1. The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
View AnswerAns. ‘At having the landscape marred with the artless paint’
According to city people, this road side stand is not at all good as it blocks natural beauty of trees and mountains.
2. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
View AnswerAns. The plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand was to call the passengers moving from that road and to request them to buy some fruits from him so that he could earn some money to run his family.
3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people but do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
View AnswerAns. The poet says that government and other social service agencies make big promises to help rural people but as soon as they come in power by winning election, they forget all their promises and do not do any welfare of poor man.
4. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it ‘vain’?
View AnswerAns. Roadside Fruit seller’s childish longing is that he keeps on waiting for the customers. It is in vain because no one stops there to purchase fruits from him.
5. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
View AnswerAns. The poet is very kind and he feels sad on seeing the condition of rural people. He writes ‘Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear ….. vain’