Welcome to “Indigo Workbook Solution: ISC Rhapsody & Prism,” where we explore ISC English Literature’s captivating narrative. Within these pages, we unravel the essence of “Indigo” through meticulous workbook solutions. This post offers comprehensive answers to multiple-choice and contextual questions, deepening your understanding of this timeless tale. Meet the influential characters and delve into the nuances of character development and thematic exploration. Each question serves as a gateway to dissecting the text, urging readers to analyze subtle nuances and extract deeper meanings. Contextual inquiries broaden our canvas for exploration, encouraging critical engagement with socio-cultural backdrops and universal themes. Through this examination, readers sharpen analytical skills and develop a profound appreciation for literary craftsmanship. Whether a student navigating ISC English Literature or an avid reader unraveling powerful narratives, “Rhapsody & Prism: Indigo Workbook Solutions” promises valuable companionship. Join us on this literary journey as we illuminate the path to understanding, one workbook solution at a time.
Table of Contents
Story Summary :
Story in Detail
The story begins with the protagonist and the narrator, Aniruddha Bose, introducing himself to the readers. He is a twenty-nine-year-old bachelor who works in an advertising agency and enjoys writing stories in his spare time. However, for the past few months, he has not written anything as he has been reading about the indigo plantations in Bihar and Bengal in the 19th century. He has read so much about it that he considers himself as an authority on the subject.
He then goes on to describe his past. He says he has an older brother, who is also a doctor and has been living in London and has no plans to return to India.. His father was a popular physician in Bihar, who passed away when he was 17 years old. After his father’s death, he and his mother shifted to Calcutta (Kolkata) to stay with his maternal uncle. He got his bachelor’s degree from St. Xavier’s College. Soon after that he got a job in an advertising agency.
Despite living in Calcutta, he is unable to give up some habits built in his early years, such as the desire to get away from the hustle-bustle of city life. When his friend Promode, who has taken up a job in the Forest Department, wrote to him asking him to visit him at Dumka, he agreed.
From the very beginning, there were a few hitches in Aniruddha’s plan to leave early for Dumka. First, his father’s old friend, Uncle Mohit came to his house. Since he has come after ten years, Aniruddha could not go leaving him unattended. He entertained him for over an hour before bidding him good-bye. Then his neighbour, Bhola Babu stopped him to talk and ask questions. He advised Aniruddha that he should have engaged a driver for the journey. Aniruddha finally managed to set off, describing his journey through the cities and the clear blue sky.
Suddenly, one of his tyres got flat and he got out of the car to fix it. However, a few miles later he encountered a heavy thunderstorm and another flat tyre. With the rain pouring, no spare tyres and the night falling, he decided not to go ahead.
He realised that he had taken a wrong turn and reached a dead end with no repair shop nearby. In this moment of confusion, he spotted a light at a distance that looked like a window. Locking his car and with his torch, he set out to see if he could find any help. In a nearby cottage, he met an old man called Sukhanram who was the watchman of the Dak Bungalow. He offered him shelter in the Dak Bungalow, and some chapatis with urad dal to eat. Sukhanram told Aniruddha that the bungalow used to be the home of a sahib-an English indigo planter. The factory was close by, but now only its chimney has remained. Aniruddha kept Candle burning in the bathroom so that there would be some light in his room He worried about his bath. He slept with the memory of a play ‘Nildorpan’ (The mirror of Indigo) fresh in his mind.
After sleeping for some time at night, Aniruddha was awoken by the sound of scratching on the door. From the howls, he could recognise that it was a hound When he raised his hand to check the time on his automatic wristwatch, he was shocked to see that it was gone. He jumped out of bed and looked for his suitcase shocked underneath it. It had also disappeared. He wondered whether there was a thief, but he could not have entered in through the barred windows.
Gradually, he started to notice more strange happenings. He found his hands had become pale, his voice was like that of an Englishman and the clothes that he was wearing had changed. And when he looked at the room again, he found it had changed completely. He had been metamorphosed into the English indigo planter. His body was not acting of his own accord, yet his consciousness was that of Aniruddha.
Unable to control himself, he wrote a letter as though he were the English indigo planter. He wrote the date as April 27, 1868 and expressed his loneliness as his friends had returned to England, and his wife and son were dead. He felt he could not go back to England because of his shady past. He also knew that he had been a brutal master and not one of his labourers liked him, except Mirjan, his trusted bearer. He knew he was about to die but his only worry was his watchdog, Rex, for he was sure that he would be stoned to death after his demise. And then he suddenly stopped writing.
Aniruddha could not stop himself as he reached for a pistol. When he called out for Rex, his voice was as deep as the English indigo planter. In the heat of the moment he shot Rex dead, the noise causing chaos in the direction of the factory, and then he bolted the door and held the pistol to his own temple.
He then lost his consciousness. He woke up next morning – it was the 28th April, but in the present day. Everything was as it was – the bungalow in its old, dilapidated post-independence condition. The indigo factory had just a ruined chimney. Aniruddha doubted if anyone would believe that this unbelievable incident took place on the 100th death anniversary of the English indigo planter.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Why did Aniruddha write stories in his spare time?
(a) To make a living
(b) To earn extra money
(c) Writing was his passion
(d) To describe indigo planters.
Answer :- (c) Writing was his passion
2. Besides his maternal uncle’s influence, Aniruddha could get a job in the advertising agency because
(a) He was a good student
(b) He could speak English fluently
(c) He knew how to carry himself in an interview
(d) All of the above.
Answer :- (d) All of the above.
3. Which habit was instilled in Aniruddha during his early years in Monghyr?
(a) To run away from hectic city life
(b) To drive his car himself
(c) To learn from his experiences
(d) All of the above.
Answer :- (d) All of the above.
4. What was the ‘snag right at the start’ of his journey to Dumka?
(a) His tyres become flat
(b) Visit of his father’s friend to his house after ten years
(c) The engine of the car developed a fault
(d) All of the above.
Answer :- (b) Visit of his father’s friend to his house after ten years
5. What advice did Bhola Babu give Aniruddha?
(a) To arrange for a driver.
(b) To take someone with him on his trip
(c) To keep a stepney
(d) Not to go by car.
Answer :- (a) To arrange for a driver.
6. How did Aniruddha feel during the first thirty miles of his trip through dingy towns?
(a) Mind blowing
(b) Exciting
(c) Boring
(d) Fearful.
Answer :- (c) Boring
7. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below? …such a norwester could strike terror into the heart.’
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Personification
(d) Assonance.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. Why was the truck standing behind his car blowing its horn?
(a) The truck’s tyre had got
(b) His car had stopped in the middle of the road.
(c) The truck’s driver got hurt
(d) To warn him of the storm.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
9. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below? …the truth struck me like a hammer blow.’
(a) Personification
(b) Metaphor
(c) Alliteration
(d) Simile.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
10. Where had Aniruddha seen ruins of indigo factories before coming to the Dak Bungalow?
(a) Calcutta (Kolkata)
(b) Monghyr
(c) Dumka
(d) Burdwan.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
11. What type of narration is used in the story Indigo?
(a) First person
(b) Third person
(c) Second person
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
12. Which of the following cities Aniruddha did NOT pass on his journey to the Dak Bungalow?
(a) Suri
(b) Chandernagore
(c) Dumka
(d) Burdwan.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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Complete The Sentences :
1. Aniruddha did not take up writing as a profession because he was aware of the fact that he could not make a living by writing alone.
2. Aniruddha had not been writing for the last few months because he was busy in studying about the indigo plantations in Bengal and Bihar in the 19th century.
3. Aniruddha said that he was not an unworthy candidate for getting the job in the advertising agency because he had been a good student, could speak English fluently and had the ability to perform well in the interview.
4. Aniruddha used to take solo trips to various places from Monghyr because he did not have any close friend who could accompany him.
5. Aniruddha would not be able to forget the date April twenty-seventh because of the horrfying experience he had at the Dak Bungalow on the hundredth anniversary of the death of the English indigo planter.
6. Aniruddha could not give Uncle Mohit a short shrift because he was his father’s old friend and was meeting him after ten years.
7. After waiting for a quarter of an hour on the road when his second tyre became flat Aniruddha realised that he had taken a wrong turn because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. Aniruddha recalled Bhola Babu’s warning after he had taken a wrong turn because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
9. Aniruddha felt relieved when the chowkidar said that there were no ghosts in the Dak Bungalow because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
10. Aniruddha congratulated himself after reaching the Dak Bungalow Because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
11. When Aniruddha looked into the mirror, the person reflected in it was not him because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
12. The English indigo planter did not go back to his country because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
13. The English indigo planter felt that nobody would mourn his death in India because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
14. The English indigo planter was worried about watchdog Rex because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Short Question Answers :
1. Who was Aniruddha Bose? Although he enjoyed writing stories in his spare time, why did he stop writing stories?
Answer :- Aniruddha Bose was a middle-aged, slightly overweight man who worked as a clerk in a government office. He had a keen interest in writing stories during his spare time. Despite his passion for storytelling, Aniruddha stopped writing because he became increasingly aware of the practicalities and demands of his job. His clerical work consumed most of his time and energy, leaving little room for his creative pursuits. Additionally, he felt that his stories were not reaching a wide audience, which discouraged him further. The pressures and routine of his everyday life overshadowed his creative ambitions, leading him to abandon his hobby of writing stories.
2. Explain in about a short paragraph of about 100-150 words, the hitches in Aniruddha’s plan of leaving for Dumka.
Answer :- Aniruddha faced several hitches in his plan to leave for Dumka. Initially, he struggled with the logistics of travel, including securing a ticket and arranging for leave from his office. His procrastination and indecisiveness added to the delay, making it difficult for him to commit to the journey. Furthermore, Aniruddha had a lingering sense of unease about leaving the familiar comforts of his home and venturing into an unfamiliar place. The fear of the unknown and potential difficulties on the road made him hesitant, further complicating his departure plans. These combined factors created obstacles that delayed his trip to Dumka.
3. Aniruddha gives the impression of being a nature lover but fears it when he faces the vagaries of nature. Describe how he contrasts the two states.
Answer :- Aniruddha enjoys the idea of nature and often finds solace in its beauty when reading about it or imagining serene landscapes. He loves the thought of lush greenery, tranquil rivers, and the peace that nature offers. However, this admiration quickly turns into fear when he faces the harsh realities of nature. During his journey to Dumka, he experiences a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain, which leaves him feeling vulnerable and scared. This contrast between his idealized view of nature and the actual, unpredictable elements of the natural world highlights his fear and discomfort when confronted with nature’s true, uncontrollable power. The discrepancy underscores his romanticized perception versus the reality of nature’s unpredictability.
4. What happened to Aniruddha when he suddenly woke up at night in the Dak Bungalow?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
5. What did Aniruddha write in the letter as an English indigo planter?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
6. What according to you, could be the reason for Aniruddha’s act of not acting of his own accord and yet having his own consciousness?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Long Question Answers :
1. Describe Aniruddha Bose’s journey from Kolkata towards Dumka.
Answer :- Aniruddha Bose’s journey from Kolkata towards Dumka was fraught with a series of challenges and unexpected events. Initially, Aniruddha, a government clerk and occasional writer, found himself caught up in the mundanities and demands of his job, which delayed his departure. When he finally decided to embark on the journey, he faced logistical difficulties in arranging for transportation and securing leave from his office. His journey began with a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension as he left the familiar environment of Kolkata for the relatively unknown region of Dumka.
The trip took a more adventurous turn as Aniruddha encountered severe weather conditions. He was caught in a thunderstorm and heavy rain, which added to his discomfort and unease. The harshness of nature starkly contrasted with his romanticized notions of the countryside. Upon reaching Dumka, he had to navigate through muddy and treacherous roads to reach his destination, the Dak Bungalow.
Upon arriving at the Dak Bungalow, he was greeted by an eerie silence and a sense of desolation. The bungalow itself appeared old and somewhat dilapidated, adding to the foreboding atmosphere. Exhausted from his journey, Aniruddha decided to rest, but the unsettling environment and strange noises made it difficult for him to relax. His sleep was interrupted by bizarre occurrences, which further heightened his anxiety and fear. Overall, Aniruddha’s journey was a blend of physical exhaustion and psychological unease, punctuated by moments of supernatural dread that made it an unforgettable and harrowing experience.
2. Do you think ‘Indigo’ is an appropriate title for the short story by Satyajit Ray? If you have to give another title to the story, what would it be? Give a reason to support your answer.
Answer :- “Indigo” is an appropriate title for Satyajit Ray’s short story as it directly references the historical and supernatural elements central to the narrative. The story revolves around Aniruddha Bose’s experiences in a Dak Bungalow that holds memories of the British colonial era, particularly the exploitation associated with indigo plantations. The title “Indigo” encapsulates the essence of the historical injustices and the residual haunting presence of the past that Aniruddha encounters during his stay.
If I were to give another title to the story, it would be “Echoes of the Past.” This alternative title captures the idea of lingering historical influences and the supernatural echoes that Aniruddha experiences. The phrase “Echoes of the Past” suggests a reverberation of historical events into the present, emphasizing the story’s theme of how the past can leave a lasting impact on the present. It also highlights the haunting and mysterious aspects of the narrative, where the protagonist is drawn into a series of eerie events that seem to be orchestrated by the memories and spirits of a bygone era.
3. Discuss ‘Indigo’ as a story about supernatural.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
4. Suppose yourself as Aniruddha Bose and you had to spend the night at the same Dak Bungalow. With reference to the happenings in the story, write whether you would have faced the similar situations or quite different from what Aniruddha had to face.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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