Long notes for class xi from "Karma".

                        Karma
                                  Khushwant Singh

1) "I am with my master"- What is the significance of the line? What did Lachmi come to know about the condition of the trains in the route?

Ans: Sir Mohan, to Lachmi, is more of a master than a husband. Sir Mohan stays inside the first class waiting room while Lachmi remains outside. In the train, Sir Mohan travels by first-class while Lachmi accommodates herself in the Zenana compartment. So, Sir Mohan prefers commanding while Lachmi obeys him faithfully.

                Lachmi came to know that the trains in the route were mostly packed with passengers. It was difficult to get a seat. But the zenana compartment was relatively less crowded, and one could easily have a seat there.

2) "I am only a native women"- Give a short estimation of the speaker's character in the light of the above comment 

Ans: The speaker, Lachmi, is the wife of Sir Mohan Lal, the pivotal character in Khushwant Singh's short story "Karma". Lachmi is short and healthy in her physical structure. She may not be pretty, but there is no lack of goodness in her character. The most striking feature of her character is that she is down to earth, unlike her husband. She timidly obeys her husband and has resigned to the fact that she will never get proper recognition from him. But she is an extremely lovable character and is surely the representative of the Indian women in a male dominated society. The author presents her as an Indian who is fond of her own culture and language.

3) What is the role of irony of fate in the short story of Karma?

Ans: Irony plays an pivotal role in the short story "Karma". Sir Mohan travels in the first-class because he presumes that he knows the British manners. His wife Lachmi is made to travel in the zenana compartment because she does not know the British ways. But at the end of the story, it is ironical that Sir Mohan is thrown out of the compartment in spite of his adequate knowledge of British ways. On the other hand, Lachmi, his uneducated wife, gets respect from poor Indians and travels comfortably in the zenana compartment. So, fate, ironically, plays an important role in the short story, "Karma".

4) "Nor was he loud, aggressive and opinionated like them"- Who is referred to as 'he' and 'them'? In what context are the words spoken? Does Lachmi feel more at ease with common people?

Ans: 'He' refers to Sir Mohan Lal. 'Them' refers to the average Indians.

             Sir Mohan Lal desired to have an impressive conversation with an Englishman. But, unlike other average Indians, neither did he show any eagerness to talk to the Englishmen, nor was he 'loud, aggressive and opinionated' as an average Indian.

              Lachmi being an ordinary woman herself, felt at ease with common people. This is evident from the fact that she went on gossiping with the bearer and then with the railway coolie. This shows that she was more comfortable in talking with these ordinary people rather than with her aristocrat husband.