Class 9 English Solutions|Kathmandu — Important Additional Questions & Answers

 

Kathmandu — Important Additional Questions & Answers

Most Important Exam-Oriented Short & Long Q&A

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📌 Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 Marks)

Q1. Why does the author decide to take a flight back to Delhi instead of a longer land route?

Answer: The author had been travelling for a very long time and was feeling extremely exhausted and homesick. Although his adventurous mind tempted him to take a longer overland route (by bus and train via Patna and Benares), his physical fatigue made him buy an airline ticket from Nepal Airlines to fly directly back to Delhi.

Q2. What does the sign outside the Pashupatinath temple say, and what does it indicate?

Answer: The sign outside the Pashupatinath temple clearly states: "Entrance for the Hindus only." This indicates the strict orthodox religious practices followed at the shrine, which restricts people of other religions or Western tourists from entering the main temple complex.

Q3. Describe the scene on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river flowing beside Pashupatinath.

Answer: The riverbank of the Bagmati presents a blend of religious rituals and daily life activities. The author observes a dead body being cremated on its banks. Apart from this, washerwomen are seen washing clothes, children are taking baths in the holy water, and withered flowers are being dropped into the river from a balcony above.

Q4. What items are sold in the Tibetan immigrant shops around the Baudhnath Stupa?

Answer: The small, quiet shops owned by Tibetan immigrants around the outer rim of the Baudhnath Stupa sell a variety of unique goods. These include authentic Tibetan prints, bone ornaments, postcards, felt bags, and delicate silver jewelry.

Q5. How does the author describe the general appearance of Kathmandu as a town?

Answer: The author describes Kathmandu as a highly vivid, religious, and mercantile city. It contains narrow streets full of small temples, flower-adorned deities, and busy shops. It seamlessly mixes deep spiritual elements with absolute commercial chaos, ranging from street hawkers to modern businesses.

📌 Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Q1. Elaborate on the chaotic atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple as observed by Vikram Seth. Why does he call it 'febrile confusion'?

Answer: Vikram Seth uses the term "febrile confusion" to portray the restless, hyperactive, and chaotic environment at the Pashupatinath Temple. The entire area is filled with an overwhelming rush of different people and animals. Priests, hawkers, intense devotees, curious tourists, roaming cows, mischievous monkeys, and pigeons all crowd the temple grounds simultaneously.

The crowd is highly undisciplined; devotees push and elbow each other out of the way just to gain the priest's immediate attention. Monkeys engage in fights, running over the shrines and screaming. At the gates, a group of Westerners argue with the policemen to allow them entry, creating a scene. On the riverbanks, active cremations run parallel to daily chores like washing clothes and bathing. This complex, noisy, and uncontrolled atmosphere makes the author describe it as a place of restless confusion.

Q2. What thoughts cross the author's mind when he listens to the flute seller in Kathmandu? Explain the significance of the flute to mankind.

Answer: When the author stands in a corner of the busy square and listens to the flute seller, he is deeply moved. Unlike other loud vendors, the flute seller does not shout; he simply lets his music talk. The author notes that every culture has its own specific version of the flute, such as the Indian bansuri, the South American breathy flute, the clear recorder, or the Japanese shakuhachi.

Despite these geographic variations, the fundamental nature of the flute binds all human beings together. It is an instrument that requires a universal human element to function—the human breath. To play it, a person must blow air and pause at specific intervals, closely matching the natural rhythms of life and breathing common to all living souls. The music directly touches deep human emotions across borders. Thus, the author realizes that hearing a flute connects an individual to the shared commonality of all mankind, breaking down cultural barriers.