Karma By Khuswant Singh

Karma by Khuswant Singh

1. Discuss the significance of title of the story “Karma”. Or, Discuss the central idea of the story “Karma”.

Ans. The story “Karma” reveals a transition of an arrogant, anglicised well-bred Indian into a mere nothingness in terms of identity. The term ‘Karma’, a Sanskrit word, means the sum total of the ethical consequences of a person’s good and bad actions. In the story Sir Mohan Lal becomes culturally alienated by devaluing his culture. His sin of pride is punished when two British soldiers throw him out of the compartment whereas his wife’s Karma, who sticks to her native culture, enables herself to have a safe and comfortable journey. Thus the title sings in perfect tune with the spirit of the story and serves a dual meaning: the inevitable nemesis and also the ironical turn of the wheel of fate.

2. Write a short character sketch of Sir Mohan Lal from the conversations with himself in front of the mirror.

Ans. Mr. Mohan Lal looked himself in the mirror of a first class waiting room and talked to him. He found himself perfectly all right, though old, looking handsome distinguished and smartly dressed. In fact, the reflection on the mirror indicates there is nothing to complain. All the activities and speech indicate how fond of himself he really is and which image he wants to send to others and whom he wants to attract. All the things make him different from the fellow Indians. The symbols that he adopts are those of power, privilege and respect. He becomes culturally alienated by devaluing his culture. Thus he proves himself to be a hypocrite, arrogant and a blind-follower of English.

3. Write a short character sketch of Lachmi.

Ans. Lachmi was a typical ordinary Indian woman who was not ashamed of her roots – her native culture and lifestyle. The author described her as a lady in mid-forties, fat, fair and short. She was illiterate, talkative and without manner. She honoured the relationship. Lachmi encountered pleasure in her lonely life. Her whole image displayed a happy, blissful and contented woman without complaint. She could emit ‘long, loud belch’ in ease having no care for mannerism. She loved to gossip and could do it with anyone except English people. Nowhere one can find a tinge of sorrow in her character. Hence she is a stereotypical character.

4. Sketch the character of Sir Mohan Lal.

Ans. Khuswant Singh’s story ‘Karma’ tells us about a conceited man, Sir Mohan Lal – his pride and eventful fall. He was a middle-aged man worked as a vizier. He was educated and became a blind follower of English culture. He did not feel proud of his ancestry – rather his country. He carried an awful burden of borrowed manners and articles. He made also show offs with it. His behaviour towards his wife and her relatives, natives and things were same. At the end of the story, he is rightly treated by the two English soldiers giving him a good lesson to learn. The story reveals his transition into mere nothingness.

5. What were Mohan Lal’s thoughts before the arrival of the train?

Ans. Sir Mohan Lal lived in a fancy land. Before the arrival of the train, he was engaged in ruminating about his past five years in England. He thought about his college, masters, classes, sport events, dinners and even spending nights in some dark areas. He also thought how he achieved the English manners, culture, pronunciation and also their good remarks about him. To him his fairy land was much better than India. He was also considering the prospect of travelling with an Englishman and thinking of attracting their attention by solving crossword puzzle in ‘The Times’, showing Balliol tie, scotch and imported cigarettes to develop an intimacy.

6. Compare and contrast the characters of Sir Mohan Lal and Lady Lal Lachmi.

Ans. Sir Mohan and Lachmi are husband-wife but every bit of thing is contrasting – from their appearance to their habits. They are both in middle-ages but Sir Mohan looks like a handsome old chap in foreign covering whereas Lachmi is fat, fair and in native covering. Sir Mohan is educated and well-mannered and dislikes native culture. But Lachmi sticks herself to her roots and being illiterate she has no care for mannerism. Mohan Lal loves to hover through the fairyland alienating himself from his native culture. But Lachmi honours the relationship and culture. Sir Mohan loves conversation but Lachmi loves to gossip. Their ultimate Karma is also contrasting as Mohan faces a downfall in the hands of English but Lachmi is able to travel comfortably.

7. Comment on the relationship between Sir Mohan Lal and his wife.

Ans. Sir Mohan Lal and his wife live in the same house but Sir Mohan in the ground floor and lady Lal in the first floor. They travel in the same train but in different compartment. Sir Mohan has no time to spare for his wife as well as her native relatives. She is alone. Lachmi cannot speak English and has no knowledge about the English manners. She does not feel comfortable in their company. Consequently Sir Mohan dislikes her. He comes to her once in blue moon and orders her to do as he likes. She passively follows him without any mental attachment. Obviously, the husband wife relationship is anything but normal.

8. Discuss the irony in the story “Karma”.

Ans. Irony forms one of the basic characteristics in Khuswant Singh’s style of story writing. The irony of Sir Mohan’s fate is presented here as he lay on the platform after humiliation whereas his wife was found comfortable in zenana. The last action of Lachmi, spitting and sending a jet of red dribble is presented as a victory of a simple Indian woman over a learned, arrogant and proud Indian. It brings an ironical contrast with the most unexpected defeat of a person, who suffered humiliation and misery by those whom he appreciated as his ideals. Thus the story revolves around his ironical defeat in two ways.

9. Describe Sir Mohan’s dress.

Ans:     Though Sir Mohan is aged, he is still well dressed. In fashion and style, he tries to be thoroughly English. So, his moustache is neatly trimmed. His decent suit is from Saville Row, with the carnation at the button hole. His smooth tie is Balliol one. He uses other elements like the aroma of eau de cologne, talcum powder, scented soaps to make him fine and attractive.