PSEB Class 12 Chapter 5 The Barber’s Trade Union Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book (Section C)
PSEB Class 12 English The Barber’s Trade Union Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book (Section C) Chapter 5 The Barber’s Trade Union? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 5 The Barber’s Trade Union now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 5 The Barber’s Trade Union Textbook Questions
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
I Short Answer Type Questions:
1. What was the age difference between Chandu and the narrator?
Ans. Chandu was older than the narrator by about six months.
2. Why did the narrator consider Chandu the embodiment of perfection for him?
Ans. The narrator saw Chandu as perfect because Chandu was skilful, daring, clever, and could do many things beautifully, like catching wasps, flying paper kites, reciting poetry, and showing confidence in everything he did.
3. Why was Chandu not good at doing sums at school?
Ans. Chandu was not good at sums because his father had apprenticed him early to the barber’s profession, so he had no time to do school homework.
4. Why did the narrator’s mother constantly dissuade him to play with Chandu?
Ans. The narrator’s mother discouraged him because Chandu belonged to a low-caste barber family, and she believed her son must maintain the status of his caste and class.
5. What does the narrator tell us about Chandu’s dress?
Ans. Chandu wore a spectacular mix of donated clothes, khaki shorts from a retired Subedar, a velvet waistcoat with shell buttons, and a round felt cap once owned by Lalla Hukam Chand.
6. What did Chandu tell the narrator about Kalan Khan’s appearance?
Ans. Chandu described Kalan Khan as a young dentist dressed very smartly, with hair parted on one side, a starched shirt, ivory collar, bow tie, black coat, striped trousers, rubber overcoat, and pumps, carrying a leather bag with shining instruments.
7. Why did Bijay Chand, the landlord turn Chandu out of his house?
Ans. Bijay Chand turned Chandu out because Chandu was wearing clothes made of leather and foreign material, which the landlord believed would defile his religion.
8. What did the Sahukar think about Chandu’s wearing clothes like a doctor?
Ans. The Sahukar scolded him, saying Chandu was neglecting his responsibilities and wearing “defiled” hospital clothes, and demanded he return only in his usual barber clothes.
9. Why had the landlord summoned Pandit Parmanand?
Ans. The landlord summoned the pandit to discuss the “unholy emergency” of a low-caste barber boy entering his home dressed in leather and foreign attire.
10. What type of woman was Chandu’s mother?
Ans. Chandu’s mother was outspoken, bold, and unafraid of the upper castes, but also loving and kind to the narrator.
11. How did Chandu’s mother treat the narrator?
Ans. Chandu’s mother treated him kindly, though she often bantered and teased him about his caste.
12. Why did Chandu decide to go on strike?
Ans. Chandu went on strike because the village elders insulted him and refused to let him shave them while he wore the clothes he liked.
13. Why did Chandu decide to buy a bicycle?
Ans. Chandu wanted a bicycle so that he could travel to town daily, earn more money by shaving people there, and look grand while riding it with his new attire.
14. Why had the men gathered in the Sahukar’s shop?
Ans. The men had gathered to wait for the landlord and also because they were discussing and watching the effects of Chandu’s strike.
15. How did the Sahukar look without being trimmed by the barber?
Ans. The Sahukar looked like a leper, with a brown tobacco-stained walrus moustache and untrimmed beard.
16. What jokes became popular in every home and why?
Ans. Jokes about the elders’ unkempt beards and shabby appearance became popular because Chandu’s strike left them unable to get shaved.
17. What was the reason of the rumour that the landlord’s wife had threatened to run away with someone else?
Ans. The landlord’s wife was disgusted by the landlord’s shabby appearance, as he no longer kept himself neat without the barber.
18. Why did the village elders threaten Chandu?
Ans. The village elders threatened Chandu because he refused to shave them, causing embarrassment and disturbance in the village.
19. Name the union that gave birth to many other active trade unions in the town?
Ans. “Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon” union ave birth to many other active trade unions in the town.
II Long Answer Type Questions:
1. Give a brief character-sketch of Chandu.
Ans. Chandu is portrayed as clever, confident, creative, and courageous. He is a natural leader, skillful in games, kite-making, poetry recitation, and later in business ideas. Despite facing caste discrimination, he shows self-respect and ambition, wanting to dress well and modernise his work. His boldness leads him to go on strike against social injustice, eventually forming a trade union. He is caring towards the narrator, generous with gifts, humorous, and determined.
2. How did the village elders behave when Chandu dressed up like a doctor?
Ans. The elders behaved harshly, abusively, and with caste prejudice. The landlord shouted at him, calling him “son of a pig,” and accused him of defiling religion. The Sahukar insulted him for wearing “hospital clothes” and refused service. Pandit Parmanand declared that a low-caste boy had no right to wear such attire. Their reaction exposed the deep-rooted social discrimination and fear of change in the village.
3. Give a brief character-sketch of Chandu’s mother.
Ans. Chandu’s mother is a strong, outspoken, rebellious, and fearless woman. She is known to be quarrelsome because she boldly challenges the upper castes. Despite her poverty and suffering, she retains dignity and courage. She cares for Chandu and treats the narrator kindly. When Chandu goes on strike, she supports him fiercely, scolding the elders in even harsher language than he does. She represents the resilience of oppressed women in rural India.
4. Why did Chandu go on a strike? What was the result of the strike?
Ans. Chandu went on a strike because he felt overworked and unappreciated. He was responsible for being the barber of many households every day, yet no one acknowledged his efforts. Feeling tired and ignored, he decided to stop working to make the village elders realise the value of his contribution. As a result, the village elders grew messy beards, and people, even their own families, laughed at them. Chandu earned good money in town, gained confidence, and even planned a proper barber shop with other barbers, reducing the elders’ power over them.
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 4 The Gold Frame Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A. “I knew Chandu ever since the days when he wore a piece of rag in the middle of his naked distended-bellied body, and when we wallowed together in the mire of the village lanes, playing at soldiering, shopkeeping, or clerking and other little games which we invented for the delectation of our two selves and of our mothers, who alone of all the elders condescended to notice us. Chandu was my senior by about six months, and he always took the lead in all matters. And I willingly followed, because truly he was a genius at catching wasps, and at pressing the poison out of their tails, at tying their tiny legs to cotton thread and flying them, while I always got stung on the cheeks if I dared to go anywhere near the platform of the village well where these insects settled on the puddles to drink water.”
Q1. Who is the narrator talking about in this extract?
Ans. The narrator is talking about his childhood friend Chandu.
Q2. How long had the narrator known Chandu?
Ans. The narrator had known Chandu since their earliest childhood days when Chandu wore only a rag around his belly.
Q3. Why did the narrator follow Chandu willingly?
Ans. The narrator followed Chandu willingly because Chandu was always confident, adventurous, and clever, especially in activities like catching wasps.
Q4. What games did the two boys play together?
Ans. The two boys played games like soldiering, shopkeeping, clerking, and other imaginative games they created together.
Q5. Why did the narrator avoid going near the village well?
Ans. The narrator avoided going near the village well because he always ended up getting stung by wasps whenever he tried to go close.
B. “And I envied Chandu the freedom of movement which he enjoyed after his father died of plague. For then he would do the round of shaving and hair-cutting at the houses of the high-caste notables in the morning, bathe and dress, and then steal a ride to town, six miles away, on the foot- rest of the closed carriage in which Lalla Chand Hukam Chand travelled to town. But Chandu was kind to me. He knew that I was seldom taken to town, and that I had to trudge three weary miles to a secondary school in the village of Joadiala with the fear of God in my heart, while he had been completely absolved from the ordeal of being flogged by cruel masters as he had left school after his father’s death. So he always brought me some gift or other from the town – a paint brush, or gold ink, or white chalk, or a double- edged penknife to sharpen pencils with; and he would entertain me with long merry descriptions of the variety of things he saw in the bazaars of civilization.”
Q1. Why did Chandu enjoy freedom of movement after his father’s death?
Ans. Chandu enjoyed freedom of movement after his father’s death because he left school and took up barber work, which allowed him to move around freely.
Q2. How did Chandu travel to the town?
Ans. Chandu travelled to the town by secretly standing on the footrest of Lalla Hukam Chand’s closed carriage.
Q3. Why did Chandu bring gifts for the narrator?
Ans. Chandu brought gifts for the narrator because he knew that the narrator rarely got the chance to visit the town and wanted to make him happy.
Q4. What fear did the narrator have while going to school?
Ans. The narrator feared going to school because he was afraid of being flogged by the strict schoolmasters.
Q5. What types of gifts did Chandu bring from the town?
Ans. Chandu brought gifts such as a paintbrush, gold ink, white chalk, and a double-edged penknife from the town.
C. “He had pressed the pedal with a downward pressure of his right foot, hard, and, as the wheels revolved, he swayed dangerously to one side. But he had pushed the other pedal now. The machine balanced, inclining to the right a little, so that I saw Chandu lift his rump” from the saddle in the most frightening manner. He hung precariously for a moment. His handles wobbled dangerously. He was tottering. At this juncture a mixed noise of laughter and sarcasm arose from the congregation at the shop and I thought that Chandu would come to grief with this confusion, if not on account of his utter incapacity. By a curious miracle, however, Chandu’s feet had got into the right rhythm for pedaling and his handle had adjusted itself to his stiff hands, and he rode off with me running behind him, bursting myself with enthusiastic ‘Shabashes.” ”
Q1. What was Chandu trying to do in this extract?
Ans. Chandu was trying to learn how to ride a bicycle in this extract.
Q2. How did Chandu initially struggle with the bicycle?
Ans. Chandu initially struggled with the bicycle because he could not balance properly and kept swaying and wobbling while pedalling.
Q3. Why did the onlookers laugh at Chandu?
Ans. The onlookers laughed at Chandu because his unsteady movements made him look clumsy and they thought he would fall.
Q4. What helped Chandu finally ride the bicycle successfully?
Ans. Chandu finally rode the bicycle successfully because his feet accidentally found the correct rhythm and his hands adjusted to the handle at the right moment.
Q5. How did the narrator react to Chandu’s success?
Ans. The narrator reacted to Chandu’s success by running behind him joyfully and cheering loudly with shouts of “Shabash!”
D. Chandu, however, had conceived a new notion this time, newer than those he had ever thought of before. Having seen the shop of Nringan Das, the barber of the town, he had applied his brain to the scheme of opening a shop on the wayside at the head of the bazaar, in partnership with his cousin, the barber of Verka, and with Dhunoo and the other barbers with in a range of seven miles from his village. He proposed his new idea to his cousin and Dhunoo and all the other barbers at a special meeting of his craft, and, by the gift of the gab which he had, besides his other qualities of Head and Heart, he convinced them all that it was time that the elders of the village came to them to be shaved rather than that they should dance attendance upon their lords and masters. ‘Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon’ has been followed by many other active trade unions of working men in our parts. ”
Q1. What new idea did Chandu conceive?
Ans. Chandu conceived the new idea of forming a barber trade union and opening a joint barbershop at the entrance of the bazaar.
Q2. Whom did Chandu involve in his plan?
Ans. Chandu involved his cousin from Verka, Dhunoo, and all the barbers living within seven miles of the village.
Q3. How did Chandu convince the other barbers?
Ans. Chandu convinced the other barbers with his persuasive speaking skills and his thoughtful reasoning about improving their working conditions.
Q4. What was the main purpose of forming the union?
Ans. The main purpose of forming the union was to stop barbers from going to high-caste households and instead make the villagers come to their shop for shaving and haircuts.
Q5. What was the name given to the barbers’ union shop?
Ans. The barbers’ union shop was named “Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon.”
Multiple-Choice Questions
Q1. Who is the narrator’s childhood friend in the story?
A. Dhunoo
B. Chandu
C. Lalla Hukam Chand
D. Nringan Das
Ans. B. Chandu
Q2. What work did Chandu take up after his father’s death?
A. Carpenter
B. Farmer
C. Barber
D. Driver
Ans. C. Barber
Q3. How did Chandu travel to the town?
A. By bicycle
B. On foot
C. On the footrest of a carriage
D. On a horse
Ans. C. On the footrest of a carriage
Q4. What did Chandu often bring for the narrator from the town?
A. Sweets
B. Toys
C. Stationery items
D. Clothes
Ans. C. Stationery items
Q5. Why did the narrator fear going to school?
A. Long distance
B. No friends
C. Strict masters
D. Heavy books
Ans. C. Strict masters
Q6. Who taught Chandu how to ride a bicycle?
A. Dhunoo
B. Narrator
C. Nringan Das
D. No one
Ans. B. Narrator
Q7. What problem did Chandu face while learning to ride the bicycle?
A. Flat tyre
B. Poor balance
C. Broken chain
D. Fear of falling
Ans. B. Poor balance
Q8. Who laughed at Chandu when he struggled with the bicycle?
A. Narrator
B. Barbers
C. Passers-by at the shop
D. School children
Ans. C. Passers-by at the shop
Q9. What new idea came to Chandu’s mind?
A. Starting a school
B. Opening a grocery shop
C. Forming a barber trade union
D. Becoming a trader
Ans. C. Forming a barber trade union
Q10. Where did Chandu want to open the new barbershop?
A. Near the school
B. At the head of the bazaar
C. Outside his house
D. Near the railway station
Ans. B. At the head of the bazaar
Q11. Who was Chandu’s first partner in the shop plan?
A. Dhunoo
B. His cousin from Verka
C. The narrator
D. Lalla Hukam Chand
Ans. B. His cousin from Verka
Q12. What was the purpose of forming the trade union?
A. To make barbers rich
B. To reduce working hours
C. To make villagers come to the shop
D. To learn new skills
Ans. C. To make villagers come to the shop
Q13. What was the name of the barbers’ union shop?
A. Royal Hair Salon
B. Verka Barber House
C. Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon
D. Modern Barber Hut
Ans. C. Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon
Q14. How was Chandu described in childhood?
A. Weak and shy
B. Clever and bold
C. Quiet and lonely
D. Arrogant and rude
Ans. B. Clever and bold
Q15. What did the narrator often get when he went near the well?
A. Mud on his clothes
B. Hit by stones
C. Stung by wasps
D. Scolded by elders
Ans. C. Stung by wasps
Q16. What shows Chandu’s kindness towards the narrator?
A. He defended him
B. He gave him money
C. He brought him gifts
D. He helped him study
Ans. C. He brought him gifts
Q17. Why did Chandu leave school?
A. He disliked studies
B. The school closed
C. His father died
D. He moved away
Ans. C. His father died
Q18. What quality helped Chandu convince other barbers?
A. His wealth
B. His physical strength
C. His gift of speech
D. His official contacts
Ans. C. His gift of speech
Q19. How did the narrator react when Chandu rode the bicycle successfully?
A. He cried
B. He scolded him
C. He ran behind cheering
D. He ignored him
Ans. C. He ran behind cheering
Q20. What does the story mainly highlight?
A. Value of friendship
B. Power of worker unity
C. Importance of education
D. Life in villages
Ans. B. Power of worker unity
True or False
State whether the following are true or false-
1. Chandu and the narrator were friends from early childhood.
2. Chandu loved going to school every day.
3. After his father’s death, Chandu became a barber.
4. The narrator often got stung by wasps near the village well.
5. Chandu secretly travelled to town on the footrest of a carriage.
6. Chandu never brought any gifts for the narrator.
7. The villagers supported the barbers’ trade union immediately.
8. Chandu wanted all barbers to stop going to people’s houses.
9. The barbers’ union opened a shop at the head of the bazaar.
10. Chandu was known for his confidence and cleverness.
Answers-
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. Chandu and the narrator played together in the ______ lanes.
2. Chandu was skilled at catching and flying ______.
3. After his father died, Chandu stopped going to ______.
4. The narrator had to walk three miles to the school in ______.
5. Chandu travelled to town on the ______ of a closed carriage.
6. Chandu often brought ______ from the town for the narrator.
7. Chandu learned to ride a ______ with the narrator’s help.
8. Chandu suggested forming a ______ of barbers.
9. The barbers’ shop was named ______ District Barber Brothers’ Saloon.
10. Chandu convinced other barbers with his gift of the ______.
Answers-
1. village
2. wasps
3. school
4. Joadiala
5. footrest
6. gifts
7. bicycle
8. trade union
9. Rajkot
10. gab
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. Describe the childhood friendship between the narrator and Chandu.
Ans. The narrator and Chandu shared a close and affectionate childhood friendship. They played together in the village lanes, inventing small games that entertained them and their mothers. Although Chandu was six months older and always took the lead, the narrator admired him deeply for his courage, creativity, and skills, such as catching wasps and making kites. Despite being from different castes, their bond remained strong. The narrator never felt superior to Chandu and even envied his freedom and adventurous nature.
Q2. Why did Chandu decide to dress like a doctor, and how did the villagers react?
Ans. Chandu admired the modern appearance of Dr. Kalan Khan, whom he often saw in town. Inspired by him, Chandu wished to look dignified and professional. He believed that wearing a rubber coat, pumps, and carrying a leather bag would elevate his status as a barber. However, the villagers reacted harshly. The landlord and Sahukar insulted him, claiming such clothes were impure and unsuitable for someone of low caste. They accused him of defiling their homes and traditions. This humiliation deeply hurt Chandu and exposed the rigid caste attitudes and hypocrisy in the village.
Q3. What role does caste discrimination play in the story?
Ans. Caste discrimination is central to the story and shapes much of Chandu’s suffering. Although Chandu is talented and hardworking, he is repeatedly reminded of his “low status.” The landlord expels him for wearing a rubber coat, claiming it defiles the house. Pandit Parmanand justifies the insults by saying a barber has no right to dress like a doctor. Even the narrator’s mother discourages her son from playing with Chandu. These incidents portray how oppressive caste norms deny dignity and equality to lower-caste individuals. Chandu’s struggles show the need for social reform and respect for all professions.
Q4. Why did Chandu go on strike, and how did the strike affect the village?
Ans. Chandu went on strike after being insulted by the landlord, Sahukar, and Pandit for dressing like a doctor. Their harsh words wounded his pride and made him determined to show them his importance. When Chandu stopped shaving the village elders, their appearance became untidy. The landlord’s beard turned grey and patchy, and the Sahukar looked ridiculous with stained whiskers. People began mocking them, leading to embarrassment and chaos. The rumour even spread that the landlord’s wife wanted to run away because of his shabby looks. The strike showcased the essential role of workers like Chandu.
Q5. How does Chandu’s bicycle become a symbol in the story?
Ans. Chandu’s bicycle represents freedom, ambition, and rebellion. Buying it with his own earnings gave him independence and mobility. It allowed him to travel to town daily, escape the oppressive village environment, and earn money by shaving customers near the court. Learning to ride the bicycle, despite mockery and falls, symbolised Chandu’s determination to rise above societal restrictions. It also challenged traditional caste expectations, as mobility empowered him economically and socially. The bicycle became a means through which Chandu dreamt of a better future, breaking free from the limitations imposed on him by the villagers’ prejudices.
Q6. Describe the behaviour of the village elders during and after the strike.
Ans. The village elders behaved arrogantly and cruelly before the strike, humiliating Chandu for dressing well and trying to improve his status. However, once Chandu stopped shaving them, their pride quickly collapsed. Unable to maintain their appearance, they faced ridicule from their own families and villagers. Their desperation made them consider hiring an outsider, offering him more money than they ever paid Chandu. When Chandu formed a barber union, they grew fearful of losing control. Their shift from arrogance to helplessness showed how dependent they were on the very person they humiliated, revealing their hypocrisy and weakness.
Q7. What does Chandu’s mother reveal about her personality through her actions?
Ans. Chandu’s mother is portrayed as strong-willed, outspoken, and resilient. Though villagers considered her “cantankerous,” she spoke bravely against injustice, unafraid of high-caste people who mistreated her family. Her sarcastic remarks reflect years of suffering and humiliation, yet she remained kind to the narrator. When Chandu earned well during his strike, she tasted prosperity for the first time and refused the elders’ demand to control him. Her courage and independence show that she rejected caste-based oppression.
Q8. What does the narrator’s admiration for Chandu reveal about his character?
Ans. The narrator’s admiration for Chandu shows his broad-mindedness, innocence, and fairness. Unlike his mother and other villagers, he does not believe in caste superiority. He sees Chandu’s talents, kite-making, wasp-catching, storytelling, and generosity, as qualities worth respecting. He never feels superior despite his privileged background; instead, he envies Chandu’s freedom and courage. His affection and loyalty highlight his capacity to appreciate people for who they are, not their social status. The narrator’s perspective offers a contrast to the rigid caste prejudices in the village, making him a thoughtful observer of Chandu’s struggles.
Q9. How does the author use humour in the story to criticise social injustice?
Ans. Mulk Raj Anand skillfully employs humour to expose and criticise social injustice. The ridiculous appearance of the unshaven elders, such as the landlord’s mismatched moustache and beard, or the Sahukar’s tobacco-stained whiskers creates comedic scenes that highlight their helplessness. The villagers’ secret laughter and the narrator’s playful teasing further mock the arrogance of the upper castes. This humour does not undermine the seriousness of the theme, instead, it makes the criticism sharper by showing the powerful reduced to absurdity. Through comedy, the author reveals the hypocrisy of caste-based pride and the importance of dignity for all workers.
Q10. What is the significance of Chandu forming the ‘Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Union’?
Ans. The formation of the ‘Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon’ marks a turning point in the story symbolising collective strength. Chandu realises that barbers must stop being servants to upper-caste villagers and instead create an organised system where customers come to them. His idea unites barbers from several villages, empowering them socially and economically. This union challenges traditional caste roles and demonstrates early labour activism. It also inspires other trade unions, making Chandu a pioneer in workers’ rights. The union emphasizes progress, dignity of labour, and the power of organisation against exploitation.