Lesson 1 – The Portrait of a Lady
Author: Khushwant Singh
Pre-text Questions (with answers)
Q1. What do you usually observe in the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren?
Ans. The relationship is generally warm, affectionate, and filled with love. Grandparents often share stories, traditions, and values, while grandchildren bring joy and liveliness to their lives.
Q2. Do you think a grandmother can also be a close friend to her grandchild? Why?
Ans. Yes, because grandmothers provide emotional security, spend time in storytelling, and offer unconditional love. Their wisdom and patience make them ideal companions for children.
Post-text Questions (with answers)
A. Understanding the Text
Q1. Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left for abroad.
Ans.
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Childhood: Close companionship—he lived with her, went to school with her, and she helped him with lessons.
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Boyhood: Distance grew—he went to an English school in a bus; she could not help with his modern subjects.
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Youth: Greater separation—he went to university and lived in the city; they shared the same room but little conversation.
Q2. Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he went to the city school.
Ans.
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She could not understand subjects like English, Science, and music.
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She disliked that there was no teaching about God or scriptures.
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She felt alienated because she was no longer part of his education.
Q3. Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Ans.
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She spun the wheel and recited prayers.
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She fed stray dogs in the street.
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She accepted a life of quiet seclusion, withdrawing into her spirituality.
Q4. The odd way in which the grandmother behaved just before she died.
Ans. She stopped talking to the family, lay peacefully reciting prayers and telling her beads, and refused to waste time on worldly conversation.
Q5. The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.
Ans. Thousands of sparrows sat quietly in and around the house, without chirping, expressing silent grief. The next morning, they flew away quietly.
B. Talking About the Text
Q1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
Ans. She always prayed while helping the author, carried a rosary, disapproved of music, believed in scriptures, and spent her final days reciting prayers.
Q2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
Ans. Their companionship weakened as he grew, studied modern subjects, and moved to the city. Yet, their emotional bond and love remained unchanged.
Q3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a strong character? Give reasons.
Ans. Yes. She adjusted to loneliness without complaint, maintained her religious devotion, accepted change gracefully, and faced death with dignity.
C. Thinking About Language
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Example: The text uses words like “harl” of rosary beads, “serenity” of her face, “mournful” sparrows. Students should list such words and use them in sentences.
D. Working With Words
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Words like tranquility, seclusion, serenity, mourning, sequestered may be noted and used in exercises.
E. Noticing Form
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The story is written in first person with a reflective, nostalgic tone. Students can attempt writing a short note about their own grandparent in similar style.
Summary of The Portrait of a Lady (≈ 430 words)
Khushwant Singh’s The Portrait of a Lady is a moving and realistic portrayal of his grandmother and their evolving relationship over time. The narrative is personal, reflective, and tinged with nostalgia.
In his early childhood, Singh lived with his grandmother in a village. She was described as an old, wrinkled woman who seemed to have been old for decades. Despite her physical appearance, she was deeply affectionate and spiritually devoted. She bathed him, dressed him, and accompanied him to school. While he learned alphabets, she sat in the temple reading scriptures. Their bond was intimate, and she was a constant companion.
As Singh grew older, changes began to appear. When his parents settled in the city, he joined an English school and started traveling by bus. This created a distance between them. The grandmother could no longer help him with his lessons, as they included English words, Science, and music—subjects she neither understood nor approved of. She disapproved of Western education and particularly disliked music, which she associated with the frivolity of harlots and beggars. This intellectual distance symbolised the fading closeness between them.
Later, when Singh went to university, their separation increased further. They still shared a room, but she withdrew into her spinning wheel, rosary, and prayers. She accepted her seclusion gracefully, without complaint. The only break in her silence was when she fed sparrows and stray dogs, showing her boundless compassion.
When Singh returned from studying abroad, the grandmother was overjoyed. In celebration, she ignored her usual prayers and sang with village women, beating the drum—a rare moment of liveliness. The next day, however, she fell ill. Though the family thought it was a minor fever, she believed her end was near. Refusing to waste her remaining time in conversation, she lay reciting prayers and telling her beads. She died peacefully, leaving behind an image of dignity and devotion.
Her death was mourned not only by the family but also by nature itself. Thousands of sparrows sat silently in and around the house, refusing to eat or chirp. Their silent mourning reflected the gravity of her passing.
The story is not merely about a grandmother but about timeless human values—love, faith, sacrifice, and the acceptance of change and death with grace. Through his grandmother, Singh highlights the beauty of spiritual strength and quiet endurance.
Biography of Khushwant Singh (≈ 420 words)
Khushwant Singh (1915–2014) was one of India’s most prolific writers, journalists, and public intellectuals. Known for his sharp wit, candid expression, and deep insight into Indian society, he left an indelible mark on literature and journalism.
Born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali (now in Pakistan), Singh belonged to a prosperous Sikh family. He studied at Government College, Lahore, before pursuing law at King’s College, London, and later at the Inner Temple, London. Although he briefly practiced law, he soon shifted his focus to writing and journalism.
As a writer, Singh had remarkable versatility. His literary output spanned short stories, novels, historical accounts, biographies, and translations. His most celebrated novel, Train to Pakistan (1956), is a poignant depiction of the Partition of India, capturing the violence, human suffering, and moral dilemmas of that tragic period. Other works include Delhi: A Novel, The Company of Women, and numerous collections of short stories. His fiction is known for its honesty, social critique, and deep humanism.
Apart from fiction, Singh contributed immensely as a historian and biographer. He wrote A History of the Sikhs, a scholarly yet accessible account of Sikhism and its evolution. He also translated classics like the Guru Granth Sahib and Ibn Battuta’s Travels. His historical works reflected his respect for India’s pluralism and cultural richness.
As a journalist, Singh was equally influential. He edited several prominent publications, including The Illustrated Weekly of India, The Hindustan Times, and The National Herald. His bold editorials and satirical columns made him both loved and controversial. For decades, his weekly column “With Malice Towards One and All” entertained readers with sharp humour, irony, and social criticism.
Singh’s personality combined intellectual sharpness with irreverent humour. He was outspoken about politics, religion, and morality, often challenging hypocrisy. At the same time, he was deeply humane, known for his compassion, honesty, and secular outlook.
In recognition of his contributions, Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974, though he returned it in protest against Operation Blue Star in 1984. Later, he received the Padma Vibhushan in 2007, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Khushwant Singh passed away on 20 March 2014 at the age of 99. His legacy continues through his writings, which blend humour, honesty, and a deep understanding of India. Through works like The Portrait of a Lady, he celebrated ordinary human relationships, capturing their beauty and dignity with simplicity and affection.