Iswaran The Storyteller

Hello my dear students, welcome to today's English lesson. I'm so happy to see you all here, ready to learn something new and interesting. Today we are going to study a very fascinating chapter from your NCERT English Moments textbook. The chapter is titled "Iswaran the Storyteller" and it is Chapter 3 of your book. Before we begin, make sure you have your books open and your pens ready to note down important points. Are you ready? Wonderful, let's begin!

Now students, this story is about two main characters - Mahendra and his cook Iswaran. The story is narrated to a person named Ganesh by a young man called Mahendra. Mahendra, as we learn, works as a junior supervisor in a firm that provides supervisors for various construction sites like factories, bridges, dams, and so on. His job is quite interesting because he has to keep moving from one place to another as and when his head office orders him. One day he might be at a coal mining area, then after a few months he might be at a railway bridge construction site, and then perhaps at a chemical plant that is being built somewhere. So you see, his life involves a lot of traveling and adjusting to new places.

Mahendra is a bachelor, which means he lives alone. His needs are quite simple and he can adjust to all kinds of odd conditions. Whether it is an ill-equipped circuit house or a makeshift canvas tent in the middle of a stone quarry, he manages quite well. But the most important thing in his life, the real asset he has, is his cook named Iswaran. Now students, let me tell you why Iswaran is so special. He is extremely devoted and attached to Mahendra. He follows Mahendra uncomplainingly wherever he is posted. He doesn't complain about the hardships of moving to new places or living in remote areas. He cooks for Mahendra, washes his clothes, and most importantly, he chats away with his master at night. But that's not all - Iswaran has another wonderful quality. He can weave out endless stories and anecdotes on varied subjects. He is a master storyteller!

And here's something really amazing, students. Iswaran has this incredible capacity to produce vegetables and cooking ingredients, seemingly out of nowhere. Imagine this - they arrive at a new workplace in the middle of a desolate landscape with no shops visible for miles around. Within just one hour, Iswaran magically conjures up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables. Isn't that wonderful? He truly is a remarkable person.

Now let's talk about their daily routine. Mahendra would wake up early in the morning and leave for work after breakfast. He would carry some prepared food with him for lunch at the work site. Meanwhile, Iswaran would tidy up the shed, wash the clothes, and have a leisurely bath. He would pour several buckets of water over his head while muttering a prayer all the while. After having his lunch, he would read for a while before dozing off. The book he usually read was some popular Tamil thriller running to hundreds of pages. The imaginative descriptions and narrative flourishes in those books would hold Iswaran in thrall, which means they would captivate him completely. This is why his own storytelling became so vivid and engaging - he was greatly influenced by the Tamil authors he read.

Students, here's an important point about Iswaran's storytelling style. When he was narrating even the smallest of incidents, he would try to work in suspense and a surprise ending into the account. Let me give you an example from the chapter. Instead of simply saying that he had come across an uprooted tree on the highway, he would say it in a much more dramatic way. He would arch his eyebrows suitably and hold out his hands in a dramatic gesture, and then say, "The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out." Don't you think that's a much more interesting way of describing a simple thing? This is what makes Iswaran such a good storyteller. He knows how to capture his listener's attention and keep them hooked.

Now, students, let's discuss one of Iswaran's most elaborate stories - the story of the tusker elephant. This is a very important part of the chapter, so pay close attention. Iswaran would begin by saying, "The place I come from is famous for timber. There is a richly wooded forest all around. The logs are hauled on to the lorries by elephants. They are huge well-fed beasts. When they turn wild even the most experienced mahout is not able to control them." After this prologue, he would launch into an elaborate anecdote involving an elephant.

He would describe how one day a tusker - which is a male elephant with tusks - escaped from the timber yard and began to roam about, stamping on bushes, tearing up wild creepers and breaking branches at will. He would say, "You know, sir, how an elephant behaves when it goes mad." And then he would get so caught up in the excitement of his own story that he would actually get up from the floor and jump about, stamping his feet to emulate the mad elephant. Can you imagine that? He doesn't just tell the story, he acts it out!

The story continues with the elephant reaching the outskirts of their town, breaking down fences like matchsticks, coming into the main road and smashing all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots and clothes. People ran helter-skelter in panic! The elephant then entered a school ground where children were playing, breaking through the brick wall. All the boys ran into the classrooms and shut the doors tight. The beast grunted and wandered about, pulling out the football goal-post, tearing down the volleyball net, kicking and flattening the drum kept for water, and uprooting the shrubs. Meanwhile, all the teachers had climbed up to the terrace of the school building and from there they helplessly watched the depredations - which means the attacks - of the elephant. There was not a soul below on the ground. The streets were empty as if the inhabitants of the entire town had suddenly disappeared.

Now comes the most exciting part of the story. Iswaran says that he was studying in the junior class at that time and was watching the whole drama from the rooftop. He doesn't know what came over him suddenly, but he grabbed a cane from the hands of one of the teachers and ran down the stairs and into the open. The elephant grunted and menacingly swung a branch of a tree which it held in its trunk. It stamped its feet, kicking up a lot of mud and dust. It looked frightening. But Iswaran moved slowly towards it, stick in hand. People were watching the scene hypnotised from nearby housetops. The elephant looked at him with red eyes, ready to rush towards him. It lifted its trunk and trumpeted loudly. At that moment Iswaran moved forward and, mustering all his force, whacked its third toenail on the quick. The beast looked stunned for a moment; then it shivered from head to foot - and collapsed.

At this point, students, Iswaran would leave the story unfinished and get up, mumbling, "I will be back after lighting the gas and warming up the dinner." Mahendra, who had been listening with rapt attention - that means with complete fascination - would be left hanging, wanting to know what happens next. When Iswaran returned, he would not pick up the thread of the story right away. Mahendra would have to remind him that the conclusion was pending. Then Iswaran would shrug casually and say, "Well, a veterinary doctor was summoned to revive the animal. Two days later it was led away by its mahout to the jungle."

When Mahendra asked him how he managed to do it, how he brought down the beast, Iswaran would say, "It has something to do with a Japanese art, I think, sir. Karate or ju-jitsu it is called. I had read about it somewhere. It temporarily paralyses the nervous system, you see."

Now students, let me ask you something. Does this story of the tusker appear to be plausible? That is, does it seem believable? Think about it for a moment. Is it really possible for a small child to bring down a wild elephant just by hitting its toenail? Probably not, right? This is what we call a tall story - a story that is exaggerated and hard to believe. But the way Iswaran tells it, with so much drama and enthusiasm, it certainly sounds exciting, doesn't it? That's the magic of his storytelling.

The author tells us that not a day passed without Iswaran recounting some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense. Whether the story was credible or not, Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in which it was told. Inimitable means something that cannot be copied or imitated. Iswaran's storytelling style was unique to him. The author also says that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra's living quarters. What do you think this means? It means that since Mahendra didn't have a television in his room, Iswaran's stories provided him with the same kind of entertainment and enjoyment that one might get from watching TV. His stories were that good!

Now students, let's move on to another important part of the story. One morning when Mahendra was having breakfast, Iswaran asked if he could make something special for dinner that night. He said it was an auspicious day - according to tradition, they prepare various delicacies to feed the spirits of their ancestors. This shows us that Iswaran follows certain traditions and customs. That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. But then, unexpectedly, Iswaran launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.

He said, "You know, sir, this entire factory area we are occupying was once a burial ground." Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal. Iswaran continued, "I knew on the first day itself when I saw a human skull lying on the path. Even now I come across a number of skulls and bones." He went on to narrate how he sometimes saw ghosts at night. He said he was not easily frightened by these things and that he was a brave fellow. But then he described one horrible ghost of a woman which appears off and on at midnight during the full moon. He described it as an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms.

Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, "You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined - and maybe your head as well. You are talking nonsense." He left the room and retired for the night, expecting Iswaran to sulk for a couple of days. But the next morning he was surprised to find the cook as cheerful and talkative as ever.

Now students, here's what happens after this. From that day on, Mahendra, for all his brave talk about not believing in ghosts, went to bed with a certain unease. Every night he peered into the darkness outside through the window next to his bed, trying to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes in the vicinity. But he could only see a sea of darkness with the twinkling lights of the factory miles away. He had always liked to admire the milk-white landscape on full-moon nights. But after hearing Iswaran's story of the female ghost, he avoided looking out of his window altogether when the moon was full. Do you see what happened here? Even though Mahendra said he didn't believe in ghosts, the story had planted a seed of fear in his mind. This is the power of suggestion, students.

Then one night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. At first he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural - that means too harsh and produced in the throat - for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing became louder and less feline. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill, he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting. As he gradually recovered from this ghastly experience, he began to reason with himself and finally concluded that it must have been some sort of autosuggestion, some trick that his subconscious had played on him. In other words, he convinced himself that he had imagined it.

By the time he got up in the morning, had a bath and came out to have his breakfast, the horror of the previous night had faded from his memory. Iswaran greeted him at the door with his lunch packet and his bag. Just as Mahendra was stepping out, Iswaran grinned and said, "Sir, remember the other day when I was telling you about the female ghost with a foetus in its arms, you were so angry with me for imagining things? Well, you saw her yourself last night. I came running hearing the sound of moaning that was coming from your room..."

A chill went down Mahendra's spine. He did not wait for Iswaran to complete his sentence. He hurried away to his office and handed in his papers, resolving to leave the haunted place the very next day! And that, students, is how the story ends. Mahendra, who had mocked Iswaran for talking about ghosts and called them a figment of imagination, finally gets scared himself and decides to leave the place. What a twist in the tale!

Now let's look at some important words from the glossary. The first word is "in thrall" which means the state of being in someone's power or completely under someone's influence. In the chapter, it says that the imaginative descriptions in Tamil thrillers held Iswaran in thrall. The second word is "depredations" which means attacks which are made to destroy something. In the story, the teachers watched the depredations of the elephant from the terrace. The third word is "guttural sound" which refers to a sound produced in the throat - harsh-sounding. Mahendra heard a guttural sound outside his window. And the fourth word is "feline" which means relating to cats or other members of the cat family. The sound at first seemed feline to Mahendra.

Now students, let's answer the "Think About It" questions together. I'll go through each one carefully.

Question 1: In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

An asset is something or someone that is valuable or useful. Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra in many ways. First, he is a wonderful cook who can prepare delicious meals even in the most difficult conditions - in the middle of a desolate landscape with no shops around. Second, he is extremely devoted and loyal - he follows Mahendra uncomplainingly wherever he is posted, whether it's a circuit house or a canvas tent. Third, he washes Mahendra's clothes and takes care of all his domestic needs. Fourth, and most importantly, he is a great storyteller who provides Mahendra with entertainment and companionship, especially on lonely nights at remote work sites. He makes up for the absence of a TV. So in multiple ways, Iswaran is truly an asset to Mahendra.

Question 2: How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

Iswaran describes the uprooted tree in a very dramatic and exaggerated manner. Instead of simply saying he saw a fallen tree, he says, "The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out."

The effect he wants to create in his listeners is suspense and surprise. He wants to keep them guessing, to make them curious and anxious to know what happened next. By comparing a simple uprooted tree to a bushy beast, he adds an element of mystery and drama to his narration. This is typical of his storytelling style - he always tries to work in suspense and a surprise ending into even the smallest incidents.

Question 3: How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Iswaran narrates the story of the tusker with great drama and enthusiasm. He begins with a prologue about his hometown being famous for timber and about elephants. Then he launches into the story of how a tusker escaped and went on a rampage, destroying stalls, entering a school ground, and creating chaos. He acts out the story by jumping about and stamping his feet to emulate the elephant. He describes how as a child, he confronted the elephant and brought it down by hitting its toenail with a cane. He leaves the story unfinished at a crucial point to create suspense, and later reveals that the elephant was revived by a veterinary doctor.

Now, does this story appear to be plausible? Probably not. It seems to be a tall story - an exaggerated account that is hard to believe. The idea of a small child bringing down a wild elephant just by hitting its toenail is quite unbelievable. However, the way Iswaran tells it, with so much detail and drama, makes it sound exciting and entertaining. Whether it's true or not, it certainly captures the listener's attention.

Question 4: Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra's living quarters?

The author says this because Iswaran's storytelling provided Mahendra with the same kind of entertainment and enjoyment that one might get from watching television. Since Mahendra's living quarters didn't have a TV, Iswaran's endless stories filled that void. His tales were packed with adventure, horror and suspense, and they kept Mahendra engaged and entertained just like a good TV program would. In fact, the author suggests that Iswaran's storytelling was even better than TV because it was live, personalized, and tailored to Mahendra's tastes. So yes, he more than made up for the absence of a TV.

Question 5: Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

When Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination, he means they are not real - they are just products of one's imagination. However, despite saying this, he himself becomes a victim of fear on a full-moon night. After listening to Iswaran's story about the female ghost, Mahendra avoids looking out of his window on full-moon nights. But one night, he hears a low moan outside his window. Despite trying to resist, he finally looks out and sees a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle in the moonlight. He breaks into a cold sweat and is terrified. Although he tries to convince himself that it was autosuggestion or a trick of his subconscious, the experience shakes him badly. When Iswaran later tells him that he saw the ghost too, Mahendra is completely terrified and decides to leave the place the very next day. So you see, even though he claimed not to believe in ghosts, he was deeply affected by the story and ended up seeing things in the dark.

Question 6: Can you think of some other ending for the story?

This is a creative question, students, and there can be many different endings. Let me give you a few possibilities. One ending could be that Mahendra decides to investigate the matter further. Instead of running away, he decides to find out the truth about the ghost. He might set up a camera or wait for another full-moon night to see what really happens. He could discover that it was actually Iswaran himself playing a prank on him, or perhaps some local animal or phenomenon that looked ghostly in the moonlight.

Another ending could be that Mahendra confronts Iswaran about the ghost story and they have a good laugh about it. Mahendra realizes that he was being silly and decides to stay on. Iswaran continues to tell his wonderful stories, and they both have many more adventures together.

Yet another ending could be that Mahendra stays but becomes very cautious. He starts carrying some protective charm or object, or he makes sure there's always a light on in his room at night. He never quite gets over the fear, but he learns to live with it.

Or perhaps the most surprising ending could be that the ghost story turns out to be true! Maybe there really is something supernatural in that place, and Mahendra has a real encounter with it. This would be a completely different kind of story.

These are just some ideas, students. You can think of many more creative endings yourselves!

Now let's look at the "Talk About It" activity. The question asks: Is Iswaran a fascinating storyteller? Discuss with your friends the qualities of a good storyteller. Try to use these qualities and tell a story.

Students, from what we have read in the chapter, Iswaran is definitely a fascinating storyteller. He has many qualities that make him good at what he does. Let me list some of these qualities for you.

First, he uses vivid descriptions. He doesn't just tell facts; he paints pictures with words. When he describes the uprooted tree, he makes it sound like a bushy beast. When he describes the ghost, he talks about matted hair and a shrivelled face.

Second, he uses suspense. He always keeps his listeners guessing about what will happen next. He leaves stories unfinished at crucial moments to build tension.

Third, he uses dramatic gestures and expressions. He arches his eyebrows, holds out his hands dramatically, and even acts out parts of his stories by jumping and stamping his feet.

Fourth, he uses his imagination and adds interesting details. He draws from the Tamil thrillers he reads and incorporates elements of adventure, horror, and suspense into his tales.

Fifth, he has a unique style that is all his own - inimitable, as the author says. He doesn't try to copy anyone; he has developed his own way of telling stories.

Sixth, he is passionate about storytelling. He genuinely enjoys telling stories and putting on a show for his listener. This enthusiasm is contagious and makes his stories even more engaging.

Seventh, he knows his audience. He can gauge what kind of story will interest Mahendra and tailor his narration accordingly.

So students, if you want to be good storytellers like Iswaran, you should try to develop these qualities. Practice telling stories to your friends and family. Use your imagination, add details, create suspense, and don't be afraid to use gestures and expressions. The more you practice, the better you will become.

Now students, I would also like to mention the "Suggested Reading" section at the end of the chapter. The book suggests some other stories you might enjoy reading. These include "The Story Teller" by Saki, which is another interesting tale about storytelling, "Ghost Stories" edited by Ruskin Bond, "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde, and "Pret in the House" by Ruskin Bond. These are all wonderful stories that I think you would really enjoy. If you get a chance, do read some of them. They will help you appreciate the art of storytelling even more.

Now let me give you a brief summary of everything we have learned in this chapter. This will help you revise and remember the key points.

In this chapter, we learned about Mahendra, a junior supervisor who moves from one construction site to another, and his cook Iswaran who accompanies him everywhere. Iswaran is not just a cook but also a wonderful storyteller who entertains Mahendra with his tales. He has a unique style of narration - he uses suspense, dramatic gestures, and vivid descriptions to make even simple incidents sound exciting. One of his most elaborate stories is about a tusker elephant that went on a rampage and was brought down by him as a child. Although the story seems exaggerated and unbelievable, it is very entertaining.

One day, Iswaran tells Mahendra about a haunted burial ground where they are staying and describes a female ghost that appears on full-moon nights. Mahendra dismisses this as nonsense and calls ghosts a figment of imagination. However, one night he himself sees a dark cloudy form outside his window and gets terrified. When Iswaran later tells him that he saw the ghost too, Mahendra decides to leave the place immediately. The story ends with Mahendra handing in his papers and resolving to leave the haunted place the next day.

The chapter teaches us about the power of storytelling and how words can create fear or entertainment. It also shows us how our own minds can play tricks on us when we are suggestible. The chapter ends on a humorous note because Mahendra, who mocked Iswaran for believing in ghosts, ends up being more scared than anyone.

Students, I hope you enjoyed this lesson as much as I enjoyed teaching it to you. Remember to read the chapter again at home and try to answer the questions on your own. And most importantly, try to appreciate the art of storytelling. Maybe you can also try telling a story to your family members using some of the techniques we discussed today. Thank you for listening so patiently. Until next time, take care and keep learning!