Brief Questions in Tree Without Roots

Answer

Brief Questions in Tree Without Roots

• When did Waliullah’s literary activities begin?

Ans: His literary activities began at Feni High School. Here, he edited a handwritten magazine called Bhorer Alo.

• What was the name of Waliullah’s English journal?

Ans: The name of his English journal was “Contemporary.”

• When did he work as a sub-editor of The Statesman?

Ans: He worked as a sub-editor of The Statesman in Calcutta during 1945–47.

• What is the original Bengali title of “Tree Without Roots?”

Ans: The original Bengali title is Lal Shalu.

• What does the title Lal Shalu mean?

Ans: In Bangla, lal means red, and shalu means a piece of cloth. Thus, Lal Shalu means “a piece of red cloth.”

• Why does the raped and ravaged land yield no more?

Ans: Because it is overploughed and overused throughout the year without proper nourishment.

• How does the muezzin appear to the hunter at the Garo Hills?

Ans: He appears lonely, with sadness in his eyes.

• What does Taher’s and Kader’s fishing scene imply?

Ans: It implies that the villagers do not suffer from food shortage.

• When and where do Taher and Kader see the stranger?

Ans: They see him at sunset, standing on Matiganj Road beside the marshy paddy fields.

• With what is Majeed’s entry into Mahabbatpur compared?

Ans: It is compared to a huge tree striking roots deep into the soil.

• How does an ordinary grave turn into a mazar?

Ans: Majeed clears and decorates the grave with a red cloth and silver trimmings, turning it into a holy shrine.

• Who is the head of Nawabpur village?

Ans: Matlub Khan is the powerful head of the village and local leader.

• How does Majeed behave toward the old man?

Ans: He behaves rudely, scolding him for not knowing the Kalma and ordering him to learn it.

• How does the pir’s fame grow?

Ans: His fame spreads through tales of his holiness and miraculous power told from village to village.

• Why does Majeed take a wife?

Ans: He needs a wife to manage his household and domestic chores after settling in Mahabbatpur.

• Why does Amena want blessed water from the pir?

Ans: As a childless woman, she believes drinking the pir’s blessed water will help her conceive.

• What does Majeed say to Khaleque about his wife?

Ans: He claims Amena has “coils” in her womb that prevent pregnancy and that only his blessing can cure her.

• How does Amena feel in the mazar room?

Ans: She feels strangely quiet and motionless in the sacred atmosphere of the room.

• Why is Rahima concerned about Amena?

Ans: Because Amena faints during her long fast and Rahima fears for her safety.

• Describe Amena’s delirium.

Ans: In her sleep, Amena dreams of a black bull rushing toward her and wakes up terrified.

• Why does Jamila fail to say her last prayer of the day?

Ans: She falls asleep before she can complete the prayer.

• Why does Majeed leave his own village?

Ans: A saint named Shah Sadeque appeared in his dream, ordering him to go to Mahabbatpur.

• What was Majeed’s profession in Garo Hills?

Ans: He was a muezzin (caller to prayer).

• On what pretext did Majeed marry Jamila?

Ans: He married her on the pretext of wanting to have children.

• Who is Dhola Mian?

Ans: He is Khaleque’s brother-in-law.

• What is the central theme of Tree Without Roots?

Ans: The novel’s central theme is the struggle for survival in a corrupt, faith-driven society.

• What is the main source of Majeed’s power?

Ans: The mazar (grave shrine) of the unknown saint.

• Why is Amena Begum punished?

Ans: Because she sought blessed water from another pir, which Majeed took as an insult.

• Why does Majeed call Rahima the pillar of the house?

Ans: Because she is loyal, gentle, hardworking, and manages all family affairs with devotion.

• What does Khaleque do to collect the blessed water?

Ans: He secretly sends his brother-in-law, Dhola Mian, to the pir to bring the blessed water for Amena.