A Devoted Son by Anita Desai Summary and Exercise Class 12 English

A Devoted Son by Anita Desai Summary Class 12 English

Summary

“A Devoted Son” is a story about how the relationship between parents and children changes over time. The story shows changing family roles, gratitude, and loyalty. It tells how a son stays devoted to his family even after becoming successful, and how love and duty become difficult when children must care for their parents.

Rakesh is a young Indian man. He works hard in his studies. One day, he learns that he has stood first in the national examinations. He feels proud but first shows respect to his father, Varma, by touching his feet. He is the first educated son in the family. His success makes everyone in the neighborhood happy. His parents hold a celebration. People praise Rakesh and admire his respectful behaviour. Some neighbors feel jealous, but they still believe Varma deserves to be proud.

Rakesh continues to do well in life. He earns his MD degree. Then he gets a scholarship to study in the United States. He works in a famous hospital and receives many awards. Even after becoming successful in the USA, he returns home to his family. He agrees to marry a simple village girl chosen by his mother. After marriage, he works in the city hospital. He rises quickly and becomes a director. Later, he opens his own clinic, and it becomes very successful.

Rakesh remains a dutiful son. His mother becomes sick, and he takes care of her. She dies peacefully, happy that she has raised such a perfect son. Varma grows old and retires from his job. Everyone still thinks highly of Rakesh. They see him as a perfect son, a good husband, and an excellent doctor.

Slowly, problems start at home. After his wife's death, Varma becomes sad and weak. His health gets worse. Rakesh tries to help him with care and medicines. But Varma does not like Rakesh’s strict rules. Rakesh stops him from eating sweets and fried food. He says these foods are not good for Varma’s health. Varma feels insulted. He feels that Rakesh is acting like a doctor, not like a son.

A struggle begins between father and son. Varma becomes more unhappy every day. He hates the tasteless food he is given. Rakesh does not change his mind. Varma secretly bribes his grandchildren to buy him sweets. Rakesh finds out and scolds the children. He also warns Varma not to repeat this. Varma feels helpless and complains only to his old friends.

Varma’s health becomes worse over time. He has to take many medicines daily. He feels tired of living like this. At the end of the story, Rakesh brings him a new tonic to make him stronger. Varma becomes angry. He knocks the bottle from Rakesh’s hand. It falls and breaks. Varma lies down and begs to be left alone. He says he wants to die. The son who once brought him pride now brings him sorrow. The story ends with this sad moment.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How did the morning papers bring ambiance of celebration in the Varma family?
The papers announced that Rakesh had stood first in the country. This filled the Varma family with joy, and they danced, celebrated, and received many visitors.

b. How did the community celebrate Rakesh’s success?
People from the neighborhood visited the house, congratulated the family, offered gifts, ate sweets, and praised Rakesh’s achievement.

c. Why was Rakesh’s success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood?
Rakesh was the first son in the family to get an education. The family had sacrificed a lot for him, and his outstanding achievement made neighbors both proud and envious.

d. How does the author make fun with the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’?
The author shows humor by describing how Rakesh’s father insists on calling the country “the USA” to sound knowledgeable, correcting neighbors who say “America.”

e. How does the author characterize Rakesh’s wife?
She is plump, old-fashioned, quiet, good-natured, and obedient. She fits easily into the household and never tries to separate Rakesh from his family.

f. Describe how Rakesh rises in his career.
Rakesh completes his M.D. with distinction, wins a scholarship, studies and works in top hospitals in the USA, earns praise, returns home, becomes a successful surgeon, rises to director in a city hospital, and finally opens his own clinic, becoming the richest and best doctor in town.

g. How does the author describe Rakesh’s family background?
Rakesh comes from a poor, illiterate family. His father worked for a kerosene dealer and his mother spent her life in the kitchen, yet they sacrificed everything to educate him.