“4 — __—— MULTIPLE MODERN Comprehension Questions (Answer in a sentence 9, two) 1. What does the word “word” in the opening of the poem, represent? Ans. The word “wort the history of a race that i 2. Which is the race identifies d” in the opening of the poem represents s oppressed by other races. d by Poykayil Appachan as “my race?” ‘Ans. The race identified by Poykayil Appachan is the Dali people. . 3. How do the “histories in this world” conceive humanity? eive of humanity as two histories in this world cone! Ans. The races. : 4. What is the cause for the grief that the poet feels? that the poet feels is the thought that ‘Ans. What causes the grief: ° I there is nobody to write the story of his race. 5. How does he attempt to overcome the feeling of grief? e feeling of grief the poet tries to compose tune. This means that he is going to ‘h may reveal the history of his race. occupants of Ans. To overcome th a few notes in his own sing a few songs whic! 6. Who, according to the poet, are the earliest Keralam? ‘Ans, The earliest occupants of Keralam are the Dalit people who came to be regarded as the wretched. 7. What is the poet not ashamed of? ‘Ans. The poet is not ashamed to uncover the weakness of his race. 8. -. What does the word “cursed progeny” in the poem indicate? Ans. Cursed progeny indicates the Dalit people who are considered to be cursed.y- a | cos (COMMON COURSE 65 ' what are the members of the poet’s race blamed for? | 9. The members of the poet’s race are blamed for all their pos: weaknesses. What is the poet’s question to God? Ny . The poet asks how God, who is the creator of all, can allow this unreasonable blames imposed upon his race. pr agraph Questions (Answer in not more than 80-100 words) what is the nature of “histories” according to Poykayil Appachan? . ans. The word “histories” in Poykayil Appachan’s poem refers to the mainstream historical narratives, These histories are not impartial and holistic. The poet says this. because the mainstream histories are silent about the Dalit community which is the poet’s race. There is not a single word mentioned about them. At the same time, there are plenty of references to be found about other races and communities. Moreover, the poet says that the mainstream histories divide the whole humanity into two races. At the same time they speak only about the dominant race and keep silence about the poet’s race. This double standard is what is condemned by the poet. 2. Why was there no one in the ancient world to write the story of the poet’s race? Ans. there are different reasons that can be assumed for the negligence to write the story of the poet’s race. The history is full of ‘histories’ of the dominant races. People are interested in writing their histories which are the stories of those people who have power and authority. The marginalized and subjugated races are thrown into oblivion. Moreover, the mainstream histories conceive of two categories of race: the powerful race and the weaker race.66 mbt MODeRy, Mey 3, Ans. poet decides to write the story of his race because there 4. ‘Ans. Poet decides to write the story of his race because there is The poet’s racebelongs to the latter and consequently : is no one interested in writing their history. The memp, of his race were dominated by the members of other i Ty So they were unable to write their own history. &, What is the story that the poet wants to write about? are no proper historical accounts about his race. The maiy stream historical narratives are silent about it. The histo of his race is also silenced and subjugated. The fact tha, there is no one to write the history of his race makes hj, sad and he decides to write a history of his race. The sto, he wants to write about is a narrative from the perspectiy, of his understanding of the history of his race. Itisa history different from that which is twisted by the mainstream narratives. So he decides to write how the first occupants of Kerala, members of his race, were considered by mainstream histories as the wretched of the land. 1 Why does the poet dismiss any sense of “shame” associated with the present condition of his race? no proper historical accounts about his race. The mainstream historical narratives are silent about it. The history of his race is also silenced and subjugated. The fact that there is no one to write the history of his race makes him sad and he decides to write a history of his race. What he intends to write is how the first occupants of Kerala, members of his race, were considered by mainstream histories as the wretched of the [Link] he declares that he is not ashamed to uncover the weaknesses of his race. Here, he acknowledges that there can be defects and weaknesses in his race. However, it is not as serious as being silenced by the written historical accounts.e ow does the poet bring in the concept of divinity or “God” 5 jp the ge e poet brings out the pathetic situation into which his oo aoe is thrown. All the people of dominant races and their st orical narratives are trying to silence his race. What they do is to depict and record only the weaknesses of the ase They even attempt to impose all blames upon this race which is considered as cursed progeny and the wretched of the land. The poet now expresses his angst pat these dominant races are going to continue their plaming. He is afraid that they will go on blaming without apy hesitation till the end of the world. At the same time he is optimistic that God will intervene and bring about an end to this ongoing suffering. gssay Questions (Answer in not more than 200-250 yords) | Poykayil Appachan’s poem “About my Race: A Song” isa " griticism of written histories. Elucidate. ans. Poykayil Appachan was a revolutionary Dalit leader, and social reformer. He started an organization called Pratyaksha Raksha Deiva Sabha and organized the Dalit people, who were subjugated and enslaved by the dominant upper caste Hindus and Syrian Christians under the most degraded forms of slavery in Kerala. He used carefully crafted songs and spirituals for organizing people for their liberation and social emancipation. They addressed the Dalit masses and contained profuse references to their lives, dreams, and fantasies. Appachan liberally used materials from folk literature, rhythms and styles popular in his locality while composing these songs. “About my Race: A Song” is the first song in the series that forefronts the question of race. The concept of “race” which refers to theeee MULTIPLE MODERN ey .d first people of Kerala, Ocoupigg evicted and marginalize! f his works: acentral place in most 0: iA achan’s poem “histories” in Poykayil APP! on Te fer The word “histories” in Poykay? These histories, to the mainstream historical cy is this becau not impartial and holistic. The P € the mainstream histories are silent about the Dalit aaa which is the poet’s race. There iS weet single worg mentioned about them. At the same time; there are plen, of references to be found about other Taces ang communities. Moreover, the poet says that the mainstream histories divide the whole humanity into two races. At the same time they speak only about the dominant race anq keep silence about the poet’s race. This double standard jg what is condemned by the poet. 7 There are different reasons that can be assumed for the negligence to write the story of the poet’s race. The history is full of ‘histories’ of the dominant races. People are interested in writing their histories which are the stories of those people who have power and authority. The marginalized and subjugated races are thrown into oblivion, Moreover, the mainstream histories conceive of two categories of race: the powerful race and the weaker race, The poet’s race belongs to the latter and consequently there is no one interested in writing their history. The members of his race were dominated by the members of other races. So they were unable to write their own history. The poem also criticizes the mainstream histories for finding fault with his race. The poet acknowledges that his race is not without any weakness, But what is not acceptable is the fact that they impose all sorts of blame upon his people. All the people of dominant races and theit Taste narratives are trying to silence his race. Wht ey do is to depict and record only the weaknesses of the, || ds MON COURSE lg igh COM! ao They even attempt to impose all blames upon this ae which is considered as cursed progeny and the ae ohed of the land. The poet now expresses his angst at these dominant races are going to continue their wei. He is afraid that they will go on blaming without 7 y pesitation till the end of the world. At the same time eis optimistic that God will intervene and bring about an end to this ongoing suffering. poykayil Appachan’s poem “About my Race: A Song” attempts to locate the intricacies of Dalit life in Keralam. Explain. OR How does Poykayil Appachans. poem “About my Race: A y Song” represent the people belonging to his race? Ans Poykayil Appachan was a revolutionary Dalit leader, and social reformer. He started an organization called Pratyaksha Raksha Deiva Sabha and organized the Dalit people, who were subjugated and enslaved by the dominant upper caste Hindus and Syrian Christians under the most degraded forms of slavery in Kerala. He used carefully crafted songs and spirituals for organizing people for their liberation and social emancipation. They addressed the Dalit masses and contained profuse references to their lives, dreams, and fantasies. Appachan liberally used materials from folk literature, rhythms and styles popular in his locality while composing these songs. “About my Race: A Song” is the first song in the series that forefronts the Question of race. The concept of “race” which refers to the evicted and marginalized first people of Kerala, occupies acentral place in most of his works. The poem represents the intricacies of the life of the Dalit community in Kerala which is the poet’s own people. The poem begins with problematizing the mainstream70 MULTIPLE MODE, jmination of the poet’s race, 4 history and the discri histories for not providin, criticizes those dominant adequate representation to the Dalit communities, Th, are different reasons that can be assumed for the negligenes to write the story of the poet's race. The history is full o¢ ‘histories’ of the dominant races. People are interested jy writing their histories which are the stories of those people who have power and authority. The marginalized ang subjugated races are thrown into oblivion. Moreover, the mainstream histories conceive of two categories of race: the powerful race and the weaker race. The poet’s race belongs to the latter and consequently there is no one interested in writing their history. The members of his race were dominated by the members of other races. So they n history. were unable to write their ow The poet is sad about the fact that his race is not adequately represented in history and therefore wants to write about it in his own words. His people were the original inhabitants of Kerala. However, they were misrepresented and were made a cursed progeny and the wretched of the earth. The poet acknowledges that his race is not without any weakness. But what is not acceptable is the fact that they impose all sorts of blame upon his people. All the people of dominant races and their historical narratives are trying to silence his race. What they do is to depict and record only the weaknesses of the race. They even attempt f0 impose all blames upon this race. The poet now expresses his angst that these dominai are going to continue their blaming. He is afraid tha! nit races they will go on blaming without any hesitation till the endo the world. Blaming the subjugated and the marginalized i Dalit the strategy of all dominant races in the world. The“oo —_ tt I eople who are the real heirs to qutcastes through all sorts of shaming only to cover up the fact that the dominant Tace has no right to write them down. } Though the poet is apprehensive about this strategy, he is | optimistic. He brings in God who, according to the poet, will intervene and bring about an end to this ongoing suffering. Hence the poem ends with a note of hope for a petter future for the Dalit community. the land are now made | | ee