Unit 15 People and Place Exercise: Class 10 English Guide

• a. Why has Jhamak opined her life as a heavy load life? Answer: In Jhamak's senses, she considers her life a burden because of the physical disabilities that came with her from birth and living with so it is among the most unwanted ones.
• b. The line of fate that fortune draws, when (age)? Explanation: As per the folk belief quoted in the text, fortune draws a line of fate on the sixth day after a baby's birth.
• c. What did people say about her life story? Did she think that they behaved themselves? Answer: Pretty good reasons: Society labelled Jhamak as someone cursed by gods, because if one was physically or mentally impaired then it was believed that their parents have had bad deeds in their previous life.Jhamak did not get love nor sympathy from people. No, she hated that they did that because it made her feel like a burden.
• d. With whom does Jhamak make a comparison? What was different about them from Jhamak? Answer: Jhamak often reflects on her character as a writer and a human being in the light of illustrious figures from history who – even when blind, deaf, mournful, or afflicted with madness – have gone on to immortalise themselves. Examples are Homer and Helen Keller (although I would certainly argue for Malala as an inspiring figure also). The only difference is where and when she was born, in a world that treated her as lower class and paid less for her disabilities.
• e. Was becoming aware a curse for her? Why? Why Jhamak started referring awareness as a curse? A: Once Jhamak achieved awareness she became more aware of her limitations and desires however it was ensured already by destiny that these desires can never be fulfilled due to her physical disabilities, so life became like burden.
• f. How does Jhamak illustrate her family financial condition in her childhood? question: What was the economic condition of your family like? answer: They were not very well off, it was really hard to have two meals a day, and her parents used to stay hungry so that their children could eat.

E. Read the opening chapter of 'Jivan Kadan Ki Phul' in Nepali and narrate the story of Jhamak's life in your own words.

Jhamak Ghimire stands as an individual who struggled a lot from the start of her life. She suffered disabilities from her birth that made it impossible for her to walk and speak as others do. Nevertheless, she had fire in her heart and the spirit of someone who craved more from life.

Her family — especially her grandmother — nurtured and doted upon her. Raised in a poor family, Jhamak had her childhood best-pal grandmother, who not only fed her but also exposed to many aspects of life that made her colorfully joyous.

When Jhamak got older and came to realize the nature of her environment and of her inability, she experienced severe emotional distress. Around her, more often than not instead of sympathy it was her that ended up in a blame for being disabled. This facilitated her feeling like a liability, and she wondered why she had to go through all this.

With all her short comings, she was resolute not to let the physical hindrance put a stop to who needed to be Jhamak. That was how she learned to write — with her feet — and as an adult, she went on to become a highly regarded writer and poet.

Jhamak experienced hardship after hardship however, in her life there were also beautiful moments filled with joy in which you could see who she truly was. She saw that the human bonds of love matter, especially her grandmother's love unconditional. With her writing, she shared a special lens of life that inspired others to see the world differently.

Jhamak Ghimire is a symbol of the resilient human spirit and willpower against challenges. She overcame her disability to became an accomplished writer and poet who touched so many readers through her writings.