Chapter 6 – Tara Act – 1 Explanations, Summary, Questions and Answers

Content Structure

1. About the author – Mahesh Dattani
2. Theme of the Tara
3. Summary of the Tara
4. Word meanings
5. Exercises solutions
6. Additional Questions and answers
- 6A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
- 6B. Fill in the blanks
- 6C. True or False
- 6D. Short questions & answers
- 6E. Long questions & answers
7. Grammar
- 7A. Narration Change

1. About the author – Mahesh Dattani

Mahesh Dattani was a famous Indian playwright, actor and director who wrote family dramas in English. He was born on 7th August 1958 in Bangalore. In 1998 he became the first Indian playwright writing in English to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Final Solutions and other plays. In his writing he focused on real-life issues such as gender, discrimination, family problems and identity. His most famous plays include Tara, Final Solutions, Dance Like a Man and Bravely Fought the Queen. His works are often studied in schools and colleges because he presents important social topics in a simple and powerful way.

2. Theme of the Tara

The story highlights gender-based differences, showing how girls are often treated unfairly compared to boys, even within their own families.
The story also shows the link between family and guilt by explaining how hidden secrets and poor choices can cause deep emotional pain.
Chandan changed his name to forget his past and wrote a story to show the unfair decisions made by his family and the struggles of his sister’s life.

3. Summary of the Tara

Mahesh Dattani, one of the most well-known modern Indian playwrights, is known for writing about serious problems that people often don’t talk about openly. In his play Tara he tells the story of a middle-class Indian family going through emotional, social and personal struggles. The play talks about important issues like unfair treatment of girls, emotional pain, confusion about identity and the pressure of following old family rules. The story is about twins named Tara and Chandan who were born joined together and had to be separated through surgery. The decision to give Chandan a better chance was made unfairly by their mother Bharati and their grandfather, showing clear gender bias. Tara is smart, happy and strong but she is not given the same chances as her brother, which causes her both physical pain and emotional sadness when she realizes that even her own family treats her differently just because she is a girl. The play moves between the past and the present, where Chandan lives in London and calls himself Dan. He tries to escape his painful memories and forget Tara, but her absence continues to haunt him. Chandan begins to write a play called Twinkle Tara, hoping that this will help him reconnect with the past and understand his own identity. The story shows how deeply connected Tara and Chandan were as children, always sharing jokes, supporting each other and being the best of friends. Tara receives a lot of love from her mother, but this affection is mixed with guilt because Bharati knows that her earlier decisions brought pain to her daughter. Bharati wants to donate her kidney to Tara to make up for the past, but her husband Patel refuses, believing that she is only doing it to ease her own guilt. Patel, who stays emotionally distant, focuses mainly on Chandan’s future and pays little attention to Tara, which leads to constant arguments with Bharati and a marriage filled with blame and sadness. Roopa, a neighbor who acts friendly on the surface, secretly mocks Tara, revealing how society often treats people cruelly for being different. As more events unfold, hidden truths about Tara’s operation and health begin to surface, bringing old wounds back into the open. When Tara suddenly falls ill due to low blood sugar, Bharati is too shocked to move, but Patel acts quickly to save her, showing how weak the family has become under emotional pressure. Bharati’s mental health slowly worsens, and the weight of guilt and the family’s painful secrets begin to take over. In the end, Dan finishes writing the play while listening to Brahms’ First Concerto, a piece of music that reflects the deep emotional bond and sorrow shared by the twins. Dan uses Tara’s story not just to accept the past and understand himself better, but also to create a powerful and emotional play that connects personal sadness with larger social problems, making the audience think deeply about real issues in the world and how they affect our lives.

4. Word meanings

Word	Meaning
Dynamics	The way people or things behave and affect each other
Fragmented	Broken into pieces
Fantasizing	Dreaming
Confrontational	Someone who often wants to fight or argue
Manipulated	Controlled
Clash	Fight
Entities	Things
Rediscover	To find or understand something again after forgetting it
Contemporary	Modern
Turbulent	Messy or stormy
Masticate	Chew
Anguish	Very strong emotional or physical pain
Intellectual’s	Smart person’s
Immigrant	New person in a country
Inseparable	Always together
Shoving	Pushing someone roughly
Shrivelled	Dry and small
Formaldehyde	A strong chemical used in science to keep dead things from rotting
Conflict	Problem or fight
Conceptions	The way someone thinks about something
Conjoinment	Joining together
Conjunction	Two or more things happening at the same time
Sturdy	Strong
Instincts	Natural feelings
Tittered	A small, shy laugh
Bitches	Bad word for women
Kannadigas	People who live in or come from the Indian state of Karnataka
Influential	Can change how people think or what they do
Electrocardiograms	A medical test that checks how the heart is working
Pelvic	Lower belly area
Tapestry	Colorful story mix
Dowry	Marriage gift from bride’s family
Knitting	Making clothes or things using wool
Feeding	Giving someone food to eat
Slumps	Drops down

5. Exercises solutions

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given :

1. What is the relationship between Chandan and Tara?
a) Close friends
b) Distant cousins
c) Conjoined twins (separated after birth)
d) Employer and employee

Ans: c) Conjoined twins (separated after birth)

2. What detail from Act I suggests that Tara might have been more intelligent than Chandan?
a) Chandan is praised for his academic achievements.
b) Tara is shown to be more physically active.
c) Tara is the one who suggests a way to communicate with the doctor.
d) Chandan is the one who remembers their childhood memories more vividly.

Ans: c) Tara is the one who suggests a way to communicate with the doctor.

3. What is a source of conflict between Chandan and his parents in Act I?
a) Chandan’s rebellious behavior
b) Chandan’s struggles to adjust to life after separation
c) Chandan’s choice of career path
d) Chandan’s lack of interest in marriage

Ans: c) Chandan’s choice of career path

4. What is the significance of the photograph shown in Act I?
a) It foreshadows a future romantic relationship for Chandan.
b) It serves as a constant reminder of Tara’s absence.
c) It represents a happy memory from Chandan’s childhood.
d) It introduces a new character who will play a major role in the story.

Ans: b) It serves as a constant reminder of Tara’s absence.

5. What is the overall mood or atmosphere created in Act I?
a) Lighthearted and comedic
b) Suspenseful and mysterious
c) Melancholy and filled with a sense of loss
d) Optimistic and hopeful for the future

Ans: c) Melancholy and filled with a sense of loss

6. Additional Questions and Answers

6A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. What issue is mainly explored in the play Tara?
(a) Pollution and environment
(b) Gender discrimination within a family
(c) Freedom struggle
(d) Indian politics

Ans: (b) Gender discrimination within a family

2. What did Chandan do after Tara’s death?
(a) Took care of his parents
(b) Changed his name and moved to London
(c) Started writing plays
(d) Became a doctor

Ans: (b) Changed his name and moved to London

3. Why did the student believe Dan must write Tara’s story?
(a) To show his family’s mistakes
(b) To find peace and understand himself
(c) To become a famous writer
(d) To make Tara popular

Ans: (b) To find peace and understand himself

4. What does Dan use as a symbol of escape and energy?
(a) Books
(b) Coffee
(c) Typewriter
(d) A glass of liquor

Ans: (d) A glass of liquor

5. What kind of topics does Dan say publishers in the West are interested in?
(a) Indian fashion and food
(b) Dowry deaths and child marriage
(c) Education and culture
(d) Colonial architecture

Ans: (b) Dowry deaths and child marriage

6. What is the title Dan gives to the play he is trying to write?
(a) Tara – A Twin Story
(b) Random Raj
(c) A Room in London
(d) Twinkle Tara

Ans: (d) Twinkle Tara

7. What excuse does Tara give for not drinking milk?
(a) She is not hungry
(b) The milk is too cold
(c) New places slow her digestion
(d) She is allergic

Ans: (c) New places slow her digestion

8. Why does Chandan say Tara would make a great businesswoman?
(a) She likes office work
(b) She wins at card games
(c) She listens well
(d) She studies hard

Ans: (b) She wins at card games

9. What does Tara say about the “men in the house”?
(a) They are resting
(b) They are thinking of going hunting
(c) They are cooking dinner
(d) They are watching TV

Ans: (b) They are thinking of going hunting

10. What kind of story does Roopa want to hear from Chandan?
(a) A adventure story
(b) A fairy tale
(c) A monster story
(d) A true story

Ans: (c) A monster story

11. How does Chandan jokingly describe Roopa in the story?
(a) As a kind queen
(b) As the ogler
(c) As the writer
(d) As the ghost

Ans: (b) As the ogler

12. What type of music are Tara and Chandan listening to in the house?
(a) Beethoven
(b) Indian classical
(c) Brahms
(d) Mozart

Ans: (c) Brahms

13. How does Tara describe her visit to physiotherapy?
(a) Painful but helpful
(b) Great doctor but rude nurse
(c) Friendly and supportive
(d) Boring and useless

Ans: (b) Great doctor but rude nurse

14. What does Tara say “runs in the family”?
(a) Cooking skills
(b) Dancing ability
(c) Their leg condition
(d) Writing talent

Ans: (c) Their leg condition

15. What is Roopa’s reaction when she enters the Patels’ house?
(a) She demands attention
(b) She is shy and hesitant
(c) She ignores Tara
(d) She complains about music

Ans: (b) She is shy and hesitant

16. How does Tara describe the girls she met in the building opposite?
(a) Rich and arrogant
(b) Beautiful but unsmart
(c) The ugliest girls in the world
(d) Friendly and kind

Ans: (c) The ugliest girls in the world

17. What standard has Roopa completed?
(a) Tenth
(b) Ninth
(c) Eleventh
(d) Eighth

Ans: (b) Ninth

18. What does Roopa say she loves from Indo-Swede Pharmacia?
(a) Vitamin tablets
(b) Pain balm
(c) Cough syrup
(d) Soap

Ans: (c) Cough syrup

19. Where is Roopa originally from?
(a) Mumbai
(b) Mysore
(c) Bangalore
(d) Tumkur

Ans: (d) Tumkur

20. What medical issue does Tara reveal she has?
(a) Heart problem
(b) Leg injury
(c) Kidney failure
(d) Bone disease

Ans: (c) Kidney failure

21. What language does Roopa use to greet Bharati?
(a) Hindi
(b) Tamil
(c) Kannada
(d) English

Ans: (c) Kannada

22. How does Bharati describe Chandan’s personality?
(a) Outgoing and unfriendly
(b) Quiet and self-contained
(c) Aggressive and rude
(d) Shy and fearful

Ans: (b) Quiet and self-contained

23. Who is the donor for Tara’s kidney transplant?
(a) Her friend
(b) Her father
(c) Roopa
(d) Her mother

Ans: (d) Her mother

24. Which movie does Roopa want to watch?
(a) E.T.
(b) Fatal Attraction
(c) Snow White
(d) Titanic

Ans: (b) Fatal Attraction

25. What is Bharati’s tone when she first speaks to Roopa about friendship?
(a) Warm and friendly
(b) Forceful but polite
(c) Humorous and casual
(d) Nervous and pushy

Ans: (b) Forceful but polite

26. Who did Patel speak with on the phone about Tara’s condition?
(a) Dr. Ramesh
(b) Dr. Thakkar
(c) Dr. Kapoor
(d) Dr. Gokhale

Ans: (c) Dr. Kapoor

27. What kind of doctor does Patel insist Bharati should see?
(a) Cardiologist
(b) Psychiatrist
(c) Surgeon
(d) Neurologist

Ans: (b) Psychiatrist

28. What movie are Tara, Chandan, and Roopa watching?
(a) The Sound of Music
(b) Fatal Attraction
(c) The Mirror Cracked
(d) The Lady of Shallot

Ans: (c) The Mirror Cracked

29. Who mentions the poem “The Lady of Shallot”?
(a) Tara
(b) Roopa
(c) Dan
(d) Chandan

Ans: (d) Chandan

30. Who actually makes the coffee Roopa compliments?
(a) Chandan
(b) Bharati
(c) Ida
(d) Tara

Ans: (c) Ida

31. What is Roopa’s attitude when talking about the “milk” story?
(a) Apologetic
(b) Joking
(c) Serious
(d) Nervous

Ans: (b) Joking

32. What nickname does Roopa give Tara after hearing her story?
(a) Tara Sparkle
(b) Twinkle Tara
(c) Milk Tara
(d) Tara Joy

Ans: (b) Twinkle Tara

33. What mistake does Bharati make while knitting?
(a) She tears the fabric
(b) She breaks the needle
(c) She drops a stitch
(d) She uses the wrong colour

Ans: (c) She drops a stitch

34. What emotion does Patel display most during this scene?
(a) Sad and quiet
(b) Joyful and relaxed
(c) Controlling and aggressive
(d) Calm and wise

Ans: (c) Controlling and aggressive

35. What dramatic event occurs at the climax of the fight?
(a) Patel collapses
(b) Tara faints due to low sugar
(c) Bharati slaps Tara
(d) Chandan leaves home

Ans: (b) Tara faints due to low sugar

6B. Fill in the blanks

1. Patel says Tara has found a _________________ donor, so Bharati’s help is no longer needed. (commercial)
2. Roopa calls Tara a “freak of ______________” after leaving her house. (nature)
3. Bharati becomes hysterical when Tara faints and screams, “My Tara is _________________! (dying)
4. Bharati insists that she is trying to plan for Tara’s ____________. (happiness)
5. Patel says he’s “disappointed” in Chandan for learning how to __________________. (knit)
6. Patel says Tara will not miss a year of college and must go ahead with her ______________. (studies)
7. Bharati defends herself by saying she made sure Tara always had _______________. (friends)
8. Roopa’s mother only allows her to watch movies on ______________ afternoons. (Sunday)
9. Chandan says the title of his story is “The _____________ Next Door.” (Ogler)
10. Patel tells Bharati she is turning the children against their own _____________. (father)
11. Patel tells Bharati he will arrange for her to see a _______________. (psychiatrist)
12. Tara’s father is the General Manager of _______________ Pharmacia. (Indo-Swede)
13. Tara finds Roopa’s misinterpretation of the idiom “two peas in a pod” quite _____________. (hysterical)
14. Chandan is described as self-contained and occupied with his __________________. (writing)
15. Roopa tells Tara that Prema said Patels used to drown girl babies in ________________. (milk)

6C. True or False

1. Roopa says, “Not all twins are peas in a pod.” (False)
S/S: Chandan says the line, not Roopa. This means that even twins can look or behave differently.

2. Tara is getting a kidney transplant from her brother Chandan. (False)
S/S: Chandan is not the donor. The arrangement involves a commercial donor.

3. Chandan does not want to go to the office with his father. (True)
S/S: He doesn’t want to go and argues with his father.

4. Patel doesn’t believe Bharati spoils Tara too much. (False)
S/S: He says Bharati treats Tara like she is made of glass.

5. Patel doesn’t allow Bharati to donate her kidney in the end. (True)
S/S: He firmly stops her and says it’s not right.

6. Bharati knits a sweater for Roopa. (False)
S/S: She is knitting for Tara, not Roopa.

7. Tara and Chandan share a strong emotional bond. (True)
S/S: Chandan refuses to go to college without Tara.

8. Patel gives more importance to Chandan than to Tara. (True)
S/S: Patel believes that Tara’s situation is mainly due to gender differences.

9. Chandan used to act sick to get attention as a child. (False)
S/S: Tara admits to sulking to gain attention, not Chandan.

10. Roopa offers to help Tara with old books and notes. (True)
S/S: Roopa says Tara can borrow her notes before leaving her house.

6D. Short questions & answers

1. How did Roopa first react after meeting Tara’s family?
Ans: Roopa was surprised after meeting Tara’s family and later talked to her friends on the phone, where she made fun of Tara’s mother and said the family seemed strange and different from others, so she decided never to visit their house again.

2. Why was Bharati not allowed to donate her kidney to Tara?
Ans: Bharati’s husband, Patel, strongly disagreed with the idea of her donating a kidney to Tara because he said a donor had already been found and felt that Bharati was too emotional and not mentally strong enough to make such an important medical decision.

3. Why was Patel worried about Bharati’s behavior?
Ans: Patel became concerned as Bharati started showing signs of emotional imbalance, becoming overly protective of Tara and refusing support from others. He thought she couldn’t manage her emotions properly anymore and felt she needed help from a psychiatrist.

4. What kind of relationship did Chandan and Tara share?
Ans: Chandan and Tara, as twins, shared a very close and loving bond, and Chandan loved his sister so much that he didn’t want to go to college without her. He supported her emotionally and took care of her during her illness, which clearly reflected their strong relationship.

5. What role did Dan play in the story?
Ans: Dan played the role of both a narrator and a writer in the play, as he reflected on the events and helped link the different scenes together. He shared his thoughts and wrote down the story, which added depth to the narrative and gave it a proper ending by typing the final lines.

6. Why was Tara’s future a matter of debate in the family?
Ans: Tara’s future became a matter of debate because her parents had different views about how her life should move forward. Bharati, being deeply attached to Tara, didn’t want to let her go, while Patel focused on making practical plans for her life, which often led to arguments between them.

7. What did Dr. Thakkar say about the twins’ medical condition?
Ans: Dr. Thakkar explained that the twins did not share any major organs like the heart or kidneys. This offered hope that a successful separation was possible with proper surgery and modern medical technology, improving their chances of living a healthy life.

8. What role does Roopa play in the story?
Ans: Roopa is one of Tara’s friends who seems kind but makes fun of Tara’s disability behind her back. Her behavior shows how some people in society treat disabled people, as they are nice in front of them but think badly about them, which shows the hidden unkindness in everyday life.

9. How did Bharati feel about Tara’s illness?
Ans: Bharati was deeply affected by Tara’s condition, and she even offered to donate a kidney and tried to protect her from any harm. However, her deep love for Tara turned into overprotection, which created problems in her relationship with Patel and showed her emotional struggle.

10. Describe Tara’s personality as shown in the play.
Ans: Tara is portrayed as intelligent, lively, and kind-hearted, and she stays cheerful and hopeful even though she faces physical challenges. She values fairness, treats everyone equally, and shares a close bond with her family, which shows that she is strong in both character and spirit.

11. How is the theme of identity explored in Tara?
Ans: The play explores the theme of identity through Tara’s life as a girl with a disability, showing that people often judge her based on what she cannot do instead of recognizing her real personality and strengths. It also highlights that a person’s sense of self is shaped more by family and society than by their own choices.

12. What does Chandan say at the end of the play?
Ans: At the end, Chandan begins writing Tara’s story, expressing a desire to share their pain with the world. Since Tara never had a voice or control in real life, he tries to give her the respect and freedom she deserved through his writing.

13. Why did Tara’s parents separate the conjoined twins unfairly?
Ans: Tara’s parents decided to give the second leg to Chandan because the family believed that, as a boy, he had a better future and would receive the grandfather’s property. This unfair thinking led them to make a decision during the surgery that badly affected Tara’s life.

14. What guilt does Chandan carry throughout the play?
Ans: Chandan feels guilty throughout his life for receiving better treatment during the surgery, as he believes Tara’s life was made worse for his benefit. This feeling of guilt stays with him and makes it hard for him to find peace or happiness after her death.

15. How is Patel’s character portrayed in the play?
Ans: Patel is shown as a calm and emotionally reserved person who makes decisions in a practical way. He avoids expressing his feelings openly and supports choices that follow traditional beliefs. His quiet support for his son over Tara shows that his actions reflect unequal treatment due to gender.

16. What does the mirror symbolize in the play?
Ans: The mirror in the play symbolizes truth and self-reflection, as it reveals the characters’ hidden guilt and emotional struggles. The characters try to hide their inner pain, but the mirror forces them to face their reality and unspoken regrets.

17. Why is the play titled “Tara”?
Ans: The play is titled Tara because it tells the story of Tara’s life, her challenges as a physically disabled girl, and the emotional pain she faces. The title brings focus to her strength and the unfair treatment she faces due to gender, both in her family and in society.

18. How does Mahesh Dattani use the character of Bharati in the play?
Ans: Bharati is shown as a mother struggling with both love and guilt, who showers Tara with care while hiding the painful truth about the surgery. Her extra care shows a deep sense of regret, making her a complex and emotional person.

19. How is the theme of guilt presented in the play?
Ans: The characters are deeply affected by guilt, as Bharati feels regret for choosing Chandan during the operation, and Chandan lives with the guilt of getting more than Tara. These feelings affect their actions and relationships, making guilt a central emotional theme throughout the story.

20. How does Tara’s character reflect the theme of gender discrimination?
Ans: Tara’s life clearly shows gender discrimination, as she is intelligent and brave but still receives less care and fewer opportunities than her brother. Her parents’ behavior toward her reflects the unfair preference for boys over girls in society.

6E. Long questions & answers

1. Discuss the significance of the title ‘Tara’ in Mahesh Dattani’s play.
Ans: Mahesh Dattani’s play centers on a young woman named Tara who faces discrimination due to her gender, social status, and emotions. Even though she is physically weaker than her counterpart, Tara shows remarkable mental strength and endurance. Her name symbolizes her potential, which society overlooks because of its biased view of women. Since “Tara” means “radiance” or “brilliance,” it metaphorically represents her promise, quietly criticizing society’s neglect of girls’ needs.

2. Describe the role of Bharati in the play. How does her character contribute to the central theme?
Ans: Bharati is a key character who highlights the issue of gender inequality and as the mother of Tara and Chandan, she brings focus to the unfair treatment of girls. Although she appears to care for and protect Tara, she agrees to the surgery that benefits Chandan, influenced by pressure from both her family and society. This decision leads her into a deep sense of guilt and emotional struggle. As a result of this choice, she becomes overly protective of Tara in an attempt to ease her guilt, but the damage caused by her earlier decision cannot be undone. Her character reflects the conflict between personal love and social expectations.

3. Why does Chandan decide to leave India, and how is it connected to his past?
Ans: Chandan leaves India for London to escape the emotional burden of his past, feeling guilty for receiving better treatment during the surgery while Tara suffered. He changes his name to Dan in an effort to disconnect from his earlier identity, and writing the play becomes a way for him to confront his memories and find peace. As he goes through this process, he becomes more aware of the lasting impact of his guilt and holds on to the deep emotional bond he shared with Tara, which he will never forget.

4. How does Mahesh Dattani use the structure of the play to enhance its emotional impact?
Ans: Mahesh Dattani uses a non-linear structure that moves between the present and the past to explore memories and guilt, telling the story through Dan’s writing, which includes scenes from Tara’s earlier life. This shifting between timelines builds emotional depth and drama, allowing the audience to slowly understand the family dynamics and the effects of the surgery. The structure also reflects the broken lives of the characters, especially Chandan’s weak mental state as he struggles with grief and loss.

5. How does the play ‘Tara’ explore the idea of identity and self-discovery?
Ans: The play explores identity mainly through the experiences of the twins, especially Chandan, who, after Tara’s death, is overwhelmed with guilt and begins a journey of self-discovery by changing his name to Dan. As he reflects on his past and writes their story, he gradually confronts the truth and regains his sense of identity. The play shows how family choices and social pressure influence one’s self-image, and it also stresses that, although painful, accepting the truth is necessary for emotional growth.

6. What role does guilt play in the character development of Bharati and Chandan?
Ans: The actions of both Bharati and Chandan are shaped by guilt throughout the play, as Bharati regrets agreeing to the surgery that harmed Tara and tries to make up for it by giving her excessive love, which does not heal the pain. Chandan feels responsible for Tara’s suffering and the special treatment he received, and his guilt causes him to run away to London. Their guilt shows how a single wrong decision can deeply affect a family’s emotions.

7. What is the central conflict in the play ‘Tara’?
Ans: The main struggle in Tara revolves around gender inequality within a family and the moral and emotional challenges it causes. The painful choice to favor Chandan over Tara during surgery leads to tensions between the siblings and their parents, as the characters face strong emotions such as guilt, anger, and sorrow that shape their lives. This personal struggle also reflects larger social issues like gender discrimination and inequality, showing how family stories can reveal societal injustices.

8. What does Tara’s relationship with Chandan reveal about sibling bonding?
Ans: Tara and Chandan share a close and loving bond beyond just being twins. Tara trusts Chandan completely, and he always tries to protect her. Even though the family’s decisions create differences between them, they never feel jealous or angry toward each other. Chandan’s sadness and guilt after Tara’s death show how much he loved her. Their relationship reminds us that family choices can affect even the strongest and closest bonds.

9. What message does Mahesh Dattani convey through the play ‘Tara’?
Ans: Tara delivers a powerful message about gender discrimination, emotional pain, and family conflict, using Tara’s story to highlight society’s preference for boys over girls and the harmful effects of unfair medical decisions. The play shows that even educated families can be trapped by prejudice and old customs, exploring how these choices affect everyone, especially children, and encouraging us to think about fairness in families, the treatment of girls, and the mistakes society often ignores, inspiring kindness and the need to bring change.

10. Why does the character of Roopa serve as a contrast to Tara in the play?
Ans: Roopa stands in clear contrast to Tara, as Tara is smart, honest, and thoughtful, while Roopa is shallow, often gossips, and cares too much about how things look. Roopa’s rude remarks about Tara’s family and her unkind behavior show that she doesn’t truly care about others, but Tara stays calm and respectful, showing her strength from within. Dattani uses Roopa’s character to bring out Tara’s goodness and the unfair pain she goes through, while also showing how people in society can be unfair and unkind.

7. Grammar

7A. Narration Change

1. He said, “Our culture is so rich with tradition.”
Ans: He said that their culture was very rich with tradition.

2. Dattani said, “That is our contribution to the world.”
Ans: Dattani said that that was their contribution to the world.

3. One student said, “Tara and Chandan are two sides of the same self.”
Ans: One student said that Tara and Chandan were two sides of the same self.

4. Bharati said, “They have yet to be unpacked.”
Ans: Bharati said that they had yet to be unpacked.

5. Bharati said, “Tara, drink your milk, amma!”
Ans: Bharati told Tara to drink her milk and lovingly called her “amma.”

6. Tara said, “Sorry, new places slow down my peristalsis.”
Ans: Tara said sorry and explained that new places slowed down her peristalsis.

7. Chandan said, “New pinch for a new word.”
Ans: Chandan said that it was a new pinch for a new word.

8. Bharati said, “Your father doesn’t want us to use them.
Ans: Bharati said that their father didn’t want them to use them.

9. Patel said, “You said so yourself. You said…”
Ans: Patel said that Bharati had said so herself.

10. Bharati said, “She’s much too thin. She must put on more weight.”
Ans: Bharati said that Tara was much too thin and that she must put on more weight.

11. Bharati said, “This morning at the clinic, Dr. Kapoor checked their charts.”
Ans: Bharati said that that morning at the clinic, Dr. Kapoor had checked their charts.

12. Bharati said, “She’s lost half a pound in one week.”
Ans: Bharati said that Tara had lost half a pound in one week.

13. Bharati said, “In one month she will lose a kilo!”
Ans: Bharati exclaimed that in one month Tara would lose a kilo.

14. Bharati said, “The doctors are concerned about…”
Ans: Bharati said that the doctors were concerned about them.

15. Patel said, “I know what the doctors said.”
Ans: Patel said that he knew what the doctors had said.

16. Bharati asked, “Did you say surprised?”
Ans: Bharati asked if he had said surprised.

17. Patel said, “I meant to say he was happy to note…”
Ans: Patel said that he had meant to say Dr. Kapoor was happy to note it.

18. Tara said, “Now don’t start on your sidey jokes!”
Ans: Tara told him not to start on his sidey jokes.

19. Roopa said, “Hello, uncle. Sorry! Am I disturbing you?”
Ans: Roopa greeted uncle and asked politely if she was disturbing him.

20. Roopa said, “Really? How disappointing.”
Ans: Roopa said that it was really disappointing.

21. Roopa said, “What do you write about?”
Ans: Roopa asked what he wrote about.

22. Tara said, “He writes about people he knows.”
Ans: Tara said that he wrote about people he knew.

23. Roopa said, “That’s not you! That’s me!”
Ans: Roopa exclaimed that it was not Tara but her.

24. Roopa asked, “Aren’t you, Chandan?”
Ans: Roopa asked Chandan if he wasn’t.

25. Patel said, “Maybe I need some advice or counselling.”
Ans: Patel said that maybe he needed some advice or counselling.

26. Patel said, “I don’t know whether I am prepared for the worst.”
Ans: Patel said that he didn’t know whether he was prepared for the worst.

27. Tara said, “I am strong. My mother has made me strong.”
Ans: Tara said that she was strong and her mother had made her strong.

28. Patel said, “Maybe I’m expecting the worst. It may never happen.”
Ans: Patel said that maybe he was expecting the worst, but it might never happen.

29. Dan said, “I can’t have all that just swimming in my mind.”
Ans: Dan said that he couldn’t have all that just swimming in his mind.

30. Dan said, “Now steady, Dan boy. One thing at a time.”
Ans: Dan told himself to be steady and do one thing at a time.

31. Dan said, “This isn’t fair to Tara. She deserves something better.”
Ans: Dan said that it wasn’t fair to Tara and that she deserved something better.

32. Dan said, “She never got a fair deal. Not even from nature.”
Ans: Dan said that Tara had never got a fair deal, not even from nature.

33. Dan said, “Maybe God never wanted us to be separated.”
Ans: Dan said that maybe God had never wanted them to be separated.

34. Dan said, “Only that. But even God does not always get what he wants.”
Ans: Dan said that even God did not always get what He wanted.

35. Direct: Dan asked, “Dr. Thakkar, could you tell us what was so special about this surgery?”
Ans: Dan asked Dr. Thakkar if he could tell them what was so special about that surgery.

36. Dr. Thakkar said, “The patients were only a few months old.”
Ans: Dr. Thakkar said that the patients had been only a few months old.

37. Dr. Thakkar said, “The twins are of different sexes. Very, very rare.”
Ans: Dr. Thakkar said that the twins were of different sexes and that it was very, very rare.

38. Chandan said, “Brahms. Not Beethoven.”
Ans: Chandan said that it was Brahms, not Beethoven.

39. Tara said, “I thought that was Beethoven.”
Ans: Tara said that she had thought that was Beethoven.

40. Chandan said, “You’ve heard this so often.”
Ans: Chandan said that she had heard that so often.

41. Chandan said, “But this one is unmistakably Brahms.”
Ans: Chandan said that it was unmistakably Brahms.

42. Chandan said, “It’s written on the record cover.”
Ans: Chandan said that it was written on the record cover.

43. Tara said, “You mean you can feel all that in the music?”
Ans: Tara asked if he could feel all that in the music.

44. Tara said, “Where’s mummy?”
Ans: Tara asked where her mummy was.

45. Chandan said, “In the kitchen, where else?”
Ans: Chandan said that she was in the kitchen, where else would she be.

46. Tara said, “I think I’m going to like Bombay.”
Ans: Tara said that she thought she was going to like Bombay.

47. Chandan said, “We’ve been here before.”
Ans: Chandan said that they had been there before.

48. Tara said, “When? Oh, you mean…”
Ans: Tara asked when and then understood what he meant.

49. Tara said, “You could say we were separated when we were babies in Bombay.”
Ans: Tara said that they could say they had been separated when they were babies in Bombay.

50. Tara said, “Oh, Chandu. What would I do without you?”
Ans: Tara asked what she would do without Chandu.

51. Tara said, “I’d probably have a ball, that’s what I would do.”
Ans: Tara said that she would probably have a ball.

52. Chandan said, “They do that now.”
Ans: Chandan said that they did that then too.

53. Tara said, “Well, mummy, yes. It’s all right. I can take it.”
Ans: Tara said that mummy did and it was all right and she could take it.

54. Chandan said, “No, it’s not all right. You can’t take it.”
Ans: Chandan said that it wasn’t all right and she couldn’t take it.

55. Tara said, “Women have an instinct for these things.”
Ans: Tara said that women had an instinct for those things.

56. Chandan said, “Women, not girls.”
Ans: Chandan said that it was women, not girls.

57. Tara said, “It’s innate! We are born with it!”
Ans: Tara said that it was innate and that they were born with it.

58. Direct: Tara said, “Still, it would be nice to see their reaction.”
Ans: Tara said that it would still be nice to see their reaction.

59. Roopa said, “Oh, really? We’ve only just met!”
Ans: Roopa said with surprise that they had only just met.

60. Roopa said, “Oh, that! I’m sorry, I hope you didn’t mind.”
Ans: Roopa said that she was sorry and hoped Tara didn’t mind.

61. Tara said, “Mind? Why should I mind?”
Ans: Tara asked why she should mind.

62. Roopa said, “Well, I didn’t think it was that funny.”
Ans: Roopa said that she hadn’t thought it was that funny.

63. Tara said, “Yes. Yes. So tell me about yourself. Which standard are you in?”
Ans: Tara asked Roopa which standard she was in.

64. Roopa said, “I’ve finished my ninth.”
Ans: Roopa said that she had finished her ninth.

65. Tara said, “We’ve just completed our tenth.”
Ans: Tara said that they had just completed their tenth.

66. Tara said, “My mother is from Bangalore. My dad’s Gujarati.”
Ans: Tara said that her mother was from Bangalore and her father was Gujarati.

67. Roopa asked, “Was it a love marriage?”
Ans: Roopa asked if it had been a love marriage.

68. Tara said, “Yes. My father had to leave his parents because of the marriage.”
Ans: Tara said that her father had to leave his parents because of the marriage.

69. Tara said, “Today my dad is the general manager of Indo-Swede Pharmacia.”
Ans: Tara said that her dad was the general manager of Indo-Swede Pharmacia.

70. Roopa said, “Oh, that’s great.”
Ans: Roopa said that it was great.

71. Tara said, “I will soon be going in for surgery.”
Ans: Tara said that she would soon be going in for surgery.

72. Roopa asked, “On your leg?”
Ans: Roopa asked if it was on her leg.

73. Tara replied, “No. A kidney transplant.”
Ans: Tara replied that it was a kidney transplant.

74. Roopa asked, “Don’t you need someone to give you a kidney?”
Ans: Roopa asked if she didn’t need someone to give her a kidney.

75. Tara said, “A donor. Yes. I’ve got one.”
Ans: Tara said that she had a donor.

76. Roopa asked, “Your brother?”
Ans: Roopa asked if it was her brother.

77. Bharati said, “Tara, I hope you’ll like Chinese for dinner.”
Ans: Bharati told Tara that she hoped she would like Chinese for dinner.

78. Roopa said, “Hello, aunty. Heg iddira?”
Ans: Roopa greeted Bharati in Kannada and asked how she was.

79. Roopa said, “Oh, we have them here too.”
Ans: Roopa said that they had them there too.

80. Bharati asked, “Tara, what’s Chandan up to?”
Ans: Bharati asked Tara what Chandan was up to.

81. Tara said, “I think he’s writing.”
Ans: Tara said that she thought he was writing.

82. Roopa said, “I think I better get going.”
Ans: Roopa said that she thought she had better get going.

83. Tara said, “Right. And remember to stay away from Prema and Nalini.”
Ans: Tara told her to remember to stay away from Prema and Nalini.

84. Roopa said, “That’s what you think.”
Ans: Roopa said that was what Tara thought.

85. Roopa said, “They are not really our standard, you know.”
Ans: Roopa said that they were not really their standard.

86. Roopa asked, “Don’t you know Kannada?”
Ans: Roopa asked if Tara didn’t know Kannada.

87. Tara said, “Yes, I know what you mean.”
Ans: Tara said that she knew what Roopa meant.

88. Bharati said, “Tara, you haven’t finished unpacking.”
Ans: Bharati told Tara that she hadn’t finished unpacking.

89. Bharati asked, “You will be her best friend?”
Ans: Bharati asked if Roopa would be Tara’s best friend.

90. Roopa said, “Guess what? I went to her house!”
Ans: Roopa said with excitement that she had gone to her house.

91. Roopa said, “She is a real freak of nature all right.”
Ans: Roopa said that she was a real freak of nature.

92. Dr. Thakkar said, “They were disheartened in the beginning.”
Ans: Dr. Thakkar said that they had been disheartened in the beginning.

93. Dr. Thakkar said, “The results were encouraging.”
Ans: Dr. Thakkar said that the results had been encouraging.

94. Patel said, “Yes, Dr. Kapoor. I am happy to hear that.”
Ans: Patel told Dr. Kapoor that he was happy to hear that.

95. Patel said, “She is a very lucky girl.”
Ans: Patel said that she was a very lucky girl.

96. Patel said, “She will be glad she won’t have to go for dialysis.”
Ans: Patel said that she would be glad that she wouldn’t have to go for dialysis.

97. Bharati asked, “Give me his phone number!”
Ans: Bharati demanded that he give her the doctor’s phone number.

98. Bharati said, “My blood pressure is under control.”
Ans: Bharati said that her blood pressure was under control.

99. Patel said, “I cannot handle your moods any longer.”
Ans: Patel said that he could not handle her moods any longer.

100. Patel said, “I am going to fix an appointment for you.”
Ans: Patel said that he was going to fix an appointment for her.