my friends came to my rescue.
7. When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, I felt very disappointed.
8. I will examine the matter carefully before commenting on it.
9. They criticised him in the meeting, but he accepted without protest all the criticism?
10. It will free me from worry to know that I had done nothing wrong.

Answer:

1. The best was to avoid an unnecessary argument is to keep mum.
2. As ill luck would have it, the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.
3. He has been told not to take chances while driving a car through a crowded street.
4. The patient needs to be properly looked after.
5. Why don’t the two of you make it up by shaking hands?
6. I was in a tight spot till my friends came to my rescue.
7. When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, my heart sank.
8. I will go into the matter carefully before commenting on it.
9. They criticised him in the meeting, but he swallowed all the criticism.
10. It will ease one’s conscience to know that I had done nothing wrong.

B. Look at the following phrases and their meanings. Use the phrases to fill in the blanks in the sentences given below.

set up – put in place or start
set aside – save or keep for a particular purpose
set down – write or record
set out – start on a journey
set in – begin and seem likely to continue

1. Why don’t you ………………. your ideas on paper?
2. A fund has been ……………. for the soldiers’ families.
3. We should ………… a little money every month.
4. You should buy some woollens before winter…………..
5. They ………….. on the last stage of their journey.

Answer:

1. Why don’t you set down your ideas on paper?
2. A fund has been set up for the soldiers’ families.
3. We should set aside a little money every month.
4. You should buy some woollens before winter set in.
5. They set out on the last stage of their journey.

SPEAKING AND WRITING

A. Look at the following picture. One asks a question, the other answers it. Then the answer is noted in a form as shown below.

Answer:

B. Work in small groups. Ask your partner the questions given below. If possible, ask him/her a reason for saying Yes or No. Then tick Yes/No, whichever is proper.

1. Do you have a separate room for sleep and study? Yes/No
2. Would you prefer to live in a joint family? Yes/No
3. Do you get on with people? Yes/No
4. Do you like the area you live in? Yes/No
5. Do you find the place overcrowded? Yes/No
6. Do you use public transport? Yes/No
7. Would you like a vehicle of our own? Yes/No
8. Do you like reading? Yes/No
9. Would you like to be a teacher/doctor/engineer/architect? Yes/No

Answer:Do it yourself.

C. Now that you have completed the above project, write a brief report stating what you did, how you did it and the conclusion.

Answer:My friend answered all my questions freely. She said that she would be happy to have a separate room for sleeping and studying. She likes to live in a joint family where everyone helps each other. She likes to meet people and love the area where she lives. Her place is not overcrowded. She does not mind travelling through public transport.
She does not want a vehicle of her own. She loves reading books. She wants to be a doctor in future.

DICTATION

A. Your teacher will speak the words listed below. Write against each a word of opposite meaning.
Examples :
Liquid – Solid
Hard – Soft

Answer:

1. Old – New
2. Wet – Dry
3. Open – Close
4. Blunt – Sharp
5. Forget – Remember