Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, MCQs, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of Charles Lamb’s essay Ratan Tata (A Life-Settling in at Cornell): ISC Class 11 Modern English (Evergreen and Goyal Brothers Workbook), which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
Summary
Ratan Tata went to Cornell University in 1955 to study mechanical engineering. His first days there were very hard. He faced racial bias because he was from India and had dark skin. Society in the 1950s was not always accepting of people from other places. He also felt homesick and anxious, and the cold winter weather did not help.
Several things made Ratan feel more worried. He lived in a fraternity building, and his room was next to the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger. Ratan felt the first week was scary. Barger said he was a “policeman and helper,” which made Ratan feel like someone was always watching him. A college tradition also made him uneasy. All new students, called freshmen, had to wear red pea caps. Ratan felt this was like showing everyone how new and vulnerable they were. He wrote many letters home for comfort, but replies took weeks to arrive. It was also difficult to call his parents. The building had only one payphone, and there was usually a long line of students waiting to use it.
Ratan’s father, Naval Tata, was aware that his son was having a difficult time. After attending meetings in Geneva, he would fly to the United States to visit Ratan. These visits helped the young man feel less homesick. Naval Tata also met and became friends with Dick Barger. This friendship made the counsellor more sympathetic to Ratan’s situation. As a thank you, Naval Tata invited Barger to visit India.
His friends at Cornell saw him as a true gentleman who was thoughtful and caring. They also saw that he had many different sides. He could be quiet and shy, but he was also brave and determined. One time, some students raided his building with firecrackers and shaving cream. Ratan, who had learned judo, led the defense and helped restore order. He was also very skilled at a hand-slap game and never wanted to lose.
Slowly, Ratan adjusted to his new life. He moved into an apartment with friends and learned to do new things, like going to the grocery store. He never grew to like the cold weather and had a disastrous experience when he tried skiing. He became a full participant in university life and is now a celebrated former student. In 2008, he received the Distinguished Merit Award, becoming only the second person to receive this high honor from the university.
Workbook solutions (Evergreen)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The film that Philip Handler had made on Ratan Tata was ………
(a) Alpha Sigma Phi : Tata
(b) Ratan Tata at Cornell
(c) Ratan 59 : The Cornell Story
(d) A Life Story of Ratan Tata
Answer: (c) Ratan 59 : The Cornell Story
2. Select the option that lists the correct relationship between the Assertion and the Reason.
Assertion : Ratan Tata’s anxiety about Barger increased.
Reason: Dick Barger claimed to be a ‘policeman and helper’.
(a) Both the assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) The assertion is true but the reason is false.
(c) Both the assertion and the reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(d) The assertion is false but the reason is true.
Answer: (a) Both the assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
3. Which of the following lists the causes of Ratan’s feeling anxious.
I. The room assigned on the sixth floor.
II. Students’ opinion that Barger was almost a tyrant.
III. The need for all freshmen to wear red pea caps.
IV. Not being able to write letters to his parents.
V. His lack of interest in studies.
(a) II, III, V
(b) I, II, IV
(c) III, IV, V
(d) II, III
Answer: (d) II, III
4. The writer says “More often than not, there was quite a queue of eager students waiting to talk to their parents or girl friends’. Why?
(a) To tell that the students always felt homesick.
(b) In order to explain why Ratan could not make call to his parents whenever he wanted.
(c) To explain how indisciplined the boys were.
(d) To show that there was only one telephone there.
Answer: (b) In order to explain why Ratan could not make call to his parents whenever he wanted.
5. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE ?
(a) Ratan was having difficulties in adjusting to the new environment at Cornell.
(b) Ratan’s parents knew about his problems.
(c) Naval Tata regularly visited his son at Cornell.
(d) Barger later became sympathetic towards Ratan.
Answer: (c) Naval Tata regularly visited his son at Cornell.
6. Select the option that correctly lists the character traits of Ratan Tata.
I. intelligent
II. arrogant
III. submissive
IV. inquisitive
V. one dimensional
VI. thoughtful
(a) I, II, IV, V
(b) II, III, V, VI
(c) I, III, VI
(d) I, IV, VI
Answer: (d) I, IV, VI
7. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements 1 and 2.
Statement 1 : The society of that time in America (1950) was not very accepting of people of colour.
Statement 2 : Even though Ratan was so well off, people there were biased against him.
(a) 1 is the result of 2
(b) 2 is independent of I
(c) 2 is an example of 1
(d) 1 is in contradiction of 2
Answer: (c) 2 is an example of 1
16. The sentence ‘The letters provided no consolation when he was gripped by bouts of anxiety’, uses the phrase ’bouts of anxiety’. What does the word ’bouts’ here refer to ?
(a) causes of anxiety
(b) consequences of anxiety
(c) spells of anxiety
(d) symptoms of anxiety
Answer: (c) spells of anxiety
17. Barger’s opinion about India was that it was a ‘country situated half the world away’. It indicates that …………
(a) Barger knew much about India
(b) Barger disliked India
(c) Barger did not know much about India
(d) Barger had a keen desire to visit this far off place
Answer: (c) Barger did not know much about India
18. The write-up on Ratan Tata reveals that his friends …………
(a) always wanted to follow his footsteps
(b) considered him very rich and haughty
(c) praised him for being the son of Naval Tata
(d) appreciated him genuinely
Answer: (d) appreciated him genuinely
19. Ratan’s anxiety and homesickness at the initial stages of his stay at a place away from his home indicate that …………
(a) he was totally different from other ordinary boys
(b) Ratan was like other boys of his age
(c) he did not realize the value of familial love
(d) he was a frightened and over-sensitive child
Answer: (b) Ratan was like other boys of his age
20. The writer says that Ratan had spent more than a year at Riverdale before coming to Cornell University. Ratan’s earlier experience was …………
(a) better than his experience at Cornell
(b) worse than his experience at Cornell
(c) better than that of his life in India
(d) the same as it was at Cornell
Answer: (a) better than his experience at Cornell
Fill the blanks/Complete Sentences
1. The film ‘Ratan 59 : The Cornell Story’ is supposed to have authentic information about Ratan’s college life because ______
Answer: its creator, Philip Handler, was Ratan’s junior who had conducted extensive research on Ratan’s life at Cornell.
2. Despite Ratan’s ‘great background’, people in America were biased against him because ______
Answer: he was an ‘Indian’ with ‘dark skin’, and the American society of the 1950s was not very accepting of people of color.
3. The location of Ratan’s room in the sixth block was also a cause for his anxiety because ______
Answer: it was next to the room of the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, who was reputed to be a tyrant, which made Ratan feel uncomfortably and constantly watched.
4. The wearing of red pea caps with the year of enrolment written on them was a bit unnerving because ______
Answer: it felt like it was displaying the vulnerability of the freshmen on their foreheads for everyone to see.
5. All freshmen feel homesick initially, particularly when they are staying away from home for the first time. But Ratan’s feeling homesick was not the result of his staying away from home for the first time when he came to Cornell University because ______
Answer: he had already spent more than a year away from home at Riverdale; his homesickness at Cornell was due to the difficult adjustments he had to make in the large and impersonal university environment.
6. Ratan could not call home at will because ______
Answer: there was only one payphone available in the fraternity building, and there was almost always a long queue of students waiting to use it.
7. Making long conversations on the phone was not as difficult for Ratan as for most of other students because ______
Answer: he needed to call India at night due to the time difference, and at that late hour, the rush for the payphone was comparatively less.
8. The visits of Ratan’s father to Geneva also helped Ratan in fighting homesickness because ______
Answer: after attending his meetings in Geneva, his father would occasionally fly to the US to meet him.
9. Naval Tata invited Barger to visit India as a guest of the family because ______
Answer: he wanted to express his gratitude to Barger, who had become his friend and had started giving Ratan more attention and sympathy.
10. After showing reluctance to go to the grocery store, Ratan agreed to accompany Ken Keoughan to the grocery store because ______
Answer: his friend Ken startled him by stating that if he did not go, he would not have anything to eat.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What does the writer say about the biases against the coloured people in Cornell ?
Answer: The writer explains that Ratan Tata faced significant difficulties during his initial days at Cornell University due to racial biases prevalent in the 1950s. As Ratan was an Indian with dark skin, he encountered a lot of problems. The society at that time was not very accepting of people of colour. Even though Ratan came from a great background, was well off, and cultured, people were still biased against him. His acceptance into the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity was secured only after a member stood up for him, assuring the others that he was a great guy, which ultimately swayed the other fraternity brothers in his favour.
2. Who has made a film on Ratan Tata ? What is the focus of the film? Describe the efforts that the film maker made for making the film.
Answer: The film about Ratan Tata was made by Philip Handler, who was Ratan’s junior from the BArch 1964 batch at Cornell.
The film is titled Ratan’ 59: The Cornell Story. Its focus is on narrating a seldom-told account of the difficulties that Ratan faced during his initial days at the university.
To make the film, Philip Handler had extensively researched Ratan’s college life. This effort allowed him to provide an authentic account of Ratan’s early experiences and challenges.
3. Describe the way Dick Barger’s presence affects Ratan Tata during the early stage of his stay in a room in the sixth block.
Answer: Dick Barger’s presence greatly increased Ratan Tata’s anxiety during the early part of his stay at Cornell. Ratan was assigned a room in the sixth block of the Rockledge fraternity building, which was right next to the room of the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger. Ratan found his first week to be scary, and his anxiety was not eased by Barger’s public stance of being both a policeman and a helper. Some students also said that Barger was a tyrant, which only worsened young Ratan’s fears. The constant and uncomfortable feeling that he was always being watched by his neighbour, who was also his counsellor, added to his distress.
4. Who was Dick Barger? What impression do you form about his role in Ratan’s life?
Answer: Dick Barger was the dorm counsellor in the Rockledge fraternity building where Ratan Tata stayed during his initial years at Cornell University.
Initially, Barger’s role in Ratan’s life was a source of anxiety. He was perceived as a tyrant and a policeman, and his proximity made Ratan feel constantly watched and uncomfortable. However, his role changed significantly after he met Ratan’s father, Naval Tata. They became good friends, which led to Barger giving Ratan more attention and becoming sympathetic to his situation of being far from home. This friendship culminated in Barger visiting India as a guest of the Tata family, showing a complete transformation from an intimidating figure to a friend.
5. What was the tradition that Ratan Tata found unnerving? Why? What added to this tradition to make the time of Ratan’s stay there ‘difficult days’?
Answer: The tradition that Ratan Tata found unnerving at Cornell was the requirement for all freshmen to wear red pea caps with their year of enrolment written on them.
He found this tradition unnerving because he felt it was like displaying the vulnerability of freshmen on their foreheads for everyone to see. It was an alien tradition that worsened his anxiety.
What added to this tradition to make his stay difficult was a sense of homesickness, which most freshmen experience when they are away from home for the first time. Although Ratan had previously spent a year at Riverdale, his days at Cornell were very difficult because he had to make many new adjustments. Furthermore, unlike Riverdale, the university was very large, which imparted a sense of impersonalism to the environment, compounding his feelings of isolation and making his adjustment period challenging.
6. What did Ratan do during the time he suffered anxiety for being homesick? Did it help? What else did he do and with what result?
Answer: During the time he suffered from anxiety and homesickness, Ratan’s insecurity compelled him to write more letters home than at any other time in his life.
This did not provide the immediate help he needed. The replies to his letters took weeks to reach him, so any relief they brought was delayed and not available when he was in the midst of his anxiety. The letters offered no real consolation during his bouts of anxiety.
As letters were not effective, Ratan turned to the telephone, which he felt was the only answer at such times. However, there was only one payphone on the ground floor of the fraternity building. More often than not, there was a long queue of students waiting to talk to their parents or girlfriends. This made it very difficult for Ratan to call home whenever he wanted or to have long conversations.
7. Who was Naval Tata ? How did his visits to Geneva help Ratan in the U.S. ?
Answer: Naval Tata was Ratan Tata’s father. He was closely associated with the International Labour Organization and regularly visited Geneva to attend its meetings.
His visits to Geneva indirectly helped Ratan in the U.S. in two significant ways. First, after his meetings in Geneva, Naval Tata would occasionally fly to the US to meet Ratan. These visits were very helpful for the barely eighteen-year-old Ratan in fighting his homesickness. Second, during one of these visits, Naval Tata met the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, and they became good friends. This friendship led Barger to give Ratan a little more attention and to be more sympathetic towards his situation, which eased Ratan’s difficulties at Cornell.
10. How can you say that he was not ‘single – dimensional’?
Answer: One can say Ratan Tata was not single-dimensional based on the varied descriptions provided by his friends and the different aspects of his personality revealed through various incidents. His friend Harry Skilton explicitly stated that Ratan is not one-dimensional, explaining that there are multiple versions of him: the take-no-quarters Ratan, the intrepid Ratan, the mischievous Ratan, and the mystical Ratan.
This multidimensional nature is evident in the contrast between his usual demeanor and his actions under pressure. He was known as a thorough gentleman—thoughtful, sensitive, and respectful. However, this shy gentleman transformed into an agile and determined fighter who used his judo skills to lead a counterattack during a raid on his building. Furthermore, while one classmate described him as fun-loving and challenge-seeking, another noted his controlled, gentlemanly upbringing. His ability to adapt from a privileged life, where he did not go to grocery stores, to becoming an all-American kid further illustrates his complex and multifaceted character.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. ‘The writer has given objective views about Ratan Tata instead of being subjective while writing the excerpt’. Justify.
Answer: The writer presents an objective account of Ratan Tata’s early years at Cornell by employing several effective narrative techniques. The use of a third-person narrator is a key element that provides objectivity, allowing the story to be told from a detached perspective rather than through the author’s personal feelings or interpretations. This approach is suitable for a biography, where factual reporting is essential.
To further ensure objectivity, the writer includes the opinions and recollections of various people who knew Ratan Tata during that time. The narrative is enriched with information from Philip Handler, who made a film about Ratan’s college life; Dick Barger, the dorm counsellor; and classmates like Bob Lurcott, Harry Skilton, and Joe Santamaria. By incorporating these external voices, the author saves the narrative from being a purely subjective account and presents a more rounded view of Ratan’s personality and experiences. This inclusion of details from others is an attempt to overcome the limitations of a single narrator’s perspective.
The writer also grounds the narrative in factual details, which lends authenticity to the account. The mention of specific dates, such as Ratan joining Cornell in September 1955 or Barger’s visit to India in 1956, along with names and specific events, reinforces the biographical nature of the text. The tone is consistently matter-of-fact, avoiding emotional language, exclamations, or rhetorical questions. The descriptions and the reported opinions of Ratan’s friends are presented straightforwardly, maintaining a factual tone throughout the excerpt. These elements together create a well-structured and objective piece of writing.
2. What were the causes of Ratan’s anxiety and what efforts did he make to overcome it?
Answer: Ratan Tata’s anxiety during his initial days at Cornell University stemmed from several sources. As an Indian with dark skin in the 1950s, he faced racial biases from a society that was not very accepting of people of colour. This was compounded by the presence of his dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, whose room was next to his. Barger’s self-proclaimed role as both a ‘policeman and helper’, along with the opinion of some students that he was a tyrant, increased young Ratan’s anxiety. The constant and uncomfortable feeling of being watched by his neighbour and counsellor made his first week particularly ‘scary’.
Furthermore, Ratan found the college traditions alien and unnerving. The requirement for all freshmen to wear red pea caps with their year of enrolment written on them made him feel as though his vulnerability was on public display. Like most freshmen away from home for the first time, he also suffered from homesickness. This feeling was intensified by the large, impersonal environment of the university, which was a stark contrast to his previous school. The harsh cold weather also added to his misery.
To cope with his insecurity and anxiety, Ratan wrote more letters home than at any other time in his life. However, since replies took weeks to arrive, they provided only delayed relief and were of little help during his acute bouts of anxiety. The telephone was a more immediate option, but with only one payphone available for all the students in the fraternity building, there was often a long queue. He found it easier to call at night to account for the time difference with India when the rush was less. A significant source of comfort came from the visits of his father, Naval Tata, who would fly to the US to meet him after attending meetings in Geneva. These visits helped the eighteen-year-old fight his homesickness. Ultimately, Ratan overcame his initial struggles by fully immersing himself in the university’s activities. He melted into the fraternity culture, adapted to new customs like going to the grocery store, and built strong friendships, which led to his transformation and eventual recognition as a distinguished alumnus.
3. Describe the atmosphere at the Cornell University as presented in the excerpt. How did Ratan feel there?
Answer: The atmosphere at Cornell University in the 1950s, as depicted in the excerpt, was a mix of challenging, intimidating, and vibrant elements. For a foreign student like Ratan Tata, it was initially quite hostile. The society at the time was not very accepting of people of colour, and he faced racial biases. The university itself was large and had an impersonal feel, which could be isolating for a new student. There were also alien traditions that added to the anxiety of freshmen. For instance, the practice of wearing red pea caps was unnerving as it publicly marked the newcomers and their vulnerability.
The social life was heavily influenced by the fraternity culture. This involved a sense of brotherhood and shared activities, but it could also be boisterous and confrontational, as seen in the midnight raid on the Rockledge building. This incident, involving firecrackers and shaving cream, led to a ‘monumental scuffle’, showing a rowdier side to student life. At the same time, there was a spirit of fun and competition, exemplified by the hand-slap game that students played during breaks from their long hours of study. The physical environment was also harsh, with cold weather that made daily life, including attending classes in wet shoes, a miserable experience.
In this multifaceted atmosphere, Ratan initially felt anxious, insecure, and homesick. The first week was ‘scary’ for him, and the constant feeling of being watched by his dorm counsellor made him uncomfortable. The alien traditions worsened his anxiety, and the impersonal nature of the large university made his adjustment difficult. However, as time went on, his feelings changed. He gradually adapted and found his place within the university. He embraced the fraternity culture, participated in its activities, and formed close friendships. Despite his dislike for the cold weather, he eventually melted into the life at Cornell, transforming from an anxious newcomer into a celebrated and distinguished member of the university community.
5. What does the writer indicate about Ratan’s parents? What was Barger’s opinion about Ratan’s family? Does their behaviour have any direct or indirect impact on Ratan’s stay at Cornell?
Answer: The writer indicates that Ratan’s parents were aware of his difficulties in adjusting to his new life at Cornell and were very supportive. His father, Naval Tata, in particular, played an active role in helping his son. He regularly visited Geneva for meetings of the International Labour Organization and would make it a point to fly to the United States afterwards to meet Ratan. These visits were a great comfort to the young student and helped him fight his homesickness. Naval Tata also took the initiative to meet his son’s dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, and the two became good friends. The family’s hospitality is also highlighted; as a token of gratitude, Naval Tata invited Barger to visit India as a guest of the family.
Dick Barger’s opinion of the Tata family was extremely positive. During his visit to India in 1956 with two friends, he stayed at Tata House and was treated as a ‘preferred guest’. He was particularly impressed by Lady Tata, whom he described as one of the ‘most glorious, lovely women’ he had ever met. His experience clearly left him with a very high regard for the family’s graciousness and hospitality.
The behaviour of Ratan’s parents had both a direct and an indirect impact on his stay at Cornell. The direct impact came from Naval Tata’s visits, which provided emotional support and helped alleviate Ratan’s feelings of isolation and homesickness. The indirect impact was perhaps even more significant. By befriending Dick Barger, Naval Tata changed the dynamic between his son and the counsellor. This friendship led to Barger giving Ratan ‘a little more attention’ and becoming sympathetic to his situation. This change in attitude from the counsellor, who was initially a source of anxiety for Ratan, would have made his living environment much more comfortable and undoubtedly eased his process of settling in at the university.
Workbook Solutions (Goyal Brothers)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What was the primary reason Ratan had difficulty settling in at Cornell?
(a) He found the coursework too difficult.
(b) He was not fluent in English.
(c) He faced racial discrimination due to his dark skin.
(d) He disliked the climate of the university.
Answer: (c) He faced racial discrimination due to his dark skin.
2. What does the constant surveillance by the dorm counsellor Dick Barger symbolise in Ratan’s experience?
(a) A protective mentor figure.
(b) A source of additional anxiety.
(c) A representation of university regulations.
(d) A cultural misunderstanding.
Answer: (b) A source of additional anxiety.
3. Why did Ratan feel even more alienated by the freshman tradition of wearing red pea caps?
(a) It made him stand out more as an outsider.
(b) The colour of the cap reminded him of home.
(c) He did not like the design of the cap.
(d) He was allergic to the material.
Answer: (a) It made him stand out more as an outsider.
4. What does Ratan’s struggle with homesickness and delayed letters suggest about the immigrant experience?
(a) Immigrants often adjust quickly to new environments.
(b) Communication barriers can intensify feelings of isolation.
(c) College life eliminates feelings of loneliness.
(d) Technology always helps in staying connected.
Answer: (b) Communication barriers can intensify feelings of isolation.
5. Which of the following best describes the impact of Ratan’s father, Naval Tata, visiting him at Cornell?
(a) It increased his longing to return to India.
(b) It provided him with moral and emotional support.
(c) It worsened his homesickness.
(d) It made him resent his family’s expectations.
Answer: (b) It provided him with moral and emotional support.
6. Why did Ratan’s classmates describe him as both a gentleman and mischievous?
(a) He was unpredictable in his behaviour.
(b) He had a balanced personality, being both refined and adventurous.
(c) He struggled with a dual identity.
(d) He only behaved mischievously when he was alone.
Answer: (b) He had a balanced personality, being both refined and adventurous.
11. Read the two statements below from the short story “Settling in at Cornell.” Select the appropriate relation between the two.
Statement-A: Ratan was hesitant to go grocery shopping with his friend.
Statement-B: He had never gone grocery shopping before and did not know what to do.
(a) Statement B is similar to Statement A.
(b) Statement B is a condition for Statement A.
(c) Statement B is the reason for Statement A.
(d) Statement B is the result of Statement A.
Answer: (c) Statement B is the reason for Statement A.
12. Which of the following best represents a central theme of the story?
(a) The impact of racial and cultural bias on personal growth.
(b) The joy of exploring new opportunities in life.
(c) The unimportance of one’s background in success.
(d) The idea that friendship can overcome all challenges.
Answer: (a) The impact of racial and cultural bias on personal growth.
13. How would you describe the overall tone of the story?
(a) Humorous and light-hearted.
(b) Nostalgic and reflective.
(c) Aggressive and confrontational.
(d) Detached and emotionless.
Answer: (b) Nostalgic and reflective.
Fill in the blanks
1. Ratan felt uncomfortable at Cornell because ______
Answer: he faced racial bias, homesickness, an alienating culture, and a strict dorm counsellor.
2. Ratan was hesitant to go grocery shopping with his friend because ______
Answer: of his privileged upbringing, as he had never done it before and considered it an unfamiliar task.
3. Ratan initially disliked wearing the freshman red pea cap because ______
Answer: he felt it was like publicly displaying the vulnerability of freshmen for everyone to see.
4. Ratan’s feeling of isolation increased because ______
Answer: of the large, impersonal university environment and the communication barriers with his family, as letters took weeks to arrive and the single payphone was always busy.
5. Ratan’s father’s visit to Cornell was important because ______
Answer: it provided him with much-needed emotional support and helped him fight his homesickness.
6. Ratan’s classmates found him both reserved and mischievous because ______
Answer: he had a multi-faceted personality; he was a ‘thorough gentleman’ but also had a fun-loving, competitive, and adventurous side, as seen during the fraternity raid.
7. The dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, closely monitored Ratan because ______
Answer: it was part of his self-declared role as both a ‘policeman and helper’, and Ratan felt this constant surveillance acutely as Barger was also his next-door neighbor.
8. Ratan struggled with homesickness more than his classmates because ______
Answer: he was from India, a country half a world away, which made it impossible for him to visit home except during long holidays.
9. Ratan’s skiing experience was symbolic of his time at Cornell because ______
Answer: it represented his attempts to adapt to a new culture, facing initial failures and discomfort but ultimately embracing new experiences as part of his personal growth.
10. Ratan was anxious when he arrived at Cornell because ______
Answer: he was in a new country facing an alien culture, racial bias, unfamiliar traditions, and an intimidating dorm counsellor.
11. Ratan eventually gained acceptance at his fraternity because ______
Answer: a fellow member vouched for his good character, and over time, his own respectful personality and active participation in fraternity activities earned him the respect of his brothers.
12. Ratan’s recognition as a distinguished alumnus is significant because ______
Answer: it highlights his incredible journey from a struggling, homesick student facing cultural and racial challenges to a highly respected figure, underscoring his resilience and eventual success.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Why did Ratan struggle to adjust to life at Cornell? Write the answer in about 100-150 words, incorporating the following details.
(a) Cultural and racial challenges.
(b) Feeling of being constantly monitored.
Answer: Ratan struggled to adjust to life at Cornell due to significant cultural and racial challenges. In the 1950s, American society was not very accepting of people of colour, and despite his wealthy and cultured background, he faced racial bias for being an Indian with dark skin. The traditions of the college were also alien to him, such as the requirement for all freshmen to wear red pea caps, which he found unnerving as it was like displaying their vulnerability. The large and impersonal environment of the university further heightened his sense of alienation.
Adding to his difficulties was the constant feeling of being monitored. His room in the Rockledge fraternity building was next to that of the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger. Barger had a public stance of being both a policeman and a helper, and some considered him a tyrant. This proximity to his counsellor, who seemed to be always watching him, was uncomfortable and increased the young Tata’s anxiety, making his initial days at Cornell very difficult.
2. How did Ratan’s father support him during his time at Cornell? Write the answer in about 100-150 words, incorporating the following details.
(a) Emotional and moral support.
(b) His visit and reassurance to Ratan.
Answer: Ratan’s father, Naval Tata, provided essential emotional and moral support during his son’s difficult adjustment period at Cornell. Being keenly aware of Ratan’s struggles with homesickness and the new environment, Naval Tata made it a point to visit him. He would often fly to the US to meet Ratan after attending his meetings in Geneva for the International Labour Organization.
These visits were a great source of reassurance for the young Ratan, helping the barely eighteen-year-old fight his homesickness. Naval Tata also played an active role in improving his son’s situation by building relationships at the university. For instance, he met and befriended the dorm counsellor, Dick Barger, which led to Barger giving Ratan more attention and support. Through these actions, Naval Tata showed himself to be a caring and dedicated father who guided and nurtured his son’s journey.
3. What was the significance of Ratan’s red freshman cap? Write the answer in about 100-150 words, incorporating the following details.
(a) A tradition that symbolized belonging.
(b) Why it made him feel even more isolated.
Answer: The red freshman cap at Cornell was part of a college tradition that likely symbolized belonging and initiation into the university community for new students. Such traditions are often intended to foster a sense of unity among the incoming class.
However, for Ratan, this tradition had the opposite effect, making him feel even more isolated and anxious. As the traditions of the college were alien to him, he found the requirement to wear the red pea cap unnerving. He felt that it was like displaying the vulnerability of freshmen on their foreheads for everyone to see. This public display of his inexperience and nervousness made him feel exposed and uncomfortable, worsening his anxiety and heightening his sense of alienation in an already unfamiliar environment.
7. How did Ratan’s skiing experience symbolise his struggles at Cornell? Write the answer in about 100-150 words, incorporating the following details.
(a) Struggles with learning and adapting.
(b) Overcoming challenges despite failures.
Answer: Ratan’s skiing experience was symbolic of his broader struggles with learning and adapting to the new and unfamiliar environment at Cornell. Just as he found the cold weather and the alien activity of skiing difficult, he initially struggled with the cultural and social challenges of the university. His attempt at skiing ended in disaster; he got his tongue stuck to the ski and spent the afternoon falling and sliding down on his backside. This misadventure reflects the initial difficulties and setbacks he faced in his journey of adjustment.
The experience also symbolises his ability to overcome challenges despite failures. While the skiing attempt was a failure that ended his interest in snow, it was just one minor setback in his larger journey. Despite this and other initial difficulties, he did not give up on adapting to his new life. He fully embraced his overall experience at Cornell, participated in fraternity culture, and changed from an anxious student into a confident and integrated member of the community, showing that specific failures did not deter his ultimate success in adapting.
8. What does Ratan’s recognition as a distinguished alumnus signify? Write the answer in about 100-150 words, incorporating the following details.
(a) His growth from a struggling student to a respected figure.
(b) The impact of perseverance and adaptability.
Answer: Ratan’s recognition as a distinguished alumnus, receiving Cornell’s prestigious Distinguished Merit Award in 2008, signifies his great growth from a struggling student into a highly respected figure. He began his journey at Cornell feeling anxious, homesick, and alienated due to racial and cultural challenges. This award marks the culmination of his change into a confident and celebrated individual who left a lasting impact on the university.
This achievement shows the impact of his perseverance and adaptability. Despite facing initial difficulties, he persisted, embraced the fraternity culture, and learned to navigate a new way of life. His ability to adapt to challenges and remain resilient laid the foundation for his future success. The award is a recognition of his journey, showing that true success comes from overcoming early struggles through strength and determination.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How does Ratan’s experience at Cornell highlight the struggles of adapting to a foreign culture? Write your answer in about 250 words, referring closely to the challenges he faced and how he responded to them.
Answer: Ratan Tata’s experience at Cornell University illustrates the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture. As an Indian student in 1950s America, he encountered racial bias because he was ‘Indian’ and had ‘dark skin’. The society at that time was not very accepting of people of colour, which made his adjustment more difficult. This was a significant hurdle, even though he came from a wealthy and cultured background.
He also struggled with cultural differences and an unfamiliar environment. The university was large and had a sense of impersonalism, which made him feel alienated. College traditions, such as the requirement for all freshmen to wear red pea caps, were alien to him and worsened his anxiety. He found this tradition unnerving, as it was like displaying the vulnerability of freshmen for all to see. These feelings were compounded by homesickness, a common experience for students away from home for the first time. To cope, he wrote more letters home than at any other time, but the delayed replies offered little immediate comfort.
Despite these challenges, Ratan showed resilience. His father, Naval Tata, provided emotional support through regular visits. Over time, Ratan gradually adapted by integrating into the fraternity life and embracing aspects of American culture. He formed friendships that became his support system, helping him navigate the difficulties and eventually find his place within the Cornell community, transforming from an isolated student into a confident individual.
2. “Ratan hesitated when asked to go grocery shopping, a seemingly simple task.” Comment on how this moment reflects his privileged upbringing and the difficulties he faced in adjusting to a new way of life. Write your answer in about 250 words, focusing on the contrast between his past and present.
Answer: Ratan’s hesitation when his friend Ken Keoughan asked him to go grocery shopping reveals a great deal about his privileged background and his adjustment to a new, more independent life at Cornell. When asked, Ratan looked at his friend as if he had gone ‘nuts’ and stated that he did not go to grocery stores. This reaction suggests that in his past life, such everyday tasks were handled for him. Coming from a ‘well off’ family with a ‘great background’, he likely had little experience with such mundane chores.
This moment marks a clear contrast between his past and his present circumstances. In India, his life was one of privilege where he was not required to manage daily provisions. At Cornell, after moving out of the dormitory into an apartment with friends, he was confronted with the necessity of self-reliance. His friend’s practical warning that he would not have anything to eat if he did not shop for himself startled him into action. This was a necessary step in his transformation into what the story calls an ‘all-American kid’.
The incident was a small but meaningful part of his journey of personal growth. It pushed him out of his comfort zone and forced him to adapt to American customs and a more self-sufficient way of living. Soon after, he was at ease with simple student life, nibbling on loaves of bread and drinking coffee. This simple act of going to a grocery store for the first time symbolized his larger process of shedding his old habits and embracing the challenges of his new environment.
3. With reference to “Settling in at Cornell,” show how Ratan’s gradual acceptance into his fraternity symbolises his personal growth. Write your answer in about 250 words, explaining the shift in how he was perceived and how he adapted.
Answer: Ratan Tata’s gradual acceptance into the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at Cornell is a clear indicator of his personal growth and transformation. Initially, he faced significant challenges, including racial bias from his American peers. Because he was an ‘Indian’ with ‘dark skin’, he had a ‘lot of problems initially’, as the society of the 1950s was not very accepting of people of colour. People were biased against him despite his cultured and well-off background. The turning point came when one fraternity member stood up for him, stating that he was a ‘great guy’, which swayed the opinions of the other brothers.
This initial acceptance opened the door for Ratan to integrate fully into fraternity life, where he demonstrated different facets of his personality. He was not just the ‘taciturn and shy gentleman’ others first saw. During a midnight raid on his building by rival pledges, Ratan, who had learned judo, became one of the leaders of the counterattack. He was agile and determined, unleashing his martial arts skills on the surprised pledges and helping to restore order. This incident revealed a determined and intrepid side to his character.
Furthermore, he was known for being ‘unbeatable’ at the hand-slap game, showing a competitive spirit and a desire to win. His full integration is evident in how his friends remembered him at a reunion, describing multiple dimensions of his personality: the ‘gentleman’, the ‘take-no-quarters Ratan’, the ‘intrepid Ratan’, the ‘mischievous Ratan’, and the ‘mystical Ratan’. His journey from being an outsider facing prejudice to becoming a celebrated and multi-faceted member of his fraternity symbolizes his successful adaptation and his growth from an anxious student into a confident and respected individual.
5. Discuss the significance of Ratan’s recognition as a distinguished alumnus in light of his initial struggles at Cornell. Write your answer in about 250 words, reflecting on how his journey from isolation to success serves as an example of resilience.
Answer: Ratan Tata’s recognition as a distinguished alumnus of Cornell University is highly significant when viewed against the backdrop of his initial struggles. When he first arrived, he was an anxious and homesick student facing numerous challenges. He encountered racial bias as an Indian student in 1950s America, felt alienated by unfamiliar college traditions like wearing red pea caps, and struggled with the impersonal environment of a large university. These difficulties made him feel isolated and uncertain in his new surroundings.
His journey from this state of isolation to becoming a celebrated figure is a powerful example of resilience. Despite the initial hardships, Ratan did not give up. He persisted, gradually adapting to the new culture and earning acceptance among his peers. With the support of his father and new friends, he navigated the cultural differences and social challenges. He embraced new experiences, participated actively in fraternity life, and transformed from an anxious student into a confident and accomplished individual. His ability to overcome these obstacles demonstrates his inner strength and determination.
The Distinguished Merit Award, which he received in 2008 as one of only two alumni to be so honored, serves as the ultimate validation of his journey. It signifies not just his later achievements in the business world but also his personal victory over the difficulties he faced at Cornell. His story shows that early struggles can shape strong leaders and that success is often born from perseverance and the ability to adapt. His transformation from a struggling newcomer to a respected alumnus makes his story an inspiring account of growth and resilience.
Extras/additionals
MCQs: Knowledge-based
1. What was Ratan Tata’s initial field of study when he joined Cornell University?
A. Architecture
B. Mechanical Engineering
C. Business Administration
D. Law
Answer: B. Mechanical Engineering
20. When pledges raided his building with cherry bomb firecrackers, Ratan led the counterattack, resulting in a ‘__________ scuffle’.
A. brief
B. minor
C. monumental
D. friendly
Answer: C. monumental
MCQs: Competency-based
21. (I) Ratan Tata’s first week at Cornell was ‘scary’.
(II) His dorm counsellor, who lived next door, was described by some as a ‘tyrant’.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. II is an example of I.
C. II was a contributing cause for I.
D. I is independent of II.
Answer: C. II was a contributing cause for I.
36. The various descriptions of Ratan as ‘gentleman’, ‘intrepid’, ‘mischievous’, and ‘mystical’ suggest that his personality was perceived as:
A. inconsistent
B. one-dimensional
C. simple
D. multi-faceted
Answer: D. multi-faceted
Questions and Answers
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