The Martyr’s Corner
R.K. Nakayan

A. State whether these sentences are True or false.
(i) Kama liked serving women.
Ans:- False.
(ii) Rama lived in a lane behind the market.
Ans:- True.
(iii) Soda bottles were used as missiles during the riot.
Ans:- True.
(iv) Rama came in time to catch the cinema crowd coming out after the night show.
Ans:- True

B. Answere these questions in one or two words

1. What did Rama give free with every item?
   Ans:- Rama gave free chutney with every item.
2. Whose arm searched for the perfect duck’s egg?
   Ans:- Wrestlers arm searched for the perfect duck’s egg.
3. Where did Rama sleep?
   Ans:- Pyole.
4. How much did four chappaties cost?
   Ans:- four chappaties costed an anna.
5. Where did Rama work as a waiter?
   Ans:- At Kohinook Restaurant.
6. At what time did Rama wake up every day?
   Ans:- Rama wake up whenever the cook in the next house crowed, which could be as early as 3 in the morning.
7. Whaat did Rama sell?
   Ans:- Rama sold snacks and beverages at his roadside stall.
8. Who were Rama’s customers?
   Ans:- Rama’s customers were mainly the people who passed by his stall including locals and tourists.

4. Why did the riot break out?
   Ans:- The roit broke out due to disagreement between two groups

leading to serious tensions and eventual violence which soon turns

into a battle field as knives coerce brandished, soda bottles are used as missiles and shops are looted.

Answer these questions briefly

1. Why did Rama’s customers like him?
   Ans:- Rama’s customers liked him because he offered affordable

prices for his goods, such as coffee for six pice and four chappaties

for an amma. They also appritiated his generocity and the fact that

he allowed them to pick and choose their items after proper
scrutiny.

2. Briefly describe Rama’s attitude towards the boot polish boys?
   Ans:- Rama had a sympathetic and compassionated attitude

towards the boot polish boys. He felt sorry for their difficult lives

and poverty and he wished that customers would be more generous

in paying them. He had a soft corner in his heart for the homeless

abandoned person.

3. Why did Rama had to move his stall two hundreds yards away?
   Ans:- Rama had to more his stall two hundred yards away because

a memorial was erected at his original spot where a leader had

fallen down during a violent incident. The spot has become a holy

place and the municipality handed it over to the congration for the

memorial forcing Rama relocate.

4. What did Rama’s wife do upon his arrival at night?
   Ans:- Upon Rama’s arrival at night, his wife would open the door

of their home and snatched from him all his loads. She would then

pull out the cloth bag banging from his neck. Which contained the

days earning. She would count the cash and separate the gains,

putting them away in a little wooden box.

1. Describe in detail how Rama’s business was finished?
   Ans:- Rama’s business came to an unfortunate end due to series of

events. Firstly, the municipality moved his stall two hundred yards

away from its original spot due to the construction of a memorial.

The new location was less favoureable and resulted in a significant

drop in customers. Further more, Rama’s health began to decline

and he lost his energy and enthusiasm for the business. He became

dishearted and started neglecting his stall resulting in poor

maintenance and a declined in the quality of goods.
Moreover Rama’s customers started vanishing

gradually. Some of them moved away while others found

alternative options closer to their home. The remaining customers

were not enough to sustain Rama’s business and the lack of

demand eventually lead to his downfall.

2. Do you think that Nakayan has depicted many aspects of typical

Indian way of life? Write a persuasive answer.
Ans:- Yes, Narayan depicted many aspects of typical Indian way of

life in his words. His writing provides a vivid portrayal of Indian

culture, traditions, values and social dynamics. Through his story

telling, he captures the everyday life in India and presents it in a

relatable manner.
Narayan’s works of an revolve around ordinary

characters and their experiences reflecting the lives of common.

people in India. He explores themes such as family relationships,

religions, societal norms and the struggles of individuals. His story

deals with the complexcities in Indian cities including caste

systems, customs and the influence of tradition of people’s life.

Nakayam’s work have been celebrated for the universal appeal

while remaining rooted in the Indian context. His story provides

valueable insides and the aspects of Indian culture and offer ridders

a glimps into the complecities of everyday life in India.