Ranga's Marriage

RANGA'S MARRIAGE
Short Q & A
How did the narrator carry out his resolve to get Ranga married
to Ratna?
The narrator felt that Ranga and Ratna was a suitable match for
each other. He arranged a meeting in which Ranga could meet
Ratna and get impressed with her quality of singing. He
manipulated things in a clever way and made Ranga fall in love
with her. He finally got them married.
What are the special features of Hosahalli and in what respect
are they so?
In the village of Hosahalli the mango trees produce sour mangoes
whose sourness go straight to the skull bones. There is also a
creeper growing in the ever-so-fine water of the village pond. The
flowers are a feast to behold and the leaves can be used to serve
afternoon meals.
What was special about Rangappa? How did the villagers react
to it?
After his return from Bangalore where he had been studying for
six months, much to everyone’s surprise, he was just the same. His
homecoming became a great event for the villagers. People rushed
to his door step wanting to have a look at him. An old lady even
ran her hand over his chest, looked into his eyes and remarked
that the janewara was still there. He hadn’t lost his caste.
Why does the narrator refer to the Black Hole of Calcutta?
During the British rule, in Calcutta, hundreds of people were
herded together in one room, hence leading to the death of many
due to suffocation. The narrator compares the crowd to the Black
Hole of Calcutta saying that so many people who had come to see
Ranga, would have turned the place into a black hole if they had
all gone inside.
What exactly had happened ten years ago?
Ten years ago, the village accountant’s son was the first one to be
sent to Bangalore to study. At that time, not many in the village
knew English and no English words were used while talking in the
native language.
What does the narrator tell the reader about his village
Hosahalli?
According to the narrator, the village Hosahalli is important to
Karnataka as ‘Karigadabu’ is to a festive meal. It has mango trees
which produce sour fruit. It is a place that has not been mentioned
in any geography book, yet the author is proud of his village.
Who was Ranga? What was special about him?
Ranga was the village accountant’s son who had gone
to Bangalore to study. People thought that city education would
change him, but they were wrong. He still showed respect towards
elders in the village and wore the sacred thread. However, his
views on marriage had changed.
What are the narrator’s views on English Language?
The narrator did not like English Language. English was not
spoken by the villagers. Ranga was the first person to go out of the
village to study English. People felt that he would be a changed
person after getting English education.

What impression do you form of the narrator? How does he add
to the humour of the story?
The narrator appears to be a very talkative man. He jumps from
one topic to another. There are too many digressions in his
narration. He takes a lot of interest in village affairs. He decides to
get Ranga married to Ratna as soon as he realises that they seem
suitable for each other. His narration evokes the humour in the
story when he manipulates the situation in a clever way. The
astrologer’s remarks and the meeting between Ranga and Ratna
add to the humour of the story.
Why is there no mention of Hosahalli in any Geography book?
The village of Hosahalli had not been mentioned in any geography
book. The Sahibs in England, writing in English, perhaps did not
know that such a place existed.
Give an example to show that the narrator is proud of his
village.
The narrator seems to be very proud of his village. He says that
Hosahalli is to Mysore State what the sweet Karigadabu is to a
festive meal.
Why was Ranga’s homecoming a great event?
Ranga’s homecoming was a great event because he had gone
to Bangalore to study. He was the first person in the village to
have done so. His homecoming was a delight for the villagers and
they all thronged to his house to see if city education had changed
him or not.
What were Ranga’s views on marriage?
Ranga was of the view that one should not marry a very young
girl. A person should marry a girl who is mature. According to
him, a man should marry a girl whom he admires.
Did Ranga select his bride according to the views he held about
marriage?
No, Ranga did not select his bride according to his ideas on
marriage. He fell in love with an eleven-year-old girl Ratna and
got married to her.
Why does the narrator compare himself to a he-goat and Ranga
to a lion?
The narrator referred to a story in which a clever he-goat was able
to scare away a lion. Here, he compares himself to the shrewd goat
who has laid a plot for Ranga’s marriage. Just as the lion was
unable to escape the clever moves of the goat, Ranga was also
taken in by his manipulations.
What arrangements did the narrator make with Shastri, the
astrologer?
The astrologer had been briefed by Shyama about what to say. He
acted accordingly. Ranga was already interested in Ratna. He told
her that he could possibly marry the girl he was thinking of
marrying.
This is a humorous story. Which part did you find the most
amusing?
The description of the village of Hosahalli evokes some humour in
the story. The narrator and Ranga’s visit to the astrologer and their
conversation produce a few comic moments in the story.
How did the narrator arrange that Ranga should meet Ratna?
The narrator was a frequent visitor to Rama Rao’s place and Ratna
was quite free with him. On a Friday, he called Ratna to his house
to deliver the buttermilk made by Rama Rao’s wife. He asked
Ratna to sing for him and sent for Ranga at the same time. Ranga
arrived while Ratna was rendering the melodious song. In this
way, Ranga was able to meet her there.

“Words, mere words! The fellow said he would leave but he did
not make a move. How can one expect words to match actions in
these days of Kaliyuga?” Who said these words and in what
context?
The narrator spoke these words when Ranga came to his house
only to find Ratna singing beautifully. Ratna stopped singing
when she saw Ranga watching her. Ranga felt guilty that his
arrival had made her stop singing. It was then that the narrator
spoke these words.

LONG Q & A
Character sketch of the narrator.
Shyama, the narrator of the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ is also the
central character. His style of narration evokes a lot of humour in
the story. He is an elderly gentleman and refers to himself as a
dark piece of oil cake. He is passionately in love with his village
and the villagers and rambles incessantly while describing it. He is
a keen observer of his surroundings and uses a colourful style of
narration. He feels it is disgraceful to use English words in the
native tongue. He is a good judge of people and regards Ranga as
a generous and considerate fellow. He is conservative at heart and
feels unhappy at Ranga’s decision to remain single.
He means well and his intentions are good. He schemes to get
Ranga married. He calls Ranga when Ratna was singing. He also
arranges a meeting with Shastri whom he had tutored thoroughly.
He had decided that Ratna would be a suitable bride for him. He is
a shrewd contriver as he tells Ranga that Ratna was married. This
he does in order to rouse Ranga’s desire for the unattainable.

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RANGA'S MARRIAGE

each other. He arranged a meeting in which Ranga could meet

Ratna and get impressed with her quality of singing. He

manipulated things in a clever way and made Ranga fall in love

with her. He finally got them married.

What are the special features of Hosahalli and in what respect

are they so?

In the village of Hosahalli the mango trees produce sour mangoes

whose sourness go straight to the skull bones. There is also a

creeper growing in the ever-so-fine water of the village pond. The

homecoming became a great event for the villagers. People rushed

Why does the narrator refer to the Black Hole of Calcutta?

During the British rule, in Calcutta, hundreds of people were

herded together in one room, hence leading to the death of many

due to suffocation. The narrator compares the crowd to the Black

all gone inside.

What exactly had happened ten years ago?

sent to Bangalore to study. At that time, not many in the village

According to the narrator, the village Hosahalli is important to

Karnataka as ‘Karigadabu’ is to a festive meal. It has mango trees

in any geography book, yet the author is proud of his village.

Who was Ranga? What was special about him?

Ranga was the village accountant’s son who had gone

to Bangalore to study. People thought that city education would

views on marriage had changed.

What are the narrator’s views on English Language?

village to study English. People felt that he would be a changed

person after getting English education.

to the humour of the story?

The narrator appears to be a very talkative man. He jumps from

one topic to another. There are too many digressions in his

narration. He takes a lot of interest in village affairs. He decides to

get Ranga married to Ratna as soon as he realises that they seem

story when he manipulates the situation in a clever way. The

astrologer’s remarks and the meeting between Ranga and Ratna

add to the humour of the story.

Why is there no mention of Hosahalli in any Geography book?

The village of Hosahalli had not been mentioned in any geography

book. The Sahibs in England, writing in English, perhaps did not

know that such a place existed.

Give an example to show that the narrator is proud of his

The narrator seems to be very proud of his village. He says that

Hosahalli is to Mysore State what the sweet Karigadabu is to a

Ranga’s homecoming was a great event because he had gone

to Bangalore to study. He was the first person in the village to

What were Ranga’s views on marriage?

girl. A person should marry a girl who is mature. According to

him, a man should marry a girl whom he admires.

marriage. He fell in love with an eleven-year-old girl Ratna and

got married to her.

Why does the narrator compare himself to a he-goat and Ranga

The narrator referred to a story in which a clever he-goat was able

to scare away a lion. Here, he compares himself to the shrewd goat

taken in by his manipulations.

What arrangements did the narrator make with Shastri, the

The astrologer had been briefed by Shyama about what to say. He

acted accordingly. Ranga was already interested in Ratna. He told

her that he could possibly marry the girl he was thinking of

The description of the village of Hosahalli evokes some humour in