Kathmandu: Complete Summary And Q&A For Class 9 Beehive

Summary of Kathmandu by Vikram Seth

The travelogue Kathmandu by Vikram Seth gives a vivid description of his visit to two sacred places in the city of Kathmandu, Nepal.

The author first visits the Pashupatinath Temple, which is considered highly sacred by Hindus. The atmosphere here is chaotic and full of energy. Priests, tourists, hawkers, and animals like monkeys and cows roam freely. The place is bustling with people offering flowers and prayers, and there’s a sense of feverish activity. The temple’s strict rules allow only Hindus to enter, and a group of Westerners struggles to convince the guards they are Hindu. The busy scene is interrupted by a fight between two monkeys, one of which leaps onto a sacred shivalinga before running towards the holy Bagmati River. Nearby, a funeral is taking place, with the body being cremated, and life continues as washerwomen do their laundry and children play in the river.

In contrast, the author then visits the Baudhnath Stupa, a Buddhist shrine. The place is calm and serene, offering a stark difference to the bustling Pashupatinath Temple. The stupa is surrounded by small shops owned by Tibetan immigrants, selling traditional items such as jewellery and handicrafts. This place is a peaceful refuge amidst the busy streets of Kathmandu.

The streets of Kathmandu themselves are a mixture of religious shrines, vendors, and shops selling everything from postcards to Western goods like chocolate and cosmetics. The sounds of honking cars, ringing bicycle bells, and loud music fill the air. The author indulges in some simple pleasures—buying snacks, comics, and drinks, which bring a sense of satisfaction amidst the noise.

As the author prepares to leave, he reflects on the flute seller, who plays his instrument in a quiet, unassuming manner, seemingly detached from the busy world around him. The music captivates the author, making it difficult for him to leave, as the sound of the flute, a universal instrument, touches something deep within him.

This travelogue paints a rich picture of Kathmandu, capturing its vibrant, chaotic life, its deep spirituality, and moments of quiet reflection.

Thinking about the Text (Q&A of Kathmandu)

I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.

1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
   Pashupatinath and Baudhnath Stupa.
2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
   Roasted corn, marzipan, love story comics, and a Reader’s Digest.
3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
   The flute seller’s display of flutes.
4. Name five kinds of flutes.
   Neh, recorder, shakuhachi, bansuri, and Chinese flutes.

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II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.

1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
   The author observes that the flute seller is different from other hawkers because he doesn’t shout or call attention to his wares. Instead, he plays his flutes softly and meditatively. Selling flutes seems incidental to him, and he engages in his work in a calm, offhanded way, whereas other hawkers are loud and actively try to attract buyers.
2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
   At Pashupatinath, there is a belief that when a small shrine, which is partially submerged, rises fully from the river, the goddess inside will escape, marking the end of Kaliyug, the age of darkness and strife on earth.
3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of:(i) The atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath:
   • People trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside.
   • A princess appears, and everyone bows and makes way for her.
   • Westerners in saffron robes struggle to convince the guards they are Hindus to enter the temple.
   (ii) The things he sees:
   • Monkeys fighting and running down to the river.
   • Washerwomen working on the riverbanks.
   • A corpse being cremated on the Bagmati River.
   (iii) The sounds he hears:
   • Film songs blaring from radios.
   • Bicycle bells ringing.
   • Vendors shouting to sell their goods.

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III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each.

1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
   The atmosphere at Baudhnath Stupa is calm and serene, unlike the chaotic and crowded environment at Pashupatinath. Baudhnath is surrounded by small shops, mostly run by Tibetan immigrants, and it feels like a haven of peace. In contrast, Pashupatinath is filled with a crowd of priests, devotees, tourists, animals, and even monkeys. There’s a lot of noise and activity at Pashupatinath, with people jostling to offer prayers and get the priest’s attention. The peacefulness of Baudhnath stands in stark contrast to the febrile confusion at Pashupatinath.
2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
   The author describes Kathmandu’s busiest streets as vibrant, noisy, and full of life. The streets are lined with small shrines, and vendors sell everything from fruits to postcards, cosmetics, and antiques. The air is filled with the sounds of film songs, car horns, bicycle bells, and street vendors calling out to sell their products. The streets are chaotic but also colorful, filled with people from all walks of life, along with stray cows roaming about.
3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
   The author says this because he believes that the sound of the flute is universal. Every culture has its own version of the flute, and its music evokes emotions that are shared by people across the world. The flute’s music is closely related to the human voice, using breath to create melodies that are soothing and universal. The author feels that listening to a flute connects people, regardless of their culture or background, to a shared human experience.

Extract-Based MCQs on Kathmandu Beehive Class 9

Extract 1:

“At Pashupatinath (outside which a sign proclaims ‘Entrance for the Hindus only’) there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. A princess of the Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows and makes way. By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter.”

MCQs:

1. What is the sign outside Pashupatinath Temple meant to communicate?
   • a) Hindus are allowed to enter
   • b) Only locals are allowed
   • c) No animals are allowed inside
   • d) Only priests can enter
2. What phrase best describes the atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple?
   • a) Calm and serene
   • b) Organized and quiet
   • c) Chaotic and crowded
   • d) Empty and peaceful
3. Who does the crowd make way for at the temple?
   • a) A local priest
   • b) A famous devotee
   • c) A princess of the Nepalese royal house
   • d) A Western tourist
4. What do the saffron-clad Westerners struggle with?
   • a) Finding the entrance
   • b) Taking photographs
   • c) Getting permission to enter the temple
   • d) Speaking with the priest
5. Why do people elbow each other at the temple?
   • a) To get flowers
   • b) To find a seat
   • c) To get the priest’s attention
   • d) To buy souvenirs

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Extract 2:

“At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its outer edge: many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewellery can be bought here. There are no crowds: this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.”

MCQs:

1. What is the Baudhnath stupa known for?
   • a) Its vibrant crowds
   • b) Its large white dome
   • c) Its religious restrictions
   • d) Its nearby holy river
2. What kind of shops are found around the Baudhnath stupa?
   • a) Shops selling fruits and flowers
   • b) Shops selling prayer books
   • c) Shops selling Tibetan handicrafts
   • d) Shops selling religious relics
3. Which word best describes the atmosphere at the Baudhnath stupa?
   • a) Festive
   • b) Still and quiet
   • c) Chaotic
   • d) Confusing
4. Who owns many of the shops near the Baudhnath stupa?
   • a) Indian locals
   • b) Tibetan immigrants
   • c) Western tourists
   • d) Nepali government
5. What is the Baudhnath stupa a contrast to?
   • a) Pashupatinath Temple
   • b) The river Bagmati
   • c) The royal palace
   • d) The city of Kathmandu

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Extract 3:

“I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute, and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries.”

MCQs:

1. What is the flute seller holding?
   • a) A bag of flutes
   • b) A pole with many flutes
   • c) A single bamboo flute
   • d) A wooden box
2. What does the author compare the flutes to?
   • a) The petals of a flower
   • b) The quills of a porcupine
   • c) The strings of a guitar
   • d) The horns of a cow
3. What kind of flutes does the seller have?
   • a) Cross-flutes and recorders
   • b) Only recorders
   • c) Only bansuris
   • d) Electric flutes
4. What stands out about the flute seller’s music?
   • a) It is loud and harsh
   • b) It is drowned by the noise of the traffic
   • c) It rises clearly above the surrounding noise
   • d) It attracts many buyers
5. How does the flute seller behave while selling?
   • a) He shouts to sell his flutes
   • b) He plays the flute and waits for buyers
   • c) He aggressively promotes his flutes
   • d) He ignores potential customers

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Answer Key:

Extract 1:

1. a) Hindus are allowed to enter
2. c) Chaotic and crowded
3. c) A princess of the Nepalese royal house
4. c) Getting permission to enter the temple
5. c) To get the priest’s attention

Extract 2:

1. b) Its large white dome
2. c) Shops selling Tibetan handicrafts
3. b) Still and quiet
4. b) Tibetan immigrants
5. a) Pashupatinath Temple

Extract 3:

1. b) A pole with many flutes
2. b) The quills of a porcupine
3. a) Cross-flutes and recorders
4. c) It rises clearly above the surrounding noise
5. b) He plays the flute and waits for buyers