Chapter 13 A Roadside Stand Solutions
Question - 21 : - What different attitudes do the city dwellers display to the country people?
Answer - 21 : -
The city dwellers are indifferent to the plight of the country people and ignore the stands selling their goods. They get irritated with them for spoiling the landscape with their wrong signboards. They also exploit them for their selfish gains by offering them hollow charity which spoils their lives.
Question - 22 : - On what occasions do the country people express their anger at the city elite?
Answer - 22 : -
The country people get angry with the city elite when, despite having money, they do not buy any of their goods. Again when a car stops and asks for gas which they obviously do not have, but does not ask the price of what they are actually selling.
Question - 23 : - What do the country people want?
Answer - 23 : -
The country people want a share in the wealth enjoyed by the city people which they also have a right to, so that they can improve their conditions and lead better lives just as those promised by the movies and which the government has denied them.
Question - 24 : - Why are the country folks disappointed?
Answer - 24 : -
The country folks have put up a roadside stand to sell their wares to the city dwellers. They desperately hope to earn some city money so that they could support their lives with it. They are disappointed because the city dwellers rush away in their polished cars with their minds focused only on their destination. If ever they pause, they are rather critical in their comments. They complain that the roadside stand had marred the scenic beauty of the landscape.
Question - 25 : - Bring out the contrast between the urban rich and the rural poor.
Answer - 25 : -
The urban rich are on the move, they are in a hurry, they are speeding looking ahead. They have no time to inquire about the goods put up by rural poor for sale. On the other hand, the rural poor are standing and pleading for help.
Question - 26 : - How does the poet describe the double standards of the government and other social service agencies towards the poor rural people?
Answer - 26 : -
The poet is sad that the government which came into power had many promises for the wellbeing of rural poor folks. But it and other social agencies did nothing for that. These poor rural people put up their roadside stands to sell what they produce. But no passer-by buys them. The poet feels much pain at their poor plight.