The Homecoming

by Rabindranath Tagore
(I) Phatik Chakravorti was ringleader among the boys of the village. A new mischief got
into his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river waiting to be
shaped into a mast for a boat. He decided that they should all work together to shift
the log by main force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be
angry and surprised, and they would all enjoy the fun. Every one seconded the
proposal, and it was carried unanimously.

(1) What new mischief got into Phatik’s head?

Answer: The new mischief that got into Phatik’s head was to shift a heavy log from the riverbank
by force as a prank, which would anger and surprise the log’s owner.
(2) For what was the log lying on the mud-flat of the river?
Answer: The log lying on the mud-flat of the river was waiting to be shaped into a mast for a
boat.
(3) What did Phatik decide?
Answer: Phatik decided that all the boys should work together to shift the heavy log from its
place and roll it away as a prank.
(4) What would the boys enjoy?
Answer: The boys would enjoy the fun of angering and surprising the log’s owner with their
mischievous prank.
(5) What was the ‘fun’ that was about to begin? Who posed an obstacle in carrying out of the
fun? How?
Answer: The “fun” that was about to begin was the boy's plan to shift a heavy log lying on the
mud-flat of the river. They wanted to roll the log away, and angering its owner for their own
amusement. Makhan, Phatik’s younger brother, posed an obstacle by sitting on the log, refusing
to move.

(II) Phatik wiped his face, and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge on the river bank,
and began to chew a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing, and a middle-
aged man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy
sitting there doing nothing, and asked him where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik went
on chewing the grass, and said: “Over there,” but it was quite impossible to tell
where he pointed. The stranger asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the
 side of the barge, and said; “Go and find out” and continued to chew the grass as
before.

(1) What had happened a little earlier for which Phatik had to wipe his face?
Answer: Just before this, Phatik had gotten into a fight with his brother Makhan and had
presumably gotten hit or scratched in the face, therefore he had to wipe his face.
(2) Who was this middle aged man who stepped on shore?
Answer: This middle aged man was Bishamber, Phatik’s maternal uncle. He came there to meet
her sister, as soon as he found out where she lives.
(3) What did the 'man' ask the boy? What reply did the boy give? What was wrong with the
answer?
Answer: The man asked Phatik where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik vaguely replied "Over
there" while chewing grass, but his answer was unhelpful.
(4) What can you say about Phatik's rude behaviour with the stranger?
Answer: Phatik's rude behaviour shows his immaturity and lack of respect for adults. He is
unhelpful on purpose and continues chewing grass indifferently.
(5) State any two traits of the stranger's personality in the story.
Answer: Two traits of the stranger’s personality are:
a) Concerned and Helpful: The stranger, Phatik’s Uncle, shows concern for his sister
and her children. He takes the initiative to visit them and offers to take Phatik
under his care. He also takes care of Phatik when he falls ill.
b) Observant and Perceptive: When the stranger arrives at his sister's house and sees
Phatik sitting on the barge, he immediately senses that something is wrong.
Consequently on the later part of the story, the stranger realizes Phatik’s longing
for his village and his deep love for his mother. This perception leads him to take
the step of bringing Phatik back to his mother.

(III) There is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither
ornamental nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a little boy;
and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a baby,
and if he answers in a grown-up way he is called impertinent. In fact any talk at all
from him is resented. Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his
clothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face
grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early
childhood, but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. The
lad himself becomes painfully self-conscious. When he talks with elderly people he is
either unduly forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his very
existence.
(1) According to Tagore what is the biggest nuisance in the world of human affairs? Why is it
so?
Answer: According to Tagore, the biggest nuisance in the world of human affairs is a boy at
the age of Fourteen. This is because he is neither ornamental nor useful, gets in the way, and
it is hard to shower affection or tolerate him.
(2) Why is the boy of fourteen criticized when he talks like a grown up person?
Answer: When a boy of fourteen talks like a grown up person, he is criticized for being
impertinent.
(3) What are we told about physical growth of a boy at the age of fourteen?
Answer: We are told that physically a boy grows very rapidly at fourteen – he grows out of
his clothes quickly, his voice changes and becomes hoarse/unsteady, and his face grows
angular and unsightly.
(4) What does a young lad’s heart crave for most at this age?
Answer: At this age a young lad’s heart craves most for recognition and love/affection from
others.
(5) How is the theme of abandonment hinted upon in the story?
Answer: The theme of abandonment is hinted upon in the story through Phatik’s departure
from his village and his longing for home. He feels unwelcome in Bishamber’s family, which
intensifies his sense of abandonment. The story explores the emotional impact of leaving
behind familiar surroundings and loved ones, emphasizing the theme of abandonment.

(IV) For a boy of fourteen his own home is the only paradise. To live in a strange house
with strange people is little short of torture, while the height of bliss is to receive the
kind looks of women, and never to be slighted by them. It was anguish to Phatik to be
the unwelcome guest in his aunt’s house, despised by this elderly woman, and
slighted, on every occasion. If she ever asked him to do anything for her, he would be
so overjoyed that he would overdo it; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid,
but to get on with his lessons.

(1) What happens if a boy of fourteen is continuously scolded?

Answer: If a boy of fourteen is continuously scolded, he becomes like a stray dog that has
lost his master.
(2) What is the height of bliss for a boy of fourteen?
Answer: For a boy of fourteen, the height of bliss is to receive the kind looks and affection of
women, and never to be slighted by them.
(3) How did Phatik feel in his uncle’s house?
Answer: Phatik felt anguished to be an unwelcome guest in his aunt’s house, despised and
slighted by her on every occasion.
(4) How did Phatik react whenever his aunt asked him to do something?
Answer: Whenever his aunt asked Phatik to do something, he would be so overjoyed that he
would overdo it.
(5) How is a boy of fourteen a big nuisance?
Answer: A boy of fourteen is a big nuisance because he is seen as neither ornamental nor
useful, gets in the way, and it is hard to shower affection or tolerate his behaviour. He is at an
awkward growing age and can seem immature.

(V) Phatik heard her words, and sobbed out loud: “Uncle, I was just going home; but
they dragged me back again.” The fever rose very high, and all that night the boy
was delirious. Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with
fever, and looked up to the ceiling, and said vacantly: “Uncle, have the holidays
come yet? May I go home?” Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes, and took
Phatik’s lean and burning hands in his own, and sat by him through the night. The
boy began again to mutter. At last his voice became excited: “Mother” he cried,
“don’t beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the truth!”

(1) How did Phatik become ill? Why did he want to go home so desperately?
Answer: Phatik became ill due to the mistreatment he endured at his aunt’s house and in his
school. He desperately wanted to go home because he felt unloved and unwanted in his
aunt’s house, longing for the warmth and comfort of his mother's presence in the familiar
village environment.
(2) Who are they’ referred to in the second line? Why did they bring Phatik home?
Answer: They’ refers to the police/constables who had found Phatik after he went missing
and brought him home, wet and sick with fever.
(3) Tears came into Bishamber’s eyes. Why?
Answer: Tears came into Bishamber’s eyes because he felt sad and sympathetic seeing Phatik
so sick with high fever.
(4) What light does the character of Bishamber throw in this passage?
Answer: Bishamber’s sitting by Phatik through the night shows he truly cared for the boy and
wanted to provide comfort/support despite Phatik being a burden.
(5) What feelings do you have for Phatik at this juncture? Give reasons to support your
answer.
Answer: At this juncture in the story, I sympathise with Phatik due to his deteriorating health
and his desperate longing to go home for the holidays. Phatik’s illness and his yearning for
the familiar comforts of home evoke feelings of empathy and concern. His repeated inqueries
about the arrival of the holidays demonstrate his eagerness to be reunited with his family and
enjoy the festive season.