Children At Work Flashcards
Why did Velu feel as if he was still on a moving train while standing on the platform?
Velu was in great fear, tired, and hungry. He did not know what lay ahead, so his legs were unsteady as if he was still on a moving train.
What made him feel miserable?
Velu was hungry and tired. He saw as many people as he had seen in the village fair. They were all walking with their luggage. Velu was much confused and did not know what to do. This made him feel miserable.
Velu travelled without a ticket. Why?
Velu travelled without a ticket because he had no money to buy one.
How did he escape the ticket collector’s attention?
The ticket collector did not come to the undeserved compartment, so Velu escaped his attention.
Why had Velu run away from home?
Velu ran away from home because his father would take the money he and his sister earned by working on the farm, and he would spend it on drinking. His father would also beat him, and Velu could no longer endure it. So, he ran away from home.
Why did he decide to follow the strange girl?
Velu decided to follow the strange girl because she promised to give him food, and he was very hungry and knew no other way to get food.
Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know?
Velu cannot read English because he couldn’t read the English signboards. However, he can read Tamil, as he was able to read the Tamil sign on the central jail.
“If you are not careful, you will be counting bars there,” the girl said.
(i) What is she referring to?
(ii)What does she mean when she says “if you are not careful”?
(i) She is referring to central jail.
(ii) She means that doing wrong is not important. Even innocent people can be arrested by the police. So the important thing is to not get caught. A little later, she says, “just don’t get caught, that’s all,” which means the same thing.
Where did the girl lead Velu to?
The girl led Velu to a marriage hut.
What did they get to eat?
They got to eat two crushed bananas and a vada from a big garbage bin. It was leftover food.
What work did the girl do?
rag-picking.
What material are the strange huts made out of?
The strange huts are made out of metal sheets, tires, bricks, wood, and plastic.
Why does Velu find them strange?
Velu finds them strange because in his village, the houses are made of mud and palm leaves.
What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect? And what did they do with these things?
Jaya and children like her collected paper, plastic, glass, and other materials. They sold these things to Jam Bazaar Jaggu, who later sold them to a factory.
Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give reason.
Velu was not happy to find work. He accepted it because he had no other choice. He scratched his head and sighed before accepting the work.
