Q. What are the major themes of the novel “Dollar Bahu”?
Ans. Sudha Murthy is a voluminous Indian woman writer. “Dollar Bahu” is one of her popular novels. It is originally written in Kannada language. It was published in 2005. Sudha Murthy herself has translated the novel into English. It is divided into 27 chapters. Every chapter can be read as a separate story. “Dollar Bahu” is a story of a middle class Indian family. It deals with the following themes:
1. The Dehumanizing Effect of Globalization on the Traditional Indian Psyche :
In the wake of Globalisation, the process of brain-drain became fast. The novelist Sudha Murthy has been closely related to the professionals in IT industry through her company Infosys. She minutely observed the changes in the bahaviour of the young male and female employees of the IT sector. Her first-hand knowledge of the people in the industry is reflected in the novel “Dollar Bahu”. The last decade of the twentieth century witnessed amazing boom in the IT sector of the Indian industries. Thousands of boys and girls preferred to take engineering degree in IT because it opened new opportunities within and outside India for them. It also provided them with an opportunity to go abroad, particularly to America, and earn dollars in thousands. Growth and development in IT and their positive economic implications enchanted Indians though the other side of this boom was gloomily dark. It eroded the personal relations not only in Indian society but also within the family. Sudha Murty has dealt with this phenomenon in Dollar Bahu. Gauramma wants her sons become engineers and earn money in terms of dollars. Her elder son fulfils her desire. But it makes a very bad impact on the behaviour of her daughter-in-law.
2. Greed for Money:
Gauramma is one of the major characters in the novel. Gowramma has a tremendous greed for money. Therefore, she desires costly clothes and jewellery . She feels envy of other women who are rich. She is a wife of a common school teacher Shamanna. Shamanna has a meager salary. Gouramma cannot fulfill her desire for costly clothes and jewellery . She wants her children do high-profile jobs and thereby earn money so that she can satisfy her desire for money, costly clothes and jewellery. Har elder son Chandru fulfills her desire. He becomes an engineer and goes to America. He earns a salary in dollars. In this way, Gauramma is overjoyed. Afterward, Chandru marriage to Jamuna. Jamuna knows about Gauramma’s greed for money. Jamuna’s parents are also rich. She becomes a wife of an engineer earning a salary in Dollars in America. Therefore, Jamuna is paid more respect than her younger sister-in-law Vinutha by Gauramma and Surabhi. Jamuna deceives Gauramma and Surabhi by giving them used sarees and jewellery. When Gauramma goes to America and is ill-treated by Jamuna, Gauramma realises significance of Vinutha who is loving, caring and docile daughter-in-law. In this way, greed for money and its bad consequences are highlighted by the novelist in the form of Gauramma Jamuna and Vinutha.
3. The Crumbling Domestic Relations in India and Indians:
No doubt, growth in industrialisation and Globalisation have prosperity in the middle-class families. But it led the families to money-mindedness. Due to it, the relationship among the members of the families started spoiling to certain extent. It is appropriately highlighted by the novelist Sudha Murthy in “Dollar Bahu”.
Jamuna is respected by Gauramma, whereas Vinutha is ill-treated by her. The simple reason is that Jamuna’s husband earns a salary in dollars and Vinutha’s husband does not. Again, Jamuna’s parents are rich and Vinutha’s parents are not. In fact, Vinutha is modest, simple and docile and Jamuna is a little bit arrogant, deceptive and showy. But human values lose significance and money gains importance. It indicates that money is more important than human values like love, affection, sympathy and care.
4. East-West Confrontation :
East-West Confrontation is a common theme dealt with by most of the Indian novelsits. Sudha Murthy has explored it in “Dollar Bahu”. When Gauramma goes to America for Jamuna’s delivery, she first finds America amazing. But as she spends some time there, she realises how illusory is the Western world. She pays visit to many Indian families living in America and comes to know about their sad stories. After listening to them all, Gauramma’s desire to go back to India arises. She realises the significance of her motherland and living in a joint family.
Thus, The Dehumanizing Effect of Globalization on the Traditional Indian Psyche, Greed for money, The Crumbling Domestic Relations in India and Indians, and East-West Confrontation are the major themes in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
Q1] Write a note on the title “Dollar Bahu”.
Ans. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is
originally written in Kannada by Sudha Murthy. Its title in Kannada is
“Dollar Sose”. It is translated into English as “Dollar
Bahu”. It imparts Indianness to the novel because the word – “Bahu” is an Indian word. The title “Dollar Bahu” is used to refer to Jamuna. Jamuna is
Chandru’s wife. Chandru lives in America and earns a salary in dollars. Jamuna also lives
with him in America. She is the wife of a man making dollars. So she is called
“Dollar Babu”.
A
Dollar is used as a symbol in the novel. It symbolises power. As
Jamuna’s husband earns dollars, she dominates her whole family. She is paid more
respect than her sister-in-law Vinuta. Vinuta is actually a kind-hearted and
docile Daughter-in-law. She performs all household duties with complete
responsibility. Still, she is not given enough respect by Gauramma. But Gauramma,
insulted by Jamuna in America, realises the significance of Vinuta. But, in the end
dollar lose his power. The novel ends with the sentence – “The Invincible
Dollar had Fallen.”
Thus, the title “Dollar
Bahu” is apt subtle, and symbolic. It is suggestive also. It refers to
Jamuna.
Q.2. Write a note on ‘the end
of the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
Ans. The novel “Dollar Bahu”
has a happy ending. Insulted and stunned
Gauramma comes back to India from America. She realises the significance of
Vinuta. She makes inquiry about Vinuta
and Girish as soon as she lands in India. Shammana replies that Girish,
Vinuta, and Harsha have shifted to Dharval. It was Shamanna who had advised
Girish to apply for a transfer to Dharval. He does not want Gauramma to torture
Vinuta anymore. Because he had a fear in his mind that Vinuta will be tortured
more than earlier after coming from America. Shammana tells his wife
“Gouri, love, and affection are more important than food and money”.
Vinuta is like a daughter and I do not want her to suffer. I have done for Vinuta, what
I would have done for Surabhi. Gouramma
assures Shammana that she has undergone a sea change. America has opened her eyes. She realises the importance
of love, affection, modesty, and kind heart. Vinuta is an emblem of all these
things.
Gaurmma expresses her desire to see
Harsha. She starts shedding tears and therefore Shammana gets ready to take her
to Dharvad to see Harsha, Vinuta and Girish on the condition that she would not
utter any word about America, its wealth, and her dollar bahu. Gaurmma promises
him not to speak about all these things. When she opens her purse to get keys to open her suitcase, a bill of hundred
dollars falls out. It was given by
Chandru to her at the airport but now it did not hold any charm, any power and
any magic. The novel ends with the narrator saying “The Invincible dollar
had fallen”.
Choose the correct alternatives from those given below .
1. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is written by……..
a. A. K. Ramanujan
b. Kamala Markandaya
c. Sudha Murty
d. Narayan Murty
2. The novel “Dollar Bahu” was first published in………
a. 2005
b. 2006
c. 2007
d. 2008
3. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is originally written in……..language
a. Marathi
b. Kannada
c. Hindi
d. English
4. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is set in……..
a. Karnataka only
b. America only
c. Both Karnataka and America
d. Tamilnadu
5. The novel “Dollar Bahu” enphasises the value of mutual attachment and……..
a. money
b. life
c. love
d. domestic relations
6. The novel “Dollar Bahu” shows that……..
a. love and affection are more important than money
b. money is more important than love and affection
c. love is precious
d. we should enjoy every in situation
7. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is divided into……..parts
a. twenty-seven
b. twenty-eight
c. twenty-nine
d. thirty
8. Chandru and Vinuta in “Dollar Bahu” first meet in………
a. Amritsar Express
b. Rani Kittur Chennamma Express
c. Rajdhani Express
d. Nellur Express
9. The title “Dollar Bahu” refers to……..
a. Gauramma
b. Vinuta
c. Jamuna
d. Surabhi
10. Gauramma in “Dollar Bahu” is a………..character.
a. bad
b. flat
c. round
d. good
11. Gauramma in “Dollar Bahu” has……sons.
a. two
b. three
c. four
d. five
12. …….is elder son of Gauramma in “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Chandru
b. Girish
c. Bhimanna
d. Shamanna
13. …….is younger son of Gauramma in “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Chandru
b. Girish
c. Bhimanna
d. Shamanna
14. ……….is a major theme of the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. The dehumanising effect of globalisation on the traditional human psyche.
b. Love and death
c. Man and woman relationship
d. Friendship
15. The of the novel “Dollar Bahu” is……..
a. complex
b. dynamic
c. simple
d. complicated
16. ……….is another major theme of the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. life in India
b. Life in America
c. The crumbling domestic relations in India and Indians
d. The relationship between India and America
17. The invincible……..had fallen…
a. Rupee
b. Dollar
c. Cent
d. Ruble
18) Jamuna’s parents in the novel “Dollar Bahu” are……...
a. rich
b. poor
c. illiterate
d. merciful
19) The statement “Gouri, love and affection are more important than food and money” is made by………in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shamanna
b. Chandru
c. Girish
d. Shekhar
20) The statement “Gouri, love and affection are more important than food and money” is made by………in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shamanna
b. Chandru
c. Girish
d. Shekhar
21……..is a husband of Vinuta in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shamanna
b. Chandru
c. Girish
d. Shekhar
22. ……..is a symbol of power in the novel “Dollar Bahu” .
a. Dollar
b. Rupee
c. Knowledge
d. Service in America
23……..repented her visit to America after the bad treatment given by Jamuna to her in the novel “Dollar Bahu” .
a. Vinuta
b. Gauramma
c. Shamanna
d. Surabhi
24. Shrikant and Roopa divorce because of……….bossing nature in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shrikant’s
b. Shrikant’s mother’s
c. Roopa’s
d. Their daughter’s
25. Jamuna sent……….in decorated boxes for Surabhi’s wedding in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. sweets
b. ornaments
c. new saris
d. used saris
26. Gauramma goes to America for……… in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Jamuna’s delivery
b. Surabhi’s delivery
c. Vinuta’s delivery
d. enjoyment
27. Jamuna refused to take……..along with her in the hospital in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Gauramma
b. Chandru
c. Vinuta
d. Surabhi
28. The novel “Dollar Bahu” is regarded as a scathing attack on………
a. Indian middleclass society
b. Indian madness for money
c. Indians in America
d. American dollar
29. Chandru in “Dollar Bahu” is a/an……..
a. software engineer
b. doctor
c. civil engineer
d. clerk in a bank
30. Girish in “Dollar Bahu” is a/an………
a. software engineer
b. teacher
c. clerk in a bank
d. civil engineer
31……..was a name of newly born of Jamuna in “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Manasi
b. Manas
c. Manasvi
d. Manjiri
32. …….is one of the major themes of the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Greed for money and its consequences
b. East-West confrontation
c. Both a and b
d. None of the above
33. has greed for money in “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Vinuta
b. Gauramma
c. Bhimanna
d. Shamanna
34. ……….is a teacher in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shamanna
b. Bhimanna
c. Gauramma
d. Chandru
35……….accepts job as a teacher in Bangalore in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shekhar
b. Surabhi
c. Vinuta
d. Girish
36. Girish gets transferred to………in the end of the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Chennai
b. Mumbai
c. Dharwad
d. Bangalore
37. The novel “Dollar Bahu” explores the psyche of NRIs settled in……..to some extent.
a. France
b. America
c. England
d. Japan
38) Vinuta………the letter sent by Chandru from America in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. gets
b. does not get
c. loses
d. tears
39) Sudha Murty is a/an…….writer.
a. Indian
b. American
c. Japanese
d. French
40) ………is a considerate and loving towards Vinuta in the novel “Dollar Bahu”.
a. Shamanna
b. Gauramma
c. Surabhi
d. Shekhar
