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The Mark of Vishnu by Khushwant Singh – Question & Answer
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Gunga Ram was a superstitious Brahmin who was most devoted to – i)Flora ii) Psyche iii) Odin iv) Vishnu
2.Khuswant Singh won the Padma Vibhushan award in –i)2011 ii)2007 iii)2009 iv)2004
3. The ‘V’ mark stands for- i)Lord Vishnu ii)Vanish iii)Vinitosh iv)Visa
4. The youngsters consist of _____ brothers.-i)three ii)five iii)four iv)six
5. Who loosened the cord of the tin which contained the Kala Nag in it?-i)The science teacher ii)Gunga Ram iii)the youngsters iv)the narrator
6. After catching the snake the youngsters took it to–i)Church ii)school iii)temple iv)a hole
7. Name the part of Kala Nag which was undamaged.-i)Back ii)tail iii)Head iv)eyes
8. The youngsters caught the snake with a –-i)stick ii)basket iii)net iv)knife
2.Khuswant Singh won the Padma Vibhushan award in –i)2011 ii)2007 iii)2009 iv)2004
3. The ‘V’ mark stands for- i)Lord Vishnu ii)Vanish iii)Vinitosh iv)Visa
4. The youngsters consist of _____ brothers.-i)three ii)five iii)four iv)six
5. Who loosened the cord of the tin which contained the Kala Nag in it?-i)The science teacher ii)Gunga Ram iii)the youngsters iv)the narrator
6. After catching the snake the youngsters took it to–i)Church ii)school iii)temple iv)a hole
7. Name the part of Kala Nag which was undamaged.-i)Back ii)tail iii)Head iv)eyes
8. The youngsters caught the snake with a –-i)stick ii)basket iii)net iv)knife
Short Answer Type Questions
1.Where did Kala Nag live?
Ans: Kala Nag lived in the hole near the wall.
2.How did Kala Nag look?
Ans: Kala Nag looked as big, rounded, and fleshy as the narrator’s wrist. He was almost six feet in length.
3. What did the teacher tell youngsters about snakes?
Ans: The teacher told youngsters that snakes eat only once in several days.
4. Who is known as the Trinity? Who believed in the power of the Trinity?
Ans: Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are three Gods who are known as the Trinity.
Gunga Ram believed in the power of the Trinity.
5. Name the snake whom Gunga Ram respected very much.
Ans: The snake whom Gunga Ram respected very much was a cobra, who was Kala Nag.
6. How did Gunga Ram honour Lord Vishnu?
Ans: Gunga Ram smeared his forehead with a V mark in the sandalwood paste to honour Lord Vishnu.
7. Who was belittling Gunga Ram with their new-fangled ideas?
Ans: The youngsters were belittling Gunga Ram with their new-fangled ideas.
8. Why could the phannyar not have laid a hundred eggs?
Ans: As the phannyar is the male, it could not have laid a hundred eggs.
9. Which part of the Kala Nag was still undamaged?
Ans: The head of the Kala Nag was still undamaged.
10.How long was the Kala Nag?
Ans: the Kala Nag was six feet long.
11. Who did the youngsters present the tin to? What was there in the tin?
Ans: The youngsters presented the tin to their science teacher in school.
Kala Nag was there in the tin.
12. How did the teacher wipe out the little drops of blood on Ganga Ram’s forehead?
Ans: The teacher wiped out the little drops of blood on Ganga Ram’s forehead with a handkerchief.
Ans: Kala Nag lived in the hole near the wall.
2.How did Kala Nag look?
Ans: Kala Nag looked as big, rounded, and fleshy as the narrator’s wrist. He was almost six feet in length.
3. What did the teacher tell youngsters about snakes?
Ans: The teacher told youngsters that snakes eat only once in several days.
4. Who is known as the Trinity? Who believed in the power of the Trinity?
Ans: Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are three Gods who are known as the Trinity.
Gunga Ram believed in the power of the Trinity.
5. Name the snake whom Gunga Ram respected very much.
Ans: The snake whom Gunga Ram respected very much was a cobra, who was Kala Nag.
6. How did Gunga Ram honour Lord Vishnu?
Ans: Gunga Ram smeared his forehead with a V mark in the sandalwood paste to honour Lord Vishnu.
7. Who was belittling Gunga Ram with their new-fangled ideas?
Ans: The youngsters were belittling Gunga Ram with their new-fangled ideas.
8. Why could the phannyar not have laid a hundred eggs?
Ans: As the phannyar is the male, it could not have laid a hundred eggs.
9. Which part of the Kala Nag was still undamaged?
Ans: The head of the Kala Nag was still undamaged.
10.How long was the Kala Nag?
Ans: the Kala Nag was six feet long.
11. Who did the youngsters present the tin to? What was there in the tin?
Ans: The youngsters presented the tin to their science teacher in school.
Kala Nag was there in the tin.
12. How did the teacher wipe out the little drops of blood on Ganga Ram’s forehead?
Ans: The teacher wiped out the little drops of blood on Ganga Ram’s forehead with a handkerchief.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. What did Gunga Ram pour into the saucer? Where did he put the saucer every night and why?
Ans: Gunga Ram poured the milk into the saucer.
He put the saucer outside the hole near the wall every night.
He worshipped Kala Nag as the mark of Vishnu and believed that Kala Nag used to drink milk. So he put the milk into the saucer.
2. How does Khushwant Singh criticize the superstitious beliefs of common people in his story ‘The Mark Of Vishnu’?
Ans: In the story ‘The Mark of Vishnu’, Khushwant Sing depicts how superstitious beliefs and blind faith are rooted in the heart and minds of the common people through all the activities of Gunga Ram. He was an old Brahmin who was devoted to Lord Vishnu and worshipped Kala Nag by giving the milk near the hole of Kala Nag with a firm conviction that Kala Nag would not bite anyone in the house as he gave milk to it. Again, he smeared his forehead with sandalwood paste and made the shape of ‘V’ as the mark of Vishnu every day. At the end of the story, Kala Nag was in terrible trouble due to the four mischievous boys, and he tries to escape from the danger. In the meantime, Gunga Ram stood on the threshold with a saucer of milk, and the Kala Nag bit him on his forehead where he had a ‘V’ mark. It was the time when the ‘V’ mark of sandalwood paste was replaced with the ‘V’ mark made by the snake bite. This way Gunga Ram suffered the most pathetic consequences because of his superstitious beliefs, and Khushwant Singh criticizes the superstitious beliefs of common people by portraying the central character Gunga Ram with his blind faith.
3.”You will pay it for one day”-Who said this and why?
Ans: Gunga Ram told the four young boys.
Gunga Ram was devoted to Lord Vishnu and worshipped Kala Nag as a symbol of Lord Vishnu. Gunga Ram used to put a saucer of milk near the hole of Kala Nag, but the four boys thought it was a cat who drank the milk. They had no regard for Kala Nag, so Gunga Ram said this.
4.”As long as I give him milk, he will not bite anyone in this house”-Who said to whom? Why did the speaker say so?
Ans: Gunga Ram said this to the four young boys who had no respect for Kala Nag.
The speaker worshipped Kala Nag as the mark of Vishnu. Offering the milk to Kala Nag seemed to be serving Lord Vishnu to him. So he had a profound faith that Kala Nag would not bite anyone in the house as he used to give the milk to him.
5. Write a character sketch of Gunga Ram.
Ans: Gunga Ram is an illiterate Hindu Brahmin who follows the old concept of God and the religion of his ancestors. He believes in the power of Trinity-Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. He is very much devoted to Vishnu. He smears his forehead with a V mark in sandalwood paste and worships Kala Nag as a mark of Vishnu. He gives milk to the Kala Nag every night. He believes in the sanctity of life. He has stuck to his blind faith and superstitions so much that the narrator along with his brothers cannot make him understand that the snake does not drink milk. As a servant, he is a calm person who does not get excited when the four boys laugh at him. He is a good human being and loyal to his master. So he gives the milk to him and expects Kala Nag will not bite anyone in the house. He is conservative and obstinate, so he fails to build an elderly relationship with the boys who have modern and scientific beliefs. He does not have the intellect to understand the situation, so he stands on the threshold with a saucer of milk, and the Kala Nag bites him on his forehead. Due to his lack of knowledge, he is subjected to pathetic consequences and pays the price for his blind faith.
Ans: Gunga Ram poured the milk into the saucer.
He put the saucer outside the hole near the wall every night.
He worshipped Kala Nag as the mark of Vishnu and believed that Kala Nag used to drink milk. So he put the milk into the saucer.
2. How does Khushwant Singh criticize the superstitious beliefs of common people in his story ‘The Mark Of Vishnu’?
Ans: In the story ‘The Mark of Vishnu’, Khushwant Sing depicts how superstitious beliefs and blind faith are rooted in the heart and minds of the common people through all the activities of Gunga Ram. He was an old Brahmin who was devoted to Lord Vishnu and worshipped Kala Nag by giving the milk near the hole of Kala Nag with a firm conviction that Kala Nag would not bite anyone in the house as he gave milk to it. Again, he smeared his forehead with sandalwood paste and made the shape of ‘V’ as the mark of Vishnu every day. At the end of the story, Kala Nag was in terrible trouble due to the four mischievous boys, and he tries to escape from the danger. In the meantime, Gunga Ram stood on the threshold with a saucer of milk, and the Kala Nag bit him on his forehead where he had a ‘V’ mark. It was the time when the ‘V’ mark of sandalwood paste was replaced with the ‘V’ mark made by the snake bite. This way Gunga Ram suffered the most pathetic consequences because of his superstitious beliefs, and Khushwant Singh criticizes the superstitious beliefs of common people by portraying the central character Gunga Ram with his blind faith.
3.”You will pay it for one day”-Who said this and why?
Ans: Gunga Ram told the four young boys.
Gunga Ram was devoted to Lord Vishnu and worshipped Kala Nag as a symbol of Lord Vishnu. Gunga Ram used to put a saucer of milk near the hole of Kala Nag, but the four boys thought it was a cat who drank the milk. They had no regard for Kala Nag, so Gunga Ram said this.
4.”As long as I give him milk, he will not bite anyone in this house”-Who said to whom? Why did the speaker say so?
Ans: Gunga Ram said this to the four young boys who had no respect for Kala Nag.
The speaker worshipped Kala Nag as the mark of Vishnu. Offering the milk to Kala Nag seemed to be serving Lord Vishnu to him. So he had a profound faith that Kala Nag would not bite anyone in the house as he used to give the milk to him.
5. Write a character sketch of Gunga Ram.
Ans: Gunga Ram is an illiterate Hindu Brahmin who follows the old concept of God and the religion of his ancestors. He believes in the power of Trinity-Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. He is very much devoted to Vishnu. He smears his forehead with a V mark in sandalwood paste and worships Kala Nag as a mark of Vishnu. He gives milk to the Kala Nag every night. He believes in the sanctity of life. He has stuck to his blind faith and superstitions so much that the narrator along with his brothers cannot make him understand that the snake does not drink milk. As a servant, he is a calm person who does not get excited when the four boys laugh at him. He is a good human being and loyal to his master. So he gives the milk to him and expects Kala Nag will not bite anyone in the house. He is conservative and obstinate, so he fails to build an elderly relationship with the boys who have modern and scientific beliefs. He does not have the intellect to understand the situation, so he stands on the threshold with a saucer of milk, and the Kala Nag bites him on his forehead. Due to his lack of knowledge, he is subjected to pathetic consequences and pays the price for his blind faith.
Exercise
A. Answer the following:
1.”We’ll soon have a hundred Gunga Rams “-Who said to whom and Why? Why did the speaker say so?
2. How did the four brothers trap the Kala Nag?
3. When did the Kala Nag sit in an open patch on the lawn? How did he look then?
4. When did Gunga Ram look sullen and suspicious?
5. What happened to Gunga Ram after Kala Nag bit him?
6. How did superstitious beliefs bring pathetic consequences to Gunga Ram?
7. When did the science teacher fall on the floor?
8. What did the youngsters do to the Kala Nag?
9. How did Gunga Ram know that the youngsters had captured Kala Nag? How did he react to this news?
10. What happened to Gunga Ram at the end of the story?
11. What happened to the grass snake which swallowed a frog?
12. Who stood with a pot of milk outside the classroom and why?
Textual Grammar
B. Do as directed:
1. He said to Gunga Ram, “Aren’t you going to take any milk for the Kala Nag tonight?” (Change the Narration)
2. The tin is presented to the science teacher. (Split into two simple sentences)
3. We saw a grass snake that had just swallowed a frog. (Split into two simple sentences)
4. The boys said to Gunga Ram, “Don’t you snakes don’t drink milk? (Change the Narration)
5. He fell out of the tin onto the floor with a loud plop. (Split into two simple sentences)
6. There are so many frogs. They must taste better than your milk. (Join into a single sentence)
7. Outside the classroom Gunga Ram stood in a saucer a jug of milk. (Correct the errors)
8. As soon as he saw Kala Nag come up, he went down on his knees. (Change into a negative sentence)
9. We left him standing speechless, staring at the departing bus. (Split into two simple sentences)
10. I won’t let you. (Change the voice)
11. We’ll catch them alive and send them to Bombay. (Split into two sentences)
12. Gunga Ram said to the youngsters, “It’s laid a hundred eggs, and if you kill it all eggs become cobras and the house will be full of them. (Change the narration)
1.”We’ll soon have a hundred Gunga Rams “-Who said to whom and Why? Why did the speaker say so?
2. How did the four brothers trap the Kala Nag?
3. When did the Kala Nag sit in an open patch on the lawn? How did he look then?
4. When did Gunga Ram look sullen and suspicious?
5. What happened to Gunga Ram after Kala Nag bit him?
6. How did superstitious beliefs bring pathetic consequences to Gunga Ram?
7. When did the science teacher fall on the floor?
8. What did the youngsters do to the Kala Nag?
9. How did Gunga Ram know that the youngsters had captured Kala Nag? How did he react to this news?
10. What happened to Gunga Ram at the end of the story?
11. What happened to the grass snake which swallowed a frog?
12. Who stood with a pot of milk outside the classroom and why?
Textual Grammar
B. Do as directed:
1. He said to Gunga Ram, “Aren’t you going to take any milk for the Kala Nag tonight?” (Change the Narration)
2. The tin is presented to the science teacher. (Split into two simple sentences)
3. We saw a grass snake that had just swallowed a frog. (Split into two simple sentences)
4. The boys said to Gunga Ram, “Don’t you snakes don’t drink milk? (Change the Narration)
5. He fell out of the tin onto the floor with a loud plop. (Split into two simple sentences)
6. There are so many frogs. They must taste better than your milk. (Join into a single sentence)
7. Outside the classroom Gunga Ram stood in a saucer a jug of milk. (Correct the errors)
8. As soon as he saw Kala Nag come up, he went down on his knees. (Change into a negative sentence)
9. We left him standing speechless, staring at the departing bus. (Split into two simple sentences)
10. I won’t let you. (Change the voice)
11. We’ll catch them alive and send them to Bombay. (Split into two sentences)
12. Gunga Ram said to the youngsters, “It’s laid a hundred eggs, and if you kill it all eggs become cobras and the house will be full of them. (Change the narration)
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