3.2. A Lesson in Life from A Beggar - Std X - Mah Board - My English Coursebook - Semi English and Marathi Medium

SECTION 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ परीक्षेत Reading Skills Textual विभागात येतो — एकूण 20 गुण.

SECTION 2 — About the Author / लेखक परिचय

Sudha Murthy is a renowned Indian author, philanthropist, and the former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is widely loved for her simple, highly relatable, and moral-driven stories that often highlight everyday human values. In this chapter, she narrates a true and touching experience about her friend Meena, a chronic pessimist. The story beautifully captures how the observation of an ordinary, starving beggar playing joyfully in the rain completely transforms Meena's negative attitude towards life.

मराठी टीप: सुधा मूर्ती या प्रसिद्ध भारतीय लेखिका आणि समाजसेविका आहेत. त्यांच्या कथा अत्यंत साध्या आणि बोधप्रद असतात. या पाठात त्यांनी आपली निराशावादी मैत्रीण मीना हिच्या आयुष्यात एका भिकाऱ्यामुळे कसा आमूलाग्र बदल झाला, हे सांगितले आहे.

SECTION 4 — Summary / सारांश

The writer's friend, Meena, was an LIC officer in Bangalore who earned a good salary but was a chronic pessimist. She always had negative thoughts, complained about everything, and depressed everyone around her. Eventually, Meena was transferred to Bombay, and the writer lost touch with her.

Years later, the writer accidentally met Meena in Bombay. She was shocked to see a completely transformed, cheerful, and positive Meena. Meena explained that an old beggar had changed her life. One day, during heavy, torrential rains, Meena was frustrated looking out of her window. However, she saw the beggar and his five-year-old granddaughter playing and dancing joyfully in the street, completely ignoring their hunger and the rain. Their pure zest for life made Meena realize her own ingratitude. She decided to change her mindset, taking the beggar as her silent 'guru'. She became an optimist and eventually sponsored his granddaughter's education.

मराठी सारांश: मीना ही बंगळूरमधील एलआयसी ऑफिसर होती, पण ती अत्यंत निराशावादी होती. ती सतत तक्रार करायची. काही वर्षांनी जेव्हा लेखिका तिला मुंबईत भेटली, तेव्हा ती पूर्णपणे बदललेली आणि आनंदी होती. मीनाने सांगितले की एका भिकाऱ्यामुळे तिचे आयुष्य बदलले. मुसळधार पावसात एक भिकारी आणि त्याची नात उपाशी असूनही पावसात आनंदाने नाचत होते. हे पाहून मीनाला स्वतःच्या कृतघ्नपणाची जाणीव झाली. सर्व काही असूनही आपण दुःखी आहोत आणि काहीच नसताना हे लोक किती आनंदी आहेत, हे तिला समजले. तिने त्या भिकाऱ्याला आपला 'गुरू' मानले आणि आयुष्याकडे बघण्याचा आपला दृष्टिकोन पूर्णपणे सकारात्मक केला.

SECTION 5 — Characters / पात्रे

1. Meena: Meena starts as a gloomy, cynical, and chronic pessimist who complains about the weather, people, and life despite having a secure job. However, she proves to be highly self-aware later on. Her willingness to recognize her own flaws and completely transform her attitude into a cheerful optimist shows her inner strength.

मराठी टीप: मीना सुरुवातीला अत्यंत निराशावादी (pessimist) आणि सतत तक्रार करणारी असते. पण नंतर स्वतःची चूक ओळखून ती एक सकारात्मक आणि आनंदी व्यक्ती बनते.

2. The Writer (Sudha Murthy): She is a sensible, practical, and observant friend. Initially, she tries to avoid Meena because her negativity is draining. However, she is genuinely happy and supportive when she witnesses Meena's positive transformation.

मराठी टीप: लेखिका एक समजूतदार मैत्रीण आहे जी सुरुवातीला मीनाच्या नकारात्मक स्वभावाला कंटाळते, पण तिच्यातील बदल पाहून तिला खूप आनंद होतो.

3. The Beggar: An old, poor, and starving man living near Meena's apartment. Despite his miserable condition, he possesses a pure zest for life and knows how to be genuinely happy in the moment. He unknowingly acts as Meena's silent 'guru'.

मराठी टीप: एक म्हातारा आणि गरीब भिकारी, ज्याला अत्यंत वाईट परिस्थितीतही आनंद शोधता येतो. तो मीनाचा नकळत 'गुरू' बनतो.

SECTION 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

6B. Values / मूल्ये

• Positivity (सकारात्मकता) — Learning to find happiness in small things, like playing in the rain.

• Introspection (आत्मपरीक्षण) — Meena looks at her own life and assesses her behavior after watching the beggar.

• Respect (आदर) — Meena respects the beggar enough to consider him her 'guru' and gives guru dakshina by sponsoring his granddaughter.

6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

Happiness is a state of mind, not a result of wealth or comfort. We must stop complaining about what we lack and start being deeply grateful for the countless blessings we already have.मराठी टीप: आनंद हा पैशावर किंवा सुखसोयींवर अवलंबून नसून तो आपल्या दृष्टिकोनावर (attitude) अवलंबून असतो. आपण नेहमी आपल्याकडील गोष्टींबद्दल कृतज्ञ असले पाहिजे.

SECTION 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

SECTION 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न

Extract 1

Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)

1. Meena was an unemployed woman. — False

2. The writer felt very happy whenever she met Meena. — False

3. Meena had a habit of finding faults in everything. — True

4. Meena praised Rakesh for coming first in his school. — False

मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — मीना LIC मध्ये चांगली नोकरी करत होती पण ती सतत तक्रार करत असे आणि राकेशच्या यशालाही तिने कमी लेखले (belittle).

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. What was strange about Meena?(a) She was very rich (b) She was forever unhappy(c) She was always dancing (d) She was a teacherAnswer: (b) She was forever unhappy

2. What does 'cynicism' mean in this extract? (a) Positivity (b) The habit of finding faults and being negative (c) Happiness (d) Earning a good salary Answer: (b) The habit of finding faults and being negative

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) How did Meena react to Rakesh's success?

Answer: When the writer told Meena about Rakesh coming first in his school, Meena immediately belittled his achievement. Instead of being happy for him, she cynically stated that it was natural for him to come first because his father was a school teacher.मराठी टीप: राकेशच्या यशावर मीनाची प्रतिक्रिया काय होती? तिने त्याचे कौतुक न करता नकारात्मक प्रतिक्रिया दिली की, त्याचे वडील शिक्षक असल्यामुळे तो पहिला आला यात नवल नाही.

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why did the writer feel depressed when meeting Meena?

Answer: The writer felt depressed meeting Meena because Meena was a chronic pessimist. She was forever unhappy and never had anything positive to say about any subject or person. Her intense gloom and cynical attitude had a toxic way of spreading to others, dragging down the writer's mood.मराठी टीप: मीनाला भेटल्यावर लेखिकेला उदास (depressed) का वाटायचे? कारण मीना सतत रडतखडत असायची. तिला कोणत्याही गोष्टीत चांगले दिसत नव्हते. तिचा हा निराशावादी (gloomy) स्वभाव इतरांनाही दुःखी करायचा.

Extract 2

Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)

1. The beggar and the girl were crying because of hunger. — False

2. The beggar and the girl felt as if they were in paradise. — True

3. Meena felt very proud of her own life. — False

4. Meena lacked the ability to be happy with life as it was. — True

मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यात भिकारी आणि मुलगी पावसात आनंदाने खेळत होते आणि हे बघून मीनाला स्वतःची लाज (ashamed) वाटली, अभिमान नाही.

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. What were the beggar and the girl ignoring?(a) The police (b) Hunger and rain(c) The traffic (d) Meena's windowAnswer: (b) Hunger and rain

2. What does 'drenched' mean in the extract?(a) Completely wet (b) Very dry(c) Angry (d) Starving Answer: (a) Completely wet

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) What surprised Meena when she looked out of the window?

Answer: Meena was surprised to see the old beggar and his granddaughter playing joyously on the empty road in the pouring rain. Despite being extremely poor, hungry, and completely drenched, they were laughing and clapping as if they were in paradise.

मराठी टीप: खिडकीतून बाहेर पाहिल्यावर मीनाला आश्चर्य का वाटले? कारण मुसळधार पावसात आणि उपाशीपोटी तो भिकारी आणि त्याची नात अत्यंत आनंदाने पावसात खेळत होते.

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why did Meena feel ashamed of herself?Answer: Meena felt deeply ashamed because she realized she was highly ungrateful. She had a good job, money, and numerous physical comforts that the beggar lacked, yet she was constantly unhappy. The beggar had absolutely nothing, but he possessed the greatest asset: the ability to be completely happy with life as it was.

मराठी टीप: मीनाला स्वतःची लाज (ashamed) का वाटली? कारण तिच्याकडे नोकरी आणि सुखसोयी असूनही ती दुःखी होती. पण ज्या भिकाऱ्याकडे खायला अन्न नव्हते, तो मात्र भर पावसात आयुष्याचा आनंद लुटत होता.

SECTION 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे

Q1. Describe Meena's character at the beginning of the story.

Answer: At the beginning of the story, Meena was a chronic pessimist who was forever unhappy. Although she had a secure job as an LIC officer and earned a good salary, she was gloomy, cynical, and constantly complained about everything. She never had anything positive to say and depressed everyone around her.

मराठी टीप: सुरुवातीला मीनाचा स्वभाव कसा होता? ती अत्यंत निराशावादी होती. नोकरी आणि पैसा असूनही ती सतत दुःखी असायची आणि प्रत्येक गोष्टीत दोष काढायची.

Q2. How did the writer react when she met Meena in Bombay after many years?Answer: The writer was initially hesitant and tried to avoid Meena when she saw her in Bombay, expecting her to be the same old depressed person. However, she was completely shocked and surprised to see a cheerful, smiling Meena who enthusiastically held her hand and spoke positively.

मराठी टीप: मुंबईत भेटल्यावर लेखिकेची प्रतिक्रिया काय होती? लेखिकेला वाटले मीना पुन्हा रडगाणे गाईल म्हणून ती लपू पाहत होती. पण मीनाचा आनंदी आणि सकारात्मक चेहरा बघून तिला सुखद धक्का बसला.

Q3. What did Meena do for the beggar and his granddaughter?Answer: Meena accepted the old beggar as her silent 'guru' who completely changed her life's perspective. Although she could not give anything to the beggar directly because he had passed away, she paid her 'guru dakshina' by sponsoring his granddaughter's education at a boarding school.मराठी टीप: मीनाने भिकारी आणि त्याच्या नातीसाठी काय केले? तिने भिकाऱ्याला आपला गुरू मानले. भिकाऱ्याचा मृत्यू झाल्यामुळे, तिने गुरुदक्षिणा म्हणून त्याच्या नातीचा बोर्डिंग स्कूलचा पूर्ण खर्च (sponsor) उचलला.

Q4. What is the most important 'asset' according to Meena?

Answer: According to Meena, the most important asset a person can have is not money, a good job, or physical comforts. The greatest asset is a positive mindset and the ability to be genuinely happy and satisfied with life exactly as it is, just like the beggar.मराठी टीप: मीनाच्या मते सर्वात मोठी संपत्ती (asset) कोणती? आयुष्याकडे सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोनातून पाहणे आणि आहे त्या परिस्थितीत आनंदी राहण्याची कला हीच सर्वात मोठी संपत्ती आहे.

SECTION 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे

Q1. Write a character sketch of Meena, highlighting her transformation from a chronic pessimist to a cheerful optimist.

Answer: Meena’s character undergoes a remarkable and inspiring transformation in the story. In the beginning, she is portrayed as a highly toxic and gloomy person. Despite having a secure job as an LIC officer in Bangalore, she was a chronic pessimist. She always found the worst in every situation, belittled others' achievements, and depressed everyone around her with her endless complaints. However, underneath this cynical exterior, Meena possessed the crucial capacity for self-reflection. Her turning point came in Bombay during a torrential downpour. When she watched a starving beggar and his granddaughter laughing and dancing in the rain, she experienced a profound realization. She recognized her own ingratitude and saw that happiness is a mindset, not a result of material wealth. From that day, she consciously changed her thought process. She discarded her negativity, embraced life with a cheerful attitude, and even generously sponsored the beggar's granddaughter. She successfully transformed from a person everyone avoided into an inspiring, positive human being.

मराठी टीप:

1. सुरुवात: मीना सुरुवातीला कशी होती ते सांगा (LIC ऑफिसर, पण निराशावादी आणि सतत तक्रार करणारी).

2. तिचा स्वभाव: तिला प्रत्येक गोष्टीत दोष दिसायचे, ज्यामुळे लोक तिच्यापासून दूर राहायचे.

3. टर्निंग पॉईंट (बदल): मुसळधार पावसात भिकाऱ्याला आनंदाने नाचताना पाहून तिला तिच्या चुकीची जाणीव झाली.

4. शेवट: तिने आपला दृष्टिकोन कसा बदलला आणि ती एक आनंदी आणि कृतज्ञ (grateful) व्यक्ती कशी बनली, ते सांगा.

Q2. 'A beggar changed my life.' Explain this statement with reference to the story.

Answer: Meena makes this powerful statement to explain her drastic positive transformation. As a chronic pessimist, Meena had an excellent salary and numerous comforts, yet she was perpetually unhappy and ungrateful. One day, while looking out of her window in Bombay during heavy rains, she saw an old, starving beggar and his young granddaughter on the street. Instead of cursing their miserable fate, the weather, or their hunger, the two of them were playing, screaming, and dancing joyously in the rain, completely drenched. This incredible sight deeply shocked Meena. She realized that these destitute people, who had absolutely nothing, possessed the greatest asset in the world—a pure zest for life and the knowledge of how to be happy in the moment. In sharp contrast, Meena had everything but chose to be miserable. The beggar unknowingly acted as a mirror, forcing Meena to look at her own flaws. He became her silent 'guru', teaching her the invaluable lesson of gratitude and optimism, which entirely changed the course of her life.

मराठी टीप:

1. सुरुवात: मीनाने हे वाक्य का म्हटले, याची पार्श्वभूमी सांगा (तिच्याकडे सर्व सुखसोयी होत्या, पण ती दुःखी होती).

2. प्रसंग: पावसात भिकारी आणि त्याची नात कसे आनंदाने खेळत होते, याचे वर्णन करा.

3. परिणाम: त्यांच्याकडे काहीच नसूनही ते किती आनंदी आहेत, हे पाहून मीनाला स्वतःची लाज वाटली.

4. निष्कर्ष: भिकाऱ्याच्या या कृतीने मीनाला जगण्याचा खरा आनंद आणि कृतज्ञता (gratitude) शिकवली, म्हणून ती भिकाऱ्याला आपला गुरू मानते.

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