Sparrows
Author: K. A. Abbas
Class: XI – General English
Book: A Panorama of Life
Part C: Lessons for Extensive Study
I. Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What was Rahim Khan’s occupation?
Rahim Khan was a peasant. He worked in his fields, ploughing the land and growing crops.
2. “He walked through the main street of the village with a haughty and unfriendly air.” What does this suggest about his reputation in the village?
It suggests that Rahim Khan was proud, unfriendly and feared by the villagers. People disliked him because of his cruel behaviour towards his family, animals and neighbours.
3. What does the phrase “cautious whispers” suggest about the attitude of the villagers towards Rahim Khan: respect, fear or a mixture of both?
The phrase suggests fear rather than respect. The villagers were afraid of Rahim Khan because of his violent and unpredictable behaviour, so they discussed him quietly when he was out of hearing.
4. “The other day he very nearly killed my mare,” said the zaildar. Was Rahim Khan entirely to blame?
No, Rahim Khan was not entirely to blame in this particular incident. The zaildar’s mischievous sons had deliberately allowed the mare to stray into Rahim Khan’s field. However, Rahim Khan’s violent reaction was still cruel and unjustified.
5. What news did Rahim Khan get on returning to his hut? Had his wife left him or was she visiting her brother? What do you think?
Rahim Khan was told that his wife had gone to her brother’s house at Nurpur. The woman who brought the news said that she would return in a few days. However, Rahim Khan believed that his wife had left him permanently, and the later events support his belief.
6. What was Rahim Khan’s reaction when he heard his wife had gone away—relief, unhappiness, anger or discomfort?
Rahim Khan felt anger and discomfort. Although he had always treated his wife cruelly, her absence made him feel unhappy and lonely. He realised that he had depended on her presence as an outlet for his bitterness.
7. What were Rahim Khan’s ambitions as a young man? Were they fulfilled?
As a young man, Rahim Khan wanted to join a touring circus and build a career that would bring him travel and fame. He also loved Radha and wanted to marry her. Neither ambition was fulfilled because his parents and social traditions prevented him from following his wishes.
8. Why was Rahim Khan not able to join the circus?
Rahim Khan’s parents considered working in a circus an unsuitable and immoral occupation for a respectable peasant. They insisted that he follow the traditional occupation of his ancestors and cultivate the land. Unable to challenge their authority, he gave up his dream.
9. How did Rahim Khan’s romance with Radha end?
Rahim Khan’s romance with Radha ended because their families and religious differences prevented them from marrying. His father persuaded Radha’s father to arrange her marriage to Ram Lal, a middle-aged merchant from a neighbouring village. Radha was married off, and their romance came to an abrupt end.
10. “Iron entered his hitherto kindly soul.” Explain.
The sentence means that Rahim Khan became hard-hearted and cruel after his dreams were destroyed by his parents and society. He blamed them for his frustration and began taking out his anger on his wife, children, animals and neighbours. His kind nature was gradually replaced by bitterness and violence.
11. Who did Rahim Khan hold responsible for the frustration of his dreams? How did he avenge himself?
Rahim Khan held his parents, family and society responsible for the frustration of his ambitions and love for Radha. He avenged himself by becoming cruel and abusive. For thirty years, he ill-treated his wife and children, beat his bullocks and quarrelled with the villagers.
12. Something made Rahim Khan desist from wrecking the sparrows’ nest. What do you think it was? What influence did the nest have on him?
The sight of the mother sparrow bravely protecting her young ones touched something kind within Rahim Khan. He was amused by her courage and decided not to destroy the nest. Watching the sparrows gradually softened his heart, gave him companionship and helped him become kinder towards others.
13. Can you say how Rahim Khan felt when the group of children ran away from him?
Rahim Khan felt hurt and lonely when the children ran away from him. He called after them, insisting that he would not beat them. Their fear made him realise that the villagers still regarded him as a cruel man despite the change in his behaviour.
14. How did Rahim Khan get drenched? What was his only worry even during the last moments of his life?
Rahim Khan got drenched when he went out in the pouring rain to repair the leaking roof above the sparrows’ nest. He developed a high fever afterwards. Even during his final moments, his only worry was who would feed and care for his beloved sparrows when he was gone.
15. What does Rahim Khan’s behaviour towards the sparrows show about his own nature?
His behaviour shows that beneath his hardened and cruel exterior, Rahim Khan still had the capacity for kindness, love and compassion. Caring for the sparrows awakened the gentler side of his personality that had been suppressed by years of bitterness.
16. “Friends keep vigil over the body of a dear one.” Who kept vigil over the body of Rahim Khan?
The four sparrows kept vigil over Rahim Khan’s body. Their fluttering in the silent room symbolised their attachment to the man who had cared for them and protected their nest.
II. Answer the following questions in detail.
1. Write a character sketch of Rahim Khan (150 words).
Rahim Khan is the central character of K. A. Abbas’s short story Sparrows. He is a complex character whose cruelty develops from frustration, social pressure and a lack of understanding.
- A hardworking peasant: Rahim Khan works in his fields and supports himself through agriculture. As a young man, he is physically strong and skilled in wrestling, kabaddi and other athletic activities.
- A frustrated dreamer: He dreams of joining a touring circus and marrying Radha, the girl he loves. His parents reject his ambitions and force him to follow traditional expectations.
- A cruel and bitter man: Unable to express his resentment against his parents and society, Rahim Khan directs his anger towards his wife, children, bullocks and neighbours.
- A lonely individual: His wife leaves him, his sons run away and the villagers avoid him. Despite his outward toughness, he feels the pain of isolation.
- A changed man: The sparrows’ courage and affection awaken his buried kindness. He protects their nest, feeds them and worries about their future.
Thus, Rahim Khan’s character shows that cruelty can develop from deep emotional wounds, but sympathy and companionship can help awaken a person’s humanity.
2. Rahim Khan was known to be cruel and heartless. Briefly trace the incidents which changed his nature.
Rahim Khan was not always cruel. His transformation from a cheerful, kind young man into a bitter and violent person was caused largely by the frustration of his ambitions and the absence of sympathy from society.
- His early ambitions: Rahim Khan was a strong and talented young man. He wanted to join a touring circus, which promised travel, fame and an exciting career.
- The loss of his love: He loved Radha, but their relationship was rejected because she belonged to a different religious community. She was eventually married to another man.
- Forced marriage: Rahim Khan’s parents arranged his marriage without consulting him or his bride. He felt that his freedom and wishes had been ignored.
- The beginning of cruelty: Believing that his parents, family and society were responsible for his ruined dreams, he decided to take revenge. He began abusing his wife and children and mistreating animals.
- Social isolation: The villagers condemned his cruelty but made little effort to understand its causes. Their hostility and avoidance increased his bitterness.
- The sparrows’ influence: One day, Rahim Khan noticed a pair of sparrows protecting their nest. Their courage and affection moved him, and he spared their young. He later cared for them, named the young birds after his absent sons and protected them from the rain.
- The return of compassion: His attachment to the sparrows gradually softened his heart. He became less violent and began experiencing affection and responsibility again.
These incidents show that Rahim Khan’s cruelty grew out of frustration and emotional isolation. The sparrows helped him rediscover the kindness that had once existed within him.
3. What is the message conveyed in the story? Explain.
The story Sparrows conveys the message that people should not be judged only by their outward behaviour. Their circumstances, emotional wounds and social environment must also be understood.
- Understand before judging: The villagers condemn Rahim Khan as a cruel man, but few try to understand how the rejection of his ambitions and the loss of his love contributed to his bitterness.
- Social pressure can cause suffering: Rahim Khan is forced to abandon his dreams and accept a marriage arranged by his parents. The story questions traditions that deny individuals the freedom to make important life choices.
- Cruelty often spreads suffering: Rahim Khan directs his anger towards innocent people and animals. His actions cause pain to his wife, children, neighbours and bullocks, showing how unresolved bitterness can harm others.
- Compassion can awaken goodness: The sparrows do not judge Rahim Khan. Their presence gives him companionship and encourages him to protect and care for others.
- Every living creature deserves kindness: Rahim Khan’s concern for the sparrows demonstrates the value of empathy towards even the smallest creatures.
- Isolation worsens human suffering: The villagers’ fear and rejection leave Rahim Khan lonely. The story encourages people to respond to troubled individuals with understanding rather than condemnation alone.
In conclusion, the story teaches us to replace prejudice with empathy, question harmful social pressures and recognise that love and compassion can bring out the goodness hidden within a person.