Very Short Type Question Answer
1. When and where was Mahim Bora born?
Answer: Mahim Bora was born on 6 July 1924 at Ghopesadharu, a tea estate in Sonitpur district.
2. Who is the creator of "Kathanibari Ghat"?
Answer: Mahim Bora.
3. Who is known as the "Ronga Jia poet"?
Answer: Mahim Bora.
4. Name some of the novels published by Mahim Bora.
Answer: Some of the novels published by Bora are: Herua Digantar Maya (1972/73), Putola Ghar (1973), Edhani Mahir Hanhi (2001) and Banduli Phulor Raang (2007).
5. Name some of the Radio plays published by Mahim Bora.
Answer: Some of the Radio plays are: Laru Gopalor Prem, Laru Gopalor Bibah, Laru Gopalor Ghar Sanskar, Padum Kunwari (1951), Nirmal Bhakat (1951), Pansha Sar, Garakhia Bhim (1951), Tinir Tini Gol, Pakhi Loga Din (1989).
6. When Mahim Bora is awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award and for which novel?
Answer: He was awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award in 2001 for his novel 'Edhani Mahir Hahi.'
7. When Mahim Bora is awarded with Padma Shri Award?
Answer: He was awarded with Padma Shri Award in 2011.
8. When did Mahim Bora died?
Answer: Mahim Bora died on August 5, 2016 at the age of 93.
Short Type Question Answer
1. Who is Prafulla?
Answer: A young man, the protagonist of the play.
2. Who is Dipak?
Answer: A radio announcer, and Prafulla's friend.
3. Where does Dipak lives?
Answer: Dipak lives in Guwahati.
4. What is Prafulla's greatest ambition or desire?
Answer: Give a voice on the radio.
5. Who is Miss Bimbadhara?
Answer: In-charge of Prafulla's audition.
6. Who is Mr Das?
Answer: In-charge of audition for singing.
7. Who has taken Prafulla's Audition?
Answer: Miss Bimbadhara
8. Which season has a relation in the play?
Answer: Basanta (spring).
9. Which festival has been described in the play?
Answer: The festival of Bohag Bihu.
10. What is the right time to write poetry, sing songs in the play?
Answer: The spring season.
11. What does Basanta (spring) brings?
Answer: The Basanta (spring) brings the festival of Bohag Bihu, the melodious cooing of the kuli-ketaki and shrill cries of domestic birds.
12. Where does Prafulla go to meet his friend Dipak?
Answer: Guwahati.
13. What kind of job Dipak do in the radio station?
Answer: Dipak does a part time job of radio announcer.
14. How is Prafulla different from others of his age?
Answer: Like others, he didn't have any girlfriend, he never participates any students meetings, cultural functions. He never participates any shows, he is not attractive, academically he had just passed. His voice is not like a male, his singing is unlistenable.
15. Why Prafulla took Bhishma Pratigya?
Answer: Once when he was in high school, he had sung while bathing near the well. His mother heard his voice, and felt very bad. His mother told the neighbour about his poor voice. He was ashamed and took an oatha Bhishma Pratigya that he would never ever sing again in his life.
16. Who is the princess or Prafulla's dream girl?
Answer: Kunja Latika.
17. What is Prafulla's profession in the play?
Answer: A temporary school teacher in the village.
18. What did Prafulla thought to study after BA?
Answer: He thought of studying law.
19. What was the time of Prafulla's audition?
Answer: Three o'clock in the afternoon.
20. Prafulla's reached how much time earlier?
Answer: Half an hour earlier.
21. What is said to be bride's first test of the groom?
Answer: It is said that every man sings a line or two after his marriage in front of his newly married wife. This is said to be the bride's first test of the groom.
22. Why was Miss Bimbadhara upset on the day of the audition?
Answer: She was upset because her nerves were strained after auditioning around candidates. fifteen
23. "The very thought was enough to transform him into a sound wave riding the winds."- What was the "thought" mentioned here?
Answer: The "thought" mentioned here was Prafulla's imagination of becoming a radio artiste. If he would be a radio artiste, then his voice would create waves in in the air. These sound waves would spread all over the universe and the waves would make all radio sets in the world vibrate with his voice.
24. What do the Bohag Bihu and Kuli-keteki and other birds inspire?
Answer: Bohag Bihu, the melodious cooing of the Kuli-Keteki and other birds inspire young men to write poetry, sing songs or whistle a bihu tune.
25. How was Prafulla in his study?
Answer: Prafulla was not an intelligent boy. He just managed to pass.
26. What was Prafulla's major drawback?
Answer: His voice.
27. What was Prafulla's 'Bhishma Pratigya"?
Answer: Prafulla's 'Bhishma Pratigya' was to never sing again under any circumstance.
28. What did Prafulla do after completing his BA?
Answer: He became a teacher. temporary
29. Why did the radio authorities never invite any artiste from outside Guwahati?
Answer: Because it would involve providing travelling and lodging allowances.
30. Name the women's programme in the radio.
Answer: AideorBuloni
31. What policy was taken by the government even in the radio?
Answer: The govemment was adopting the policy of appointing non- Asomiya persons for Asomiya language programmes.
32. "His father has lots of money". - Whose father has lots of money?
Answer: Prafulla's.
33. Name the local fresh water fish mentioned in the story.
Answer: Sengali fish.
34. What is a Khaloi?
Answer: A handheld bamboo fish-trap.
35. At what time was the audition?
Answer: It was at three in the afternoon.
36. When did Prafulla reach the radio station?
Answer: Prafulla reached the radio station half an hour earlier.
37. What is the meaning of 'Dogtrot"?
Answer: It is a trotting motion similar to that of a dog-something between walking and running.
38. Who was the in charge of drama and talk audition?
Answer: Mr. Das.
Long Questions & Answers
1. Discuss the theme of the play Audition.
Answer: The main theme of the play Audition is strong desire or ambition. Audition is a story of human aspiration and desire for recognition. The protagonist Prafulla, have a strong ambition to give a talk on the radio, a dream for which he is willing to go any length or to do anything. In order to fulfill this dream Prafulla came to his friend Dipak who works as a radio announcer. He highly requested Dipak to help him for giving an audition in the radio station. For that audition, he would not charge any money, instead, he was willing to give money for that. For his ambition, he broke his Bhishma Pratigya, his oath. After received opportunity to give an audition in the radio station, Prafulla went there half an hour ago. When he was asked to sing a song, he broke his oath that he took in his childhood because it his lifelong dream to have an audition. In his childhood, he made an oath that he will never sing again in his life, but he broke it for his ambition. Though his singing was not good, his desire was to give a talk on the radio.
Another themes of the story are Shyness, Friendship, Lack of confidence, Seriousness.
2. Discuss the characteristics of Prafulla?
Answer: Prafulla is the main character in the play. He is very shy and is completely different from others of his age. Unlike others, Prafulla didn't have any girlfriend. He could never participate in student's meetings, cultural functions, any theatre or shows. His voice is not like a male. His major drawback was his voice of singing. No one wants to hear his singing. Once when he was in high school, he had while bathing near the well. His mother had rushed out of the kitchen and told the neighbour that God has given vocal cords to his son though she prays God. Prafulla felt shame. He wanted to jump into the well and stay there forever but he didn't have the courage to jump. That day, he took an oath - a Bhishma Pratigya - that he would never ever sing again in life under any circumstances.
Prafulla is very ambitious. He had a great ambition or desire to give his voice on the radio. To fulfill his ambition, he was willing to go any length or to do anything. He meets his friend Dipak, who is a radio announcer. He requests Dipak to help him for giving a role in the radio station. For this presentation, he will not take any money, instead he was willing to give money for that. He broke his oath for his ambition. When he was asked to sing a song, he broke his Bhishma Pratigya..
Prafulla had a lack of confidence, lack of sense. He has no courage to stand in front of audience. However, he entered the studio. He was very nervous about his audition. He can't take easily anything about him. If someone tells anything about him, he takes it very seriously.
3. Justify the title of the play 'Audition'.
Answer: An audition is a short performance by a singer or an actor to find out if he or she is good enough to be in a play, show, etc. The title Audition is the proper combination of this play Audition. The whole story revolves around Prafulla's audition. Prafulla had al dream to give his voice on the radio. He came to his friend Dipak who is a radio announcer, lives in Guwahati. He requests Dipak for giving an audition for any role in a play, or a talk on the radio. For Dipak, it was very complicated because his job was not permanent, and Prafulla had no experience about the audition. But he realised Prafulla's passionate desire for an audition. Prafulla didn't seek any money for his audition, in fact, he was willing to give money for that. After received an opportunity to give an audition, Prafulla reached the studio half an hour ago with great excitement. His audition was in 3 o'clock but he entered the studio earlier. That time, people were giving audition for singing, and Prafulla didn't know that. After he entered the studio, he was asked to give an audition for singing. He was SO nervous because he didn't prepare for singing, and he knows his singing is not good. But for his lifelong dream to have an audition, he broke his oath of not singing again. When he starts singing, he was stopped in the midst of singing. He felt shame, and left the scene. So the theme is same as the title of the story.
4. Discuss Audition' as a story of human aspiration and desire for recognition.
Answer: Through the story Audition', noted story writer Mahim Bora presents the typical nature of human aspiration and desire for recognition. With the help of the character Prafulla, the author shows, how one can face tough situations in order to fulfil one's desires.
Prafulla's greatest ambition was to make his voice heard at least once on the radio. The very thought that his voice would be heard by all the people in the world would be enough to lift him to the seventh heaven. He even did not expect any financial returns for this act. He saw this as an opportunity for some recognition.
Prafulla had a close friend Dipak who was a radio announcer in Guwahati. Dipak really wanted to help his friend but he was unable to do so because he himself was a new part- time employee. One day, Prafulla shed his inhibitions and expressed his passion to speak on the radio.
With great difficulty, Dipak managed to get him a chance for an audition in the radio station. The drama producer wanted an actor to play the role of an old woman. Dipak suggested Prafulla's name. Prafulla had to furnish Dipak's address in his own so that they did not have to pay the travel allowance. Prafulla did not expect any money instead he could pay to play the role. On the day Prafulla was called for the audition, he went before the required time because he did not want to take a chance. The audition for singing was taking place at that time. He was asked to meet Mrs. Bimbadhara who mistook him for a candidate for singing. The staff at the studio sent him for the audition for singing by mistake.
He was taken inside by surprise and he hesitated a lot. All questions by him were just ignored and he was compelled to sing. When he finally sang, it sounded awful. Mrs. Bimbadhara burst out laughing and felt from his chair. An embarrassed Prafulla left the studio and could not be traced till Dipak received a letter informing him that he was alive. Dipak learnt of Prafulla's ordeal and was very upset. He threatened to report this to the authorities. Mrs Bimbadhara asked for forgiveness and Dipak said that it would be. amended only by somehow arranging a role for Prafulla.
Thus, the story shows how Prafulla's aspiration for social recognition ended up exposing his weakness. OR
Mahim Bora's story 'Audition' explores human aspirations and the desire for recognition. Prafulla, a radio announcer, dreams of making his voice heard on the radio. His friend Dipak, a part-time employee, helps him get a chance for an audition. Prafulla, despite his inhibitions, goes ahead with the audition. However, he is mistakenly sent for singing, and his audition is a disaster. He sings poorly, and Mrs. Bimbadhara laughs and feels. embarrassed. Prafulla is found dead, and Dipak, upset, threatens to report the incident to authorities. Mrs. Bimbadhara asks for forgiveness, and Dipak promises to arrange a role for Prafulla. The story highlights how one can face tough situations to fulfill their desires and achieve recognition.
5. Describe how Mahim Bora balances between tragic sensibility and comic tone within the confines of the short story format in "Audition".
Answer: The narratives in the stories of Mahim Bora are marked by colour and rhythm; his stories portray the hopes and aspirations, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears with great sympathy and strict confines of the artistic form.
Within the confines of the short story format, it is very difficult to create a real like character with its joy and sorrow, tragic and comic tone, humour and satire. But, Mahim Bora has made it possible in his depiction of the character Prafulla. Although the tone of the narration is somewhat comic, there is an underlying tragic sensibility on the part of Prafulla. The author very skillfully balances these two opposite tones.
The childhood incident which led Prafulla to take a 'BhishmaPratigya' and his awful experiences in the radio station are two great examples of Bora's sense of humour. Once during his school days, Prafulla was singing while taking bath near the well. His mother heard him and cursed the Gods for giving her son a voice so bad in spite of all the prayers she had offered for a child. He was further humiliated when neighbouring daughters and daughters-in-law laughed discussing the topic of his voice quality. At that moment, he took an oath never to sing again in his life at any cost.
But, circumstances compelled him badly to break his own pratigya. In a very awful situation, he was compelled to sing in the radio station in the name of audition. The humiliation he faced during his childhood days again returned back as he was forced to sing in front of many people who were simply left shocked. The story writer says, "Prafulla was not to be found anywhere. A week later, Dipak received a letter informing him that his friend was still alive. Through this sentence, the readers are informed about Prafulla's mental pa K Thus, the story presents the tragic sensibility by the use of comic tone throughout the story.
OR
Mahim Bora's short story "Audition" effectively balances tragic sensibility and comic tone within the artistic form. The story follows Prafulla, a character who struggles with his voice quality and takes a 'Bhishma Pratigya' to avoid singing. Despite his
oath not to sing again, he is forced to sing in a radio station audition, causing humiliation and shock. The story ends with Prafulla's friend Dipak being found alive, revealing his mental state. Bora skillfully balances the tragic sensibility with the comictone, showcasing his ability to create a realistic character within the constraints of the short story format.
6. What measures did the radio station take to curtail expenditure? Why?
Answer: Throughout the story, the story writer gives a very interesting description about how the radio station took various measures to curtail expenditure.
The radio authorities never invited any artiste from outside Guwahati because it would involve providing travelling and lodging allowances. So, they selected such type of artistes from inside Guwahati who could play different role. For example, the same staff artiste who was engaged to play the role of a mother-in-law in the 'AidcorBuloni' was given a daughter-in-law's part in the next one. The same person was engaged to play different role in different programmes according to the requirements.
The new appointments were also mostly part-time basis. Dipak was also a part-time artiste. The government also adopted the policy of appointing non-Asomiya persons for Asomiya language programmes.
7. How did Prafulla try to fulfil his desire?
Answer: Prafulla's greatest desire was to give a talk on the radio. To fulfil this desire, he came to Guwahati and stayed with his intimate friend Dipak. Dipak was also a part-time radio announcer, so Prafulla thought that he would help him in this regard. At least once a day, Prafulla would beg Dipak to talk to the programme executive in charge of the drama section and to give him an opportunity for audition. Prafulla was so much ambitious about this that he even did not want any remuneration if he would be selected. He was further ready to give them money in exchange for a role.
8. "From that day onwards, his musical exercises came to an end."- Which day it was?
Answer: It was the day when his mother insulted him about his voice in front of all the neighbouring women. On that day, Prafulla NEMASTER never to sing again in the future under any circumstances.
9. 'Dipak knew the sign-What sign did he know?
Answer: While Dipak and the producer were discussing about Prafulla's engagement in the radio station, the producer suddenly started playing the table on the table with his right hand. Dipak knew that it was a sign of something good to come.
10. How was Dipak's voice? What was the advantage of his voice?
Answer: Dipak's voice was quite womanly. The advantage of his womanly voice was that it was to be the chief requirement of an Asomiya radio announcer.
11. How did the authorities in the audition react listening to Prafulla's bihu song?
Answer: Hearing the bihu song sung by Prafulla, the audition in charge Miss Bimbadhara fell off the chair and rolled on the carpet with laughter. The control room engineer immediately turned off the switch The assistant station director flicked off the speakers and frantically pressed the calling bell and asked the peon furiously, who allowed a motorcycle inside the studio.
12. "Who allowed a motorcycle inside the studio?"-Who said this? What was that motorcycle?
Answer: It was said by the assistant station director. The motorcycle mentioned here was none other than Prafulla.
13. "You have made him break his Bhishma Pratigya". Who said this? Who made 'him' to break his Bhishma Pratigya? Who was "him' here?
Answer: Dipak said this. It was Miss Bimbadhara who made him to break his Bhishma Pratigya. Here "him" was Prafulla.
Very Long Question Answer
1. Write story of AUDITION by Mahim Bora.
Answer: The story is about a person called Prafulla. His ambi- tion was to make his voice heard atleast once on the radio. Prafulla had many ambitions but this one was his favourite. The mere fact that his voice would be heard by all the people in the world gave him a high. He was not worried about the length of the role. Even uttering a sentence would be pleasing enough.
He had a close friend called Dipak who was a radio announcer in Gnwahati. He really wanted to help his friend but he was unable to do so because he himself was a new employee. One day Prafulla shed his inhibitions and expressed his passion to speak on the radio.
The audition for a chance to talk on the radio was only namesake. In order to curtail the expenses, the radio authoritive gave chances only to people who persistently requested the employees. They also took only people who were from gyuwahati in order to cut down on travel allowances that the drama producer may have to bear.
Prafulla did not expect any financial returns. He saw this as a chance for some recognition. He was fond of many girls at college but no one liked him because he was physically unattractive and complete reserve. Academically he was an av- erage student, just managing to pass. He could not even sing or whistle.
Once during his school days he was singing while having bath. His mother heard him and cursed the Gods for giving her son a voice so bad in spite of all the prayers ahe had offered for a child. He was further humiliated when daughters and daughters in law of the village laughed at his expense. He took a vow never to sing again in his life. (Bhishma Pratigya) With great difficulty Dipak managed to get him a chance for an audition with the radio station. The drama producer wanted an actor to play the role of an old woman because he did it want to pay for the hire and rehearsal costs. Dipak suggested Prafulla's name. Prafulla had to furnish Dipak's address in his own so that they did not have to pay the travel allowance.
Prafulla did not expect any money instead he could pay to play the role. The day Prafulla was called for the audition he went before the required time because he did not want to take a chance. The audition for singing was taking place at that time. He was asked to meet Mrs Bimbadhara who mis- took him for a candidate for singing. The staff at the studio sent him for the auditions for singing by mistake He was taken inside by surprise and hesitated. All questions by him were just ignored and he was compelled to sing. When he finally sang it sounded awful. Mrs Bimbadhara burst out laughing and fell from her chair. An embarrassed Prafulla left the studio and couldn't be traced till Dipak received a letter informing him that he was alive.
Dipak learnt of Prafulla ordeal and was very upset. He threatens to report this to the authorities. Mrs Bimbadhara asks for forgiveness and Dipak says she would make amends only by somehow arranging a role for Prafulla.
