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fi, , Imitating the English Gentleman, A. 1. a) These words were said to Gandhiji by his friend who, had invited him to go to the theatre., b. At this point of time, both Gandhiji and his friend were at the, Holborn restaurant., c. When the waiter served the soup, Gandhiji asked him, whether it was a vegetable soup and this irked his friend., d. misbehave and behaviour, 2. a. The speaker aspired to become an English gentleman and, to this end he began to cultivate various accomplishments. For, instance, he started wearing expensive and fashionable, clothes. He began to take lessons in dancing, French and, elocution. He also bought a violin for £3 to learn how to play the, instrument. These were Gandhiji's ambitions which, he thought,, would enable him to t into English society., b. The 'recluse' in the line refers to the hermit in the fable who, kept a cat to keep off the rats, and then a cow to feed the cat, with milk, and a man to keep the cow and so on., c. Gandhiji's tone is one of criticism as he realises that he is, pursuing an impossible dream. He will not stay in England for, ever and he is there only as a student. As such he should focus, only on his studies and stop trying to become an English, gentleman., d. The adjective form of 'recluse' is reclusive., B. 1. Gandhiji was obsessed with the idea of maintaining good, health. He began to read books that stressed the importance of, vegetarianism. For instance, he read Howard William's The, Ethics of Diet, Dr Anna Kingsford's The Perfect Way in Diet and, Dr Allinson's writings on health and hygiene. As a result of, reading all this literature, Gandhiji began to experiment with his, diet very keenly. Health was the principal consideration of these, experiments to begin with. But later on religion became the, supreme motive. These two factors prompted Gandhiji to take, up vegetarianism., 2. Gandhiji's friend became worried as he felt that vegetarian, food would turn Gandhiji into a weakling and a duffer. He

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fi, , fi, , fi, , thought that Gandhiji would never feel at home in English, society because of his reluctance to eat meat. Besides, he was, afraid that Gandhiji's interest in books on vegetarianism would, muddle his head and he would waste his life in useless, experiments and end up becoming a crank., 3. Gandhiji decided to give himself an image makeover and, cultivate some social skills so that he would t into English, society. To this end, he started wearing expensive and, fashionable clothes. He began to take lessons in dancing,, French and elocution. He also bought a violin for £3 to learn, how to play the instrument. He did all this to please his friend, and reassure him that he was t for English society., 4. When Gandhiji decided to imitate an English gentleman, he, started by buying himself new clothes from the Army and Navy, stores. He also went in for a chimney-pot hat costing nineteen, shillings. He spent ten pounds on an evening suit made in Bond, street. He started wearing a double watch-chain of gold given to, him by his brother. He wasted ten minutes every day before a, huge mirror, watching himself arranging his tie and parting his, hair in the correct fashion. Besides all this, he began to take, lessons in dancing, French and elocution. He also bought a, violin for £3 to learn how to play the instrument., But, slowly good sense prevailed upon him. He realised that he, was chasing an impossible dream. No matter how hard he tried,, he could never become an English gentleman. Besides, he was, in England to pursue his studies. So he gave up his attempt to, become an English gentleman and instead devoted himself, sincerely to his studies., 5. Gandhiji's interest in vegetarianism alarmed his friend. He, decided to try to reform Gandhiji. With this end in view, he, decided to take Gandhiji to the Holborn restaurant. Once they, were seated at their table inside the restaurant, the waiter, brought the rst course which happened to be a soup. Gandhiji, wondered what it might be made of, but dared not ask his friend, about it. He, therefore, summoned the waiter. His friend saw the, movement and sternly asked him why he had called the waiter.

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fi, , fl, , With great hesitation, Gandhiji disclosed that he wanted to, know if the soup was a vegetable soup. This reply made, Gandhiji's friend very angry. He called Gandhiji a clumsy person, who did not know how to behave himself in decent society. He, directed Gandhiji to leave the Holborn restaurant and eat at a, nearby vegetarian restaurant. Gandhiji gladly complied with the, order and made his exit., 6. Gandhiji was brie y preoccupied with the idea of becoming, an English gentleman. With this end in view, he started wearing, expensive and fashionable clothes. He began to take lessons in, dancing, French and elocution. He also bought a violin for £3 to, learn how to play the instrument. But, Gandhiji gradually began, to realise that he was living in a fool's paradise and decided to, give up the idea of imitating an English gentleman. This is the, 'infatuation' that Gandhiji says lasted about three months., C. 1. Gandhiji's friend was genuinely concerned about his, strong opposition to meat-eating. He thought that vegetarian, food would make Gandhiji physically weak and make him un t, for English society. He, therefore, wanted to reform him by, taking him to the Holborn restaurant. But he was upset when he, saw Gandhiji trying to know from the waiter whether the soup, served to them was a vegetable soup. He called Gandhiji a, clumsy person who did not know how to behave in decent, society. He also sternly asked Gandhiji to leave the Holborn, restaurant and dine at a nearby restaurant and wait for him, outside. This angry outburst did not upset Gandhiji as he knew, that his friend had done so out of his deep love for him. This, particular incident did not strain their relationship. Gandhiji, on, his part, tried to please his friend by trying to imitate an English, gentleman. This shows that their friendship was based on, mutual respect and understanding., 2. This line has been taken from the lesson 'Imitating the, English Gentleman' by Mahatma Gandhi. Here Gandhiji, explains how he was able to overcome his desire to become an, English gentleman.

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To please his friend, Gandhiji decided to cultivate the ways of, an English gentleman. He started by buying himself expensive, and fashionable clothes. He wasted ten minutes every day, before a huge mirror, watching himself arranging his tie and, parting his hair in the correct fashion. Besides all this, he began, to take lessons in dancing, French and elocution. He also, bought a violin for £3 to learn how to play the instrument. His, elocution teacher asked him to buy Bell's Standard Elocutionist, as the text book. As he was going through the book, he was, struck by a thought. He realised that he was pursuing a false, idea. He was in England to pursue his studies and he was, wasting his time and money by trying to become an English, gentleman. This realisation was like an alarm bell going off in, his head and he gave up the whole idea.