Leela's Friend by R.K.Narayan

"Leela's Friend" by R.K.Narayan

1. Describe the teacher-student game, played by Leela and Sidda.  

      Or,   

   How did Leela  try to teach Sidda?

Ans.     As a playmate, Sidda gave Leela an extreme happiness. In return Leela wanted her mate to be educated a little. So at day’s end Leela played as teacher to Sidda.  Leela tried to teach Sidda with her little knowledge of drawing, and writing two or three letters of the alphabets. She asked Sidda to copy those. But despite having magical imagination, Sidda was a very poor performer as a student. Examining his effort, Leela scolded him like a real teacher and pitying on him she redoubled her efforts. She did not allow him to leave his task until Sidda relieved himself by telling falsely her about her mother’s call.

2.  Sketch the character of Sidda.

Ans.     Sidda, the servant, is the title character of the story. He was simple, tidy and honest. He had a dark history. He was illiterate but had a great magical imagination. Leela liked him from first meeting. Being a lower class, he was treated like an animal by the adults. He had to do a laborious list of works for his livelihood. But he was a faithful playmate of Leela and dropped any work to her call. Since Leela’s parents had no time and attention, Sidda became her source of joy with telling stories, playing and moreover answering her questions, though incorrectly.            In the end, he became a victim of society’s cruelty.

3.  Sketch the character of Leela.

Ans.     Leela, a five year old girl, was one of the main characters of the story. She was bossy and careless about her things. She chose Sidda as a servant as well as her playmate since her parents had no time. She liked to play with Sidda and listen to stories. She had many questions in her mind which Sidda had to deliver, though incorrectly. She, only, defended Sidda by disapproving all the accusation of the adults on Sidda. She was an innocent and had no class prejudice. She came extremely close to Sidda and his presence made her supremely happy. Only she was hopeful and honest about Sidda and questioned at Sidda’s arrest and removal.

4. What message is conveyed by Mr. Sivasanker's final words in the story: " In any case, we couldn't have kept a criminal like him in the house"?

Ans.     These last words of Mr Sivasanker expose the class division of the society and the utter indifference of the higher class towards the feelings and sufferings of the poor people. Though it was proved that Sidda did not steal Leela's gold chain, Mr. Sivasanker did not repent Sidda's police custody and whatever information the inspector provided him about Sidda's past became the basis of the understanding of Mr. Sivasanker. He was eloquent in saying that a criminal like Sidda could not be kept in the house. The poor, thus, are not given a chance to live properly and honourably by the rich who always tend to pronounce judgment on them.

5. "Leela's Friend" is actually the tragedy of Sidda. Discuss.

Ans.     The end of the story "Leela's Friend" is really tragic. The story is the story of friendship between Leela and Sidda. Sidda has been described as a constant companion on whom the little Leela depended for all her needs. In the course of the story Sidda makes no mistake and does not steal the gold chain. He makes an error of judgment by running away from the household and is thus branded a thief by Mr. and Mrs. Sivasanker. This brings about his downfall and he again becomes a "nobody" with no one to love and nowhere to find shelter. He, in this way, becomes a real tragic character.

6. What did Leela's parents think of Sidda after his escape from the house? How did Leela make her mother responsible for the disappearance of Sidda?

Ans.     When Sidda escaped from the house, Leela's parents thought that Sidda had stolen the chain which Leela wore. They felt that it was the guilt of Sidda which made him run away. Leela knew that Sidda had not taken the chain. Her mother scolded Sidda and threatened police action against him and Sidda ran away as a consequence.  

Leela made her mother responsible for this. She told her mother that she was unnecessarily rude towards Sidda and that Sidda was angry because he was not allowed to dine with them and was made to sleep outside. Leela made her mother responsible for creating a division between them and Sidda.

7. What is the relationship between Mr. Sivasanker and Sidda? Explain the difference between their relationship at the beginning and end of the story.

Ans. The relationship between Mr. Sivasnker and Sidda is master-servant. He had no other sympathy towards Sidda.

At the beginning Sidda, for him, was just a servant – who did not seem to be of a “bad sort” and he could not even make his mind to recruit him. As Sidda did all the house-hold works and take care of Leela, Mr. Sivasnker was satisfied. But at the end of the story, he concluded Sidda as a thief – a criminal. The loss of Leela’s chain turned him to a cared father and went to the police despite any hesitation. The finding of the chain did not change his view of Sidda as well. In the end Mr. Sivasanker did not allow Sidda in their house knowing his past criminal records. Actually he was relieved to know Sidda’s past.

8. What is the social message of the story – “Leela’s Friend” ?

Ans. The story “Leela’s Friend” brings forth the class-conflict between the high and low of the society. Sidda becomes the victim of that conflict. Poverty leaves a permanent wound to Sidda’s life. Though he tries to overcome his dark past and is proved guiltless at the end of the story, he is neither allowed to continue his job nor provided with an apology. The so‐called society remains indifferent to his sorrows and sufferings. This is not a case to Sidda only, but its roots lie in the every sphere of the society making it worse. R. K. Narayan has raised his voice to protest against this through the present story.

9. How did Sidda’s company make Leela extremely happy?

Ans:-Sidda was always ready at the beck and call of Leela and used to give her company whenever Leela desired it. Sidda used to play with Leela, tell her about the moon which had an excellent rapport with him, take her wherever he went, acted as her student so that she could play as a teacher. In this way he kept Leela with him throughout the day and took care of her as her friend, guide and guardian. Whatever need an imaginative little girl had, Sidda used to fulfil that with his expertise in dealing with children. For all these reasons, Sidda’s company made Leela extremely happy.

10. How did a sweet relationship of love and trust grow between Sidda and Leela? Why was there a breach in the relationship?

Ans. An extremely sweet relationship grew up between Leela and Sidda. Sidda loved Leela and took very good care of her. In the absence of proper love and care from her parents Leela became entirely dependent on Sidda for almost all her needs ranging from roaming, playing, eating and going to sleep.

There was actually no breach of trust between Leela and Sidda. They continued to love and trust each other but their relationship ended as Leela's parents wrongly framed Sidda on charges of stealing and refused to give him entry in the house for a second time even though his innocence was proved beyond doubt.