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Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 5 Bina Kutir
–Saurov Kumar Chaliha
About the Author
Saurov Kumar Chaliha was a renowned Assamese short story writer and engineer, whose real name was Surendra Nath Medhi. He was born in 1930 in Assam and became one of the most important figures in modern Assamese literature.
Chaliha was educated in engineering and worked as a civil engineer, but he gained great recognition for his literary contributions. He is known for introducing modern themes and narrative techniques in Assamese short stories. His writings often explore human psychology, loneliness, and the complexities of modern life.
Some of his notable works include Ashanta Electron, Dupariya, and Golam. His stories are marked by depth, subtlety, and a reflective tone. For his outstanding contribution to literature, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Saurov Kumar Chaliha passed away in 2011, leaving behind a rich legacy in Assamese literature.
Word Notes
Imagination: The creative power of the narrator to build stories about the house and its people.
Reality: The actual facts about the house, which differ from the narrator’s thoughts.
Nostalgia: A feeling of longing for the past reflected in the narrator’s vision of the house.
Assam-type house: A traditional single-storey structure typical of Assam.
Commercialization: The growth of business activities replacing old residential spaces.
Urbanization: The rapid development of city life with modern buildings and industries.
Contrast: The difference between the old house and the surrounding concrete structures.
Isolation: The lonely position of Bina Kutir among busy commercial buildings.
Speculation: The act of forming ideas without full knowledge, as done by the narrator.
Memory: The imagined past associated with the house.
Symbolism: The use of objects like the house and Coca-Cola bottle to convey deeper meaning.
Coca-Cola bottle: A device that helps the narrator visualize imagined scenes.
Characterisation: The creation of characters through imagination.
Tradition: The old values and lifestyle represented by the house.
Modernity: The new, commercial way of life surrounding the house.
Transformation: The change from a quiet residential area to a busy commercial zone.
Conflict: The difference between emotional attachment and commercial interest.
Heritage: The cultural value of old buildings and past life.
Detachment: The lack of emotional connection shown by the present owners.
Irony: The contrast between the narrator’s rich imagination and the practical reality.
Summary
Bina Kutir by Saurov Kumar Chaliha is a reflective and imaginative story that explores the contrast between reality and imagination, as well as the effects of urban change on human values. The narrative centres on an old Assam-type house standing in a rapidly commercializing area, which captures the attention of the narrator.
At the beginning, the narrator observes the house as a relic of the past surrounded by modern concrete buildings and busy commercial establishments. This contrast creates a sense of nostalgia and loss. As he sits with a bottle of Coca-Cola, he begins to imagine the history of the house and the lives of the people who once lived there.
Through his imagination, the narrator constructs a detailed picture of a family associated with the house. He invents characters such as the daughter Bina, her lover, and the two sons with their different personalities and life choices. These imagined scenes are vivid and almost cinematic, showing the narrator’s deep emotional involvement with the place.
However, as the story progresses, reality gradually intrudes upon his imagination. He learns that the house is now the subject of legal disputes and commercial plans by the sons, who intend to replace it with a modern building. This revelation disrupts the narrator’s romantic vision and highlights the dominance of material interests over emotional and cultural values.
The story is rich in irony. While the narrator tries to preserve the beauty and meaning of the past through imagination, the actual owners are focused on profit and development. The Coca-Cola bottle serves as a symbolic device that bridges imagination and reality, allowing the narrator to visualize what no longer exists.
Critically, the story comments on the loss of tradition, the rise of commercialism, and the power of human imagination. It shows how modern urban life often erases the charm and emotional depth of the past. At the same time, it emphasizes the creative ability of the human mind to reconstruct meaning and beauty even in ordinary surroundings.
In conclusion, Bina Kutir is a subtle and thought-provoking story that blends imagination with social commentary. It presents a poignant reflection on change, memory, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Comprehension: Textual Question-Answers
A. State whether these sentences are True or False.
1. Bina Kutir is an RCC building.
Ans: False. (It is an old, solitary Assam-type house with a single storey).
2. Rehana is the name of the daughter.
Ans: False. (Rehana is the younger son’s wife, while the narrator imagines the daughter’s name to be Bina).
3. The narrator sips Coca-Cola.
Ans: True.
4. The young man is preparing for an Economics exam.
Ans: True.
B. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. Which car brand is mentioned in the story?
Ans: Ford.
2. Mr Mehta’s office is located in which city?
Ans: Calcutta.
3. Which alternative location was offered to the narrator regarding a rented accommodation?
Ans: Lachit Nagar.
4. Where does the younger son go to pursue medical studies?
Ans: Dibrugarh.
5. Who is Brajen Kalita?
Ans: A PWD overseer.
C. Answer these questions in a few words each.
1. Name the places from Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram mentioned in the story.
Ans: The story refers to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh and Aizawl in Mizoram.
2. What is the name of the younger son’s wife and in which part of the house are they seen to be engaged in conversation?
Ans: The younger son’s wife is Rehana, and they are imagined talking in the backyard of the house.
3. Who enquired about the monthly shipment of a product, and what was that product?
Ans: A couple asked about the regular supply of Glaxo.
4. To which school were classes shifted for six months, and why?
Ans: Classes were moved to Bishnuram High School because the original school building was occupied by the military.
5. What did the girl go to watch when it passed by the gate?
Ans: The girl hurried to the veranda to see a horse-drawn carriage decorated with film posters and accompanied by a band.
D. Answer these questions briefly in your own words.
1. What is your impression of the neighbourhood where Bina Kutir is located?
Ans: The area appears to be changing rapidly into a commercial zone filled with concrete structures, warehouses, and transport offices. It has become crowded and noisy, and the old house stands out as a reminder of a quieter past.
2. What does the presence of trade and commercial establishments signify regarding the growth pattern of city life depicted in ‘Bina Kutir’?
Ans: These establishments indicate fast and somewhat unplanned urban growth, where commercial interests dominate and older residential charm is gradually disappearing.
3. How does the narrator use the Coca-Cola bottle to facilitate the flight of the narrator’s imagination in the story?
Ans: The narrator treats the Coca-Cola bottle like a reflective medium through which imagined scenes come alive, helping him create detailed pictures of the house and its people.
4. What plans do the two sons have regarding commercial growth mentioned towards the end of the story?
Ans: The elder son plans to expand his work by starting a press, while the younger son intends to replace the old house with a large concrete building for rental and personal use.
E. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Comment on the significance of the title of the story ‘Bina Kutir’.
Ans: The title “Bina Kutir” is meaningful as it reflects the central idea of imagination shaping reality. The name itself is created by the narrator, inspired by a plant, giving the house a personal and emotional identity. It represents a past filled with culture, relationships, and memories, standing in contrast to the growing commercial surroundings. More than a physical structure, it becomes a space in the narrator’s mind where stories, emotions, and imagined lives unfold. Thus, the title captures both the charm of the past and the creative power of imagination.
2. How much of the narrator’s speculation do you think is responsible for the characterisation in the story? Give a well-reasoned answer.
Ans: The characters in the story are largely shaped by the narrator’s imagination. With only a few basic facts, he builds detailed personalities and relationships, giving life to people who are not directly known to him. He visualizes scenes, conversations, and emotions, making the characters appear real and vivid. At times, he even reshapes their identities based on new
information, showing how flexible and creative his imagination is. Therefore, the characterization depends almost entirely on his speculative thinking, making the story a reflection of how imagination can construct meaningful narratives.
Additional Questions and Answers
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the author of “Bina Kutir”?
(a) R. K. Narayan
(b) Rabindranath Tagore
(c) Saurov Kumar Chaliha
(d) Premchand
Ans: (c)
2. What type of house is Bina Kutir?
(a) RCC building
(b) Assam-type house
(c) Apartment
(d) Bungalow
Ans: (b)
3. What drink does the narrator sip while imagining scenes?
(a) Tea
(b) Coffee
(c) Coca-Cola
(d) Milk
Ans: (c)
4. What does the narrator use to imagine the past of the house?
(a) A diary
(b) A photograph
(c) A Coca-Cola bottle
(d) A mirror
Ans: (c)
5. What is the imagined name of the daughter in the story?
(a) Rehana
(b) Bina
(c) Meena
(d) Rina
Ans: (b)
6. Who is Rehana in the story?
(a) The daughter
(b) The neighbour
(c) The younger son’s wife
(d) The servant
Ans: (c)
7. Where is Mr Mehta’s office located?
(a) Delhi
(b) Guwahati
(c) Calcutta
(d) Mumbai
Ans: (c)
8. Which car brand is mentioned in the story?
(a) Toyota
(b) Ford
(c) Honda
(d) Ambassador
Ans: (b)
9. Where does the younger son go for medical studies?
(a) Shillong
(b) Guwahati
(c) Dibrugarh
(d) Delhi
Ans: (c)
10. Who is Brajen Kalita?
(a) Doctor
(b) Teacher
(c) PWD overseer
(d) Driver
Ans: (c)
11. Which places are mentioned in the story?
(a) Delhi and Mumbai
(b) Pasighat and Aizawl
(c) Kolkata and Chennai
(d) Imphal and Kohima
Ans: (b)
12. Where were the younger son and his wife seen talking?
(a) Front yard
(b) Veranda
(c) Backyard
(d) Rooftop
Ans: (c)
13. Why were classes shifted to another school?
(a) Renovation work
(b) Flood
(c) Military occupation
(d) Strike
Ans: (c)
14. What kind of area surrounds Bina Kutir?
(a) Rural village
(b) Forest area
(c) Commercialized urban area
(d) Hill station
Ans: (c)
15. What is the main theme of the story?
(a) Adventure
(b) War
(c) Power of imagination and changing society
(d) Friendship
Ans: (c) 0 0 0
