Class - VII [Raintree Coursebook Theme - 3: All You Need is Love] Chapter - 6: The Regimental Myna by Ruskin Bond

Summary: The Regimental Myna

The Regimental Myna is a story about the relationship between a soldier and his pet bird. The

narrator’s grandfather is a British soldier working in India. Keeping pets is the only

entertainment for his regiment, the soldiers who are stuck in the barracks at Meerut.

Grandfather has a pet myna which he names Dickens. The myna is a favourite with everybody

at the barracks. Dicky and Grandfather are almost like parent and child. Dicky takes his meals

only from Grandfather and hardly ever leaves his side.


Dicky is never caged and is present at every parade and function that the soldiers attend. One

day, there is to be a General’s inspection and the Colonel commands that Dicky be caged. Dicky

is locked up in a storeroom but he escapes when an orderly opens the storeroom door to get

something. He flies immediately to the parade and lands on the General’s helmet. The General

is shocked and when he takes off the helmet, he sees that Dicky has expelled his breakfast onto

the plumes of the helmet.

The Colonel is furious and demands that he never sees Dicky again. Grandfather is upset as he

loves Dicky. So he decides to apologise to the Colonel. The Colonel allows Dicky to stay on the

condition that he be taken on as a serving member of the regiment.

Dicky follows Grandfather everywhere. When Grandfather falls ill and is taken to the hospital,

Dicky searches till he finds him and stays with him till he is discharged. When Grandfather’s

regiment is ordered to an expedition to Burma, Grandfather is forced to leave Dicky behind.

Three days later, Dicky catches up, tired and starving—he had never learned to feed himself.

Grandfather and Dicky survive the fighting in Burma together. Grandfather is promoted and is

given leave to sail home to England. Dicky goes along with him. Dicky is fine during the first half 

of the journey, but when they cross Gibraltar, he falls ill and dies. Grandfather buries him at sea

to the sound of the bagpipes playing The Last Post, a trumpet call that is played at the funeral

of a soldier.

The Regimental Myna demonstrates to us that love and family can be found in the unlikeliest of

places, people and creatures. The relationship between Dicky, the myna and Grandfather is as

close as that between family members. Dicky is completely loyal to Grandfather and follows

him everywhere. It is not just Grandfather that adores Dicky, but his entire regiment. Dicky is

and always will be a member of the regiment. 

Story Analysis (Notebook Work)

Central Idea: The story explores the bond between soldiers and a myna, reflecting on companionship and loss. The most significant bond was between the grandfather and Myna.

Themes
1. Communication: Language as a bridge between species.
2. Freedom vs. Confinement: The struggle between captivity and the desire for freedom.
3. Companionship: Emotional connections between Myna and the regiment.
4. Loss and Grief: The profound impact of losing a beloved companion like a pet in the story.

Message: Deep connections with others, whether human or animal, can profoundly influence our lives and emotions.


Comprehension

A. 1. …it was their only source of enjoyment.

2. …he sat on Grandfather’s shoulders and flapped his wings with his beak open.

3. …he escaped and flew to the parade grounds when a mess orderly opened the storeroom to take

something.

4. …agreed on the condition that Dicky be made a serving member of the regiment.

5. …his entire regiment, including Grandfather, was going there on an expedition.

6. …dull, dejected and starving.

B. Reference to Context

 1. a. The General said these words.

 b. Dicky flew, sat atop General’s helmet and expelled his food onto the plumes.

 c. The use of the word ‘dickens’ is funny here because it is both the name of the bird and a way of

expressing great surprise.

2. a. The regiment was given orders to leave all their pets behind as they left for the Burma

expedition.

 b. Dicky did not want to stay back. He wanted to go to Burma with his regiment.

 c. Dicky followed the regiment and caught up with them on the third day after flying more than 300 kilometers.


C. Answer the questions in detail 

1. Yes, the relationship between Dicky and Grandfather was like that between a parent and child. Grandfather tamed Dicky at a very young age and had to feed Dicky from his own hands whenever he was hungry. Grandfather loved Dicky and when the Colonel was upset with Dicky, Grandfather was worried that he might be asked to get rid of Dicky, which he could not do. When Grandfather fell ill, Dicky was upset till he located Grandfather at the hospital. He kept Grandfather company in the hospital. Even when Grandfather went away to Burma, Dicky could not bear to stay without him. They shared a very loving relationship, just like a parent and child.

2. When the ship taking Grandfather back to England crossed Suez Canal, Dicky lost all his energy. He did not come up on deck or sit on the sails or on the bridge with the captain. This was very unlike Dicky. It got very cold after Suez Canal and this weather was not good for Dicky. He died after they 
passed Gibraltar.

3. The title ‘Regimental Myna’ refers to Dicky, the myna that was a member of Grandfather’s regiment
just like the other soldiers. This is a suitable name for the text as it expresses perfectly the relationship between Dicky and the regiment—they were like family. Dicky followed the regiment wherever they went—whether it was to the parade grounds or to Burma on an expedition. Even the Colonel had declared that Dicky be taken on as a serving member of the regiment. When Dicky died, he was buried with some military honours, just like a soldier of the regiment would have been.

D. Think and Answer

i. Dicky was the most loyal pet I ever knew.
ii. He followed me and the regiment to Burma and stayed with us through the entire expedition.
iii. He even followed me on the ship to England, though it would not be good for him to leave India. He was one of us, one of the regiment.

i. He attended all the parades and was with us on every occasion that brought us out of the barracks.
ii. He excitedly flew to join us during the General’s inspection though he was not supposed to.
iii. The Colonel took him on as a serving member of the regiment.
iv. He joined us on the expedition to Burma.
v. I played The Last Post when he died as I would have for any other member of the regiment. Everybody who knew Dicky loved him.

i. Dicky was not only my pet but that of my entire regiment.
ii. I could not bear the thought of losing him or locking him in a cage when the Colonel ordered I take him away.
iii. Even though the Colonel was mad at Dicky for disrupting the inspection, he was fond of him and let him stay as a member of the regiment!
iv. I played The Last Post when Dicky died to honour him. Dicky was a very funny bird to have around.

i. He would sit on my shoulders and flap his wings and open his beak to tell me he was hungry.
ii. Once, he flew excitedly to the General’s inspection, sat on the General’shelmet and expelled his
food between the plumes!
iii. He was very cheerful, excited little bird


Value Based Question
 In "The Regimental Myna," how does the bond between the narrator and the myna illustrate the values of companionship and empathy, highlighting the profound connections that enrich our lives?

 In "The Regimental Myna," the bond between the narrator and the myna illustrates companionship and empathy through their playful interactions and mutual care. This relationship highlights how connections with animals can bring joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging, emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships in enriching our lives. The myna's antics evoke laughter and affection, reminding us that emotional ties, regardless of species, foster deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around us.

Grammar (To be done in textbook Raintree – Page – 69 to 71)

A. Complete these sentences with the correct forms of verbs given in the brackets.

2. Smiling 3. frightening 4. decided 5. taken 6. wearing; worn

B. Combine these sentences using infinitives

2. Nidhi went to the shop to buy bread and butter.
3. I am going to Dispur tomorrow to attend my cousin’s wedding.
4. He took out his lunchbox to share his lunch with the little boy.
5. She does not have any money to buy a biscuit.

C. 2. waiting 3. talking 5. travelling

Vocabulary

A. 1. Explode
2. plans for movements of the military forces during a battle
3. small group of soldiers
4. someone who has been a soldier in a war
5. someone who is hurt or killed in a war
6. anyone who is not a member of the military forces These words are used to talk about the military

B. 2. adventurous 3. believable 4. bookish 5. divisible 6. doubtful

THE REGIMENTAL MYNA

A. Answer in brief.

1. How did Dicky become the indispensable member of the regiment?

 Ans: In the hot dusty summer in Meerut with a hot tempered commander to command them, the

soldiers had no other recreation except keeping a pet. Dicky, the myna, was like a breath of fresh

air for the soldiers. He became the most favorite, indispensable possession of the soldiers and was

seen with the soldiers everywhere.

2. Why was Dicky in distress?

 Ans: Dicky was first Grandfather’s pet, and later became the pet of all soldiers in the barrack. One

day, Grandfather had to be admitted in the hospital with malaria. Dicky was unaware of this and

got distressed as he was unable to find him anywhere in the camp.

B. Answer in detail.

1. Why did the Colonel want Dickens to be caged? Was it possible to confine him in the store room?

 Ans: The crusty, ill tempered Colonel did not like the presence of the bird during the General’s

inspection. He did not want the bird flapping all over the parade ground in front of the General. He

ordered the bird to be locked away. Hence he was put in a store room with the doors and windows

closed. But he could be confined only for a short while as the door was opened by an orderly to

take out something. As if waiting for that opportunity, Dicky quickly flew out of the room, headed

towards the parade ground chattering loudly and landed straight on the Colonel’s helmet.

2. How did Dicky meet his end? How was he honoured?

 Ans: After the war at Burma, Grandfather now a Corporal, was given six months’ home leave

which meant he would be sailing home to England. As Dicky would never leave grandfather’s

side, he too followed him in the voyage. The first part of the voyage was manageable for Dicky,

but after the Suez Canal, the cold weather got on to him and he lost interest even in going to the

deck to be with Grandfather. Unable to bear the cold he breathed his last after the ship passed

Gibraltar. Dicky was laid to rest in a Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit tin and buried at sea. Grandfather

may not have buried him with full military honours but he did bid adieu to his dear pet by playing

the ‘The Last Post’ on his bagpipes.

C. Read the lines and answer the questions.

1. Keeping a pet was almost the only recreation for the men in the barracks.

 a. Why was it the only recreation for the men in the barracks?

 b. What was the pet that they had in the barracks ?

 c. Who was the owner of the pet?

 Ans: a. Meerut, where the men were in the barracks, was very hot and dusty. To add to that, their

commander was a hot tempered man. So the only way for the men to relax was to be

with pets.

 b. There were dogs and cats and sometimes birds, in the barracks. But the favourite pet was

a myna, which was named Dickens by the owner.

 c. Grandfather was the owner of that pet.

2. Then he consulted his officers and decided that the bird could stay…

 a. Who consulted the officers?

 b. Why did he have to do that?

 c. What was the condition on which the bird could stay?

 Ans: a. The Colonel consulted his officers to take a decision.

 b. He had to do that because he could not take a firm decision on his own after

Grandfather’s plea.

 c. The funny condition he laid was that the bird could stay only if he was taken as a serving

member of the regiment!

D. Answer in brief. (Think and answer)

1. Grandfather was prepared to ask for forgiveness on behalf of the bird rather than cage him. What

do you understand about the relationship between Dicky and Grandfather from this?

 Ans: Grandfather was heartbroken when Colonel ordered him to either cage Dickens or let him

go. He could not bear the thought of doing either. He was more like a parent to the bird. He was

extremely attached to the bird and thought he would rather plead with the colonel to forgive the

bird than abide by his order to cage the bird.

2. How did Dicky defy the order that no pets should accompany the regiment?

 Ans: Though a bird, Dickens seemed to know how to reach his master. He defied the order by

reaching the camp after journeying nearly three hundred kilometers to be with Grandfather. He

was dejected, starved but still did not give up. His travelling to Burma along with Grandfather

showed the deep love he had for his master.

E. Answer in detail. (Think and answer)

 Do you agree that Dickens was no ordinary bird? Pick out examples from the text to support your answer.

 Free response Suggested ans: Dickens came to Grandfather when he was very young and became

very close to everyone in the regiment. He acted almost like one of the soldiers of the regiment as

he never missed any parade. He participated on all occasions meant for the soldiers. He ignored

Colonel’s order and refused to be in confinement. He exhibited extreme distress when Grandfather

was hospitalised due to malaria. He made the upturned helmet his place to rest in the night while

in the hospital. He stayed in the hospital till Grandfather was there and never went back after

Grandfather was discharged. He braved all difficulties just to be with his master when he had to go to

Burma. He wanted to accompany Grandfather to England but sadly died due to cold weather while

sailing. Dickens was indeed an extraordinary bird.