Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
1. Where is the Pashupatinath Temple located?
a) Kathmandu
b) Delhic) Varanasi
d) KolkataAnswer: a) Kathmandu
2. Which religion is associated with the Baudhanath Stupa?
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhismc) Jainism
d) ChristianityAnswer: b) Buddhism
3. What is the primary difference between the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhanath Stupa?
a) Pashupatinath is crowded, while Baudhanath is peaceful.
b) Both are equally serene and quiet.c) Pashupatinath is a Buddhist site, while Baudhanath is a Hindu site.
d) Baudhanath is chaotic, while Pashupatinath is calm.Answer: a) Pashupatinath is crowded, while Baudhanath is peaceful.
4. What does the author describe as a prominent sound in the streets of Kathmandu?
a) Birds chirping
b) Bells and car hornsc) Music from shops
d) Chanting of priestsAnswer: b) Bells and car horns
5. What is sold in the marketplaces of Kathmandu as per the author?
a) Electronics and gadgets
b) Fruit, postcards, and musical instrumentsc) Books and manuscripts
d) Traditional clothesAnswer: b) Fruit, postcards, and musical instruments
6. Which river flows near the Pashupatinath Temple?
a) Ganga
b) Yamunac) Bagmati
d) BrahmaputraAnswer: c) Bagmati
7. What type of atmosphere does the author find at Baudhanath Stupa?
a) Chaotic and noisy
b) Peaceful and serenec) Exciting and lively
d) Boring and dullAnswer: b) Peaceful and serene
8. What does the author decide to do after exploring Kathmandu?
a) Stay and explore more temples
b) Return to India by flightc) Take a bus or plane to Patna
d) Visit another city in NepalAnswer: c) Take a bus or plane to Patna
9. Why does the author call Kathmandu a busy city?
a) Because of its large number of tourists
b) Due to the chaotic streets and bustling bazaarsc) Because of its religious significance
d) Due to the presence of many templesAnswer: b) Due to the chaotic streets and bustling bazaars
10. What does Vikram Seth describe as the most attractive aspect of Kathmandu’s streets?
a) The variety of items sold in the shops
b) The religious activitiesc) The architecture of the buildings
d) The calmness of the environmentAnswer: a) The variety of items sold in the shops
Short Extra Question Answers:
1. Where is the Pashupatinath Temple located?
Answer: The Pashupatinath Temple is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
2. Which river flows near the Pashupatinath Temple?
Answer: The Bagmati River flows near the Pashupatinath Temple.
3.What religion is associated with the Baudhanath Stupa?
Answer: The Baudhanath Stupa is associated with Buddhism.
4. How does the author describe the Pashupatinath Temple?
Answer: The author describes the Pashupatinath Temple as crowded and chaotic.
5. What does the author find peaceful in Kathmandu?
Answer: The author finds the Baudhanath Stupa peaceful.
6. What items are sold in the streets of Kathmandu?
Answer: Fruit, postcards, and musical instruments are sold in the streets of Kathmandu.
7. What sound does the author hear in Kathmandu’s streets?
Answer: The author hears the sound of bicycle bells and car horns in Kathmandu’s streets.
8. How does the author describe the streets of Kathmandu?
Answer: The author describes the streets of Kathmandu as narrow and crowded.
9. What does the author decide after exploring Kathmandu?
Answer: The author decides to return to India by bus or plane.
10. What does Vikram Seth notice about the atmosphere at Baudhanath Stupa?
Answer: Vikram Seth notices a calm and serene atmosphere at the Baudhanath Stupa.
11. How does the author describe the marketplace of Kathmandu?
Answer: The author describes the marketplace as lively and full of variety.
12. What is unique about the Pashupatinath Temple according to the author?
Answer: The Pashupatinath Temple is unique for its rituals and chaotic religious activities.
Short Question Answers
Who is the author of the excerpt?
What does Vikram Seth describe in his book Heaven Lake?
What are the two temples mentioned in the excerpt?
What is the atmosphere at Pashupatinath like?
Who is allowed to enter the Pashupatinath temple?
What happens at the holy Bagmati river?
What is the atmosphere at the Baudhnath Stupa like?
What kind of shops are around Baudhnath Stupa?
How does Vikram Seth describe Kathmandu’s streets?
What food does Seth enjoy during his visit?
How does Seth feel about his return journey?
What instrument does the flute seller play?
How does the flute seller conduct business?
What effect does flute music have on Seth?
What cultural significance does Seth attach to the flute?
What does Seth decide to do on his last day in Kathmandu?
What does the author buy during his visit?
How does Seth describe flute music?
What emotional connection does Seth have with the flute music?
What does the small shrine by the river symbolize?
Thinking About the Poem – Simplified and Revised
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or short phrases.
Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.Ans: Pashupatinath and Baudhnath Stupa.What does ‘all this’ refer to in “All this I wash down with Coca Cola”?Ans: Marzipan, roasted corn-on-the-cob, love story comics, and Reader’s Digest.What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?Ans: Flutes protruding from the flute seller’s pole.Name five kinds of flutes.Ans: Neh, recorder, shakuhachi, bansuri, Chinese flutes.
II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.
What difference does the author note between the flute seller and other hawkers?Ans: Unlike other hawkers who loudly advertise their goods, the flute seller quietly plays his flute in a meditative manner. He does not actively call for customers, treating sales as secondary to his music. This calm and artistic approach sets him apart.What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?Ans: It is believed that when the small shrine by the riverbank fully emerges, the goddess inside will escape, marking the end of Kaliyug, the age of moral decline.
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Examples of the atmosphere at Pashupatinath:
(i) Febrile confusion:
People elbowing for the priest’s attention.
A princess arrives, and everyone bows to make way.
Monkeys fighting near the temple.
(ii) Things seen:
Priests, hawkers, devotees, and animals like cows, pigeons, and dogs.
Washerwomen at the river and children bathing.
Shrines with flower-adorned deities on the streets.
(iii) Sounds heard:
Film songs from radios.
Car horns and bicycle bells.
Soft, meditative flute music.
III. Answer the following in 100-150 words.
Compare and contrast the atmosphere at Baudhnath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple.Ans: Baudhnath Stupa offers a serene, peaceful atmosphere, unlike the chaotic energy of Pashupatinath. While Pashupatinath is crowded with worshippers, priests, and animals, Baudhnath is quiet and calm, with fewer people and small shops surrounding the stupa. The bustling streets of Kathmandu feel distant at Baudhnath, which provides a reflective sanctuary. Pashupatinath, on the other hand, is alive with activity, embodying the fervor of religious devotion and daily life intertwined.How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?Ans: The streets are narrow, lively, and chaotic. They are lined with shops selling everything from traditional Nepalese antiques to Western goods. Vendors sell flutes, postcards, and fruits, while small shrines adorned with flowers punctuate the bustling paths. The air is filled with sounds—film songs, car horns, and vendors shouting—creating an overwhelming yet vibrant atmosphere.Why does the author say, “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind”?Ans: The author finds flute music universal, transcending cultural boundaries. Flutes from various traditions share the same essence, powered by breath and evoking emotions that resonate globally. The music symbolizes humanity’s shared emotional and cultural connections.
Long Question Answers
Describe the atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple.Ans: The temple’s atmosphere is bustling and chaotic. Worshippers jostle for attention from priests, while hawkers sell their wares among the crowd. Monkeys, cows, pigeons, and dogs roam freely, adding to the lively confusion. A princess’s arrival heightens the energy, as people bow and make way. The scene is complemented by the holy Bagmati River, where cremation rituals and washerwomen coexist, reflecting a vibrant mix of life and spirituality.How does the author contrast Pashupatinath and Baudhnath Stupa?Ans: Pashupatinath is noisy, crowded, and full of activity, embodying the fervor of religious devotion. Baudhnath Stupa, in contrast, is serene and meditative. Its quiet surroundings allow for introspection, offering respite from Kathmandu’s chaos. The two sites reflect different aspects of spirituality—active worship at Pashupatinath and peaceful contemplation at Baudhnath.What role does the flute music play in the narrative?Ans: Flute music symbolizes the universality of human emotions. Its soothing tones evoke nostalgia and a sense of shared humanity. Seth highlights the flute’s cultural diversity while emphasizing its ability to connect people emotionally across boundaries.
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