2.6 The Past in the Present
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Nine.
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Warming Up!
Review: A Royal Dilemma
- Name of the play/skit: The King's Dilemma
- Important characters: The King, The Wise Minister, The Greedy Merchant.
- Theme: Honesty and wisdom always triumph over greed.
- Climax: When the merchant is caught lying about the hidden gold coins in the royal court, and the minister uses a clever trick with a blindfold to expose him.
- Ending: The merchant is punished, and the honest farmer is rewarded by the King. The play ends on a happy and moral note.
- Use of lights and special effects: Red spotlights were used during the tense climax to build suspense, and bright yellow lights were used to depict the royal daytime court.
- Use of background music and sound effects: Dramatic drum beats played during the merchant's lies, and soft flute music played during the happy ending.
- Use of sets: A large, decorated throne for the king and painted cardboard pillars to represent the grand royal court.
- The costumes, make up, etc.: The King wore a heavy velvet robe with a golden crown. The merchant wore a shiny but chaotic outfit, and the minister wore simple, elegant white robes.
- How well the actors present the play: The actors delivered their dialogues with excellent voice modulation and clear expressions. Their stage movements were natural.
- Your own opinion about the play: It was a highly entertaining and thought-provoking play. The blend of humor, suspense, and a strong moral message made it an unforgettable experience.
Note: This is an individual computer activity. Students should use software like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides, placing one point from the review above onto each slide, adding relevant images if possible.
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English Workshop
Features of a skit/play script:
- List of characters
- Stage scene and props
- Live dialogue
- Actions/Costumes specified
Other words and their forms of writing:
- Sender's Address: A feature of Letter Writing.
- Salutation: A feature of Letter Writing / Email.
- Leadline: A feature of a News Report.
- Diagram: A feature of a Scientific/Technical Report or Geometry.
- (i) The skit covers a period of about ______ in the past. — (c) 5000 years
- (ii) ______ characters from Neel's ancestral lineage make an appearance in the play. — (b) Seven
- (iii) The task that all boys abhorred was ______. — (d) making their beds.
- (iv) The skit conveys that doing your daily chores at home ______. — (d) inculcates a sense of responsibility.
| Period | Way of Addressing a Mother | Boy's Costume | Lady's Costume | Daily Chores | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | Mama | Loose trousers and shirt | Silk saree | Watered garden, brought groceries, dusted living room, cleaned bicycle | — |
| 1910 | Mummy | Kurta pyjama and cap | Nine-yard saree, nose ring and jewellery | Fetched water, filled pots, swept terrace, collected wood, cleaned grinding stones | Going to riverside with friends |
| 1800s | Mother dear | Dhoti, kurta, small turban | Nine-yard saree, traditional jewellery | Washed clothes, chopped wood, fixed fence, took goats to graze | Atya-patya |
| 1500s | My dear mother | Loose sleeveless V-neck top, short dhoti | Nine-yard saree | Milked cows, took to graze, fetched veggies, stacked them, swept yard | Ashtapada |
| 1000 CE | Most revered mother | Flare tunic, churidar, waist band, turban | Saree, upper garment, plenty of jewellery | Fetched water, poured into channels, cleared weeds, patched mud walls | Puppet show |
| 1st century CE | Matadevi | Dhoti, waist band, no shirt | Saree, upper garment, beads jewellery | Fed poultry, tended sheep, kept away birds, plastered the yard | Bagh-chal |
| 3000 BCE | Mother | Cloth around waist, long hair in bun/ponytail | Saree, veil, stone and beads jewellery | Hunted food, carved stone bricks, dusted leather clothes, moulded mud pots | Chaupar |
(a) What excuses did Neel give to avoid cleaning his room?
Neel said that he had already cleaned it two days ago, and argued that making the bed was unnecessary because it would just get messed up again when he slept after lunch.
(b) Why does mother tell Neel about his Grandpa?
The mother tells Neel about his Grandpa to show him that teenage boys in the past had much more difficult and physically exhausting daily chores to finish, yet they still had to make their beds without complaining.
(c) What task did Grandpa wish to avoid?
Grandpa (the 1950s boy) wished to avoid the task of making his bed.
(d) What did the ancestor from 1910 wish to do instead of making his bed?
The ancestor from 1910 wished to go to the riverside with his friends instead of making his bed.
(e) How many chores did the ancestor from 1800 have to do?
The ancestor from 1800 had to do four main chores: wash clothes at the river, chop wood, fix the broken fence, and take the goats up the hill to graze.
(f) How is the boy from 1500s dressed?
The boy from the 1500s is dressed in a loose sleeveless V-neck top and a short dhoti.
(g) What chores did the boys from 1000 CE and 1st Century CE, do on their farms/fields?
The boy from 1000 CE poured water into farm channels, cleared blocked channels, and pulled out weeds. The boy from the 1st Century CE tended the sheep and used a sling to keep birds away from the field.
(h) What did Neel realise from his encounter with his ancestors?
Neel realised that teenage boys throughout history have always had to perform various tough indoor and outdoor chores. He understood that making his bed is a very small and simple task compared to what his ancestors did, and that he cannot escape his responsibilities.
The two devices mentioned in the play are (1) Bicycle and (2) Grinding stones.
An Autobiography of a Wheel
I am a wheel, one of the greatest inventions in human history. I was born thousands of years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, originally crafted from a solid piece of heavy wood. In my early days, I helped potters shape beautiful clay vessels. Soon, humans realized my true potential and attached me to carts and chariots. I reduced their physical burden, allowing them to transport heavy stones, crops, and people across vast distances.
As centuries passed, I evolved. I became lighter, gaining wooden spokes, and later, strong metal rims. Today, you see me everywhere. I am the rubber tires on your fast bicycles and cars, the tiny gears turning inside your intricate watches, and the massive turbines generating electricity. Though my shape has changed, my purpose remains the same: to keep the world moving forward smoothly. I am proud to be the continuous driving force behind human progress.
Neel: Welcome to my room, Great-great Grandpa!
1910 Ancestor: Goodness! What is this bright, glowing rectangular mirror in your hand? And why are you tapping it?
Neel: Oh, this is my smartphone! I use it to talk to my friends who live far away, read books, and even play games.
1910 Ancestor: Talk to friends without shouting? Incredible! And what is that loud, round machine moving on the floor all by itself?
Neel: Haha, that’s a robotic vacuum cleaner. It sweeps and cleans the floor automatically so I don't have to use a broom.
1910 Ancestor: A machine doing your chores? In my day, I had to sweep the entire terrace by hand until my back ached! You live like a king, Neel. You have lights that glow without oil, machines that clean, and glass that speaks. You must have so much free time!
Neel: Yes, I guess I am very lucky to have these gadgets to help me.
21st Century Mother: Life is so much better for women now. We have equal rights, we can work in top corporate jobs, and we use modern appliances like washing machines and microwaves that save so much time and physical energy.
19th Century Mother: That may be true, but look at how stressed and anxious you all are! You run around all day balancing a demanding job and a family. In my time, life was physically harder, yes, but it was peaceful. We stayed close to nature, breathed fresh air, and our families were tightly knit.
21st Century Mother: But you were restricted to the house. You couldn't get a higher education or make your own financial decisions. Independence is far more valuable than a 'simple' life.
19th Century Mother: We managed the entire household, raised strong children, and grew our own food. We were the silent backbone of the family. You have independence, but you have lost the calm and patience we possessed.
- (Active) I have watered the garden. → (Passive) The garden has been watered.
- (Active) (I have) brought home the groceries. → (Passive) The groceries have been brought home.
- (Active) (I have) dusted the living room. → (Passive) The living room has been dusted.
- (Active) (I have) cleaned my bicycle. → (Passive) My bicycle has been cleaned.
- 1950s Boy: Ramesh
- 1910 Boy: Vasant
- 1800s Boy: Mahadev
- 1500s Boy: Tukaram
- 1000 CE Boy: Somnath
- 1st Century CE Boy: Aryaman
- 3000 BCE Boy: Dhruv