2nd PUC English Question and Answer Karnataka State Board Syllabus
2nd PUC English Chapter 14
Water
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Water Comprehension I.
Question 1.
The expression ‘generations-old strife’ suggests
(a) the bane of the caste system.
(b) politics of revenge.
(c) differences among humans.
Answer:
(c) differences among humans.
Question 2.
“It also knows the sub-caste difference between leather and spool” ‘Leather and spool’ stands for
(a) pure and impure.
(b) higher and lower.
(c) cobbler and weaver.
Answer:
(c) cobbler and weaver.
Question 3.
How is water a witness to the humiliation caused to the Dalits?
Answer:
‘Water’ is a mute witness to the humiliation caused to the Dalits.
Question 4.
What does the speaker remember when she sees water?
Answer:
The speaker remembers how people in her ‘wada’ would thirst for a glass of water all day.
Question 5.
“circus feat” refers to
(a) hardship to fetch water.
(b) balancing the water pots on the head.
(c) efforts to secure basic needs.
(d) struggle surrounding water.
Answer:
(d) struggle surrounding water.
Question 6.
‘Water’ is a
(a) liquid called water.
(b) the catalyst for a movement.
(c) witness of strife.
(d) life-giver and destroyer.
(e) means to practice untouchability,
(f) profit-making commodity.
Answer:
(c) witness of strife.
Water Comprehension II.
Question 1.
Discuss the travails suffered by the Wada people while securing water.
Answer:
The Wada people faced severe exploitation while securing water. They relied on upper-caste individuals, waiting for a Shudra to help them fetch water from the well. If the Shudra didn’t arrive, they had to wait all day. Their access was so limited that they could only bathe once a week and often travelled miles to irrigated canals for a pot of water. This lack of supply became critical during emergencies, such as a fire in Mallepalle village, where they were unable to extinguish the flames. Their struggles led to movements and agitations for basic water access.
Question 2.
‘For us, water is not simply what H20 suggests.
(a) its chemical significance.
(b) it is a common resource available for all.
(c) it is a symbol of the struggle against discrimination.
Answer:
(c) it is a symbol of the struggle against discrimination.
Question 3.
What does ‘some taking baths once a week and others twice a day’ connote?
Answer:
This phrase highlights the stark disparity in bathing habits between the upper castes and the Dalits. While Dalits might only bathe once a week due to limited access to water, upper-caste individuals can bathe multiple times a day. Untouchables are denied the right to fetch water from wells and must rely on Shudras for assistance, resulting in inadequate water supply for drinking and basic needs in Wada.
Question 4.
Why does water become a matter of dispute?
Answer:
Water becomes contentious when upper-caste individuals intentionally pollute the Dalits’ drinking water in Karamchedu. Even after the Mahad municipality in Mumbai passed a resolution granting Dalits access to a public tank, local upper-caste residents obstructed their use of the water. In a pivotal moment, Dr. Ambedkar attended a rally at the pond, drank from the tank, and affirmed the Dalits’ right to access public water sources like everyone else.
Question 5.
Look at the expressions ‘many a circus feat’ and ‘dances its way into the Pepsi man’s bottle.’ What contrast do you notice between the two?
Answer:
The expression “many a circus feat” illustrates the struggle that lower-caste individuals face in securing water for essential needs, like agriculture and drinking. In stark contrast, the phrase “dances its way into the Pepsi man’s bottle” highlights how water, commodified and packaged as mineral water, flows effortlessly for the wealthy. This disparity emphasizes that while the poor often lack access to even basic drinking water, the rich enjoy it as a luxury.
Water becomes a silent witness to the injustices faced by the untouchables, yet it readily fulfills the desires of the affluent. In Mallepalle village, for instance, there was insufficient water to extinguish a fire, underscoring how water has transformed into a traded commodity, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
Water Comprehension III.
Question 1.
How does the poem demonstrate the disparity and discrimination in our society using water as a symbol?
Answer:
The poem highlights the discrimination between upper and lower-caste individuals through the symbol of water. While water is essential for everyone, upper-caste people have easy access to it, whereas lower-caste individuals struggle to obtain even basic supplies. Untouchables often travel long distances to irrigated canals, carrying water on their heads, while lacking sufficient drinking and hygiene resources. For example, during a Mallepalle village fire, the poor could not access water to extinguish the flames.
Disparities lead to conflicts, as seen when a lower-caste boy questions upper-caste boys washing dirty buckets, resulting in violence. Such discrimination fueled a widespread movement among Dalits to secure their right to water.
Question 2.
How are the poor affected by
(a) lack of water
(b) denial of water?
(c) the fury of nature.
Answer
The poor have to face many difficulties due to the lack of water. Because of the lack of water, they were physically and mentally deprived. Due to the small number of water people suffered a lot. The poor do not get sufficient water for baths and even to drink. So they get diseases like cholera, and dysentery and suffer a lot. They are also affected by social and economic inequalities.
If they don’t get enough water for basic needs, then they can’t concentrate on other productive work. In this way, they were exploited by the upper caste people. At the time of a major fire alarm, they may not get water to douse the fire, and at the time of a Tsunami, seawater swallows whole villages.
Question 3.
Trace the journey of water from ancient times as a symbol of purity to the age of the multinational market where it is a commodity.
Answer:
In ancient mythology, water, represented by the Ganga, was considered pure and sacred. King Bhagiratha’s penance to bring the Ganga to Earth symbolizes water’s divine status, as bathing in it was believed to cleanse sins. Rivers like Ganga, Narmada, and Kaveri were worshipped and honoured during festivals.
However, with increasing water scarcity, this perception shifted. Water became commodified, sold in mineral water bottles and soft drinks, marking its transformation from a revered element to a commercial product. This journey illustrates the decline of water’s sacred status in the face of market demands.
Water Summary
The poem *Water* by C.S. Rani highlights the struggles faced by Dalits in rural Andhra Pradesh. Dalits, considered “untouchables” by the upper castes, live outside villages in areas called “Wadas.” Denied access to community wells, they endure discrimination daily. The poet captures the pain of Dalits, expressing that only water empathizes with their hardships, as it naturally flows from higher to lower ground.
Through vivid imagery, the poem describes water as a silent witness to caste-based injustices, drawing parallels with racial discrimination and the exploitation of marginalized people throughout history. The poet recalls instances like Suvarthamma’s resistance against upper-caste boys polluting a drinking tank, which sparked a violent conflict, and the Mahad struggle, where Dalits fought for their right to water access. She remembers childhood days of carrying heavy pots from distant canals and the struggle of her people who could barely bathe once a week.
Water, she points out, is more than H₂O; it’s a force behind both life and strife, triggering state disputes, natural disasters, and even wars. It has witnessed countless sacrifices, yet today, ironically, it is packaged as a product and sold globally. The poem closes with a powerful question about the irony of this life-sustaining resource now commodified, even as people still struggle for access.