English Language Questions for CLAT | QB Set 13

“Maya Nagari — Bombay-Mumbai: A City in Stories” is a vibrant anthology that captures the dual essence of Mumbai—both as a seductive muse and a repugnant, gritty metropolis. Edited by Shanta Gokhale and Jerry Pinto, the collection offers a deep, layered view of the city through stories that reflect its multilingual and multicultural fabric. Written in English and translated from Marathi, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, and Gujarati, the anthology mirrors the linguistic diversity of Mumbai’s residents.

The anthology does not aim to encapsulate the entire essence of Mumbai, but rather it compiles stories that Gokhale and Pinto had read and loved, stories that immerse readers in the complexities of the city. As Gokhale notes, literature allows us to enter other lives, and this collection achieves that by exploring the lived experiences of residents—from chawl dwellers and mill workers to street people, journalists, and lovers. Mumbai emerges in these stories as a city both teeming with vitality and encrusted with grime.

The anthology is rich in exploring the contradictions and contrasts within Mumbai. It delves into the city’s bleak underbelly but occasionally offers slivers of hope. Themes of life in the chawls, the closure of mills, and the Ganesh Chaturthi festival act as recurring motifs throughout the book, symbolising both the communal spirit and the harsh realities faced by many. The collection moves deftly between humour and tragedy, highlighting both the vibrancy and the struggles of life in the city.

In one story, Deshpande’s ‘A Cultural Movement Is Born’, chawl life is portrayed with a mix of comedy and danger, as its residents navigate caste conflicts and disease. Other stories depict the city’s religious and cultural intersections—where a Ganesh idol is held hostage, and a Ram devotee and an atheist forge an unexpected friendship. The anthology is full of contrasting realities, from a British policeman finding himself in a new, unrecognisable India after Independence to the complex reflections of sex workers and trade unionists.

Bombay/Mumbai, much like the anthology’s title Maya Nagari (a city of illusions), is presented as a space where reality and illusion blend. It is a city that evokes a range of emotions: grief, joy, anxiety, and resilience, captured through characters who embody the city’s contradictions. As Manto’s ‘Babu Gopi Nath’ reflects, both brothels and shrines are illusions, and so too is Bombay/Mumbai, a city that seems to deceive and shelter in equal measure.

1. What does the anthology Maya Nagari — Bombay-Mumbai: A City in Stories aim to capture about Mumbai?
a) A complete and thorough representation of the city.
b) The beauty of Mumbai’s wealthiest neighbourhoods.
c) The dual essence of Mumbai as both a seductive and gritty metropolis.
d) A single cultural aspect of Mumbai’s history.

2. How does the anthology reflect the linguistic diversity of Mumbai?
a) Through translations from languages such as Marathi, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, and Gujarati.
b) By using only English to tell its stories.
c) By focusing on stories written exclusively in Marathi.
d) Through interviews with residents from different linguistic backgrounds.

3. According to the passage, what are some recurring motifs in the anthology?
a) The daily lives of Bollywood stars.
b) Mumbai’s food and nightlife.
c) The history of Mumbai’s colonial architecture.
d) Chawl life, the closure of mills, and the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

4. In the story ‘A Cultural Movement Is Born’, how is Chawl Life depicted?
a) As a peaceful and harmonious community.
b) Through a blend of comedy and danger, highlighting caste conflicts and disease.
c) As a place of luxury and wealth.
d) As a religious haven for the city’s residents.

5. What is the significance of the title Maya Nagari in relation to the city of Mumbai?
a) It refers to Mumbai as a place of eternal happiness and satisfaction.
b) It symbolises the city’s deep connection to the film industry.
c) It represents Mumbai as a city where reality and illusion blend, evoking a mix of emotions.
d) It highlights Mumbai’s strong industrial roots and commercial success.