CH – 1
A Girl with a Basket
In this post we have given the summary of the chapter “A Girl with a Basket”. It is the 1st chapter of the prose of Class 12th Up board English.
Written by: – William c Douglas
About the Author: –
William C Douglas was very eager to know about India, he was a judge of supreme court of America, came in India in 1950. In his visit, He travelled from Delhi to Ranikhet(a hill station in Himalaya) in a train. He was a realist person and supporter of labor. He loved Self-respect and self-confidence, our Indian nature and its Beauty. A Girl with a Basket is one of his famous essays.
About lesson: –
This has been written by William C Douglas. He came in Indian after the partition of the country in1950. India was full of refugees. People came in India back because of communal fanaticism. This lesson is mainly based on the experience of a railway station where some refugee children were selling baskets and fans. He impressed by a nine year old girl.
Based on experience of William C Douglas who was on trip of India, He left Delhi to go Ranikhet, an old British army hill station of Himalayas. He travelled in train till Bareilly,he used to find a person to talk in English on every platform. Discussed world affairs, news and every major topic. While conversations he was able to judge tide of official reports and attitudes. Elaborate Indian landscape, wild life with agricultural activities. Swollen with flood waters. Air moved in south-west, which villages he passed had walls made of mud mixed with water and cow- dug. Roofs were thatched, at one station he noticed some children who were selling hand-woven baskets.
Nine million people came back from Pakistan because of religious fanaticism. Many people died in violence and starvation. Homeless, poor people made cloth-grass shed. He had seen the reports of labors who were not able to earn two dollars in a week, they got one meal in a day- an onion, a piece of bread, a bowl of pulses with milk and bit of goat cheese. He bought lot of basket from children in less cost. Nine year old girl was trying to sell their beautiful basket to him (with a kind handed) his arms were full and no room of basket. He gave fifteen cents to her as a charity but she refused to take the gratuity with pride. He bought the basket of fifteen cents. Shared this story with prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He told the reason of India’s warm soul embroidered with pride, decency, citizenship’s feelings and love for independence.
