"An astrologer Day" Learn the complete lesson about astrologer

Punctually at midday (12 noon) he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment (instruments), which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent (glowing) with sacred (holy,पवित्र) ash and vermilion (a brilliant red colour, कुंकू), and his eyes sparkled (shine) with a sharp abnormal gleam (glow) which was really an outcome (result/effect) of  a  continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic (accurately predicting/telling what will happen in the future.) light and felt light and felt comforted (relaxed) . The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced (increase/add to) by their position- placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (मूंछ) which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle (glitter/blik) in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound  a  saffron-coloured  turban  around his  head. This colour scheme  never  failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. 

He sat under the boughs (branches) of a spreading tamarind tree (इमली/चिंच) which flanked (bordered/near) a path running through the Town Hall Park.  It was a remarkable place (marketplace) in many ways. A surging (increasing) crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night.  A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din(noise) all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness (crying/loud sound) came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware (product) a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him.

A considerable portion of this crowd dallied (stop/ gather) before the astrologer too.  The  astrologer transacted (perform / carry out)  his  business  by  the  light  of  a  flare  which crackled (hiss)  and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment (attraction) of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting (street light). The place was lit up by shop lights. One     or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked  flares  stuck  on  poles,  some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like

 the astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering (surprising) crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd (smart/intelligent) guesswork.

All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.

 He had left his village without any previous thought or plan. If he had continued there he would have carried on  the  work  of  his  forefathers  -  namely,  tilling (prepare and cultivate (land) for crops.)  the land, living, marrying, and ripening in his cornfield and ancestral home. But that was not to be. He had to leave home without telling anyone, and he could not rest till he left it behind a couple of hundred miles. (100 mile- 161 km) . To a villager it is a great deal, as if an ocean flowed between.

He had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles: marriage, money and the tangles of human ties.  Long practice had sharpened his perception (knowledge). Within five minutes he understood what was wrong. He charged three pies per question, never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes, which provided him enough stuff (information) for a dozen answers and advices. When he told the person before him, gazing at his palm, “In many ways you are not getting the fullest results for your efforts,” nine out of ten were disposed (ready/willing) to agree with him. Or he questioned  “Is there  any  woman  in  your  family,  maybe  even  a  distant relative  who  is  not  well  disposed (likely)  towards  you?”  Or he gave an analysis of character: “Most of your troubles are due to your nature. How can you be otherwise with Saturn where he is? You have an impetuous (hard/violent) nature and a rough exterior.” This endeared (liked) him to their hearts immediately, for  even  the  mildest  of  us  loves  to  think  that  he  has  a forbidding exterior (great astrologer).

         The  nuts  vendor  blew  out (turn off)  his  flare  and  rose  to  go home. This was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up too, since it left him in darkness except for a little shaft of green light which strayed in from somewhere and touched the ground before him.  He  picked  up  his  cowrie  shells and  paraphernalia (equipment) and  was  putting them back  into  his bag  when  the  green  shaft (ray)  of  light  was  blotted  out. (Dimmed)  He looked up and saw a man standing before him. He sensed a possible client and said: “You look so careworn (worried). It will do you good to sit down for a while and chat with me.” The other grumbled (complain /mutter) some reply vaguely (roughly). The astrologer pressed (force) his invitation; whereupon the other thrust (press/push) his palm under his nose, saying: “You call yourself an astrologer?” The   astrologer   felt   challenged   and   said, tilting (bending)   the other’s palm towards  the  green  shaft  of  light:

 “Yours is a nature...”

“Oh, stop that,” the other said. “Tell me something worthwhile (important) ...”

Our friend felt piqued (annoyed/upset). I charge only three pies per question and what you get ought to be good enough for your money...” At this the other withdrew (took back) his arm, took out an anna, and flung (throw) it out to him, saying “I have some questions to ask. If I prove you are bluffing (deceive/mislead/ झांसा देना), you must return that anna to me with interest.”

“If you find my answers satisfactory, will you give me five rupees?”

“No.”

“Or will you give me eight annas?”

“All right, provided (if/ on the condition) you give me twice as much if you are wrong,” said the stranger. This pact (deal/agreement) was accepted after a little further argument. The astrologer sent up a prayer to heaven (god) as the other lit a cheroot (a cigar). The astrologer caught a glimpse (partial view.) of his face by the matchlight. There was a pause (stop) as cars hooted (sound of the horn) on the road, jutka (टांगा) drivers swore (using bad language/ cursing) at their horses, and the babble (talking/twitter) of the crowd agitated the semidarkness (not complete darkness) of the park. The other sat down, sucking his cheroot, puffing (smoking) out, sat there ruthlessly (without pity). The astrologer felt very uncomfortable. “Here, take your anna back. I am not used to such challenges. It is late for me today”... He made preparations to bundle up. The other held his wrist and said “You can’t get out of it now. You dragged me in while I was passing.” The astrologer shivered (trembled) in his grip and his voice shook and became faint. “Leave me today. I will speak to you tomorrow.” The other thrust his palm in his face and said: “Challenge is challenge. Go on.” The astrologer proceeded with his throat drying up: “There is a woman...”

“Stop,” said the other. “I don’t want all that. Shall I succeed in my present search or not? Answer this and go. Otherwise I will not let you go till you disgorge (give/hand over) all your coins.” The astrologer muttered (speak slowly) a few incantations (magic spell/मंत्र) and replied: “All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing (sound/proper)? Otherwise I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like.” After a good deal of haggling (bargaining), the other agreed. The astrologer said: “You were left for dead. Am I right?”

“Ah, tell me more.”

“A knife has passed through  you  once?”  said the astrologer.

“Good fellow!” He bared (open) his chest to show the scar (mark). “What else?”

“And then you were pushed into a well nearby in the field. You were left for dead.”

“I should have been dead if some passer-by had not chanced (came across) to peep (look) into the well,” exclaimed the other, over- whelmed by enthusiasm (interest).

“When shall I get at him?” he asked, clenching (gripping) his fist. “In the  next  world,”  answered  the  astrologer.  “He died four months ago in a far-off town. You will never see

any more of him.” The other groaned (complain) on hearing it. The astrologer proceeded (continued)  : “Guru Nayak-”

“You know my name!” the other said, taken aback. (surprisingly)   “As I  know  all  other  things.  Guru Nayak,  listen carefully to what I have to say. Your village is two days’

journey due north of this town. Take the next train and be gone. I see once again great danger to your life if you go from (leave) home.” He took out a pinch of sacred ash and held it to him. “Rub it on your forehead and go home. Never travel southward again, and you will live to be a hundred.”

“Why should I leave home again?”  The other said reflectively. “I was only going away now and then to look for him and to choke out his life if I met him.” He shook his head regretfully. “He has escaped my hands. I hope at least he died as he deserved.” “Yes,” said the astrologer. “He was crushed under a lorry.” The other looked gratified (delighted/ happily) to hear it. The place was deserted (empty of people) by the time the  astrologer picked up his articles and put them into his bag. The green shaft (light) was also gone, leaving the place in  darkness  and silence.  The stranger had gone off into the night, after giving the astrologer a handful of coins.

     It was  nearly  midnight  when  the  astrologer  reached home.  His  wife  was  waiting  for  him  at  the  door  and demanded an explanation. He flung (threw) the coins at her and said “Count them. One man gave all that.”

“Twelve  and  a  half  annas,”  she  said,  counting.  She was  overjoyed.  “I  can  buy  some  jaggery  and  coconut tomorrow.  The child has been asking for  sweets  for  so many days now. I will prepare some nice stuff for her.”

“The swine (pig) has cheated me! He promised me a rupee,” said the astrologer.  She looked up at him.  “You look worried. What is wrong?”

“Nothing.”

After dinner, sitting on the pyol, he told her “Do you know a great load is gone from me today? I thought I had the blood (murder) of a man on my hands all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home, settled here, and married you. He is alive.”

She gasped. “You tried to kill him!”

“Yes, in our village, when I was a silly youngster. We drank, gambled, and quarreled badly one day - why think of it now? Time to sleep,” he said, yawning, and stretched himself on the pyol. 

Brainstorming (Questions and Answers.)

A1] 1. Given below are some descriptions. Discuss them with your partner and find out one word for each of them. An example is given for you.

1] The scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies – 

Astronomy

(विश्व आणि त्यातील वस्तूंचा, तारकासमूहांचा, ग्रहांचा, नेब्युला आणि आकाशगंगांचा वैज्ञानिक अभ्यास – खगोलशास्त्र)

2] The study of the movements of the planets, Sun, Moon, and Stars in the belief that these movements can have an influence on people's lives – 

Astrology

(ग्रह, सूर्य, चंद्र आणि तार्‍यांच्या हालचालींचा अभ्यास, या हालचाली लोकांच्या जीवनावर प्रभाव पाडू शकतात असा विश्वास असणे - ज्योतिषशास्त्र.)

3] A prediction of what will happen in the future – 

Prophecy

(विश्व आणि त्यातील वस्तूंचा, तारकासमूहांचा, ग्रहांचा, नेब्युला आणि आकाशगंगांचा वैज्ञानिक अभ्यास – खगोलशास्त्र)

4] Scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behaviour in humans and other animals – 

Psychology

(मानसिक अवस्था आणि प्रक्रिया तसेच मनुष्य आणि इतर प्राण्यांमधील वर्तनाचा अभ्यास करणारा वैज्ञानिक शास्त्र – मानसशास्त्र.)

2]  Complete the given web chart.       (2)

Ans:

1] He opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment,

2] He searched look for customers.

3] He pleased and astonished everyone by saying something

4] He carried the wages home at the end of a day.

3] In the story we are told that the Town Hall Park was a remarkable place in many ways for an astrologer to build his business. List the exceptional qualities of the place.

Ans: In the story, we are told that the Town Hall Park was a remarkable place for an astrologer to build his business because:

1] There was a surging crowd of people.

2] There were sellers of medicine, stolen hardware, and junk.

3] There were auctioneers of cheap clothes.

4] There was a fried groundnut seller.

All these factors provided him with enough customers.

4] The astrologer never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes. Discuss the reasons behind his act.

Ans: The astrologer never opened his mouth until the other had spoken for at least ten minutes. Because from those ten minutes:

1] He could read the people as he was a good at reading people.

2] He could get information from the person as he was very much eager.

3] He could examine the person’s nature.

4] He could easily satisfy the person by giving proper answers and advices.

5] Find out and write some general statements that could apply to many people.

Ans: The astrologer made the following general statements that could apply to many people, such as

1. "In many ways, you are not getting the best results for your efforts" or
2. "Is there a woman in your family who is not well disposed towards you?" These statements are likely to resonate with most customers and make them believe in his abilities.

6] Which Strategic appearance made it more likely that people would trust his words.

Ans: His appearance played a crucial role in his business. The sacred ash and vermilion on his forehead as well as his saffron turban created the image of a wise and mystical figure. This visual representation made it more likely that people would trust his words.

7] Find out some examples to show that he had Psychological understanding.

Ans: He had a good understanding of common human troubles—marriage, money, and personal relationships. His ability to quickly diagnose these issues within five minutes of conversation showed his skill in understanding and manipulating human psychology.

A2] 1) Tactics used by the Astrologer to earn his wages.

OR

The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the extract.

1] Observation Skills: The astrologer carefully could observe his clients before he spoke and analysis of human troubles.

2] Use of general statements: The astrologer made general statements that could apply to many people,

3] Commenting on past: The astrologer could comment the past life of the customer.

4] Panic the client: During his interaction with Guru Nayak, the astrologer mentioned great danger to his life if he did not follow his advice.

4] Suggesting solutions: The astrologer would suggest several types of solutions, what the client should do and not to do  

2] An astrologer's appearance helps to create an impression on his clients. Complete the following:

1] The turban on his head

2] Face covering dark whiskers

3] Sparkling & gleaming eyes

4] Sacred ash on forehead

3]   Read the following sentences and choose the correct one:

a) The astrologer says that if Nayak leaves his village again, he would -

 1] return the money   

 2] face danger   

 3] go back home and stop looking for the man who tried to kill him   

 4] not find the killer.

Ans:  face danger 

b) According to the narrator the astrologer's success in his profession is primarily due to –

 1] luck

 2] the bargains he drives

 3] his appearance

 4] his understanding of people

Ans: his understanding of people 

c) The story suggests that the astrologer’s comments and observations please people by -
(1) promising them success and good fortune
(2) proving, as time passes, to have been true.

(3) flattering them or supporting their own views
(4) helping them to learn to solve their own problems.

Ans: (4) helping them to learn to solve their own problems. 

d) Guru Nayak consults the astrologer because he wants to –

1] understand the past

2] find out who the astrologer is

3] make some money through a bet

4] get the answer to a specific question

Ans: get the answer to a specific question 

 e) Guru Nayak is looking for the man who tried to kill him –

1] to take revenge

2] to get an apology

3] to demand an explanation

4] to prove that the man was unsuccessful

Ans: to take revenge

 f) The astrologer's remark makes Guru Nayak feel all of the following except-

1] relieved

2] suspicious

3] impressed

4] disappointed

Ans: suspicious

 g) Reactions of the astrologer's wife to his news suggest that she –

1] was unaware of his past

2] has been worried about his safety

3] has known him since he was young

4] is concerned about her future with him

Ans: was unaware of his past.

4] Read the following sentences and find out True and False sentences. Correct the False sentences:

a] The astrologer gave a correct prediction to the client about his past that he was stabbed, thrown into a well and left for dead.- True

b] When the astrologer came to know that the man whom he killed is alive he felt that he was relieved of his guilt. -True

c] The astrologer tried to back out of the deal and talked about the client's past. – False (The astrologer demanded more money to tell the past)

d] The astrologer rescued himself from Guru Nayak's revenge. - True

e] The moral of the story is that we must be responsible about what we have done and should not run away from our mistakes. – True

f] The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way. – True

g] The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.- False (The physical appearance of the astrologer created an impact on the customers)

h] The place was busy with a variety of occupations. – True

i] The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills. –True

j] The colour scheme of his face never changed. – True

5] The astrologer has changed his appearance and his persona (face/image) when he arrived in the city. Give specific reasons.

a) He thought that he had killed Guru Nayak

b) Worrying to be caught by police

c) Worrying about the future of family

d) He knew that no one could identify him

e) Wanted to lead a peaceful life

6] 'The darkness load that was inside the astrologer has disappeared'. Through this sentence, explain the significance of the title 'An Astrologer's Day'.

Ans: The Astrologer thought that he had killed Guru Nayak. He has been carrying the  burden of this thought. He is feeling guilty about it. When Guru Nayak appeared before him as a customer, Astrologer identified him suddenly. But Guru Nayak could not identify him. The Astrologer became very happy and relaxed to see Guru Nayak alive. The dark load of the thought of murder suddenly disappeared. This is the happiest day in his life, an Astrologer‟s Day.

7] The astrologer feels relieved to know that Guru is not dead as it reduces a great burden from him. Critically justify the statement and explain it.

Ans: The astrologer’s relief upon learning that Guru Nayak is alive is profound, as it lifts the burden of guilt he has carried for years, believing he had committed murder. This revelation transforms his day from ordinary to extraordinary, offering him emotional and psychological freedom from the fear and remorse that had haunted him, allowing him to finally move forward.

8] The astrologer wins/gets the sympathy of criticism of the reader in the end. Express your opinion with the support of the main story.

Ans: The Astrologer won the real sympathy of the readers at the end of the story. I too sympathize with the Astrologer. His intention was not to kill Guru Nayak. When he started to lead a new life, still he was feeling guilty over   his deed. It shows his greatness and humanity   in him. So I sympathize with the Astrologer. I’m very happy to know that the Astrologer can live happily in future.

9] If we have to eradicate the superstitions and other ill practices from our society, what steps would you like to suggest?

Ans: To eradicate superstitions and ill practices from our society, several steps can be taken:

1.Education: Promote scientific education and critical thinking from an early age to encourage logical thinking.
2.Awareness Campaigns: Use media, social platforms, and community programs to raise awareness about the harms of superstitions.
3.Community Engagement: Involve community leaders and influencers to speak out against superstitions.
4.Legislation: Implement and enforce laws against harmful superstitions practices.
5.Support Systems: Provide support and counseling every person of the society to go away from superstitious beliefs.

10] In the story, astrologer has a great listening power. Listening helps in developing good relations with people. Express your opinion.   

Ans: Of course, listening helps in developing good relations with people, because-

a) Good listeners are always appreciated

b) They might get some good advices

c) It develops patience and tolerance

d) Your relations will be more harmonious

e) Likely to gain respect of others.

Grammar Questions:

A4]  Do as directed.               

a] It was a remarkable place in many ways.(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory sentence)

1. It was a remarkable place in many ways!
2. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!
3. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!
4. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

 b) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells. (Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)

1. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
2. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
3. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
4. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.