The story revolves around the accountant’s son, Ranga who gets a chance to go out of the village to study further. It is a journey where the author manages to change Ranga’s opinion about marriage and how he establishes to make the bond with the help of Shastri and what role English has played in their lives. Here, we have summarized the lesson of Ranga’s Marriage along with the important question and answers.
Central Idea of Ranga’s Marriage
The story begins when Ranga, the son of an accountant comes back to the village Hoshalli after a half-year. He had been to Bangalore for further studies. The whole village gets happy and excited at the same time to see and met him after so long. They wanted to see if he has changed after being in such a big city.
The narrator has written so many things about the village, Hoshalli but was very upset as the authorities have not mentioned this beautiful village on the maps. After that, the narrator wants Rnaga to marry Ratna, the eleven-year-old niece of Rama Rao. the girl possesses many good qualities like, she has a sweet voice and can play the veena.
Firstly, he said that the girl is married to see Ranga’s reaction and as expected Ranga was disappointed with this fact. The narrator then manipulated Shastri to say in his favor and later on, ranga felt happy that Ratna is not married yet. So, we get to know that the marriage happens according to the wishes of the author and the narrator found that Ranga has not at all changed even after being in such a big city.
About the author: Summary of Ranga’s Marriage
Ranga’s Marriage is written by Masti Venkatesha Iyengar. He was born on 6 June 1891, Hosahalli, and died in Bengaluru on 6th June 1986. Through this lesson. he tried to find out if his boy Ranga has changed his attitude after being in such a big city. He uses Shastri from his village to support the matter. It is a beautiful story set on a marriage journey.
Ranga’s Marriage Character Sketch
Ranga
Rangappa was well-mannered, educated, and possess a deep respect for everyone in the village. It was a belief in their village that those who pursue their career outside the village
Will tend to forget his customs and beliefs. But he showed everyone and even his father that he has not forgotten his values and customs.
At the time of marriage also, he wants a suitable match who could be on par with him. He was a mature and sensible man who with his intellect and modern thought can serve society better.
Shastri
He plays a crucial role in the union of Ratna and Ranga. He was a village astrologer and with his skills, he was successful in developing hints and ideas to take the name of Ratna as a suitable bride for Ranga. He convinced Ranga and told him that he would be able to get married to her. He here works like a psychiatrist for both of them.
Shyama
Shyama is the author of this story and is an old man with a lot of experience. He believes in traditions and village customs were very important to him. He was a manipulative father who by hook or by crook manages with the help of Shastri to get Ranga to marry Ratna.
But manipulation is also done in a different style so that Ranga out of his own will marry her. His actions were done to find the best match for her son as he has a lot of love for him.
Let’s get have a look into the story set on the marriage of two young people and it has a humorous side also as to how the union takes place.
Ranga’s Marriage Summary
The title ‘Ranga’s marriage ‘ is very apt as it is based on a young boy who came from Bangalore after completing his studies in his village Hoshalli in, Mysore. About Hoshalli, the narrator beautifully explained his beauty and upset on the other hand as it is not mentioned on the maps.
Even Dr.Gundabhatta has visited many places and feels that raw mangoes are responsible for the cough. The narrator, Shyama, talks endlessly about his village. However, he would like to share a story that happened 10 years back. English was so important in their village and they lay more importance on the language.
The accountant was the first person in this village to send his son to Bangalore for further studies. The village people were fascinated and happy to see him. Ranga came out with a smiling face after seeing so many people. Everyone was surprised to see Ranga same as he went after 6 months also.
The crowd disappeared as they found that he was the same and did not change a little. Rangappa noticed that the narrator was with him. The author blessed him and left. Rama Rao’s niece Ratna had come to stay with him and she was from a big city. She was able to play veena and harmonium and also possess a sweet voice. The author feels that Ratna is a suitable match for Ranga.
The next day Ratna went to fetch some buttermilk and came wearing a beautiful saree. The author requested her to sing a song. While she was singing a song, Ranga came to the doorstep and was allured by her sweet voice. He wants to peep inside and wanted to see the singer but Ratna soon stopped singing.
The author noticed that Ranga glanced at her and realized he noticed him so he decided to leave. But he did not move at all. Ratna ran inside because she felt shy.
Ranga then asked the narrator who she was and he got the reply as she is already married. The very next day, the author pays a visit to the village astrologer Shastri and told him to match the stars and also explained to him what he has to say.
Ranga was lost in thought and the narrator told him to come along with him to find out whether the stars are in favor of him or not. As per their planning, Shastri pretended that name of the girls that a precious thing found in the ocean.
Very quickly, the narrator replied telling him about Rama Rao’s cousin Ratna. But Ranga felt disappointed when he realized that she was married.
Later on, when the narrator goes and visits Rama Rao he announced that he was mistaken and Ratna was not married. Ranga’s face glowed with happiness and admitted that Shastri was true in his predictions. The narrator at this point mocks Shastri.
After many days, Rangappa invited the narrator – Shyama for dinner. It was Shyama’s third birthday and the narrator was aware that why he named his boy in his name. His sister had also come to help his eight-month-old expecting wife. Shyama rushed to hold the narrator’s arms and he in turn put a little ring on his finger and kissed him.
Multiple Choice Questions For Ranga’s Marriage
1. After reading this lesson, who according to you played the major role in Ranga and Ratna’s marriage?
- Rama Rao
- Shastri
- Ranga
- Shyama
Ans- Shyama
2. Why does the narrator call the couple childish?
- Because they were immature
- Because they named their child after him
- Because they were playful
- Because they invited him for dinner
Ans- because they named their child after him
3. “ There’s greater truth in that shastra than we imagine.” who said this?
- Shyama
- Shastri
- Ratna
- Ranga
Ans- ranga
4. What sort of cue did Shastri suggest for the girl’s name?
- Something found in the forest
- Something found in the ocean
- Something found in the sky
- None of the above
Ans- something found in the ocean
5. Why was it not important to know Ranga’s star?
- Because Shastri already knew
- Because Shastri was taught beforehand by the narrator
- Because Shastri was not well versed
- All of the above
Ans- because Shastri was taught beforehand by the narrator
6. What is the name of the narrator of the tale?
- Rangappa
- Shastri
- Rama
- Shyama
Ans- Shyama
7. Ranga was _______about Ratna
- Curious
- Uninterested
- Envious
- Annoyed
Ans- curious
8. How does the narrator describe Ratana?
- A pretty girl of eleven
- From a big town
- Disrespectful
- Both a and b
Ans- both a and b
9. According to Ranga, what type of girl should one marry?
- Mature
- Admirable
- Both a and b
- Not mentioned in the story
Ans- both a and b
10. “As for his namaskar, he did not do it like any present-day boy…” what does it tell about Ranga?
- He was well mannered
- He was disrespectful
- He was forgetful
- He changed his caste
Ans- he was well-mannered
11. After knowing that Ranga was the same, the crowd was _____
- Disappointed
- Happy
- Angry
- Irritated
Ans- disappointed
12. Why was Ranga’s homecoming a big event?
- Because he brought gifts for everyone
- Because he was new in the village
- Because he returned from Bangalore after studying there for six months
- All of the above
Ans- because he returned from Bangalore after studying there for six months.
NCERT Solutions for class 11th Ranga’s Marriage
Q.1. Comment on the influence of English—the language and the way of life— on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English?
According to the author, in his village, the English language was given so much importance. But now many of them know this language and speak it while speaking their own dialect. The narrator does not like this and explains his point by citing an example.
One day when a lady brought firewood and when Rama Rao’s son asked her how much to give she replied he did not have change. The poor lady could not understand the English word change and went away muttering. Rangapppa was also influenced by this language and modern language has influenced his way of thinking also.
Q.2. Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment concerning the story.
The author and the story present astrologers in a very wrong way. The narrator uses his own ideas and uses village Shastri as a parrot. The narrator employs him to trick the young man to agree with him to marry the suitable bride but out of his own will also.
The Shastri as per their plan trick Ranga to marry Ratna. He very cunningly does some calculations and told him that Ranga was thinking about a girl and he predicted by saying that it is something found in the ocean. He was also impressed by his calculations. This shows that their calculations are not meant to be always right.
Q.3. Indian society has moved a long way from the way marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.
Many years back, marriages were arranged by parents and relatives. This story also shows the same and how the author tries every mean and possible way to tie the knot between Rangappa and Ratna. But years later and post-independence have made some changes.
Now girls are equal in every aspect. Girls possess all rights to choose their partners and by this time they have attained maturity physically and emotionally. All young boys and girls have the right to choose and at first, their consent is taken and elders fixed the rest of the things.
Q4. Give a brief account of the narrator’s two meetings with Ranga after the latter’s return from Bangalore. What opinion did he from about the young man?
When Ranga returned home after getting his education in Bangalore crowds of people collected around his home to see him. The narrator was attracted by the crowd. He too went and stood in the courtyard. Ranga came out with a smile on his face. After everyone had gone, the narrator asked Rangappa how he was. Ranga noticed him and came near him. He folded his hands and touched the narrator’s feet. He said that he was all right with the narrator’s blessings. The narrator blessed him and wished that he might get married soon. They exchanged some polite friendly remarks. Then the narrator left.
That afternoon, when the naira was resting, Ranga came to his house with a couple of oranges in his hand. The narrator thought that Ranga was a generous, considerable fellow. He thought that it would be fine to have married, settle down and be service to society.
Q5. What were Ranga’s ideas about marriage? Do you find any change in them during the course of the story?
Ranga was influenced by the English way of life in the master of marriage. He was not in favor of arranged marriages of the time when the brides were quite young. He told the narrator that he was not getting married just then he Gabon two reasons.
First, he must find the right girl. She must be mature enough to understand his love talk. A very young girl might take his words spoken in love as words spoken in anger.
The second reason he gave was that one should marry a girl one loves. During the course of the story, we find a change in ranga’s change in ideas about marriage. Not only is he fascinated by Rama Rao’s eleven-year-old niece Ratana, but he also marries her in the old traditional way of arranged marriages.
Q6. What steps did the narrator take to get Ranga marriage to Ratna?
The narrator was intimate with Rama Rao’s family. He knew that his niece Ratana would be a suitable wife for Ranga. he proceeded systematically. First, he created an opportunity where Ranga might listen to Ratana’s song and have a glimpse of her. He arranged this sudden encounter with the two strangers at his home. The reaction of the two youngsters was on expected lines. Nag felt interested in her. Ratna felt shy, lowered her head, and went to the other room.
To test the intensity of Ranga’s feelings towards Ratna, the narrator said that she had been married a yarer ago. Ranga looked crestfallen. Then the narrator tutored an astrologer and took ranga to him.
Shastri, the astrologer, gave sufficient assurance that there was no hitch in his marriage to a girl whose name was something found in the ocean.
While returning from Shastri’s house, Ratna standing alone at her uncle’s house. The narrator went in for a moment and brought the news that Ratna was not married. After ascertaining Ranga’s views, the marriage was settled.
Conclusion
We have provided you with the gist of the lesson Ranga’s marriage along with the ncert solutions and multiple-choice questions to help the students to understand the new assessment pattern and prepare themselves accordingly.
