Export Quality
by Leena Dhingra
COMPREHENSION
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the comparison of the Cottage Industries to a department store make Meera smile?
= The comparison of the Cottage Industries to a department store makes Meera smile because similarities end at fixed price and section for this and that only. The initial impact is more like entering Aladdin's cave than the purposeful efficiency of a department store.
b. In what way is the display in the shop ostentatious?
= The display in the shop is ostentatious because of the lavish display of gold glitter, colour and craftsmanship, a mixture of old and new, past and present. There were also elaborate wedding saris in reds and deep pinks, an ornament antique palanquin hiding a veiled and decked-up bride, a delicately painted wooden horse with an embroidered saddle bearing a bejewelled and brocaded groom. There were brass pots, carved wooden chests and more costumes hang in suspended animation.
c. What does the word 'labyrinths' (paragraph 4) suggest?
= The word 'labyrinths' suggests a complicated structure with many passages hard to find way through. It is a maze.
d. What does Meera think about while she is wandering about in the aisles?
= Meera thinks about plans, reminiscences, past, present, future, images, colours, sounds, smells while she is wandering about in the aisles.
e. Why does the cashier give Meera some stamps?
= Meera does not have seventy paisa change. So the man on the counter hands her thirty paisa in stamps.
f. How does Meera describe the system in the Cottage Industries?
= Meera describes the system in the Cottage Industries as a neither-here-nor-there system.
g. Why does Meera decide not to enter the section for shoes in the Cottage Industries?
= Meera decides not to enter the section for shoes in the Cottage Industries because she has to choose downstairs, pay upstairs and collect downstairs. The system was too complicated for her.
h. Why does Meera become exasperated in the shoe shop?
= In the shoe shop, as Meera slips her feet in and out, the shop keeper busily tells her that they are all fine and assures her that each and every one of them will somehow shrink or stretch in no time to become the perfect fit. But Meera wants them to get fit in no time as she wants to take off her old shoes and walk out with the new pair of shoes. So, Meera becomes exasperated in the shoe shop.
i. Why do you think the shopkeeper tells Meera that the shoes are 'Y'export quality?
= I think the shopkeeper tells Meera that the shoes are 'Y'export quality to convince her to buy those pairs and not to bargain on the price of them.
j. Is Meera happy with her new chappals? What does she think later on, when she has worn them for a while?
= Yes, Meera is initially happy with her new chappals.
She walks down the street shuffling her feet to get the full feel of her comfortable new chappals. Her heels drag along the ground, and she begin to imagine she is taking root and almost belong - system or no system.
These questions are more difficult. Discuss them first.
k. Meera describes the system that operates in the Cottage Industries as a 'bit of an in-between system'? What do you think she means by this? How could the system be made into a proper system?
= I think she means the whole buying process of the Cottage Industries is very complicated. She has to buy or choose downstairs then she has to go upstairs to pay the bill. Then finally she has to come downstairs again to collect the things. She has to stand in queues to collect things. The other customers were not following the rules properly. It was a messy system to have a good shopping experience.
The system could be made into a proper system by arranging the whole shopping process in one floor. One should complete his or her shopping in that respective floor. There should be more shopping agents to guide the customers to be gentle and abide by the general shopping norms.
l. Is it more convenient shopping in a department store, in a mall or on the street? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
= I think both shopping in a mall and on the street have their own pros and cons.
First of all we can get more things under one roof if we go to a mall. We can get goods of renowned brands. We can spend good time there and have other fun activities beside shopping. On the other hand, there are fixed price her in malls, they charge some extra for all those comfort they provide us throughout the shopping. We can not bargain over the cost of things in a mall.
In the contrary, we can have casualness and bargain a lot over the price of the things of the street shops. But there is no surety of the quality of the things we buy from street shops.
2. Answer the following with reference to context.
a. "Delhi still rules as the Imperial Capital of Independent India!"
i. Who or what makes this statement?
= The author as well as the contemporary buyers make this statement.
ii. When is the statement made? Why?
= While describing the displays of the Cottage Industries, this statement is made.
This statement is made as arts and crafts from the length and breadth of India all gathered together in stunning splendour.
b. "But these are ... What do I do with these?"
i. Who says these words and to whom?
= Meera says these words to the cashier of the counter of the Cottage Industries.
ii. Why does the speaker not complete the first statement?
= The speaker does not complete the first statement as she is very much unprepared to get the return of thirty paisa in stamps.
iii. What response does she get to her question?
= In response to her question, the cashier tells her that those are stamps and instructed her to go downstairs and collect her parcel at delivery counter.
iv. What mood does this put her in?
= This puts her in an irritated mood.
c. "My heels drag along the ground, and I begin to imagine I'm taking root and almost belong - system or no system."
i. Why is the speaker walking in this way?
= The speaker is walking in this way because she is walking wearing her new chappal.
ii. To what does the speaker 'almost belong'?
= The speaker 'almost belongs' to system as she has been living in England.
iii. What system is the speaker referring to?
= The speaker is referring to the system of the Cottage Industries and the street shop of India.
d. "I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way."
i. Where is this statement to be found?
= This statement is to be found on a card which is being sold on a cart selling cards.
ii. Does the author agree with the statement? How do we know?
= The author agrees with the statement. She tells that she is on her way down Janpath of Delhi. Then she is recalling her old days memories. In her childhood, the Janpath used to be called Queensway. They used to come down there with their pocket money to drink the forbidden sugar-cane juice, buy some aampapad and see if they could pick up trinket or something in the tent stall of the Tibetan tents.
Those tents have become proper bricked shops with iron grills. But they are still selling the same things. She becomes nostalgic and likes the line more as it was revealing her instant feeling after revisiting that place of her childhood.
About the Author:
Leena Dhingra was born in India but went to live in Europe as a child. She has had stories published in magazine in India and Britain.