Testament of a walker questions and

answers
A. Answer the following questions in one or two words
1. What is an automobile according to the author?
Ans: According to the author, an automobile is only the means to an end.

2. What causes ecstasy in every auto pundit?

Ans: The author imported car, flashy and full of sophistication causes ecstasy in
every auto pundit.

3. In Narayan’s opinion, what does he lack?

Ans: In Narayan's opinion, he lacks automobile sensibility.

4. What are the things that the author values most?

Ans: Privacy and anonymity are the things that the author values most.

5. What name does the author propose for his most ambitious work?
Ans: The author proposes the name 'Testament of a walker' for his most ambitious
work.

B. Answer the following questions in a few words.

1. Why do you think the author is indifferent at the mention of any petrol
‘hike’?
Ans: The author is indifferent at the mention of any petrol 'hike' because he
believes that man's ultimate destiny lies in walking and that is why he is endowed
with a pair of legs that require neither petrol nor gears.

2. What made the author fears that he would soon become bankrupt?
Ans: The author owned a very flashy, sophisticated imported car. He had to visit
the accredited workshop for the maintenance of the car which was a hundred miles
away at Bangalore. The author feared that he would soon become bankrupt if he
had to visit the workshop every other week and spend a reasonable amount.

3. Who fell on Narayan’s car when it was parked in front of the hospital?
Ans: Two cyclists collided with each other and fell on Narayan's car when it was
parked in front of the hospital.

4. Which part of the author’s car could not ordinarily be replaced?

Ans: The author parking light on the left side of the author's car could not
ordinarily be replaced.

5. How, according to the author, did his friend spend his leisure hours?
Ans: According to the author, his friend generally spent his
leisure hours under his imported car doing repairing on his
own as did not he trust any mechanic or workshop in India.
All his time was spent in collecting spare parts from far and
near. He had collected such a rich stock of parts that he could
easily assemble a couple of new cars if he wished so.
C. Answer the following question briefly in your own words.
1. Discuss the reason for the author’s imperious attitude towards his car.
Ans: The author R.K. Narayan has owned an imported car, flashy and full of
sophistication. The car caused ecstasy in every auto pundit. It was a car full of
features like a recessed handle, steering maneuverable with a flick of the finger,
push-button glass raiser, floating seats, multicolored speedometer, concealed air-
conditioned, tape recorder, digital alarm with a calculator. The dashboard panel of
the car was worth a second look with buttons, switches, and gadgets.

2. Why do you think the author regards himself a ‘fanatic’ in the context of
walking?
Ans: 'Fanatic' is a person who has excessive zeal and attachment to a cause. The
author R.K. Narayan regards himself as a 'fanatic' in the context of walking as he
believes that man's ultimate destiny lies in walking and that is why he is endowed
with a pair of legs that require neither petrol nor gears. Moreover, this philosophy
on walking is deep-rooted in him and he is fond of walking. When he was young,
he used to walk ten miles a day, morning and evening in Mysore which was
conducive for such walks. Later too continues the habit of walks through on lesser
scale irrespective of the season. If bad weather compels him to remain indoors, he
walks even in the verandah.

3. What is Narayan’s opinion about his driver?

Ans: Narayan considers his driver to be an old fashioned one
who is not at all comfortable in driving the air-conditioned car
of the author. He had the habit of showing right or left turn by
thrusting his arm out of the car's window. But when the glass
was raised for running the air conditioner of the car, he
constantly hit it with his fist. Moreover, he would gesticulate
animatedly at the erring pedestrians and address them volubly
in passing. But in Narayan's sophisticated car, the driver felt
restricted, confined tongue-tied, and eventually drove
morosely.

D. Give a suitable answer to the following.

1. Discuss the reasons for the author’s imperious attitude towards his car.
Ans: The author R.K. Narayan has owned an imported car, flashy and full of
sophistication. Though the car causes ecstasy in every auto pundit, the author has
an impervious attitude towards his car as he considered a car is only the means to
an end. He is always satisfied if he is provided a seat and four wheels that can roll.
The elegance of an imported car with all its flashy sophistication does not matter to
him. Unlike the auto-pundit, he does not marvel at the distinctive switches,
buttons, or gadgets.

Moreover, R.K. Narayan regards himself as a 'fanatic' in the context of walking as

he believes that man's ultimate destiny lies on walking and that is why he is
endowed with a pair of legs that require neither petrol nor gears. This philosophy
on walking is deep-rooted in him.

2. Narrate the circumstances that led Narayan to decide to ‘get rid’ of his car.
Ans: Once two cyclists collided and fell on the author's car parked in front of the
hospital, and smashed the parking light on the left side.

The situation following the incident led the author to decide not to use the car
anymore. The light smashed by the collision of the cyclists could not easily be
replaced in India. The elite shop could produce one if the author was prepared to
pay two thousand for it. The mechanic, after examining the broken light, declared
that it could be repaired he could fabricate a cover in plastic. So, he unscrewed off
the whole assembly of the light and left. After that, he was away from the
workshop for ten weeks on sick leave. And later on, when the author met him, he
denied that the light was with him. And the author had no other way but to accept
what the mechanic said.

All these made the author come to the conclusion that he had
no use for a car. It seemed to him that the most thoughtless
thing he had done in his life was to have acquired the car. He
decided to get rid of it, lock it up in the shed as soon as
possible, and to turn his energies again to writing stories.