Question | Answer |
How many older sisters does Rukmani have? | 3 |
How old is Rukmani when she marries Nathan? | 12 |
When Rukmani becomes sick as she leaves her parents home, what is her new husbands reaction? | he calms and sooths her |
What do the mango leaves symbolize? | happiness |
How long is Rukmani in the village before meeting other women? | one week |
Why does Rukmani go into the village once or twice a week? | to buy sugar, ghee, vegetables, and curds |
How does old Granny make her living? | selling peanuts and guavas |
How long is Rukmani away from house helping the woman in labor? | a day |
When Rukmani begins taking better care of herself and leaving more farming work to Nathan, what does she do in her spare time? | writing |
Which one of the villagers marvels at Rukmanis writing skill? | Janaki |
Which of the villagers is scornful of Rukmanis writing skill? | Kali |
Who helps Rukmani when she is in child birth, and when she recovers from delivery? | Kali helps her |
Why does Kali disagree with Nathan killing the cobra? | she believes they are sacred |
How old is their daughter before Nathan takes an interest in her? | 10 months |
Why does Kali warn Rukmani not to let her daughter walk so early? | because it will make her legs bend like hoops |
What is Nathans roof made out of? | dried coconut palm and clay |
What do Rukmani and her mother do whenever Rukmani travels back to her childhood home? | they go to a temple and pray before the diety |
How long does it take the construction workers to build the tannery? | 2 months |
Why are some people disappointed when the construction workers leave? | because they can no longer sell and trade with them |
What does Kunthi call Rukmani when she complains about the towns expansion and the resulting noise? | a queer being |
What is Iras reaction when her parents restrict her freedom? | she doesn't complain but she is not happy |
How old is Ira when she is given to marriage? | 14 |
How much money is in Ira's dowry? | 100 rupees |
What does Ira wear on her wedding day? | a red sari |
How many nights does the monsoon last? | 8 |
Who are Nathan and Rukmani forced to buy from after the monsoon? | Biswas |
Who are the first to work in the tannery? | Kunthis sons |
How long does Ira's marriage last? | 1 year |
Which of Rukmanis sons is a great reader? | Arjun |
Why does Ira's husband refuse to take her back? | he has taken another wife |
What do Arjun and Thambi do with their wages each week? | they give them to their parents |
What role do Rukmani's sons play in the tannery trouble | they are spokesmen |
Where are Thambi and Arjun working when they leave for Ceylon? | a tea plantation |
What is Selvams new job when he leaves the village? | a servant |
Why does Kenny not remain in the village for long time periods? | he cannot stand poverty |
Who comes to the farm to collect the rent? | Sivaji |
What does Rukmani talk Nathan out of selling? | the seeds |
As Rukmani's family is waiting for the next harvest, even the fish becomes depleted. What does Rukmani do to feed her family? | she gets the food from her secret hoard |
How many portions worth of food do they have during the drought? | 24 |
Why is Raja killed? | for stealing a calfskin from the tannery |
Which of Rukmanis children is in danger of dying of starvation? | Kuti |
Who does Rukmani accidentally attack in her house? | Ira |
What kind of harvest do Rukmani and Nathan have in chapter 17? | a good one |
What does Rukmani share with Kenny when she goes to his house? | that Ira is pregnant |
What does Biswas tell Rukmani when she goes into the village to sell her vegetables? | that Kunthi told him she was having an affair with Kenny |
Which of Nathans sons has no skill for farming? | Selvam |
How long should it take to build the hospital according to plan? | a year |
How long does it actually take to build the hospital? | 7 years |
What is Kennys most frequent saying when building the hospital? | "find ways and means" |
Who believes troubles at the tannery and around the world are caused by books? | Kali believes |
Which of Rukmanis sons marries of his own accord? | Murugan |
Who loves Sacrabani unconditionally other than his mom? | Selvam |