SETTING AN EXAMPLE
Father’s Day 2017, Ishita Sengupta
Word Meaning
1. essence - core, main element
2. portrayed - projected, shown
3. immensely - greatly, extremely
4. fondly - affectionately
5. lament - regret, expressing sorrow
6. narrative - events, story
7. exaggeration - making more than what it
is
8. affirm - confirm
9. rigid - stiff, not flexible
10. twirled - rotated, spun
11. proverbial - widely referred or known
12. resident - dweller
13. socialise - interact with other in a
society
14. accustomed - habitual, familiar
15. lurking - hidden, escaping
16. offspring - children
17. journals - periodical, magazines
18. fortunate - lucky
19. machismo - male behaviour
20. grudges - grumbles, bitterness
21. grave - great
22. predictably - foresee, about future
23. albeit - even though
24. ridiculed - mocked, made fun of
25. comprehend - understand
26. resolve - decide, decision
27. designated - appointed, allocated
28. bargain - argue
29. retort - remark, answer
30. hurling - throwing, casting
31. jest - funny remarks, joke
32. doting - caring, serving
B.3 From the
text
a. What are some of the stereotypes
associated with fathers? Can you think of one that is not mentioned here?
Some of the stereotypes
associated with fathers are that they come late from office. They are busy with
working long hours away from home and because of that they cannot give enough
time to their children. Fathers look at their children fondly and lament that
they did not see them growing up. Fathers are the guardians who protect and
defend the house. The most important one that is not mentioned in the text is
fathers are the only earning members in the family.
b. Why does the author refer to all the
three stay-at-home dads as round pegs in the square holes?
The phrase ‘round
pegs in the square holes’ refers to a person in a situation not suitable for a
position or activity. The author brings out the three stay at home dads, who
have chosen to do the task that is not done by men or fathers in the
patriarchal society. Instead of going to long hours of work, they are taking
care of their children. This is considered to be the work of women. Hence,
these fathers do not fit into the stereotypes regarding men in our society and
the author refers to all the three stay-at-home dads as round pegs in the
square holes.
c. What does Balachagran refer to as
‘work in progress’? Why do you thing he says this?
Balachandran
refers to the ‘stay-at-home dads’ as work in progress. He says that because
they are still learning how to be better dads.
B.6 Answer
the following questions
a. Do you support the statement that
all the three fathers mentioned in the article are not trying to be super-dads
but fathers? Find evidence from the text to support your answer.
Yes, I agree that
all the three fathers mentioned in the article are not trying to be super-dads
but fathers. Madhur Prabhakare chose to be a stay-at-home dad to be able to see
his daughter Mysha grow up. Sambit Mukherjee is also doing the same to look
after his two years old daughter Shivangi. Sid Balachandran is a
hands-on-father who takes pride in changing his son Rishi’s nappies. These
three men had successful professional careers, but they chose to stay at home
to see their children grow up. There is
no hard and fast rule that only mothers have to stay home to take care of their
children.
b. They are doing a grave disservice to
the idea of ‘fatherhood’ that the patriarchal society, so tirelessly and
assiduously, has perpetuated in the minds of people. What does the author mean
by this statement? Find examples from the text to show that the fathers
mentioned in the article are not conforming to the stereotypical idea of
‘fatherhood’.
The author is
being sarcastic about the notion of fatherhood that the patriarchal society has
sustained over time. They are going against the stereotypes of fatherhood set
by the patriarchal society. Mukherjee learns lullabies from YouTube to sing
them out for his daughter, and Mysha has taken up the habit of reading from her
father, Prabhakar who is a voracious reader himself, something the doting
father is only too proud of.
c. Complete the following table with details about the three families mentioned in the article.
B.7 Answer
in detail
And contrary to what is believed, they
have not taken ‘the easy way out’. Do you agree with the author’s claim that
the fathers mentioned in the article have not taken ‘the easy way out’? Support
your answer with evidence from the text.
Yes, I agree with the author’s claim that the fathers have not taken the easy way out. The three fathers mentioned here consciously took this decision. They preferred staying at home with their children, not because they were unsuccessful professionally but wanted to take up this role. A child is the responsibility of both the parents. In these cases, the fathers invested themselves in looking after their children against the norm. They have all gone through the difficulties of parenting, and learnt it the hard way. They have faced criticism. They were questioned and ridiculed as well, but they did not stop from doing what they wanted to.
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