Indigo ( Short Answers )

1. The narrator says 'It is to describe the terrible experience which instilled in me this interest in
indigo, that I have taken up my pen today'. Did he write earlier too? Justify your answer from the
text.

Ans. The narrator says that he has taken up the pen to describe the terrible experience he has
undergone. This is not for the first time that he has written anything. He mentions three of his
stories which were published in magazines. These stories were well appreciated by his
acquaintances and relatives. He also admits that he cannot make a living by writing alone. It implies
that he has been writing earlier too. He seems to have given a pause to his writing to narrate the
experience which has influenced him a lot. It is only for a few months that he has not been writing
at all. He has devoted this time to reading about indigo plantation. The narrator has been writing
one thing or the other earlier too.

2. The narrator was familiar to the areas falling on his way from Calcutta to Dumka. Pick evidence
from the text to support your answer.

Ans. Aniruddha, the narrator started his 200 mile long journey by his own car. Instead of hiring the
services of a driver, he preferred to drive himself. In order to avoid the rush at the Howrah Bridge
he took the Bally Bridge road. He reached Chandernagore in an hour and a half. During this time
about thirty mile drive was through dingy towns. He enjoyed the journey once he came to the open
countryside. He reached Burdwan at about half-past twelve. Panagarh was the small town where
he had to leave the Grand Trunk Road and take the road to Ilambazar. From Ilambazar he was to
reach Dumka via Suri and Massanjore. The narrator deviated only once from his path that too due
to the tempest and the confusion caused by the bursting of two of the tyres. It shows that he knew
his surroundings and the route to Dumka very well.

3. What prompted Aniruddha to accept the invitation of his old friend Promode to visit him 200
miles away at Dumka ?

Ans: Aniruddha's stay in Monghyr had instilled in him some habits. One of them was his yearning
to go away from the hectic life of the city. When he bought a car he would often go to small towns
near Calcutta. He used to visit Diamond Harbour, Port Canning, and Hassanabad along the Dum
Dum Road. But he had to go alone as he did not have a close friend in Calcutta. It became an
important reason for his acceptance of the offer from an old friend to visit him. Aniruddha's friend
had written that he had his own quarter to live in. It ensured a comfortable stay there with him.
Apart from this, Aniruddha had some leave due to him. He did not need to take extra leave to visit
his friend for a week or so. All these factors encouraged Aniruddha to accept the invitation and set
off on the journey to Dumka.

4. Describe the circumstances under which Aniruddha met Sukhanram.

Ans. The two tyres of Aniruddha's car had burst during his journey from Calcutta to Dumka. He
could not go on as there was neither a repair shop nor any spare tyre with him. As the rain was
pouring hard, he had to sit iri his car and wait. Suddenly he spotted a light through the branches of
a tree. He could see a kerosene lamp burning in a window. It meant there must be someone in the
house with that lamp. Aniruddh got out of the car and walked towards the house with the window.
He saw a house which was a small cottage with the tin roof. Available man with heavy moustaches
came out of the house. The man asked Anirudh where he was from. Anirudh wanted to know if
there was a place where he could stay for the night. The man to came to the dark bungalow and
Anirudh came to know that he was the chokidar an attendant at the dark bungalow and his name
was sukhanram.

5: Comment on Aniruddha's observations about and his ease the answer on your understanding of
the story.

Ans. Aniruddha's desire to go far away from the hectic life of Calcutta stands testimony to his
interest in nature why merito on tarli basileer vinsbbuz 9H 100 and the countryside. When he drives
his car to reach Dumka to meet his friend his close observation of nature comes to the fore. On
coming away from the dingy towns on the way he feels happy to enjoy the magical effect of the
open blue sky and fresh, pure air. He even notices the redolent smell of the earth. The cool breeze, he
notices while changing the tyre of his car, had stopped. The bamboo tress did not sway now. There
was a blue-black patch in the west above the treetops. There were clouds and it seemed that a
storm was taking shape. The claps of thunder appear to be a nasty side of nature to him. Aniruddha
observes the frogs croaking in the roadside puddles. Aniruddha's observations about nature reveal
his interest in his surroundings. It also shows the way he can easily understand the changes in the
weather. These details match the setting and the theme of the story also.

6. What information does Aniruddha Bose share with the readers in the beginning?

Ans: The narrator Aniruddha Bose talks about himself and his family. He is a twenty nine year old
bachelor. He has been working in an advertising agency for the last eight years. He lives in Calcutta
and has a flat in Sardar Shankar Road. Aniruddha has bought a car also which he drives himself. He
is fond of writing and three of his stories have been published in magazines. A strange experience
has instilled in him an interest in indigo plantation. Consequently, he has read a lot about indigo
plantation. The narrator also tells that he was born in Monghyr and his father was a well-known
physician. He had to leave Monghyr in Bihar when his father died. He accompanied his mother to
live in Calcutta with his maternal uncle.

Long Answers :

2. Tarapada in the story, 'Atithi /Guest undertakes a journey that lands him at Charushashi's house.
Aniruddha sets on a journey to meet his friend. Bring out the comparison between the two journeys.

Ans. The journeys undertaken by Tarapada in the story 'Atithi', and the narrator Aniruddha in
'Indigo' have certain aspects of comparison despite being different in many respects. Both the
characters in these two stories are the protagonists in these stories. Both of them are young and
energetic. They are very much excited to go on these journeys. However, the nature, purpose, mode
and the conclusion of their journeys are different. Tarapada's journey is the result of his inherent
wander lust. He is always ready to go on one or the other journey. It makes him a wanderer. He
wanders for the sake of wandering without having any specific purpose. His destination is never
fixed. On the other hand, Aniruddha goes to Dumka to meet his friend. His friend has invited him
and the purpose of his journey is clear to him as well as to the readers. Of course, the mode or
means of travelling differ in both the cases. Tarapada travels on a boat. But Aniruddha drives his
own car for the journey. The nature of their journeys is also quite different. Tarapada's journey is
enjoyable. He has several companions as co-travellers. He does not face any problem during his
journey. Aniruddha's journey becomes an ordeal because of the burst tyres, the rough weather, and
the wrong turn he takes. There is hardly anything enjoyable in his journey. Tarapada's journey
ultimately takes him to kind and helpful hosts although he disappears suddenly at the end.
Aniruddha's journey leads him to a strange and mysterious experience.

Q2: Indigo is a supernatural story'. Discuss with close reference to the text.

Ans. The 'supernatural' refers to some happening, situation or circumstances that do not have any
logical or rational explanation. When such elements are observed in some story or a work of art,
that story or work of literature is said to be supernatural. The writers creating supernatural works
use strange settings, characters, and mysterious happenings. Such writings have the potential to
frighten or startle and surprise the reader. 'Indigo' by Satyajit Ray is a story having certain
elements with supernatural implications. There are incidents and experiences happening with the
narrator that do not have simple, logical and rational explanation. There seem to be something
strange guiding and impacting different things in the story that make it supernatural. Aniruddha
begins his journey to Dumka in his car. The atmosphere of rain and thunderstorm looks strange and
unnatural. The tyre of the car bursts as if foreboding the troubles the narrator will have to suffer.
The second tyre too gets punctured. The rough weather, the location of the Dak Bungalow at a
remote place, all create an atmosphere for the supernatural to take place.

The supernatural happenings actually take place during the night. The narrator finds his watch
missing and a hound is heard baying in response to the cries of the jackals. The narrator feels
transformed into an English young man of thirty who had died in 1868 on April 27. His voice,
appearance and clothes, everything relates to that youngman. The narrator's visit to this place and
eventual transformation into the English man who had died on the same date one hundred years
ago is really surprising and mysterious.

All these details of the story make it full of supernatural elements. But these supernatural features
of this story are unlike horror or the ghost stories. The unusual and abnormal incident which took
place in the dak Bungalow is, no doubt, mysterious. But the narrator's waking up on hearing the
knock at the door relates this incident to his dream only. After his waking up, he neither shows any
unnatural behaviour nor any signs of fear. His only concern is that people may not believe his story.
However, the atmosphere created at a lonely deserted dak bungalow and the narrator's visit on the
day of the English Indigo planter's death is beyond logical explanation.
Q3: How far the title 'Indigo' is suitable for this story?

Ans. The title of a literary work is often based on the main character, the major concern of the
writing or the incident instrumental in expressing its theme. Sometimes symbolic elements are also
used as titles. And there can be titles indirectly related to the story or any other form of writing.
Seen from this perspective, the title 'Indigo' is related to the story in a direct way and conveys its
theme in a subtle but powerful way. It makes the title quite suitable and appropriate for the story
that Aniruddha narrates.

The narrator Aniruddha begins the story by telling about his reading books on indigo plantations.
He has read a lot about indigo plantation in Bengal and Bihar in the nineteeth century. He learns
about the revolt of the indigo peasants against the Britishers, and the invention of synthetic indigo
in Germany. The explanation for his interest in indigo becomes the cause of the origin of this story.

Another important aspect of the title comes out in the form of the impact of greed for indigo. It is
revealed through the sufferings of the cruel and greedy indigo planter who died one hundred years
ago on 27 April. This man admits his wrong doings because of his lust for indigo. All these details
focus on the happenings, situations and the characters that are directly or indirectly related to
indigo. It makes the title 'Indigo' quite suitable. On the other hand, the title of this story based on
the name of the main character Aniruddha or any other element in the story would not bring out the
real value and thrust of the story.