IN LONDON
Short Answer Questions:-
1 )“I wasted ten minutes everyday
before a huge mirror.” What does Gandhi mean by this?
A:-While Gandhi
was a student in London, his hair was by no means soft and everyday it requires
a regular struggle with the brush(comb) to keep it in position. Hence he had to
spend ten minutes everyday before a huge mirror to arrange his tie and part his
hair in the correct fashion.
2)What does Gandhi says, “The
recluse in the fable kept a cat to keep off the rats, and then cow to feed the
cat with milk, and a man to keep the cow and so on”?
A:-In order to
become an English gentleman, Gandhi makes every attempt, tries to follow lot
many accomplishments. For the sake of learning something it is again required
Gandhi to learn some other things. For
becoming an English gentleman Gandhi wants to learn the art of dancing.
While this very skill of dancing also pursues Gandhi to learn another art of
playing the violin. That is why Gandhi mentions this fable at that context.
3 )“But hence forward I became a
student.” What does Gandhi before? Why does he says so?
A:- In order to
mould himself as an English gentleman, Gandhi not only wastes a lot of money
but also valuable time, which he needs to spend on books. His acquired habit of
wasting time by standing himself before mirror to arrange his hair to adjust
his hair, his taking lessons in dancing, French, elocution and the violin makes
Gandhi to keep away from serious reading of his subjects of study. When he gets
realization by undergoing introspection, Gandhi notices that he is not even
doing the basic chores of a law student. When he ables to come out from all
these, focusing on his studies, Gandhi thinks hence forward he has become a
(real) student.
4)What is Gandhi wants every youth
to learn from him about saving money?
A:- Gandhi wants
that every youth should make an account
of money that comes into and goes out of one’s pocket, so that he/she is surely
be a gainer in the end. Gandhi expects that every youth should lessen their
expenditure and should save every coin here and there that is possible. The
money, in Gandhi’s perception, they saves will be more beneficial for them in
due course of time.
5)What made Gandhi think that he had
to economize?
A:- As soon as he
gets realized by undergoing introspection, Gandhi notices that he has wasted a
lot of money at the cost of purchasing lot many luxurious things, and for
taking lessons in various fields. He then keeps a strict watch over his way of
living and decides to minimize his expenses by half. That is why he thinks that
it is necessary for him to economize.
6)What effort did Gandhi make to
economize?
A:- In order to economize his way of living, he decides to
reduce his expenses by half. As his living with a family of friends required
the payment of regular weekly bills of dinners and parties and
conveyences(travelling expenses), he decided to take two rooms on his own
account, instead of living in a family of friends. As Gandhi’s accounts showed numerous items on
fares, he also decided to move from place to place by walk. For this, he also selectsed rooms that are near
to his place of business. In this way he could economize his life.
7)Why did Gandhi decide to learn
Latin and what did he do to learn it?
A;- During the period of Gandhi’s studying in London, French
was not only the language of France, but also the lingua franca of the Europe.
Gandhi was also told by one of his friends that the knowledge of Latin was very
useful in comprehending law books and knowledge of Latin means greater command
over the English language. Hence Gandhi
acquired a taste for Latin, though it was very difficult, wanted to acquire
proficiency in it by undertaking literature degree, in which Latin was
compulsory subject. Though he ploughed in Latin in his first attempt, he didn’t
lose heart, and kept his serious attention to that course.
8) Why did Gandhi feel that he had
to simplify his life further?
A:- Gandhi felt that his way of living didn’t befit/suit the
modest/plain living of his family. The thought of his struggling brother, who
nobly responded to his regular calls for monetary help, deeply pained him.
Gandhi noticed some students, who could spend from eight to fifteen pounds per
month, had the advantage of scholarship, observed a student who was staying in
the slums at two shillings a week. All these made Gandhi feel that he had to
simplify his life further.
