The Barber’s Trade Union – Paragraph Questions and Answers
.1. Describe the friendship between Chandu and the narrator.
Chandu and the narrator had been close friends since childhood, though they belonged to different castes. Chandu, the barber’s son, was six months older and usually took the lead in their games and adventures. The narrator admired his skill in catching wasps, making kites and reciting poetry. Although the narrator’s mother considered Chandu a low-caste boy and tried to end their friendship, the narrator never felt superior to him. Chandu was kind and often brought him small gifts from the town. Their friendship challenges caste discrimination and reveals the narrator’s admiration for Chandu’s intelligence, courage and independence.
.2. Why did Chandu adopt modern clothes, and how did the village elders treat him?
Chandu was impressed by Kalan Khan, a well-dressed dentist whom he saw in town. Since Chandu had learnt to treat pimples, boils and cuts from his father, he believed that dressing like a doctor would make him appear more dignified. He bought a white turban, a rubber coat, shining shoes and a leather bag. However, the landlord Bijay Chand became furious when he saw Chandu’s modern attire. He accused Chandu of defiling his house and ordered him to wear clothes suitable for his supposedly low status. The Sahukar and Pandit Parmanand also insulted him. Their reaction exposes their caste prejudice and fear of Chandu’s growing self-respect.
.3. How did Chandu respond to the humiliation inflicted by the village elders?
Chandu felt deeply hurt when the landlord, the Sahukar and the priest insulted him. Instead of accepting the humiliation, he decided to teach the orthodox elders a lesson. He stopped visiting their houses to shave them and began working by the roadside in town. He earned money, bought a Japanese bicycle and learnt to ride it despite the villagers’ ridicule. The bicycle enabled him to travel independently and expand his business. His strike was a bold protest against caste oppression, economic exploitation and the expectation that a barber should remain obedient to his upper-caste clients.
.4. What were the results of Chandu’s strike?
Chandu’s strike left the village elders with long, untidy beards. Their ridiculous appearance became a source of amusement throughout the village. Even their family members laughed at them, and the landlord’s wife threatened to leave because she could no longer tolerate her husband’s unkempt appearance. Meanwhile, Chandu earned well in town and became more prosperous. The elders threatened to send him to prison and attempted to bring the barber from Verka by offering him higher payment. However, Chandu persuaded the neighbouring barbers to support him. Thus, the strike exposed the elders’ dependence on the labour of the very person they had insulted.
.5. How did Chandu establish the barber’s trade union, and what is the message of the story?
Chandu organised a meeting of barbers living within seven miles of his village. Using his intelligence and persuasive ability, he convinced them that the village elders should come to the barbers for service instead of making the barbers visit their houses. They united and opened the “Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon” at the head of the bazaar. Their example inspired other workers to form trade unions. The story highlights caste discrimination, the dignity of labour, modernisation and collective resistance. It teaches that oppressed workers can secure respect and freedom through courage, unity, self-reliance and organised action.
Chandu and the narrator had been close friends since childhood, though they belonged to different castes. Chandu, the barber’s son, was six months older and usually took the lead in their games and adventures. The narrator admired his skill in catching wasps, making kites and reciting poetry. Although the narrator’s mother considered Chandu a low-caste boy and tried to end their friendship, the narrator never felt superior to him. Chandu was kind and often brought him small gifts from the town. Their friendship challenges caste discrimination and reveals the narrator’s admiration for Chandu’s intelligence, courage and independence.
.2. Why did Chandu adopt modern clothes, and how did the village elders treat him?
Chandu was impressed by Kalan Khan, a well-dressed dentist whom he saw in town. Since Chandu had learnt to treat pimples, boils and cuts from his father, he believed that dressing like a doctor would make him appear more dignified. He bought a white turban, a rubber coat, shining shoes and a leather bag. However, the landlord Bijay Chand became furious when he saw Chandu’s modern attire. He accused Chandu of defiling his house and ordered him to wear clothes suitable for his supposedly low status. The Sahukar and Pandit Parmanand also insulted him. Their reaction exposes their caste prejudice and fear of Chandu’s growing self-respect.
.3. How did Chandu respond to the humiliation inflicted by the village elders?
Chandu felt deeply hurt when the landlord, the Sahukar and the priest insulted him. Instead of accepting the humiliation, he decided to teach the orthodox elders a lesson. He stopped visiting their houses to shave them and began working by the roadside in town. He earned money, bought a Japanese bicycle and learnt to ride it despite the villagers’ ridicule. The bicycle enabled him to travel independently and expand his business. His strike was a bold protest against caste oppression, economic exploitation and the expectation that a barber should remain obedient to his upper-caste clients.
.4. What were the results of Chandu’s strike?
Chandu’s strike left the village elders with long, untidy beards. Their ridiculous appearance became a source of amusement throughout the village. Even their family members laughed at them, and the landlord’s wife threatened to leave because she could no longer tolerate her husband’s unkempt appearance. Meanwhile, Chandu earned well in town and became more prosperous. The elders threatened to send him to prison and attempted to bring the barber from Verka by offering him higher payment. However, Chandu persuaded the neighbouring barbers to support him. Thus, the strike exposed the elders’ dependence on the labour of the very person they had insulted.
.5. How did Chandu establish the barber’s trade union, and what is the message of the story?
Chandu organised a meeting of barbers living within seven miles of his village. Using his intelligence and persuasive ability, he convinced them that the village elders should come to the barbers for service instead of making the barbers visit their houses. They united and opened the “Rajkot District Barber Brothers’ Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon” at the head of the bazaar. Their example inspired other workers to form trade unions. The story highlights caste discrimination, the dignity of labour, modernisation and collective resistance. It teaches that oppressed workers can secure respect and freedom through courage, unity, self-reliance and organised action.
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