Parting from the Path of Life (Jeevitapata) by Cherukad Govinda Pisharodi Paragraph Questions

Paragraph Questions

Readings on Kerala (1A02ENG)

1. What were the explanations given by Kunjammaman for not sending his nephew to school? Are those the real reasons behind his decision? Justify. 

Parting from the Path of Life (Jeevitapata) is written by Cherukad Govinda Pisharodi. The narrator, during his childhood, lives with his uncle known as Kunjammaman. He does not send the child to school. The explanations given by Kunjammaman are many. He would say that the child knows reading and writing, as well as astrological calculations. According to Kunjammaman, this much study is enough. On another occasion, when Paruthiyil Krishnan Nair inquires about little Govindan’s education, Kunjammaman says that Nair has a monthly salary. There is no such provision for Kunjammaman. Therefore, it would be impossible to give expensive education to Govindan as Kunjammaman has a wealth of Nieces and Nephews. This was the real reason behind Kunjammaman’s reluctance in sending Govindan to School. The uncle was squirrelling away family income to build a new house and land for his wife. 

2. What was the experience narrated by Raghava Pisharodi regarding his nephew?

Raghava Pisharodi tells Kunjammaman that he was frustrated with his nephew who tells lies, steals and commits adultery. Bits of Advice has no impact on him. Finally, he throws the nephew out of the house. However, after throwing him out, the nephew commits even more serious crimes. He steals kanam rice from the temple. He eats some of the rice and sells the rest of it and buys beedis and smokes away from his earnings. One day, Raghava Pisharodi hid in the temple to catch the thief. When the nephew laid his hands on a vessel of kanam rice measuring six nazhis, Raghava Pisharodi caught him. However, in his struggle to take away the vessel, the nephew bit Pisharodi on his wrist and the wound started to bleed. Unable to remain inside the temple due to fear of desecration of the temple with his dripping blood, Pisharodi ran outside. 

3. Who, according to the narrator, are the “chief enemies of the matrilineal family head”? How does Kunjammaman deal with these threats?

According to the narrator, the chief enemies of a matrilineal family head are the efficient husband of a woman in the family and a grown-up nephew who bites back. In his own story, the narrator’s father is a meek person who does not challenge the authority of the patriarch, Kunjammaman. The narrator’s sister Kutty Oppol’s husband was leaving the house, breaking the alliance to avoid a quarrel with Kunjammaman. His other sister Malu Oppol’s husband Black Patteri was a fool, according to the narrator. Therefore, there was no immediate threat to his uncle’s power and authority. Kunjamman was fierce in quenching any threat arising to question his authority. 

Essay Question: Parting from the Path of Life

REF: Multiple Modernities, edited by Board of Editors, Kannur University, Cohin: Hornbill Publishing House, 2019. Print.