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Read the lines and answer
1. Answer: a. The men Toshi is talking about were American soldiers who passed by his village during the
war.
b. They were driving through Toshi's village because they were soldiers and fighting in a war.
c. According to the author, their faces were red either because people at that time roamed around half-
naked and thus the soldiers were blushing or perhaps they got sunburns.
2. Answer: a. Finding a patch of oil on the ground was like winning a jackpot because it was seen as a
source of
"fragrance of the gods' for the weeks to come which they loved to sniff.
b. The finder tried to hide the oil as it was revered as a prized possession and must be protected.
c. I think Toshi and his friends' practice of sniffing fuel started as a form of curiosity because of the rarity
of fuel and grew to become a form of addiction that they had no clue about.
Answer briefly
1. Why does Toshi call his village 'remote' and 'backward'?
Answer: Toshi called his village 'remote' and 'backward' as according to him his village was far away from
any civilization and jungles blanketed the entire region. They grew up more like civilized apes than
human children spending more time in the wild outdoors than at homes. Further, when the Americans
were trying to build a rocket and go to the moon, they were busy swinging from branch to branch, up in
the trees, that too without any safety equipment.
2. What is the 'fragrance of the gods'? Why were children in the village so eager to catch a whiff of it?
Answer: To the children, the exhaust of the vehicles that would pass their villages was known as
'fragrance of the gods.
The children were eager to catch a whiff of it because their village was so remote that a vehicle passing
by the village was a rare occasion, and that naturally created curiosity among the children. So they would
chase the vehicles and try to absorb themselves in the remnants of the vehicles, which were the
exhaust. For them, the exhaust was something new, precious, and rare. The children had also perhaps
gotten addicted to the exhaust, and thus they were so eager to get a whiff of it.
3. I can only say that there was an 'Angel' taking care of us. Why are Toshi and his friends lucky to be
alive?
Answer: Toshi and his friends are lucky to be alive considering the food they ate, the malnourished
bodies they possessed, the dirt they lived in, the animal-like habits and lifestyle they had, the games
they played, and the risks they took were simply overwhelming! Influenza, tetanus, dysentery, hepatitis,
or accidents could have wiped them out, but they didn't. That's why Toshi remarked that an 'Angel' was
taking care of them as they were still alive despite all the odds.
Answer the questions
1. Toshi compares his childhood to the happenings at an ape enclosure in a zoo. What does he mean by
this? What literary device is he using here?
Answer: Toshi compares his childhood to the happenings at an ape enclosure in a zoo to draw a picture
of the surroundings he grew up in. Though the comparison may appear a bit exaggerated, he is still able
to paint a vivid picture with this. By comparing his childhood to the happenings at an ape enclosure in a
zoo, he means that they spent their childhood in the wilderness, taking risks, exploring the forest,
climbing trees, swinging from branches, eating wild fruits and nuts, and monkeying around unlike other
children of their age.
The literary device that he is using here is a simile.
2. I am a child of the fifties. What decade were you born in? What are some of the major events that
took place then that have shaped your life?
Answer: I was born in 2000s. Some major events that took place during that time period and shaped my
life include:
• The global financial crisis of 2007-2008 had significant impacts on the economy and financial markets
around the world.
• The rise of social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter, which have had a major
impact on the way people communicate and share information.
• The proliferation of smartphones and mobile devices, which have transformed the way people access
information and connect with each other..
b. Why do you think girls had nothing to do with these adventures?
Answer: The absence of girls in these adventures could be attributed to societal norms and expectations
of the time, which likely discouraged girls from participating in activities considered dangerous or
unsuitable for them. Additionally, the narrative suggests that these adventures were perceived as
masculine pursuits, which further explains why girls were not involved.
3. 'Be natural live natural' was our slogan. Do you think Toshi has a sense of humour? How does the line
given above reflect his sense of humour?
Answer: Yes, Toshi demonstrates a sense of humour through his writing. The line 'Be natural live natural'
serves as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the simplicity and unrefined aspects of their childhood. It
humorously encapsulates their embrace of a wild and untamed lifestyle, marked by adventures in nature
and a disregard for the trappings of modern civilization. This slogan, along with the candid recounting of
their childhood exploits, showcases Toshi's ability to reflect on his past from a light-hearted and
humorous perspective.

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Read the lines and answer

1. Why does Toshi call his village 'remote' and 'backward'?

The literary device that he is using here is a simile.

b. Why do you think girls had nothing to do with these adventures?

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