Summary of English Poem A Roadside Stand Class 12
- The poet describes that the city folks are indifferent towards the rural people. He is pained at this and wants that country people should be treated as par with city people.
An old house with a little new shed, is situated on the edge of the road. The polished traffic goes on passing along the roadside stand but there is none to stop and serve the poor people with money. If any person cared to stop there he would get irritated. He would find the landscape spoiled by the clumsy paint with which the building was painted. He would find even the signs like ‘N’ and ‘S’ turned wrong. An untold sorrow of trust is visible on the poor faces. The government and other agencies prepare roadside stand but the rural people think as well as complain that the city people only make white promises like the moving pictures. The poet has given a comparison of these promises with the moving pictures. - There is a news that all these persons are to be bought out with their belongings. They will be made to live in the villages next to the theatre and the store. These ‘they won’t have to think for themselves anymore’. The so-called ‘good-doers’ or greedy people will exploit them. These people pretend to be generous. But they are like flesh-eating animals. They are out to grab and swallow them. They will force them to part with their money. They will control their lives. They will mint money and befool the innocent rural people. They will make them work but sleep all day themselves. They will use their old games to destroy their sleep at night.
- The poet is deeply hurt at this double standard. The poor have a childish longing with a sadness that is writ large on their faces. They pray and wait to hear the sound of the cars with a desire of some help from them. Bat all of them appear to be selfish cars since they inquire the points of here and there only to serve their own selfish motives.
- Money is required for all human progress. But in the countryside circulation of money is almost negligible. Without money and development the rural poor remain depressed. They seem to complain of their step-motherly treatment and injustice. The poet feels an unbearable pain at the plight of the rural poor. He will feel greatly relieved if they are put out of their pain ‘at one stroke’. Death is far better than their miserable living.
Summary of English Poem A Roadside Stand Class 12
