Chapter 2: A Gift of Chappals
(From NCERT Honeycomb, Class 7 English)
Author: Vasantha Surya
Story Overview
"A Gift of Chappals" is a heartwarming story about generosity, compassion, and the innocent perspectives of children. It revolves around a young girl, Mridu, who visits her aunt Rukku Manni's house and encounters her cousins Lalli, Ravi, and Meena. The story highlights their empathy towards a poor beggar and an old music master, leading to an amusing and thoughtful 'gift' of chappals.
Detailed Summary
Mridu's Visit and the Kitten
Mridu, a young girl, goes to her aunt Rukku Manni's house to meet her cousins Lalli, Ravi, and Meena. As she enters, she notices a pair of large, old, dust-covered chappals near the door. Inside, she is surprised to find her cousins hiding a small kitten in their backyard, feeding it milk from a coconut shell. Ravi explains how difficult it is to hide the kitten from Rukku Manni and mentions they named it Mahendran, a grand name reminiscent of ancient Pallava lions, jokingly linking it to a famous Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram Rishi-cat.
He goes on a humorous tangent about various cat breeds and their royal lineage, much to Mridu's amusement. The children are clearly very fond of the kitten and are doing their best to care for it secretly.
The Beggar and the Music Master
Later, a beggar calls out from the gate for alms. Rukku Manni, annoyed by the frequent visits, asks Ravi to tell him to leave. The beggar has been coming every day for a week. The beggar shows his blistered feet, pleading for some rest as the hot sun has burnt his bare soles. The children, witnessing his plight, feel sympathetic.
Meanwhile, the music master, a bald man with a fringe of oily black hair and gold chains, is teaching Lalli to play the violin. Lalli plays clumsily and out of tune, while the music master plays effortlessly, producing melodious music. His smooth, worn-out chappals are also noticed by the children.
The Gift of Chappals
Seeing the beggar's burnt feet, the children decide they must help him. They search the house for a suitable pair of chappals. Ravi first brings out an old pair of M.L.A.'s chappals but they are too small. Then Mridu notices the pair of large, old chappals she had seen at the entrance. They decide these might fit the beggar. Ravi gives them to the beggar, who, overjoyed, quickly slips them on and vanishes down the road.
Soon after, the music master finishes his lesson and looks for his chappals. He cannot find them. Lalli and Rukku Manni also search, becoming increasingly agitated. Rukku Manni immediately suspects the children. She questions them, and they admit to giving the chappals to the beggar, explaining his burnt feet. Rukku Manni is angry but also understands their good intentions.
To appease the music master, Rukku Manni brings out Gopu Mama's new, hardly worn chappals and gives them to him, promising to explain to Gopu Mama later. The music master, though initially upset, is secretly pleased with the new chappals. He quickly puts them on, making a show of how hard it is to give up his old ones.
The Aftermath
The children feel relieved but also a bit guilty about Gopu Mama's chappals. Rukku Manni smiles, thinking about Gopu Mama returning from office and asking about his chappals. She lightly scolds the children for their overly generous act, but there's an underlying sense of pride and amusement in her tone. Mridu finds the whole situation amusingly chaotic, thinking about the music master's "barely new" chappals and Gopu Mama's impending reaction.
The story ends with Rukku Manni commenting on the children's kindness but also their lack of practicality, hinting at the complications their good intentions can sometimes cause.
Characters in the Story
- Mridu: The young protagonist, an observant and compassionate girl who is the narrator's perspective.
- Ravi: Mridu's cousin, an imaginative, resourceful, and somewhat dramatic boy who often takes the lead among the children.
- Meena: Mridu's cousin, Ravi's sister, who shares in their secret adventures and compassionate acts.
- Lalli: Mridu's cousin, Ravi's sister, who is struggling to learn the violin and is a bit clumsy.
- Rukku Manni: Mridu's aunt, a practical but ultimately understanding and caring adult. She is initially annoyed but shows empathy.
- The Music Master: A strict but talented violin teacher, old and slightly vain, whose chappals become central to the plot.
- The Beggar: A poor man whose plight evokes sympathy from the children, leading to their act of generosity.
- Gopu Mama: Rukku Manni's husband (Mridu's uncle), whose new chappals are given away by Rukku Manni. (He doesn't appear directly in the story but his chappals do!)
Themes
- Compassion and Generosity: The children's immediate and heartfelt response to the beggar's suffering is a central theme.
- Innocence of Childhood: The story beautifully captures the innocent, unburdened generosity of children who act purely on empathy.
- Hidden Kindness: The children's secret care for the kitten and their anonymous gift to the beggar highlight acts of kindness performed without expectation of reward.
- Humour and Irony: The story uses humour, especially in Ravi's antics and Rukku Manni's reactions, and irony (e.g., giving away someone else's chappals) to convey its message.
- Adult vs. Child Perspectives: The story contrasts the children's spontaneous generosity with the adults' more practical and sometimes exasperated reactions.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Slippers/Chappals | Open-toed footwear; sandals |
| Scrawny | Unattractively thin and bony |
| Blisters | Small bubbles on the skin filled with clear fluid, caused by friction or burns |
| Protested | Expressed an objection or disagreement |
| Descended | Moved or fallen downwards |
| Vanish | To disappear suddenly and completely |
| Clattered | Made a loud, rattling sound |
| Stumbled | Lost one's balance and nearly fell |
| Lurking | Staying in a hidden place, especially for a sinister purpose |
| Curiously | In a way that shows a desire to know or learn something |
| Glared | Stared with a fierce or angry look |
| Unkempt | Having a dishevelled or untidy appearance |
| Barefoot | Without shoes on one's feet |
| Droning | Making a low continuous humming sound |
| Melody | A sequence of single musical notes that is musically satisfying |
| Gaped | Stared with one's mouth open, typically in amazement |
| Harrowing | Extremely distressing; terrifying |
| Scold | Rebuke (someone) angrily |
| Appalled | Greatly dismayed or horrified |
| Dreadful | Extremely bad or unpleasant |
| Disgusting | Causing revulsion or strong disapproval |
| Relieved | No longer feeling distressed or anxious; reassured |
NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers
Working With The Text
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What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
The secret Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard is the presence of a tiny kitten they have found outside the gate that morning. They are secretly feeding it milk, trying to hide it from Rukku Manni and the elders.
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How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Ravi gets milk for the kitten by pretending to be hungry himself. He tells his grandmother that he is very hungry and wants milk. He then drinks half of it to show he's actually thirsty and carries the rest to the kitten in a coconut half-shell, careful not to let the elders see.
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Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Ravi says the kitten’s ancestors are the Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram Rishi-cat, one of the ancient Pallava lions, the emblem of the Pallava dynasty. He even links it to the Mahabalipuram lion statues and the Egyptian cat-god Bastet. No, we do not believe him; he is being highly imaginative and dramatic, trying to impress Mridu with his knowledge of history and cat lineage.
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Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that
- (i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu.
- (ii) his knowledge of history is sound.
- (iii) he has a rich imagination and a vivid mind.
- (iv) he is an intelligent child.
The most appropriate answer is (iii) **he has a rich imagination and a vivid mind.** While he might be trying to impress Mridu and is intelligent, his elaborate stories about the kitten's ancestry primarily highlight his imaginative and vivid nature.
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What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?
The noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran was a "Veeeek!" sound. It was a strange, shrill sound that came from Lalli's violin, made by the music master. It was the sound of Lalli scraping her violin, playing clumsily.
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The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
The sentence in the text that expresses this idea is: "The music master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody... It was like the wheels of a train fitting smoothly into the rails and whizzing along."
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Has the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
No, the beggar has not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time. Rukku Manni tells Ravi, "Tell him there's nothing left in the kitchen... and don't come again! Beggars are coming here daily now." This clearly indicates that his visits are frequent and habitual.
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“A sharp, dry sound” was made by the music master. Explain.
The music master made a "sharp, dry sound" when he hit the ground with his foot to indicate the beat or rhythm to Lalli. It was a firm, rhythmic thump from his bare heel, used to guide Lalli's timing while playing the violin.
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What makes Rukku Manni so angry?
Rukku Manni becomes very angry when she realizes that the children have given away the music master's chappals to the beggar. She finds their act of giving away someone else's property, especially valuable ones, unacceptable, even though she understands their compassionate intention.
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Complete the following sentences.
- Ravi compared Lalli’s playing to **a derailing train and a buzzing bee because her playing was off-key and clumsy.**
- Trying to hide the kitten, Ravi **put it inside a torn football lined with sacking and hid it behind a thick prickly-pear bush.**
- Mridu and Meena followed Ravi because **they were curious to see what he was so secretly hiding and caring for.**
(Answers filled directly into the blanks above.)
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Do you think Rukku Manni was genuinely happy to give away Gopu Mama’s new chappals to the music master?
Rukku Manni was not genuinely happy to give away Gopu Mama’s new chappals. She gave them out of necessity and to avoid an awkward situation, as the children had given away the music master's own chappals. She even muttered about Gopu Mama's reaction and having to explain to him, showing her reluctance.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
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What were the children doing with the kitten? Why was it a secret?
The children were secretly feeding a small kitten with milk from a coconut half-shell. It was a secret because Rukku Manni (their aunt) disliked animals and would be very angry if she found out they were keeping a cat, especially inside the house.
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Describe the beggar’s condition when he came to the gate.
The beggar was tired and weak from the hot sun. His bare feet were covered with large, pink, peeling blisters from walking on the scorching road. He also had a thin old dhoti and a worn shirt.
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What did the children decide to do for the beggar?
Seeing the beggar's burnt and blistered feet, the children felt a strong urge to help him. They decided to find him a pair of chappals so he wouldn't have to walk barefoot on the hot road.
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How did the music master react when he couldn’t find his chappals?
The music master was initially confused and then angry when he couldn’t find his chappals. He scanned the verandah, grumbling about them and stomping his foot. He called Lalli, who joined him in the search, becoming very agitated.
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What did Rukku Manni say about Karna?
Rukku Manni commented that Ravi was like Karna, who was famous for his generosity, but then she immediately added that Karna gave away his own things, not other people's property, hinting at the absurdity of the children's act.
Long Answer Questions (80-100 words)
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Discuss the contrast between the children’s compassion and the adults’ practicality in the story.
The story highlights a clear contrast between the children's innocent compassion and the adults' practical concerns. The children (Mridu, Ravi, Meena) immediately feel pity for the beggar's burnt feet and act on impulse to find him chappals, driven purely by empathy. They also secretly care for a kitten. Adults like Rukku Manni, while not heartless, are more concerned with household order, avoiding inconvenience (the beggar's frequent visits), and respecting property. Though Rukku Manni ultimately shows understanding of their good intentions, she still scolds them for giving away Gopu Mama's chappals, illustrating the adult world's blend of kindness with practicality and social norms.
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How does the story use the theme of "giving" to showcase different aspects of human nature?
"A Gift of Chappals" explores the theme of "giving" in several ways, revealing different facets of human nature. The children embody spontaneous, innocent generosity; they give without calculating the cost or consequence, driven by pure compassion for the beggar. Ravi's elaborate tales about the kitten show his 'gift' of imagination and storytelling. Rukku Manni, on the other hand, demonstrates a more constrained form of giving; she gives Gopu Mama's chappals out of a sense of obligation and to resolve a problem, though she also feels a natural kindness. The music master's acceptance, while initially grudging, shows a practical self-interest. Thus, the act of giving becomes a lens through which the characters' empathy, innocence, practicality, and even self-interest are revealed.
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Describe Ravi's character in the story. How does he stand out among the children?
Ravi is portrayed as a highly imaginative, resourceful, and slightly dramatic child who often takes the lead among his cousins. He is quick-witted, as seen in his elaborate story about the kitten's lineage and how he manages to get milk for it. His compassion is evident in his desire to help the beggar, but he acts decisively and without much thought for consequences. He is bold enough to suggest giving away the music master's chappals. His dialogue is lively and full of amusing exaggerations. He stands out due to his proactive nature, his vivid storytelling, and his ability to push for action, making him a dynamic and memorable character.
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