2.2 The Worth of a Fabric - Class 6 - Kumarbharati

Author: Thiruvalluvar

Genre: Biographical Sketch / Moral Story

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 6

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The lesson The Worth of a Fabric is based on the life and teachings of the great Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, who lived more than two thousand years ago. He was a simple textile weaver known for his calm and kind nature. One day, an arrogant young man decided to test Thiruvalluvar’s patience by tearing a piece of cloth in the market. Each time he tore the fabric into halves, Thiruvalluvar calmly reduced the price to half, without showing any anger. At last, the cloth was reduced to worthless rags. Thiruvalluvar explained that the fabric was the result of the hard work of many people—the farmer, the spinner, the dyer, and the weaver. By destroying the cloth, the young man had also destroyed their efforts. Thiruvalluvar then compared human life to fabric, saying that careless actions can destroy it beyond repair. The young man realised his mistake and changed his ways.

Theme / Central Idea

The story teaches the value of hard work and respect for labour. It conveys the message that life, like fabric, is precious and should not be wasted through careless or thoughtless actions.

Character Sketches

Thiruvalluvar

• A great Tamil saint-poet who lived more than two thousand years ago.

• Worked as a simple weaver and lived a humble life.

• Known for his patience, politeness, and calm nature.

• Inspired others with his wisdom and moral teachings.

The Rich Young Man

• Careless, arrogant, and idle in the beginning.

• Spent time roaming with friends and mocking others.

• Tried to make Thiruvalluvar angry by tearing his cloth.

• Realised his mistake, felt ashamed, and decided to give up his bad habits.

The Fabric

• Beautifully woven with designs by Thiruvalluvar and his wife.

• Symbolises the hard work of farmers, spinners, dyers, and weavers.

• Became worthless when destroyed by the young man.

• Used by the poet as a symbol of human life, which is valuable and fragile.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “Thiruvalluvar loved to weave fabrics.”

   Q. Pick out the infinitive and state its function.

   Answer: The infinitive is to weave. It shows the purpose of Thiruvalluvar’s love for his work.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Change the voice: The young man tore the fabric into pieces.

   Answer: The fabric was torn into pieces by the young man. (Passive voice)

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Use ‘can’ in a sentence related to the story.

   Answer: We can protect life by avoiding careless actions. (‘Can’ shows ability.)

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Change into past perfect tense: The young man tears the cloth.

   Answer: The young man had torn the cloth. (Changed to past perfect tense)

   
   

5. Wh-question framing

   Make a Wh-question for the underlined part: Thiruvalluvar was a textile weaver.

   Answer: Who was Thiruvalluvar? (Wh-question with ‘Who’)

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. Question: What lesson do you learn from the story The Worth of a Fabric?

   Answer: The story The Worth of a Fabric teaches the value of hard work and human effort. It shows that every small action matters and careless behaviour can destroy precious things. It also inspires me to respect the labour of others.

   
   

2. Question: Do you think Thiruvalluvar was right in not getting angry? Why?

   Answer: Thiruvalluvar was right in not getting angry because anger only creates more problems. His calm response taught the young man a valuable lesson. It showed the strength of patience and wisdom.

   
   

3. Question: How do you respect the hard work of others in your daily life?

   Answer: The hard work of others is respected by me by not wasting food, clothes, or books. I also thank people who help me, like teachers and workers. I try to use resources carefully so that their efforts are valued.

   
   

4. Question: What would you do if someone made fun of you like the young man did?Answer: If someone made fun of me, I would stay calm and not get angry. I would try to explain politely instead of fighting. This can make the other person realise their mistake.

   
   

5. Question: How is life similar to a fabric according to the story?

   Answer: Life is similar to a fabric because both are made with great care and effort. If we spoil them with careless or hasty actions, they cannot be restored. This teaches us to live wisely and value our lives.

True or False (5)

1. Thiruvalluvar was a poet from Maharashtra. → False (He was a great Tamil saint-poet.)

2. The young man was hardworking and humble. → False (He was idle, arrogant, and proud.)

3. Thiruvalluvar got very angry when the cloth was torn. → False (He remained calm and polite.)

4. The fabric was made with the hard work of many people. → True

5. Thiruvalluvar compared life to a piece of fabric. → True

Probable Board / Exam Questions (5)

1. Question: Why did the young man try to make Thiruvalluvar angry?

   Answer: The young man was arrogant and careless. He had heard people praising Thiruvalluvar’s calm nature. To test him, he tried to make Thiruvalluvar angry by tearing his cloth. This shows the foolishness of the young man.

   
   

2. Question: How did Thiruvalluvar react when the cloth was torn?

   Answer: Thiruvalluvar reacted with patience and politeness. He did not get angry but calmly reduced the price of the cloth each time it was torn. His behaviour surprised and impressed the young man.

   
   

3. Question: What did Thiruvalluvar explain about the making of the fabric?

   Answer: Thiruvalluvar explained that the fabric was made with the hard work of many people. The farmer grew cotton, the spinner made threads, the dyer coloured them, and he and his wife wove the cloth. Destroying the cloth meant wasting all their labour.

   
   

4. Question: What change came in the young man after listening to Thiruvalluvar?Answer: The young man felt ashamed after listening to Thiruvalluvar’s wise words. He understood the importance of respecting labour and life. He decided to give up idleness and his bad habits.

   
   

5. Question: What is the moral message of the story?

   Answer: The moral message of the story is that we should value hard work and never waste the efforts of others. Life is precious like fabric and should not be spoiled by careless actions. We should learn to be humble, patient, and respectful.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The story The Worth of a Fabric is an inspiring tale about Thiruvalluvar, the great Tamil saint-poet. It shows how his calm and patient nature helped him teach a valuable lesson to an arrogant young man. The story beautifully explains the effort involved in making a piece of fabric, from the farmer to the weaver. It also conveys a deep message by comparing human life to cloth, which can be destroyed by careless actions. The simple narration makes the story easy to understand while the moral value leaves a strong impression. The story inspires us to respect the hard work of others and to use our own life wisely. It teaches us that patience and wisdom are greater than anger and pride.

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