1.
THE CURD SELLER
~Masti Venkatesh Iyengar
1) Who is the author of the short story ‘The Curd Seller’?
Masti Venkatesh Iyengar.
2) What is the form of the lesson ‘The Curd Seller’?
Short Story.
3) The Curd Seller is an interesting story about ………. Life.
Rural family.
4) Who makes a living by selling curds?
Mangamma.
5) What did the Curd Seller story explore?
It explores the struggle for power in a family.
6) Who is the protagonist of the story ‘The Curd Seller’?
Mangamma
7) Who is a daughter-in-law of Mangamma?
Nanjamma.
8) Name the characters of the short story.
Mangamma: The curd seller
Son: Son of Mangamma
Nanjamma: daughter-in-law of Mangamma
Grandson: son of Nanjamma
Rangappa: Gambler and Villain of the story
9) Where did Mangamma selling the curds?
Bangalore
10) When did Mangamma collect money from the houses?
At the end of the every month.
11) Which is the native place of Mangamma?
Avalur near Venkapur.
12) What did Mangamma chew in the yard of the author?
Betel leaves and but.
13) Who is a very intimate companions of Mangamma?
Authors Wife.
14) What is the main reason of quarreling of Mangamma and Nanjamma?
Nanjamma beats her child mercilessly.
15) Whom did the son support in the quarrel?
Her wife Nanjamma
16) What was the main reason Mangamma and Nanjamna living apart?
Mangamma told her daughter-in-law not to beat the grandson.
17) What is the cost of Velvet cloth?
Seven to Eight rupees.
18) Which jacket did Mangamma wear?
Velvet jacket.
19) Name the ornaments which Mangamma given to Nanjamma.
Ear-rings, wristlet, a crest jewel, necklace and belt.
20) Who is a gambler and villain of the story?
Rangappa
21) Who asked Mangamma for a little chunam?
Rangappa
22) Who asked money from Mangamma?
Rangappa
23) According to Rangappa when did he repay the money to Mangamma?
After the harvest of Ragi this year.
24) Whom did Mangamma decide to handover the money?
In the hands of Authors wife.
25) Why did Author’s wife refuse to collect money from Mangamma?
Authors wife did not taken the permission from author.
26) Who misbehave with Mangamma?
Rangappa
27) Where did Rangappa everyday waiting for Mangamma?
Grove of trees on the way near the well.
28) What did Mangamma bring to her grandson everyday?
Mithai (sweets)
29) In which place the crow swooped the head of Mangamm?
Shankarpur.
30) Who accompanied to Mangamma?
Grandson.
31) How many days Mangamma spent alone in the house?
Ten days.
32) Who allowed the grandson to stay with Mangamma?
Nanjamma.
33) Who is Mangamma?
A curd seller
34) Who is Nanjamma?
A daughter-in-law of Mangamma.
35) Who is the daughter-in-law of Mangamma?
Nanjamma.
36) Who has been selling curds for several years?
Mangamma
37) What is the name of Mangamma’s village?
Avalur near Venkapur.
38) Who said ‘By God’s grace everything is well with me’?
Authors wife.
39) What happened to the sweets bought by Mangamma?
Crow snatched sweetmeat from the hands of Mangamma.
40) Who is Rangappa?
Rangappa is a gambler.
41) Who asked Mangamma for a little chunam?
Rangappa.
SUMMARY
The Curd Seller is an interesting story about rural family life. It explores the
struggle for power in a family. It is about an uneducated, immature woman, though
intelligent, who makes a living by selling curds. The story effectively demonstrates the
politics of everyday life in most Indian homes and a struggle for power. The protagonist
Mangamma, a widow, is an expert at making curds, preserving, storing and delivering it to
homes. She is also a financially independent and shrewd woman who makes calculated
moves to maintain her position as the powerful mother and mother-in-law. A deeper study
of the text reveals the complexity of relationships and struggle for power in domestic
sphere between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law.
The story happens in the outskirts of Bangalore, where there are homes which buy
curds from the pot that the curd seller brings it in. Buying and selling in small town villages
purely depend on relationships that thrive on trust. Mangamma’s interaction is limited to
the lady of the house, who also develops a bond because of their everyday interaction. It is
common to discuss the little joys and challenges of their respective homes if time, weather
and occasion are conducive for an informal chat session. Amidst conversation Mangamm’s
advice to the lady of the house blurs the invisible social barrier that exists between the two
classes. According to her an attractive appearance and a little saving for the rainy day are
the secret ingredients to a successful marriage. Her worldly knowledge amuses the lady of
the house and she becomes her close confidante.
Mangamm’s identity is defined by the commodity she sells and the social relations
she maintains with the people whom she interacts on an everyday basis. Mangamma and
her daughter-in-law have a row over disciplining the little grandson in the family. One
argument leads to another and Mangamma is forced to live alone.
A rational Mangamma decides to love herself and spend on her clothes to dress
modestly as she does not feel the need to save anymore. The social construction does not
allow the women to handle her finances without the support of a male member in the
family. The empowered, financially independent, yet a very emotional Mangamma is
reluctant to break ties with the loving son, daughter-in-law and grandson. She is afraid of
Rangappa’s advances towards her when she starts living independently. She realizes the
physical strength of her male counterpart is certainly overpowering. She is smart enough
to make peace but her eve will not let her make the first move. The struggle for power by
the two women in the family is evident. They are all out to prove their mettle.
Mangamma’s equally sensible, shrewd daughter-in-law Nanjamma hatches a plan
to take control of the situation by instructing her young son to be around Mangamma.
Mangamma is proud that the grandson has chosen to live with her and decides to soften
her stand for her son and daughter-in-law. Mangamma welcomes the grandson, who she
thinks is a good substitute for the absence of and male member in her life.
The established pattern in the society invariably thrusts the idea of a male being a
sense of security and power for the women irrespective age and physical strength. The
reconciliation happens in a subtle way with the control of finances and domestic chores
being shared by the two women.
Mangamma exchanges her profitable curd selling business for the control that she
can establish in the management at home and live a secure life with love and respect. A
happy Nanjamma takes over the established profitable business and makes peace with
Mangamma. The struggle for power is evident in every society irrespective of the social
order they represent.
Prepared by
Dr. Shivaji Rama Gudaji
Assistant Professor of English
Govt. First Grade College, Kittur- 591115
