The Portrait of a Lady – Summary, Explanation & Full Guide in Hindi and English | Tathya School
📚 Board: Class 11, UP Board
📘 Chapter: The Portrait of a Lady
✍️ Author: Khushwant Singh
🔍 Category: English Literature (Hornbill Book)
🌐 Published by: Tathya School
🔰 Introduction – परिचय
“The Portrait of a Lady” is a nostalgic and emotional autobiographical account by Khushwant Singh, in which he shares a beautiful and touching bond with his grandmother. This story is more than just memories—it's a tribute to unconditional love, traditional values, and the changing times.
🧓 About the Author – लेखक का परिचय
Khushwant Singh was a renowned Indian author, journalist, and lawyer, known for his sharp wit and insightful storytelling. He is most remembered for works like Train to Pakistan, The Company of Women, and his columns full of satire and social commentary.
🖼️ The Portrait of a Lady – Full Story Summary
📌 Beginning – Childhood with Grandmother
The narrator describes his grandmother as an old, wrinkled, white-haired lady, always dressed in white, looking like she had been old forever. In the early days, they lived together in a village. She used to wake him up, get him ready, and take him to the village school. While he learned alphabets, she read religious scriptures.
She was deeply spiritual, always chanting prayers with a rosary in her hand.
📌 Change in Relationship – City Life
As they moved to the city, the narrator began attending an English school. Their bond started fading as he started reading science and English literature. She felt alienated and disappointed as there was no teaching of scriptures or God.
She spent her days feeding sparrows, spinning the wheel (charkha), and praying silently.
📌 Final Days & Death
Her behavior became silent but consistent. When she fell ill, she refused to speak much and focused only on praying and chanting. After her peaceful death, thousands of sparrows came and sat around her body in silence, without chirping—an emotional and symbolic ending.
💡 Theme and Message
Generational gap
Transformation of relationships with time
Spiritualism vs. Modern Education
Unconditional Love and Peaceful Death
This story beautifully contrasts the traditional world of the grandmother with the modern lifestyle of the narrator. It emphasizes how cultural values and love leave a lasting impression.
📝 Important Word Meanings
Word Meaning (Hindi)
Rosary माला
Revolting घृणास्पद
Seclusion एकांत
Serenity शांति
Mortality मृत्यु
❓ Important Questions and Answers
Q1. What does the author say about his grandmother’s appearance?
Ans: The author describes her as an old lady, with silver hair, bent back, and always dressed in white. She had been old for as long as he could remember.
Q2. How did the relationship change after moving to the city?
Ans: In the city, their bonding weakened. The narrator became involved in his studies, and the grandmother kept herself busy in prayers and feeding sparrows.
Q3. What is the significance of sparrows in the story?
Ans: Sparrows symbolize love and respect. After her death, thousands of them gathered in silence to mourn, showing the spiritual connection.
Q4. What values does the story teach us?
Ans: The story highlights love, respect for elders, spiritual devotion, and the beauty of human emotions.
🎯 Pro Tips for Students
✅ Focus on Character Sketch of Grandmother
✅ Learn key phrases and theme explanation
✅ Practice long answer types for exams
✅ Note symbolic elements like sparrows and charkha
📌 Conclusion
“The Portrait of a Lady” is not just a chapter; it's a reflection of timeless values, the beauty of relationships, and a silent tribute to Indian grandmothers who are full of warmth and spirituality.
📚 Also Read:
Class 11 English Complete Syllabus – Tathya School
Important Questions of Class 11 Hornbill Chapters
Free Study Notes & Guides – Tathya School
🔗 Stay Connected with Tathya School for more study material, summaries, and exam tips!
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