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Kindle Notes & Highlights
In spite of being a Nationalist the Rai Saheb had kept up social intercourse with officials; customary presents were made to them and fixed annuities provided to petty government servants. He loved literature and music and was fond of the theatre; he was a fluent speaker, a forceful writer and an excellent shot. His wife had died ten years ago. But he decided to remain single. These diversions helped him to forget the tedium of a sad life.
Rai Sahab's description
The poor are selfish and spiteful; this is out of an instinct for self-preservation. I consider such self-interest excusable. If any one snatches your bread from you, you will of course do him in and force it out of his throat. But a Zamindar's animosity and jealously are for pleasure. We have become so big that deceit is now the salt of our lives. In fact, we have reached that stage of divinity where the other man's tears only arouse our mirth.
The Rai Saheb left in a huff. Hori noticed the quick change in the Rai Saheb's attitude. All along he had been waxing eloquent on duty and goodness but it did not take him a minute to flare up at the chaprassi's news!
Does it make any difference? The bailiff still abuses us if we fall behind in rent. We are still put on forced labour. And like others we have to send our gifts too. How does it help us to fawn on him?"
"There must be a sneaking pleasure tickling the ego of rich men," Gobar said sarcastically. "Perhaps that's why people stand for elections."
The down-trodden can't afford to be stiff-necked."
Here Prem Chand makes a comment on the reality of a poor man
"Gold is for the rich and silver for people like us. We eat barley and the rich eat wheat: we call barley the king of grains and wheat the servant. For us, silver is the king of metals and gold the servant."
"That's what you think. A man is not a man without wealth, power and education. We are no better than bullocks, born to be yoked."
For old men there is no topic more engaging than memories of the past, the sorrows of the present, and fears of what might come.
Like Hope, impatient, flickle.
Wiping out distinctions will lead to social chaos."
Comment
Intellect was supreme in the past; it is supreme today and will keep on being supreme in the future."
A person whose actions go against his principles is hardly an idealist."
"A lack of balance between profession and actions is another name for hypocrisy,
Remember that the foundations of society are laid on fear. Remove fear and you'll have utter chaos."
Comment
In my idea, a wife should be an embodiment of sincerity and self-abnegation who effaces her own individuality and merges herself with her husband's personality; the body is of the husband and the soul that of the wife. You will ask: why should not the man do the effacing? Why the woman? It's because no man is capable of it. If he effaces himself, he'll become an empty vessel. He will retire to a cave and dream of merging his soul with the all-pervasive soul. He is mercurial; and in his vanity, he thinks that he is imbued with wisdom. And he aspires to identify himself with the God-head. But
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Mehta is a male chauvanist dog
Good, there were a few women like Malti in society; they kept men in their proper places.
She lolled in luxury; yet her heart was full of anguish.
Do you think the world has suddenly changed? The law sides with the rich.
Discuss
When the boat is sinking we cling to the same rocks which we earlier considered dangerous and wanted to destroy.
