Class 6 English Notes Chapter 9 (What Happened to the Reptiles) – A Pact with the Sun Book

Alright class, let's delve into Chapter 9 of 'A Pact with the Sun', titled 'What Happened to the Reptiles'. This story is quite significant, not just as a narrative, but as an allegory with a powerful message, making it important for your exams. Pay close attention to the details and the underlying theme.

Chapter 9: What Happened to the Reptiles - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction and Setting:

• The story begins with a boy named Prem, who has fled his village due to communal violence (burning, looting, religious hatred).
• He reaches a distant, peaceful village called Pambupatti, located on the edge of a jungle.
• Pambupatti is unique because, for a long time, it was inhabited only by reptiles.

2. Prem's Arrival and the Old Man:

• Prem collapses near the village and is found by an old, grey-haired resident with shining black eyes and wrinkled skin.
• The old man cares for Prem, giving him food, water, and rest.
• When Prem explains why he fled his village, the old man decides to tell him the story of Pambupatti to teach him a lesson about harmony and coexistence.

3. The Story of Pambupatti (as told by the old man):

• A Peaceful Beginning: Pambupatti was initially a harmonious place where all kinds of reptiles – crocodiles, snakes, tortoises, lizards – lived together peacefully in the forest by the river.
• Makara's Rise: A massive, powerful crocodile named Makara became the self-proclaimed leader. He was strong but arrogant and prejudiced.
• The Banishment Begins (Prejudice in Action):
  • Target 1: Tortoises: Makara decided he disliked the slow, "stupid" tortoises carrying their houses on their backs. He ordered them to leave Pambupatti within a week. Despite protests, the tortoises were forced out.
  • Consequence 1: A month later, a foul smell filled the forest because the rotting fruit and dead animals previously eaten by tortoises were piling up. Insects, usually eaten by tortoises, multiplied.
  • Target 2: Snakes: Makara then targeted the snakes, calling them slimy and weird. He ordered them to leave. The snakes, fearing Makara, slithered away.
  • Consequence 2: With the snakes gone, the rat population exploded. They became a nuisance, eating eggs, destroying food stores, and even bothering the crocodiles' babies.
  • Target 3: Lizards: Finally, Makara decided to banish the lizards (including chameleons and geckos), finding their changing colours and habits annoying. They too were forced out.
  • Consequence 3: The insect population surged uncontrollably without lizards to eat them. The forest became unbearable, filled with flies, mosquitoes, and other pests. Fruits rotted faster.
• Life Without Diversity: The crocodiles, now alone, faced numerous problems:
  • Rats and insects everywhere.
  • Food scarcity (as other reptiles played a role in the ecosystem).
  • Boredom and lack of vibrancy in the forest.
  • The forest felt unpleasant and dangerous even for the crocodiles.
• Realization and Revolt: The baby crocodiles complained, and even the adult crocodiles grew tired of Makara's rule and the miserable conditions. They realized their mistake. A brave, younger crocodile questioned Makara's decisions.
• The Return: Facing pressure and realizing the disaster he had caused, Makara reluctantly agreed (or was forced) to send messages asking the tortoises, snakes, and lizards to return.
• Restoration of Harmony: When the other reptiles returned, Pambupatti slowly went back to normal. The smells disappeared, the rats were controlled, the insects reduced, and the forest became lively and pleasant again.

4. The Moral/Theme (Crucial for Exams):

• Unity in Diversity: The story strongly advocates that a society thrives when different kinds of people (represented by reptiles) live together harmoniously. Each group has a role to play.
• Interdependence: It highlights how different members of a community depend on each other for survival and well-being. Removing one group negatively impacts everyone else.
• Dangers of Prejudice and Discrimination: Makara's prejudice led to the suffering of all. The story warns against judging and excluding others based on superficial differences.
• Critique of Authoritarianism: Makara's dictatorial rule and arrogance caused the problems. True leadership involves inclusivity and understanding.
• Peace and Tolerance: The story contrasts the violence in Prem's village with the eventual peace achieved in Pambupatti through tolerance and acceptance. The old man wants Prem to take this message back.

5. Key Characters:

• Prem: Narrator, refugee from violence, learns the lesson of Pambupatti.
• Old Man: Wise resident of Pambupatti, storyteller, represents wisdom and tolerance.
• Makara: Antagonist, arrogant crocodile leader, symbol of prejudice and tyranny.
• Tortoises, Snakes, Lizards: Represent different groups/communities, each with a vital role.

6. Important Vocabulary:

• Fled: Ran away from danger.
• Eerie: Strange and frightening.
• Reptiles: Cold-blooded vertebrates (crocodiles, snakes, lizards, tortoises).
• Peculiar: Strange or odd; unusual.
• Strutted: Walked stiffly or proudly.
• Bellowed: Shouted loudly in a deep voice.
• Hissed: Made a sharp sibilant sound (like a snake).
• Slithered: Moved with a smooth sliding motion (like a snake).
• Scurried: Moved hurriedly with short, quick steps (like rats or lizards).
• Mayhem: Violent or damaging disorder; chaos.
• Grim: Forbidding or uninviting; serious.
• Hoisting: Raising or lifting something.
• Reluctance: Unwillingness or disinclination to do something.

Takeaway for Prem (and the Reader): Prem decides to return to his village, not with weapons, but with the story of Pambupatti, hoping to heal the divisions and promote peace.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Why did Prem leave his own village?
   a) Because of a flood
   b) Due to a famine
   c) Because of communal violence and hatred
   d) To find work in Pambupatti

2. What was unique about Pambupatti when the old man first knew it?
   a) Only mammals lived there.
   b) It was inhabited only by reptiles.
   c) No animals lived there, only plants.
   d) Humans and reptiles lived together peacefully.

3. Who was Makara in the story?
   a) A wise old tortoise
   b) A friendly snake
   c) The powerful and arrogant crocodile leader
   d) A chameleon who could change colours

4. Which group of reptiles did Makara banish first?
   a) Snakes
   b) Lizards
   c) Crocodiles
   d) Tortoises

5. What was the immediate consequence of the snakes leaving Pambupatti?
   a) The forest became very quiet.
   b) The population of rats increased drastically.
   c) There were too many insects.
   d) The river dried up.

6. Why did Makara decide to banish the lizards?
   a) They were too slow.
   b) They made too much noise.
   c) He found their habits and changing colours annoying.
   d) They ate the crocodiles' eggs.

7. What major problem arose after the tortoises were forced out?
   a) The river became dirty.
   b) Rats overran the forest.
   c) A foul smell filled the forest from rotting matter.
   d) The crocodiles had no one to talk to.

8. Who finally convinced Makara (or forced him) to call back the other reptiles?
   a) The old man from the village
   b) Prem
   c) The other crocodiles, especially the younger ones
   d) A wise old snake

9. What is the main moral or theme of the story told by the old man?
   a) Crocodiles are the strongest reptiles.
   b) It is best to live alone.
   c) Unity in diversity and interdependence are essential for harmony.
   d) Snakes and lizards are pests.

10. What did Prem decide to do after hearing the story of Pambupatti?
    a) Stay in Pambupatti forever.
    b) Go back to his village and tell everyone the story.
    c) Forget his old village and start a new life elsewhere.
    d) Seek revenge on those who destroyed his village.

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) Because of communal violence and hatred
2. b) It was inhabited only by reptiles.
3. c) The powerful and arrogant crocodile leader
4. d) Tortoises
5. b) The population of rats increased drastically.
6. c) He found their habits and changing colours annoying.
7. c) A foul smell filled the forest from rotting matter.
8. c) The other crocodiles, especially the younger ones
9. c) Unity in diversity and interdependence are essential for harmony.
10. b) Go back to his village and tell everyone the story.

Remember to understand the why behind the events and the message the author conveys through this fable. Good luck with your preparation!