Ranga's Marriage By Masti Venketesha Iyengar [AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

Ranga's Marriage By Masti Venketesha Iyengar 
[AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

About The Chapter

The story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ dates back to the early days of British rule, when life in villages was slow and child marriage was common. It very interestingly shows the manipulations done by the narrator to bring a change in the idealistic views of Ranga about marriage and gets him married to a eleven year old girl, Ratna. Due to the narrator’s meticulous planning with the village astrologer, Ranga ultimately gets married to Ratna, with whom he had fallen in love on first sight.

About the Characters

Ranga, the son of an accountant, gets educated outside his village, at Bangalore. But he has not changed much when he returns as he follows the traditional courteous behaviour towards elders.

However, Ranga’s views about marriage are non-traditional. The narrator’s strategy succeeds in making him agree to the traditional arranged marriage.

Shyama (the narrator) He is Ranga’s neighbor. He is impressed by Ranga’s cultured behaviour and plans a strategy, takes the village astrologer into confidence, and finally makes Ranga agree to marry a eleven year old orphan Ratna.

Ratna. She is an eleven year old orphan girl who is staying with her uncle, Rama Rao. She is pretty and sings very sweetly. She also knew how to play the veena and the harmonium. She impresses Ranga so that he changes his views on marriage.

Shastri. He is the village astrologer who plays his role to perfection, as tutored by Shyama. But he does not want to be treated shabbily and tries to assert his knowledge of the Shastri when Shyama tried to make fun of him.

SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

 No Fancy Title of the Story

The narrator comments why he had not given any elaborate title to the present story, like ‘Ranganatha’s Vivaha’ or ‘Jagannatha Vijaya’. The reason is that the story is about a common boy, Ranga, and his marriage. He is an accountant’s son and native of village Hosahalli.

The Village of Hosahalli

The narrator mentions that this village is very small and it is not mentioned in geography books. Still he speaks highly about Hosahalli. Even the local doctor, Dr. Gundabhatta, who has visited many places outsides India, finds it an impressive village.

The village is famous for its sour mangoes and creepers growing in the village pond. The leaves of this creeper could serve as good plates for serving afternoon meals.

But the narrator, Shyama, says that real appreciation of the village can be felt only if one visits it personally and gets acquainted with it.

Ranga’s Home coming was a Great Event

Shyama recalls an incident that happened ten years ago. The village accountant was the first one together enough courage to send to Bangalore to study. Not many people knew English them. That was why Ranga’s homecoming was a great event. A big crowd went to greet him.

The narrator rushed to see him. Everyone was surprised to see that Ranga had not changed. Once they realized that Ranga was unchanged, the crowd of people slowly disappeared. Only the narrator continued to stand there. Ranga had a smile on his face. He still followed the rituals of his caste by respectfully touching the narrator’s feet.

The Narrator Decides to Get Ranga Married

The same afternoon Ranga went to the narrator’s house with a couple of oranges in his hand. The narrator thought that such a fine and generous boy should get married and settle down. He enquired about his plan to get married. Ranga said that he didn’t want to get married soon. He was searching for the right girl who was mature enough. Secondly, he wanted to marry a girl he admired. He was not in favour of the arranged marriages prevalent in society. Till he got a girl of his choice, he wanted to remain a bachelor.

The narrator was distressed to learn about Ranga’s views on marriage but he made up his mind that very soon he would get Ranga married.

The Narrator Found a Suitable Girl for Ranga

The narrator found the most suitable girl for him. It was Ratna Rao’s niece Ratna, a pretty girl of eleven who had come to stay with him after her parents died. She was from a big town, so she knew how to play the veena and the harmonium. She also had a sweet voice.

The Narrator Starts Playing Match-Maker

The next morning, the narrator told Rama Rao’s wife to send Ratna to his house to fetch some buttermilk. Ratna knew the narrator as he was a frequent visitor to Rama Rao’s place. Ratna came to the narrator’s house. When Ratna came, he requested her to sing a song. It was Friday; to she was wearing a Saree.

Ranga’s Disappointment

Meanwhile, Ranga came to the narrator’s house and stopped at the threshold. He didn’t want the singing to stop, but he was curious to see the singer. He was enchanted be her and kept glancing at her. After a while Ranga asked about Ratna. The narrator quite cunningly told him that she was married a year ago. Ranga was extremely disappointed to hear this. The narrator noticed signs of disappointment on Ranga’s face. Ranga left after sometime.

The Narrator’s Plan

The next morning, the narrator met the astrologer, better known as Shastri, and tutored him about his plan in Ranga’s case. In the afternoon, the narrator met Ranga, who appeared as disturbed as he was yesterday. The narrator suggested to meet Shastri and enquire about what was worrying him. Ranga did not protest and went to meet Shastri with the narrator. Shastri pretended surprise and spoke about meeting the narrator after a long time.

The narrator almost ruined his own plan by saying that he had already met Shastri that very morning but Shastri saved it by changing the sentence.

The narrator told Shastri that something was worrying poor Ranga and they had come to seek his help. After making a pretence of some calculations, Shastri said that it was about a girl. To the narrator’s question as to whom that girl was, Shastri said that she had the name of something found in the ocean – Kamala, Pachchi, Moss, Pearl or Ratna – the precious stone.

The Narrator’s Plan Succeeds

The narrator’s plan was bearing fruit. There was some surprise on Ranga’s face and even some happiness. On their return, Shyama passed in front of Rama Rao’s house.

Ratna was standing at the door. The narrator went inside Rama Rao’s house and came back a little later. He had a surprised look on his face. He told Ranga that there was some wrong information given to him. Ratna was not married. He also enquired to Ranga whether what Shastri had indicated was true. Shyama asked Ranga that he is thinking about Ratna. Ranga admitted that whatever Shastri said about the girl was true. Now, he wanted to get married to Ratna.

Ranga and Ratna Get Married

Finally Ranga and Ratna got married. All the idealism of Ranga was forgotten as he was totally fascinated by Ratna’s beauty and sweet voice. They named their first child Shyama, as because of Shyama’s (the narrator) efforts they had got married. Years’ later, Ranga invited the narrator for dinner on the occasion of his 3 year old son’s birthday. The son was also named Shyama in honour of the narrator.  Thus, Ranga was leading a happy married life with Ratna.

Also Read: AHSEC Class 11 Chapter wise notes  (Prose & Poetry 30 Marks)

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Ø  This story deals with the marriage of Ranga, a native of village Hosahalli, who had returned after being educated in Bangalore.

Ø  Hearing of Ranga’s return, the villagers came to find out whether Ranga had changed due to studying in a city school. To their surprise and pleasure he was the same Ranga who was treating everyone with respect.

Ø  In the afternoon, during Ranga’s visit to Shyama’s house, he asked Ranga about his plans for marriage. Ranga replied that first he must find the right girl whom he admired and who would be mature.

Ø  Shyama was unhappy that Ranga, who could prove to be a good husband, had decided to remain a bachelor at present.

Ø  So Shyama made up his mind that, irrespective of Ranga’s opinion about marriage or his decision to remain a bachelor, he would try his best to get Ranga married quickly.

Ø  Shyama knew an eleven year old orphan girl Ratna, who was his neighbor Rama Rao’s niece and stayed with him at present. The girl was beautiful, had a sweet voice and could play musical instruments (veena and harmonium) well.

Ø  Shyama chalked out a plan to let Ranga meet the girl and see her himself, by inviting Ranga to come to his home when Ratna was called there on purpose.

Ø  When Ratna came to Shyama’s house, he requested her to sing so that, when Ranga arrived, he could hear her.

Ø  Ranga was impressed with her singing as well as her beauty and enquired about her.

Ø  Shyama lied to Ranga by telling him that she was already married, which disappointed Ranga.

Ø  Next day, Shyama tutored the village astrologer, known as Shastri, to speak as Shyama wanted when Ranga was brought to him.

Ø  Ranga meanwhile was looking sad and so Shyama suggested to him that they should consult Shastri to find out what was worrying him, to which Ranga agreed.

Ø  Shastri pretended to make some calculations and declared that a girl was responsible for Ranga’s condition and her name was of something found in the ocean, like Kamala, Pachchi, Moss, Pearl or Ratna.

Ø  Shyama mentioned that the Ratna whom they knew was already married, but the astrologer stuck to his words.

Ø  Returning from Shastri’s house, the narrator stopped at Rama Rao’s house, went inside for some time and then returned. He pretended to look surprised and told Ranga that just now he had found that Ratna was not married and the earlier information was incorrect.

Ø  He now asked Ranga whether what Shastri had indicated was true. Ranga admitted that whatever Shastri said was true and he wanted to get married to Ratna.

Ø  So Ranga and Ratna got married, naming their first child the same name as that of narrator, as he was the one responsible for them being happily married.

Question-Answers

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Describe the village of the narrator.

Ans. The narrator is the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ takes enormous pride of his village named Hosahalli. The narrator says that he feels offended that the name of his village does not find mention in any of the Geography books written by Englishmen. According to him, his village, Hosahalli is an important place in the state of Mysore and not only did the Englishmen but our won Indian writers forgot to mention it. He further describes and boasts of a special type of mango trees producing sour mangoes whose sourness goes straight to the skull bones. He also talks about a creeper growing in the ever-so-fine water of the village pond. The flowers are a feast to behold and the leaves can be used to serve afternoon meals.

2. Who was Ranga? Why was Ranga’s coming a great event?

Ans. Ranga was the village accountant’s son who had gone to Bangalore to study. Ranga’s coming was a great event for the villager because he was the first who had gone outside the village for study. His home coming was delight for the villagers and they all thronged to his house to see if city education had changed his or not. They were satisfied that he was the same Ranga as he had been six month ago.

3. What were Ranga’s views on marriage? What was the narrator’s reaction when he came to know of Ranga’s view towards marriage?

Ans. Ranga was of the view that one should not marry a very young girl. He believed in marrying only when one got physically and mentally matured. A man must marry a girl whom are admires. He would marry mature girl of his choice. The narrator was very disappointed with Ranga’s unconventional view on marriage and right then made up his mind to get him married.

4. What did Ranga say when the narrator asked him if he wanted to get married?

Ans. The narrator asked Ranga if he wanted to get married. Ranga replied that he was not going to get married in near future. He needed to find out the right girl. A man must marry a girl he admires. He would marry a mature girl of his choice.

5. Who was Ratna? Where was she living?

Ans. Ratna was Rama Rao’s eleven year old beautiful niece.

Ratna had come to stay with Rama Rao after her parents’ demise. She was from a big town, knew singing and could play the veena and harmonium.

6. Why was the narrator distressed when he came to know of Ranga’s views about his marriage?  2012

Ans. The narrator had in his mind the niece of Rama Rao. She was a pretty girl of eleven. The narrator thought that Ranga would make a good husband for Ratna. But Ranga had no plan of marrying in near future. The narrator was distressed to hear Ranga’s plan.

7. How did the narrator arrange that Ranga should meet Ratna?

Ans. After knowing Ranga’s unconventional view on marriage, the narrator made up his mind right then that he would get him married. So the narrator devices a plan to arrange a meeting Rama Rao’s niece Ratna and Ranga. The narrator was a frequent visitor to Rama Rao’s place and Ratna was quite free with him. On a particular Friday, he called Ratna to his house to deliver the buttermilk made by Rama Rao’s wife. He asked Ratna to sing for him and sent for Ranga at the same time. Ranga arrived while Ratna was rendering the melodious song. In this way Ranga was able to meet Ratna for the first time.

8. Describe Rama Rao’s niece Ratna.                      

Ans. Rama Rao’s niece was a pretty girl of eleven. She had come to stay with her uncle. She knew how to play the veena and the harmonium. She also had a sweet voice. She could be the most suitable bride for Ranga.

9. Why did the narrator ask Ranga to accompany him to see shastri?

Ans. The narrator had made up his mind to get Ranga married to Ratna. He asked Ranga to accompany him to see shastri to find out whether his stars were favourable or not and what was worrying him. Shastri was already tutored by the narrator to tell him that a girl was the cause of his worry.

10. Was Ratna a victim of Arrange marriage system?

Ans. Yes, Ratna was a victim of arrange marriage system because it was Ranga’s wish to marry Ratna but Ratna’s consent was not taken she followed the victims of her family in marrying Ranga.

 11. How did Ranga feel when he heard and saw Ratna for the first time?

OR

How did Ranga and Ratna react when they saw each other?         2016

Ans. Ranga saw Ratna for the first time in the narrator’s house while she was singing. He peeped in to see who was the singer but as he had blocked the light, Ratna felt shy and stopped singing. Ranga looked at her. He declared to leave but didn’t move. After a while he asked the narrator who was that girl and also asked if she was married or not. His face shriveled when he was told that the girl was married a year ago.

12. Why was Ranga’s face shriveled and finally, why was he surprised and happy?

Ans. Ranga had developed a liking for Ratna in his heart. He never exposed it. But when the narrator told him that the girl got married a year ago, his face shriveled. However, when the narrator gave the news that the girl was still unmarried, Ranga was both surprised and happy.

13. How did Shastri act after being tutored by the narrator?

Ans. Shastri did as he was tutored to do. He replied that a girl worried Ranga’s mind. When asked if their negotiations would bear fruit, Shastri replied, “definitely”. When asked who the girl was, Shastri did a bit of acting. At last he named Kamla or Ratna. It brought some happiness on Ranga’s face. Shastri succeeded in arousing Ranga’s interest in Ratna.

14. Why was the narrator invited by Rangappa?

Ans. The narrator was greatly instrumental in arranging the marriage of Ranga and Ratna. He tutored the astrologer Shastri to bring Ranga around to get married. Ranga felt highly obliged. It was quite natural for Ranga to invite the narrator on the birthday of his son, Shyama. He wanted to pay his respect to the narrator.

15. How did Rangappa honour the narrator and why?

Ans. Ranga knew in his heart of hearts that his marriage with Ratna was arranged due to the efforts of the narrator. He didn’t forget to invite him on the birthday of his son. He honoured the narrator when he named his ‘golden child’ Shyama after the name of the narrator.

16. What was the narrators plan to get Ranga Married? What did Ranga think about marriage?

Or

Narrate the events leading to Ranga’s marriage.          2019

Ans: Ranga was of the view that one should not marry a very young girl. He believed in marrying only when one got physically and mentally matured. A man must marry a girl whom are admires. He would marry mature girl of his choice. After knowing Ranga’s unconventional view on marriage, the narrator made up his mind right then that he would get him married. So the narrator devices a plan to arrange a meeting Rama Rao’s niece Ratna and Ranga. The narrator was a frequent visitor to Rama Rao’s place and Ratna was quite free with him. On a particular Friday, he called Ratna to his house to deliver the buttermilk made by Rama Rao’s wife. He asked Ratna to sing for him and sent for Ranga at the same time. Ranga arrived while Ratna was rendering the melodious song. In this way Ranga was able to meet Ratna for the first time.

17. Describe the quality of the mangoes of Hosahalli village          2015

Ans:  In Hosahalli, the mango trees produce very sour fruits whose sourness goes straight to the skull bones. There is also a creeper growing in the ever-so-fine water of the village pond

18. How did the villagers welcome Ranga?         2013

Ans: The villagers welcome ranga by making a huge crowd around him as they were curious to see ranga as it was not easy for everyone to send their son to city.They were happy to see that Ranga had not lost his custom.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

 1. Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.

Ans. In ‘Ranga’s Marriage’, the narrator arranged Ranga’s marriage with Ratna. It was a time when marriages were mostly arranged by some well-wishers of the families. The bride and the bridegroom would see each other only after their marriage, and that too on a particular, auspicious day. Ranga had his own view about his marriage. He wanted to marry a mature girl of his liking. But the moment he saw Ratna, an eleven year old girl with a sweet voice, he forgot everything. He felt in love, and agreed to the narrator’s intervention in arranging his marriage.

Indian society has moved a long way since then. Now, no young man would consent to marry a teenager as did Ranga. Arranged marriages are on the decline. Love marriages are in vogue. Boys and girls like to know each other before they agree to marry. In place of mediator, matrimonial ads are used for nuptial ties. Child marriages are legally banned. Only adults are allowed to marry.

2. What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?

Ans. The narrator, named Shyama, is well meaning, kind-hearted and humorous person. He takes interest in Ranga. Seeing him inclined towards Ratna, he makes a plan to have him married to her. He takes the help of the village astrologer and succeeds in getting Ranga married to Ratna.

He is full of rustic humour and wit. His very use of language is metaphorical and is a source of humour. When a crowd appears to see Ranga, for instance, he asks the people why they have come, adding that there is no ‘performing monkey’ here. At one point, he describes the disappointment of Ranga’s face as shriveling of his face “like a roasted brinjal”.

He is traditional and conservative. He calls it a disgrace when people bring in English words while talking in Kanada. He seems to dislike English way of life in general.

3. Comment on the influence of English – the language and the way of life – on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English?         2015     2016,     2018

Or

“English integrates India as a nation.” Discuss with examples from the story, Ranga’s Marriage 2017

Ans. The narrator in the story observes that English language and English culture have come to influence the Indian way of life even in the countryside. Many people in his village even use English words while speaking in Kannada. Rama Rao’s son who buys a bundle of firewood is to pay four pieces. He tells the seller, a poor illiterate woman, that he does not have any ‘change.’ The narrator thinks that such a use of English words is a disgrace.

English way of life seems to have influenced Ranga. Ranga comes to believe that arranged marriages in India do not work. So he resolves not to marry until he finds a mature girl of his liking.

It seems that many people under the influence of English way of life give up wearing the traditional sacred thread. They marry out of caste and even religion. They begin to look down upon their own people, their language and the traditional life styles. The narrator does not like people bringing in English words while talking in Kannada. He does not like Ranga’s views about marriage and naming his child after him. He knows that in all these matters he is following English customs.

4. Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.

Ans. Astrologers are often shrewd persons. They know that most human troubles relate to marriage, money, job transfer, promotion, disease etc. They handle their customers in such a way that they make them come out with their desires and wishes. They form their perceptions from what they hear.

In the story, Shastri is the village astrologer. The narrator meets him and tutors him in all that he wants him to say in the presence of Ranga. When he comes with Ranga the next day, Shastri comes out with his paraphernalia. He pretends to count on his fingers. He comes out with the right answers satisfying Ranga. We are assumed when the sarcastic comments of the narrator provoke the astrologer. The astrologer boasts that what he was told he could have found out himself from the Shastras. We do not believe what he says. We know that he is one of the many so called astrologers who earn their living by befooling their clients.

Exam Questions from 2011 to 2024

1.       What was the narrators plan to get Ranga Married? What did Ranga think about marriage? 2011

2.       Why was the narrator distressed knowing Ranga’s views about his marriage?         2012

3.       How did the villagers welcome Ranga?         2013

4.       Describe the quality of the mangoes of Hosahalli village          2015

5.       How did Ranga and Ratna react when they saw each other?         2016

6.       Comment on the influence of English – the language and the way of life – on Indian society as reflected in Iyengar’s story “Ranga’s Marriage”. What is the narrator’s attitude to English?    2016,2018

7.       “English integrates India as a nation.” Discuss with examples from the story, Ranga’s Marriage 2015, 2017