Q. Why did Gandhiji feel that
taking the Champaran case to court was useless? (Delhi 2014)
Ans. In Gandhiji’s opinion, law courts were of little good. He felt that
where the poor peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts were
useless. That was why he felt that taking Champaran case to the court was
useless. According to him, the real relief for them was to be free from fear.
Q. How did the Champaran peasants
react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them? (Compartment 2014)
Ans. When the Champaran peasants heard that a Mahatma had come to help
them, they assembled in Motihari in large number. Thousands of peasants held a
demonstration around the courthouse where Gandhiji was supposed to appear. The
crowd was so uncontrollable that the officials felt powerless, and Gandhiji
himself helped the authorities to regulate the crowd.
Q3. What made the Lieutenant
Governor drop the case against Gandhiji? (Compartment 2014)
Ans. When Gandhiji was asked to appear in the court in Motihari, thousands
of peasants held a demonstration around the courthouse. The officials felt
helpless and the government was baffled. The judge didn't want to aggravate the
situation so he postponed the trial. He held up the sentence for several days,
after which Gandhiji was released without bail. All these events made the
Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji.
Q. Why did Gandhiji oppose when his
friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran and help the peasants? (Foreign
2014)
or
Why did Gandhiji object to CF
Andrews' stay in Champaran? (2009)
Ans. CF Andrews was an English pacifist. He was a devoted follower of
Gandhiji. The lawyers thought that it would be a great idea if Andrews stayed
in Champaran and helped them. But Gandhiji was against this because he felt
that taking an Englishman's help showed weakness. He said that they had to win the
battle by relying on themselves.
Q. Why do you think Gandhi
considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? (All India
2011)
Ans. The Champaran episode was not an act of defiance. It began as an
attempt to alleviate the distress of poor peasants. Ultimately it proved to be
a turning point in Gandhiji's life because it was a loud proclamation that made
the British realize that Gandhili could not be ordered about in own country. It
infused courage in the masses to question British authority. It also laid the foundation
of non-cooperation as a new tool to fight the British.
Q. What did the peasants pay to the
British landlords as rent? (Foreign 2011)
Ans. The British landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 percent of
their holdings with indigo. The peasants had to pay this indigo to the British
landlords as rent. They had to do so because they had been bound to do so by a
long term contract.
Q. Why did Gandhiji decide to go to
Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran? (Foreign 2011)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla had given quite a lot of information to Gandhiji
about the indigo sharecroppers of Champaran. However, Gandhiji wanted to obtain
more complete information about the conditions than Shukla had imparted. So he decided
to go to Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran.
Q. Why do you think the servants
thought Gandhi to be another peasant? (Delhi 2010)
Ans. The servants knew that Rajkumar Shukla was a poor farmer who
pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. Since Gandhiji
accompanied Shukla and was dressed like a simple man, they mistook him for a
peasant.
Q. “The battle of Champaran is
won!" What led Gandhiji to make this remark? (Foreign 2010)
Ans. The lawyers decided to return home if Gandhiji was arrested. But
they soon realized their mistake. They soon declared that they would fight for
the peasants' cause even if Gandhiji was arrested. They also volunteered to
court arrest for the cause of the sharecroppers. At this Gandhiji was very
pleased and exclaimed, "The battle of Champaran is won!"
Q. Why did Gandhi agree to the
planters' offer of a 25% refund to the farmers? (Delhi 2009)
Ans. Gandhill agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers in
order to break the deadlock between the landlords and peasants. For him the
amount of the refund was not very important. More important was the fact that the planters
had been forced to surrender part of their rights. So he agreed to their
settlement. Thus, Gandhiji not only made the landlords accept their
dishonesty but also made the farmers learn a lesson in defending their rights
with courage.
Q. How was Gandhi able to influence
the lawyers? Give instances. (All India 2009)
or
How was Gandhiji able to influence
the lawyers? (All India 2008)
Ans. Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he was sentenced to
prison. They said that they had come to advise him. If he went to jail, they
would go home. Then Gandhi asked them about the injustice to the sharecroppers.
The lawyers held consultations. They came to the conclusion that it would be
shameful desertion if they went home. So, they told Gandhi that they were ready
to follow him into jail. Thus Gandhiji encouraged them to court arrest for
the peasants' noble cause.
Q. How did Gandhiji help the peasants of
Champaran? (All India 2009)
Ans. At Champaran, the British landlords forced
all the tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holding with indigo and then
surrender the entire harvest as rent. This increased the misery of the poor
tenants. But when synthetic indigo was developed and indigo plantation was no
longer profitable, the landlords obtained fresh agreements from sharecroppers
to pay them compensation for releasing them from the 15% arrangement. Gandhiji
came in at this time and through non-violent civil disobedience he forced the
landlords to refund 25 per cent of the compensation money to the peasants.
Q. How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in
Rajendra Prasad’s house? (Delhi 2012)
Ans. In Patna Shukla led Gandhiji to the house
of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town but his servants knew Shukla
as a poor peasant who pestered Rajendra Prasad (their master) to help the
indigo sharecroppers. So he was allowed to stay there with his companion. But
Gandhiji was not permitted to draw water from the well lest he be an
untouchable and some drops of water from his bucket pollute the entire source.
Q. What made Gandhiji demand 50% refund from
the British landlords? (Comptt. Delhi)
Ans. Gandhiji demanded 50% refund from the
British landlords in the form of repayment of money which the landlords had
illegally and deceitfully extorted from the poor sharecroppers.
Q. While at Champaran how did Gandhiji keep a
long distance watch on his ashram? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Ans. During his long stay in Champaran, Gandhiji
kept a long distance watch on his Ashram. He sent regular instructions by mail
and asked for financial accounts. He even wrote to the residents that it was
time to fill in the old latrine trenches and dig new ones.
Q. How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he
was resolute? (All India 2015)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit
Champaran to take up the cause of the poor sharecroppers who were being
exploited by the English landlords but Gandhiji said he had appointments in
various parts of India. Shukla started following Gandhiji everywhere the latter
went and for weeks he never left Gandhiji’s side thus establishing his
resoluteness.
Q. How was Gandhi treated at Rajendra Prasad’s
house? (All India 2015)
Ans. In Patna Shukla led Gandhiji to the house
of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town but his servants knew Shukla
as a poor peasant who pestered Rajendra Prasad (their master) to help the
indigo sharecroppers. So he was allowed to stay there with his companion. But
Gandhiji was not permitted to draw water from the well lest he be an
untouchable and some drops of water from his bucket pollute the entire source.
Q. What were the terms of the indigo contract between
the British landlords and the Indian peasants? (All India 2015)
Ans. The arable land in the Champaran district was divided into estates which
were owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial
crop was indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 per cent of
their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Third
Level
1. What does the third level refer to? What is the
significance of the third level? (2001; 2004, Delhi)
Ans: The
third level refers to a subway at the Grand Central Station of New York. It is
a medium of escape for people from life’s harsh realities. The modem life is
full of insecurity, fear, war and tension. So people want to live a life of
peace and tranquility. So they escape to a place where they can realize their
dreams and unfulfilled wishes of his subconscious mind.
2. Why does Charley say that the Grand Central Station
is growing like a tree in the story “The Third Level"?
Or
What happens when Charley enters the Grand Central
Station?
Ans.
Whenever Charley enters the Grand Central Station, he finds new corridors,
staircases and tunnels. He finds the station like a huge tree, which keeps on
spreading its roots and branches all over. Once he entered a tunnel and instead
of reaching the station, he reached the lobby of a hotel. Similarly, one day he
reached an office building, which was three blocks away.
3. How did Charley often get lost at the Grand Central
Station? (2010 Delhi)
Ans. The
Grand Central Station was growing like a tree pushing out endless corridors,
doorways and stairs like roots. It had intricate and tangled pathways. The
passages were so complicated that instead of reaching his destination, one did
tend to move up and down to look for entries and exits. So, Charley often got
lost on this station.
4. How did Charley happen to reach the Third Level of
Grand Central Station, New York?
Ans. One
day Charley worked late in his office. He wanted to go to his wife Louisa. So
he went to Grand Central to reach home early. There he entered in a tunnel that
ended in a corridor. The corridor turned left and slanted -downward. Charley
went on walking and reached a flight of stairs that took him to another level
of the station. It was the Third Level and quite different from the other two
levels.
5. What specific difference did Charley notice at the
Third Level of Grand Central Station?
Or
What convinced Charley that he had reached the third
level at Grand Central Station and not the second level? (2010 Delhi)
Or
How does Charley, the narrator describe the third
level at Grand Central Station? (2013 Delhi)
Ans: The
third level was different from that of the second level. At the Third Level,
the rooms were smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The trains had fewer
gates. The wooden information booth in the centre was old looking. There were
brass spittoons on the floor. Open flame gas lights were flickering. People
were wearing old-styled dresses. None of these things could be found on the
other two levels. So Charley was convinced it was not the second level.
6. What does Sam, a psychiatrist friend of Charley,
opine about Charley and his visit to the Third Level?
Or
Do you think that the Third Level was a medium of
escape for Charlie? Why?
Ans.
Charley claimed that there were three levels at Grand Central Station but no
one was ready to believe. When Charley told his friend Sam about the Third
Level at Grand Central Station, he said that it was just a "waking
dream-wish-fulfillment.” H also said that it was nothing but an attempt to
escape from the harsh realities of modern life which is full of insecurity,
war, fear, worry and tension.
7. How did Charley get lost when he was heading for
the subway?
Ans. One
day Charley went to the Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue. He went down the
steps to the First Level. Then he walked down to the Second Level. It was the
place to where the sub-urban trains left. Then he ducked into an arched door
way heading for the subway. He was lost from this place.
8. What unusual scene did Charley notice at the Third
Level?
Or
What information do we get about the people and
appearances at the Third Level?
Ans. At the
Third Level, the rooms were smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The
trains had fewer gates. The wooden information booth in the centre was old
looking. There were brass spittoons on the floor. The open flame gas lights
were flickering. People were wearing old styled dresses. People were dressed
like 1890 or so. They had beards, side-burns and funny mustaches.
9. What made the ticket clerk think that Charley was
trying to skin him ? Imp.)
Ans.
Charley went to the ticket counter for two tickets to Galesburg. He paid the
currency of the present world which was totally different from the 1890s world.
When the clerk saw the big notes, he thought that Charley was trying to skin
(cheat) him by giving him false bills. He threatened to get him arrested.
Charley at once turned away and got out.
10. What is a "first-day cover" and what is
specific about it?
Ans. When a
new stamp is issued, the stamp collectors buy some of these and use them to
mail envelops to themselves on the very first day of the sale. The postmark
proves the date. This envelop is called the first-day cover. They are never
open. Even a blank paper can be put in it.
11. What made Charley confirmed that he was standing
in the year 1894?
Or
How did Charley make sure that he was not in the
present time? (2002 Delhi)
Ans. When
Charley reached the Third Level of the Grand Central Station, he found
everything in old style. In order to confirm, he went to a newspaper seller. He
glanced at the stack of the papers and saw a newspaper named "The World'
of June 11, 1894. It carried the main story on President Cleveland. This made
him confirmed that he was in the year 1894.
12. What information does the author give us about the
carefree life of the people of Galesburg, Illinois of 1894? Why does
Charley want to go there ? (Imp)
Or
How does Charley describe Galesburg as it used to be
in 1894? (2013 Comptt. Outside Delhi)
Ans.
Galesburg Illinois is a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns
and tremendous trees. In 1894, it reflected a peaceful world of romance and,
leisure. Summer evenings were twice as long. The people sat out on their lawns.
The men smoked cigars and talked quickly. The women sat in leisure waving
palm-leaf fans. Charley wanted to go back there to escape from insecurity,
fear, war worry and tension of the modern world.
13. How was Charley able to collect the old-style
currency? Why he could not buy two tickets even after getting money?
Ans.
Charley was able to collect the old-style currency from a coin dealer’. There he
exchanged his three hundred dollars with old-style currency. But when he went
to buy the tickets for Galesburg, he could never find the corridor that led to
the Third Level at Grand Central Station.
14. What surprising thing did Charley face while looking
at the oldest "first day covers" one day?
Ans. One
day Charley was looking at his oldest "first-day covers". There was
an old envelope duly stamped. It was mailed to his grandfather at his house in
Galesburg. It had been there since July 18, 1894. There was a post mark over
the envelope with a picture of President Garfield. The stamp was a six-cent and
dull brown. All this surprised Charley very much.
15. Who had sent that "first-day cover” and what
was written on the paper in it?
Or
What was there in Sam's letter to Charley?
Ans.
Charley's friend Sam, the psychiatrist had sent that "first-day
cover" on July 1894. The letter was signed by Sam and it said that Charley
was right about the Third Level. Sam claimed that he had found the Third Level.
Regarding Galesburg, it stated that it was a nice and romantic city. People
were enjoying piano and singing “Seeing Neely Home”. At the end of the letter,
Charley was advised to keep on looking for the third level.
16. How did Sam reach Galesburg? What did he advise
Charley to do? (2012 Outside Delhi)
Ans: Sam
was fascinated by Charley’s description of Galesburg. He was also burdened by
the tensions and stress of modem life. So he thought of escaping to the
peaceful world of Galesburg. After reaching there he sent a letter to Charley
in which he advised to Charley that, he (Charley) and his wife, Louisa should
come over to Galesburg through the medium of the ‘third level’.
17. What is Sam's old business and why he can't go
back to it? What type of business he has adopted?
Ans. Sam is
a psychiatrist. But now he is in Galesburg which is a romantic and peaceful
world. He is in the year of 1894 where people are free from all worries. There
is no need of any psychiatrist there. So Sam can't go back to his old business.
Now he has adopted the new business of feed and grain in Galesburg in the year
1894.
18. After finding the Third Level of the Grand Central
Station, why did Charley go to his psychiatrist friend to consult about
it?
Ans.
Charley knew that there were only two levels at Grand Station. In his fantasy,
he visited the Third Level as well. There he felt a range mystery of 1894. But
his senses realized he was going wrong. So he took the step of consulting a
psychiatrist.
19. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to
Galesburg? (2011 Outside Delhi)
Ans: One
day Sam disappeared all of a sudden. No one knew about his whereabouts. Charley
suspected he had gone to Galesburg as Sam was a city boy and liked Galesburg
very much. Then Charley found an envelope mailed to Sam by his grandfather from
his home in Galesburg and so it confirmed that Sam was indeed in Galesburg.
20. Why do Charley and Sam both fancy about the Third
Level and going to Galesburg in 1894?
Ans. Both
Sam and Charley are the victims of whim that a Third Level exists because it
gives them a way to run away from the troubles caused due to their burdened
lives. The concept of a peaceful city of lawns and huge trees gives birth to a
craving to be in this world. So they imagine themselves in Galesburg living
with comfort and peace. They know in reality that nothing exists like the Third
Level, but their longing for the mental peace compel them to believe it.
21. What did the psychiatrist friend tell Charley when
he told him about the third level? (CBSE Comptt Delhi 2008)
Ans.
Charley's psychiatrist friend said that it nothing but a waking dream wish
fulfillment. He also explained the modern world is full of insecurity, fear,
war and worry and Charley wanted to escape from it.
22. What did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp
and coin store? (2012 Outside Delhi)
Ans: From the stamp and coin store Charley gets to know that
Sam had bought old-style currency worth eight hundred dollars. This money was
sufficient to set him up in a little hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.
Long answer type questions
Q. Write a pen-portrait of Charley.
Ans. Charley is the protagonist of the story. He is thirty-one years old, lives in New York and is quite fashionable if one looks at his dress. But he is not happy. Stark and harsh realities of the world had compelled him to lie low and remain dispirited.
Charley is romantic at heart and wants to escape from his humdrum existence. His unhappiness stems from a life and world filled with stress, fear and war. Insecurity frightens him beyond repair. Like any mortal, he loves his wife Louisa and wants to be in her company. He wants to escape to a fairyland to enjoy life maximum. He finds 'the third level' a fantastic world of peace, romance and dreams. He desires to live there. Charley is an innocent person and believes that everybody wants to escape. His escapist tendency is revealed in his stamp-collecting hobby which is a route to the fantastic and peaceful past. We can simply say that Charley is not of stable mind. It will not be wrong to say that he represents most of us. Most of us are split personalities.
Q. Do you find any intersection of time and space in the story
"The Third Level? Elucidate.
Ans. In this story, the writer, very minutely and superbly, interweaves fantasy and reality. Reading the story we feel as if we were enjoying a movie. The narrator wanders from one world to the other. In the story, we come across the real world of New York. As usual, it is full of mad rush, hurry, worries and fears. But the world where Charley wanders is the world of fantasy and wishful thinking. Its setting is a wonderful contrast to the cruel realities of modern times. Charley, the protagonist, escapes into that world of romance and fantasy, peace and tranquillity.
"The third level” transports Charley to a different world. It is the world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches and of open flame gaslights. Galesburg, with its big old frame houses, huge lawns and sky-touching trees, charms Charley completely. The gap between the present and past is more than a gap of hundred years. Charley is unable to buy tickets to Galesburg. He wants to run to that land. But the currency of the present hinders his way. He buys the appropriate currency third level is nowhere to be seen. Charley remains shuttling between present and past. Fantasy and reality are interwoven in a natural way. While reading the story, we indulge in 'willing suspension of disbelief’. Here lies the plus-points of the effective writing of the writer.
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