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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 view son marriage had changed.

8. What are the narrator’s views on English Language?The narrator did not like English Language. English was not spoken much by the villagers. Ranga was the one of the first people to go out of the village to study English. People felt that he would be a changed person after getting English education.

9. What impression do you form of the narrator? 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 realizes that they are suitable for each other. His narration evokes the humour in the story, especially when he manipulates the situation in a clever way.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Did Ranga select his bride according to the views he held on the subject of 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.

15. 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 is unable to escape the clever moves of the goat, Ranga was also taken in by his manipulations.

16. 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.

17. This is a humorous story. Which part did you find the most amusing?