question_answer 1)

Comment on the influence of English - the language and the way of life - on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator's attitude to English?  

Answer:

The story 'Ranga's Marriage' is set in a village Hosahalli, which was in the erstwhile Mysore state. In those days, there were very few people in Hosahalli who knew English. Like today, even during those days, English occupied a very prominent place in the hearts and the minds of people. The village accountant mustered enough courage to send his son, Ranga, to Bengaluru for higher studies. When Ranga returned home, it became almost a festive occassion for the entire village.   People had a lot of respect for Ranga because he knew English, which was a very precious commodity, but very few people in the village knew English. Even a simple word in English like 'change' was not heard of. When Rama Rao's son uses this word, even the narrator could not understand. He had to ask Ranga the meaning of the word. The author, in his narration, shows that he has a positive attitude towards English, but he also asserts that learning a foreign’ language or .knowing it need not affect our tradition and culture. This is evident by the emphasis on Ranga wearing the sacred thread and doing 'namaskars' to the elders.