Chapter 8: Kathmandu Poem: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Answer: The author says that, unlike other hawkers, the flute seller plays slowly without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise.

Question 2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?

Answer: A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river Bagmati’s bank. It is believed that when it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.

Answer: The author has drawn powerful images and pictures.

(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath: Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. A party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter the temple as the gate says that only Hindus are allowed in the temple.

(ii) the things he sees: Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.

(iii) the sounds he hears: Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.

III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each.

Answer: The author says that the atmosphere in Pashupatinath temple was an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. He says that priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs can be seen roaming through the grounds. There are so many worshippers that people are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front.

At Baudhnath temple, the Buddhist shrine, there was a sense of stillness. There is no crowd. It is a safe place of quietness in the busy streets around.

Answer: The author describes Kathmandu’s busiest streets as vivid, mercenary and religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets. The streets are full of fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.

Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows look questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.

Answer: “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.”

The poet says this when he talks about five types of flutes- – the reed neh, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America and the high-pitched Chinese flutes. He says that a flute is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. It is found in every culture. He says that flute links to our common characteristics. Just like every human being, the motive force is living breath. It too, needs to pause and breathe before it can go on.