01 · Explore
Literacy and Village Life
The story is set in a remote village in north Karnataka, where the narrator, a twelve-year-old girl, lives with her grandparents.
In this rural setting, the transport system was slow, causing newspapers and magazines to arrive late. The arrival of the bus was a major event, bringing the morning paper in the afternoon and weekly magazines a day late. Among the most popular writers of the time was Triveni, known for her easy-to-read style and stories that dealt with the complex psychological problems of ordinary people.
One of Triveni's novels, 'Kashi Yatre', was serialized in the weekly magazine 'Karmaveera'. It told the story of an old lady who desperately wanted to go to Kashi (Varanasi) to earn 'punya'. In the story, the protagonist encounters a young orphan girl who has no money for her wedding. Ultimately, the old lady gives away all her savings to the girl, believing that human happiness is more important than religious rituals. The narrator's grandmother, Krishtakka, who had never been to school, identified deeply with this protagonist.
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Why did the villagers wait eagerly for the bus?
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What was the central theme of the novel 'Kashi Yatre'?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 2, 3.
02 · Explore
The Grandmother's Regret
A turning point occurs when the narrator leaves the village for a week to attend a wedding, leaving her grandmother unable to follow her favorite story.
While the narrator was away, the latest episode of 'Kashi Yatre' arrived. Without her granddaughter to read it to her, Krishtakka was unable to understand the text. She even tried rubbing her hands over the pages, hoping to magically understand the words. This experience made her feel incredibly dependent and helpless, despite being financially well-off.
When the narrator returned, she found her grandmother in tears. Krishtakka shared her life story, explaining that she lost her mother young and had no one to guide her. Her father was busy and remarried, and in those days, education for girls was not considered essential. She spent her life caring for her family but always regretted her illiteracy, ensuring her own children and grandchildren studied well.
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Why was Krishtakka in tears when the narrator returned from the wedding?
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03 · Explore
Determination to Learn
At the age of sixty-two, Krishtakka decides to break the cycle of illiteracy and asks her granddaughter to be her teacher.
The grandmother set a specific deadline for herself: Saraswati Puja day during the Dassara festival. She wanted to be independent enough to read a novel on her own by then. Initially, the narrator laughed at the idea of a sixty-two-year-old woman learning the alphabet, pointing out her grey hair and wrinkled hands.
However, Krishtakka remained firm, stating that for a good cause and with determination, one can overcome any obstacle, and that there is no age bar for learning. The narrator then began her first stint as a teacher, with her grandmother as a dedicated student who did an 'amazing' amount of homework, reading, writing, and reciting.
The Path to Literacy
- 1
Decision
Krishtakka decides to learn the Kannada alphabet at age 62.
- 2
Instruction
The narrator begins tuition; the grandmother reads, writes, and recites.
- 3
Hard Work
The grandmother completes extensive homework and practices diligently.
- 4
Deadline
The goal is set for Saraswati Puja during the Dassara festival.
The sequential process of Krishtakka's journey from illiteracy to independence.
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What was the grandmother's philosophy regarding learning?
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04 · Explore
The Reversal of Roles
The story concludes with a touching ceremony on Dassara that redefines the relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter.
On the day of the deadline, the grandmother performed an unusual act: she bent down and touched the feet of her granddaughter. In Indian tradition, elders never touch the feet of youngsters. However, Krishtakka explained that she was not touching the feet of her granddaughter, but the feet of her teacher who had taught her so well.
The narrator returned the gesture by touching her grandmother's feet and gifting her a copy of the novel 'Kashi Yatre'. Krishtakka immediately read the title and publisher's name, proving she had passed her test with 'flying colours'. This moment highlights that respect for a teacher transcends age and family hierarchy.
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Why did the grandmother touch the narrator's feet?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 8, 9.