:                       The Ministry of Utmost Happiness byArundhati Roy

Shelived in the graveyard like a tree. At dawn she saw the crows off and welcomedthe bats home. At dusk she did the opposite. Between shifts she conferred withthe ghosts of vultures that loomed in her high branches. She felt the gentlegrip of their talons like an ache in an amputated limb. She gathered theyweren’t altogether unhappy at having excused themselves and exited from thestory. When she first moved in, she endured months of casual cruelty like atree would – without flinching. She didn’t turn to see which small boy hadthrown a stone at her, didn’t crane her neck to read the insults scratched intoher bark. When people called her names – clown without a circus, queen withouta palace – she let the hurt blow through her branches like a breeze and usedthe music of her rustling leaves as balm to ease the pain. It was only afterZiauddin, the blind imam who had once led the prayers in the Fatehpuri Masjid,befriended her and began to visit her that the neighborhood decided it was timeto leave her in peace. Long ago a man who knew English told her that her namewritten backwards (in English) spelled Majnu. In the English version of thestory of Laila and Majnu, he said, Majnu was called Romeo and Laila was Juliet.She found that hilarious. ‘You mean I’ve made a khichdi of their story?’ sheasked. ‘What will they do when they find that Laila may actually be Majnu andRomi was really Juli?’ The next time he saw her, the Man Who Knew English saidhe’d made a mistake. Her name spelled backwards would be Mujna, which wasn’t aname and meant nothing at all. To this she said, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m all ofthem, I’m Romi and Juli, I’m Laila and Majnu. And Mujna, why not? Who says myname is Anjum? I’m not Anjum, I’m Anjuman. I’m a mehfil, I’m a gathering. Ofeverybody and nobody, of everything and nothing. Is there anyone else you wouldlike to invite? Everyone’s invited.’ The Man Who Knew English said it wasclever of her to come up with that one. He said he’d never have thought of ithimself. She said, ‘How could you have, with your standard of Urdu? What d’youthink? English makes you clever automatically?’ He laughed. She laughed at hislaugh.

Which of the following interpretations does the phrase "the blind imam" connotes?

What does the curse that turns Malin into stone symbolize in the context of the story's cultural heritage?

Malin Kundang

by James Penha

 A long time ago, in a small villagenear the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were MalinKundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because MalinKundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to livehard with his mother. Malin Kundang was a healthy, diligent, and strongboy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring itto his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s shipwhich was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. Withhis brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was sohappy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundangto sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left hismother alone. 

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge shipand was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had abeautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed ona beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him. The news ran fastin the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”. Anold woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was MalinKundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonelyafter so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang whowas in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews deniedmeeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged MalinKundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to her“Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and uglywoman!” After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the oldmother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and angriness.

Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn intoa stone if he didn’t apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed and really setsail. In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. Hishuge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologize. Hewas thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It wasreally too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.

 What role does oral tradition play in the transmission of stories like" Malin Kundang" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

The Legend of Rawa Pening 

Once upon a time, there was a little poor boy whocame into a little village. He wasstarving and weak. He knocked at every door and asked for some food, but nobodycared about him. Nobody wanted to help the little boy. Finally, a generouswoman helped him. She gave him shelter and a meal. When the boy wanted toleave, this old woman gave him a ”lesung” , a big wooden mortar for poundingrice. She reminded him, ”Please remember, if there is a flood you must saveyourself. Use this ”lesung” as a boat”.The ”lesung” wad happy and thanked theold woman. The little boy continued his journey. While he was passing throughthe village, he saw many people gathering on the field. The boy came closer andsaw a stick stuck on the ground. People challenged each other to pull out thatstick. Everybody tried, but nobody succeeded. Can I try?” asked the little boy.The crowd laughed mockingly. The boy wanted to try his luck, so he steppedforward and pulled out the stick. He could do it easily. Everybody wasdumbfounded. Suddenly, from the hole left by the stick, water spouted out. Itdid not stop until it flooded the village. In addition, no one was saved fromthe water except the little boy and the generous old women. The whole villagebecame a huge lake. 

How does "Rawa Pining" represent the role of miscommunication inshaping cultural identity?

In"Rawa Pining," the tragic resolution (misunderstanding leading todeath) highlights what cultural perspective?

The Lost Key Short Story (PISA-LIKE INTEGRATION)

Once upon a time ina small, picturesque village nestled deep in the heart of the forest, lived ayoung girl named Lily. Lily was known for her adventurous spirit and her lovefor exploring the woods that surrounded her home. One sunny morning, whileplaying near a babbling brook, Lily stumbled upon an old, rusty key half-buriedin the dirt. Intrigued, she picked it up and examined it closely. It was unlikeany key she had ever seen, with intricate designs etched into its surface.Determined to unravel the mystery of the key, Lily embarked on a quest. Sheasked the village elder about it, who told her a tale of a hidden treasurerumored to be locked away in the heart of the forest. It was said that whoeverfound the key and unlocked the treasure would be granted a single wish. Withnewfound excitement, Lily set out on her adventure, clutching the key tightlyin her hand. She journeyed through dense thickets, crossed rushing streams, andclimbed steep hills. Along the way, she encountered various challenges and madenew friends, like a wise old owl who guided her through the darkness of nightand a mischievous squirrel who led her to a hidden path. After weeks ofsearching, Lily reached a clearing in the forest. At its center stood anancient, ornate door. The key she had found seemed to fit perfectly into thelock. With trembling hands, she turned it, and the door creaked open. Inside,she found a chamber filled with glittering jewels, magical artifacts, and ashimmering pool of water that could grant her wish. Lily made her wish, askingfor the well-being of her village and the preservation of the enchanted forest.As she left the chamber, the door closed behind her, and the key vanished fromher hand. Lily returned to her village, where she shared her incredible journeyand the story of the lost key. The villagers were grateful for herselflessness, and from that day forward, the village thrived, and the forestremained a place of wonder and enchantment. And so, the young girl who had oncebeen known for her adventurous spirit became a legend in her village, foreverremembered as the one who found the lost key and saved the heart of the forest.

What does the lost key in Lily’s story symbolize in the context of culturalheritage?

In the story of "The Lost Key," Lily’s actions reflect what culturalvalue?

What does the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" convey about the cultural significance of trust and honesty?

The resolution of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" highlights what culturalvalue?

Malin Kundang

by James Penha

 A long time ago, in a small villagenear the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were MalinKundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because MalinKundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to livehard with his mother. Malin Kundang was a healthy, diligent, and strongboy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring itto his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s shipwhich was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. Withhis brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was sohappy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundangto sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left hismother alone. 

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge shipand was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had abeautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed ona beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him. The news ran fastin the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”. Anold woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was MalinKundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonelyafter so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang whowas in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews deniedmeeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged MalinKundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to her“Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and uglywoman!” After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the oldmother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and angriness.

Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn intoa stone if he didn’t apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed and really setsail. In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. Hishuge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologize. Hewas thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It wasreally too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.

 What role does oral tradition play in the transmission of stories like" Malin Kundang" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

Malin Kundang

by James Penha

 A long time ago, in a small villagenear the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were MalinKundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because MalinKundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to livehard with his mother. Malin Kundang was a healthy, diligent, and strongboy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring itto his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s shipwhich was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. Withhis brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was sohappy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundangto sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left hismother alone. 

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge shipand was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had abeautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed ona beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him. The news ran fastin the town; “Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”. Anold woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was MalinKundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonelyafter so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang whowas in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews deniedmeeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged MalinKundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to her“Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and uglywoman!” After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the oldmother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and angriness.

Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn intoa stone if he didn’t apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed and really setsail. In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. Hishuge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologize. Hewas thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It wasreally too late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.

 What role does oral tradition play in the transmission of stories like" Malin Kundang" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?