CORE II –INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH - 23BEN1C2 Unit I: A.K. Ramanujan - Brother’s Day from Folktales
CORE II –INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH - 23BEN1C2
Unit I: A.K. Ramanujan - Brother’s Day from Folktales
Overview of Brother’s Day
In a village, a young boy wanted to visit his sister on Brother’s Day,
a special occasion for siblings to celebrate their bond. Despite his mother's
warnings about wild animals and dangers along the road, the boy insisted. His
mother lovingly packed a bundle of gifts—clothes for her daughter and
son-in-law—and sent her son off with blessings.
On the journey, the boy encountered several dangers:
·
An enormous tree threatened to
fall on him.
·
A river said it would wash him
away.
·
A snake warned it would bite
him.
·
A lion said it would eat him.
In each case, the boy respectfully pleaded with the threat, saying:
"Let me first see my sister dressed in new clothes for Brother’s Day.
On my return, you may do as you wish."
He finally reached his sister’s home. She was busy spinning, and since her
thread had broken, tradition forbade her from greeting a guest at that moment.
The brother, unaware of the custom, felt rejected and turned to leave. But she
quickly mended the thread and joyfully welcomed him.
Overjoyed at his arrival and the gifts, the sister sought advice on how to
celebrate. One neighbor gave bad advice—to plaster the
courtyard with oil and boil butter—but it failed. A kind neighbor
told her to use yellow clay and cow dung for the courtyard, and to cook sugar
rice with butter, which she lovingly served her brother.
After several days, the brother prepared to return home. Wanting to send him
with something special, the sister decided to make round cakes.
Tragically, while grinding flour in the dark, a black snake fell into
the grinder and got ground up. Unaware, she baked the cakes and packed
them for her brother.
Later, when her children begged for some cakes, she broke one and found snake
bones inside. Horrified, she realized her brother might already be
eating them. She rushed to her kind neighbor, left her children in her care,
and ran forty-eight miles through the jungle, crying out to
her brother.
When she found him, he had not yet eaten the cakes. She was relieved and
explained everything. They returned to her home. The brother then told her
about the dangers he had faced on the way: the tree, the river, the snake, and
the lion.
To protect her brother on the return journey, the sister packed:
·
A necklace for the river
·
Milk for the snake
·
A baby goat for the lion
·
Toy pebbles for the tree
Together, they traveled safely back. But in the forest, the sister
encountered Mother Fate, who told her she was “making a cover
for the heart of the only son” (a poetic way of saying the brother’s death was
near). To avert the destiny, Fate instructed her to worship and curse
her brother on Brother’s Day—a strange but powerful ritual.
So the sister began cursing:
"May my brother’s bones be gathered! May my brother die!"
She continued even when her shocked brother returned with water.
They arrived home during preparations for the brother’s wedding.
But the sister started behaving strangely—joining in all rituals meant for the
groom. People thought she had gone mad, but the brother let her do whatever she
wished.
On the wedding night, the sister insisted on sleeping
nearby, separated only by a curtain. During the night, the snake from
the jungle appeared, slithering toward the bride and groom. The
sister, alert and prepared, killed the snake and hid its body under a
shield.
In the morning, she slept soundly for the first time. When people tried to
wake her, the brother’s mother warned that something was wrong, since the
sister had always been a light sleeper. When awakened, she revealed the
dead snake and explained everything—how she met Mother Fate and saved
her brother’s life by following the ritual of cursing.
🪔 Moral and Message
This powerful story is a tribute to:
·
Sibling love and devotion: The
sister goes to extreme lengths to protect her brother.
·
Faith and ritual: Even
strange-sounding rituals may carry deep traditional wisdom.
·
Destiny vs Action: While fate
can bring danger, loyalty, courage, and devotion can change
the outcome.
·
Women as protectors: The
sister, often seen as the weaker one, turns out to be the savior.
Two-Mark Questions and Answers
🧾 10 Two-Mark Questions and
Answers (2 sentences each)
1. Why
did the boy want to visit his sister?
He wanted to see her dressed in new clothes for Brother’s Day. Like other boys
visiting their sisters, he wished to celebrate the occasion.
2. What
dangers did the boy encounter on the way to his sister’s home?
He met a falling tree, a river, a snake, and a lion. Each threatened to harm
him, but he pleaded for safe passage until his return.
3. Why
did the sister not greet her brother immediately?
Her thread had broken while spinning. Tradition forbids greeting a guest at
that moment as it is believed to bring harm.
4. What
advice did the first neighbor give the sister?
She told her to plaster the courtyard with oil and boil butter. However, the
oil didn’t dry, and the butter wouldn’t boil.
5. How
did the kind neighbor help the sister?
She advised her to use yellow clay and cow dung for the courtyard and to serve rice
with butter and sugar. The sister followed it and happily fed her brother.
6. What
accident happened while making cakes?
A black snake fell into the flour grinder at night. The sister unknowingly
baked it into the cakes.
7. How
did the sister discover the danger?
When she broke a cake for her children, she saw the snake’s bones. Realizing
the threat, she ran to stop her brother.
8. What
offerings did the sister take into the jungle?
She took a necklace for the river, milk for the snake, a goat for the lion, and
toys for the tree. These gifts pacified the dangers.
9. What
did Mother Fate tell the sister?
She was making a “cover for the heart of the only son,” implying his death. She
told the sister to curse her brother on Brother’s Day to save him.
10. How
did the sister finally save her brother?
On his wedding night, she killed the approaching snake that came to bite him.
Her protection saved his life.
📝 5
Five-Mark Questions and Answers (1 paragraph each)
1. Describe
the brother’s journey to his sister’s house.
Despite warnings from his mother, the young boy set out with gifts for his
sister and brother-in-law. On the way, he met threats from a tree, a river, a
snake, and a lion—all of whom he convinced to wait until his return. His determination
and innocence allowed him to reach his sister’s house safely. His love for his
sister outweighed his fear of the dangers. This journey shows his devotion and
bravery.
2. How
did the sister discover the cakes were poisoned?
After packing round cakes for her brother’s return journey, her children
demanded some for themselves. When she broke one cake, she found pieces of a
black snake inside. She had unknowingly ground the snake into the flour in the
dark. Realizing the danger, she ran forty-eight miles through the jungle to
save her brother. This moment showed her love and quick action.
3. What
role did Mother Fate play in the story?
Mother Fate appears mysteriously in the forest and informs the sister that her
brother’s life is at risk. She instructs the sister to curse her brother during
the Brother’s Day ritual as a symbolic way of breaking the curse of death. This
divine intervention connects fate and ritual. It adds a spiritual layer to the
folktale, emphasizing that fate can be challenged through devotion.
4. How
did the sister behave during her brother’s wedding and why?
The sister joined all the groom's rituals as though she were the bride,
shocking everyone. She insisted on sitting beside him, walking in the marriage
rounds, and sleeping in the same room. Her actions seemed mad to others, but
were secretly protective. She awaited the snake’s arrival and ultimately killed
it, proving her strange behavior was purposeful.
5. What
is the significance of curses in this story?
The sister’s curses, as instructed by Fate, become a powerful act of
protection. Though they sound cruel, they symbolically avert real misfortune.
By uttering these curses with devotion, she deflects death from her brother. It
redefines curses not as ill-wishes, but as mystical tools of reversal. This
highlights deep cultural belief in ritual and fate.
🧾 10-Mark Essay Question and
Answer
Q: Narrate the story of the devoted sister and explain how love,
fate, and ritual intertwine to shape the tale.
Introduction
The Indian folktale “The Devoted Sister” is a powerful story celebrating the
unbreakable bond between a sister and her brother. Set around the occasion of Brother’s
Day, it weaves together themes of familial love, fate, and ritualistic
devotion. It beautifully shows how genuine love can triumph over destiny.
1. The Brother’s Journey and Sister’s Devotion
The story begins with a young boy determined to visit his sister despite his
mother’s warnings of dangers in the jungle. With gifts in hand, he faces
threats from natural and wild forces. His bravery reflects the cultural value
placed on sibling ties.
2. Ritual Customs and Superstitions
When he arrives, his sister doesn’t immediately greet him because of a
broken thread—a superstition warning of misfortune. The tale emphasizes how
ritual behavior and belief guide actions in everyday life, especially during
sacred festivals like Brother’s Day.
3. The Poisoned Cakes and Discovery
After making sweet cakes for her brother, the sister unknowingly bakes in a
snake. Upon discovering the truth, she runs through the jungle to stop him from
eating them, showing her unconditional love and urgency.
4. Encounter with Mother Fate
In a mystical twist, she meets Mother Fate who tells her that the brother is
destined to die. The sister learns that cursing her brother on
Brother’s Day, paradoxically, will save his life—a ritualistic
reversal of harm.
5. Protective Madness at the Wedding
The sister joins in all marriage rituals with her brother, acting strangely.
People think she is mad, but her behavior is a disguise for vigilance. That
night, she kills the snake that comes to bite him, saving him through courage
and foresight.
6. Celebration and Public Revelation
The next day, the sister gathers the village and reveals the whole truth.
She shows the snake’s body and explains how she followed Fate’s instructions.
Her love and action are honored, showing how deep affection can rewrite even
destiny.
Conclusion
This folktale is a tribute to the power of sibling love, selfless
devotion, and the strength of ritual and belief. It
teaches that destiny may be powerful, but it is not unchangeable—especially
when met with fierce love and faith. The sister’s bravery and wisdom ultimately
protect her brother, making the story a timeless celebration of familial bonds.
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