Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

  QUIZ for Indigo 1.       Who was Rajkumar Shukla? Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate sharecropper from Champaran, Bihar. 2.       Why did Rajkumar Shukla come to meet Gandhi? He wanted Gandhi to visit Champaran to help peasants exploited by British landlords. 3.       From which place did Rajkumar Shukla belong? He belonged to Champaran in Bihar. 4.       What was the agreement between the peasants and the British landlords regarding indigo cultivation? The peasants had to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give the entire crop as rent. 5.       Why did the British landlords want to dissolve the indigo sharecropping arrangement? The development of synthetic indigo in Germany reduced the need for natural indigo. 6.       What was the “long-term contract” mentioned in the chapter? It was the agreement forcing p...

  Poets and Pancakes Word Meanings 1. Incandescent – glowing brightly, producing light because of heat. 2. Covertly – secretly, without others knowing. 3. Ignominy – public shame or disgrace. 4. Woe – great sorrow or distress. 5. Improvident – not thinking about the future; careless about saving or planning. 6. Sycophant – a person who flatters someone important to gain an advantage. 7. Flatterer – someone who praises others excessively, often to get something in return. 8. Direst – extremely serious or urgent. 9. Catapulted – thrown or launched suddenly and forcefully. 10. Coat of mail – armour made of small metal rings linked together, worn for protection. 11. Communism – a political and economic system in which all property is owned collectively, aiming for equality. 12. Filial – relating to a son or daughter’s duty towards their parents. 13. Conjugal – related to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife. 14. Compunction – a feeling of...

  My Mother at Sixty-Six  by Kamala Das Summary The poem is a heartfelt expression of the poet Kamala Das’s thoughts and emotions as she accompanies her ageing mother to the airport. During this seemingly simple drive, she observes her mother asleep beside her and is struck by the realisation of her mother’s fragility and old age. This moment triggers a wave of fear and sadness within the poet as she is reminded of the inevitable truth of mortality and separation. However, instead of breaking down, she maintains a brave face and bids her mother goodbye with a smile, concealing her inner turmoil. Poem Analysis "My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a personal and emotional poem written in free verse. The poet reflects on the universal theme of ageing, particularly the pain of witnessing a loved one grow old. The narrative is intimate, capturing a fleeting yet deeply emotional moment between a daughter and her mother. The poem begins with a vivid description of the mother sleepin...