Explore a simple summary of “The Portrait of a Lady” by Khushwant Singh with 15 easy FAQs to enhance your understanding. Perfect for students and quick revision. “The Portrait of a Lady” by Khushwant Singh is the first chapter in the Class 11 English NCERT Hornbill textbook.
Summary of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
“The Portrait of a Lady” is a heart-touching story written by Khushwant Singh. It describes the author’s relationship with his grandmother, showing her life, her habits, and their strong bond.
The author remembers his grandmother as an old woman with a wrinkled face. She always wore white clothes and had silver hair. She used to read the morning prayers and told him stories from scriptures when he was a child. They had a close relationship when they lived together in the village. She used to feed him, wake him up, and accompany him to school.
When they moved to the city, things changed. The author went to an English school and they spent less time together. She didn’t like the new education system, especially subjects like science and music. Despite the growing distance, she never complained and stayed busy with her prayers and spinning the wheel.
As the author went abroad for studies, the grandmother stayed strong and calm. She did not cry when he left. When he returned after five years, she welcomed him warmly but seemed weaker.
In the end, she sensed her time had come. She prayed continuously and peacefully passed away. Even birds came in thousands to pay tribute to her, which was a sign of her pure and spiritual life.
This story beautifully shows the love between a grandson and his grandmother, and how human relationships remain strong even with change and time.
15 Short FAQs on The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
1. Who is the author of “The Portrait of a Lady”?
Khushwant Singh.
2. What is the story about?
It is about the author’s memories of his grandmother and their loving relationship.
3. How is the grandmother described in the story?
She is described as old, kind, religious, and always dressed in white.
4. What was the grandmother’s daily routine?
She prayed, fed sparrows, and spun the wheel.
5. How did she help the author in the village?
She woke him up, got him ready for school, and went with him.
6. Why didn’t the grandmother like the city education?
Because it had no religious teachings and included subjects like science and music.
7. What did the grandmother do when the author went abroad?
She continued her prayers and spinning; she did not show sadness.
8. How did she react when the author returned?
She was happy but had become very weak.
9. What showed that she felt her end was near?
She stopped talking and kept praying until she died peacefully.
10. What happened after her death?
Thousands of sparrows came and sat silently around her body.
11. What do the sparrows symbolize?
They symbolize respect, peace, and her spiritual connection to nature.
12. What is the theme of the story?
Love, faith, family bonds, and spirituality.
13. Is the story fictional or autobiographical?
It is partly autobiographical.
14. What makes the grandmother special in the story?
Her unconditional love, simplicity, and spiritual life.
15. What lesson can we learn from this story?
To value our elders and cherish the time spent with them.
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