Through the drama, the dramatist Tiwari has successfully dramatized common people’s pathetic condition during the then kingship.
In the drama, common people’s lives have been dehumanized to such an extent that their lives have not been valued more than an animal. By presenting such inhuman situation, Tiwari is successful in creating a biting satire on the feudal system.
Detailed Summary of "The Bull" by Bhimnidhi Tiwari Class 12
The drama “The Bull” opens in the yard of Laxminarayan’s house at dawn. He complains to his wives for not providing him a puff of hookah on time. Just then, two cowherds Jitman and Gore come running. They inform Laxmi that the bull, which was supposed to be cured, died.
The bull (Male) was given to Laxmi by the king Ranabahadur Shah to cure it because it had fallen sick. King Ranabahadur was fond of bulls and he wanted the bull to be cured at any cost. The King had threatened Laxminarayan that if the bull dies he will be beheaded.
The cowherds told Laxmi that the bull has stretched its body and its eyes have grown still. Its tail has gone loose too. The very condition of the bull confirms the bull’s death.
The three people (Laxmi, Jitman, and Gore) are worried about possible punishment from the king. Now, they discuss saving themselves from being punished. Laxmi consoles them that he may find some ways to save them but worries about his condition.
Laxmi asks the cowherds how the bull died. Gore tells that the bull died because it couldn’t digest rice and lentil soup. Gore and Jitman didn’t like the way the bull was over-cared. The bull was given mattress, quilt, mosquito net to sleep and they (Jitman and Gore) had to sleep on the straw in the winter.
To avoid any further troubles, Laxminarayan decides to visit king Ranabahadur in his palace. When he reaches the palace he shows his deep reverence to the king. The king asks the matter for visiting him early in the morning.
He lies to the king that the bull is ill. He tells that the bull neither eats nor moves and speaks. He adds that the bull stares with its still eyes.
He requests the king to permit him to take the bull to the hill to avoid rising temperature. The king permits him but immediately changes his mind. The king wants to check the bull’s condition himself before it is taken to the hill.
Laxmi informs the king that the bull has been given the medicine but it didn’t work. He tells that the bull may require climate change.
The king goes with Laxmi to see the bull. Jitman and Gore, who are sitting by the side of the dead bull, are worried about the possible consequences. They are frightened that the king might give them the death penalty.
The two shepherds notice the king’s arrival in his convoy. Then, Laxminarayan outsmarts king Ranabahadur. Laxminarayan moves quickly to meet the shepherds. Before the king arrives he speaks quickly to the shepherds to massage the bull’s feet and wave fan. He advises them not to reveal that the bull is dead. Then, Jitman massages and Gore waves a fan. Laxminarayan starts grinding medicine quickly.
The king enters and calls the bull “Male”. Laxminarayan reports that the two shepherds have been taking care of the bull and he has been supplying medicine but nothing is working.
When the king notices that the bull is not breathing, he confirms that the bull has been dead.
Then Jitman and Gore start crying bitterly. They try to show that they are disheartened by the bull’s death. But, they are, in fact crying to seek for forgiveness from the king.
The King, seeing their deep mourning, believed that they took well care of the bull and forgives them. The King awards the shepherds some money to console them. Jitman and Gore receive four hundred and five hundred rupees respectively.
The king forgives Laxminarayan too and gives his words that he (the king) will take care of his (Laxminarayan’s) worries.
Jitman and Gore thank God for saving their life.
The Bull exercise
Answer: Gore and Jitman come to see Laxminarayan to inform him that the bull named Male has died.
Answer: According to the cowherds, the reason behind the death of Male is that he was fed fine rice and lentil (दाल) soup of split red gram, which is not suitable for a bull that lives on grass. They also mention that prices have risen because of this and that they have to sleep on straw (पराल) in the winter while the bull was given a mattress, quilt (गद्दा) and mosquito net.
Answer: Ranabahadur wants to see the bull himself to confirm that the bull is dead, and to decide if the bull needs to be moved to the hill for a change of climate (मौसम).
Answer: Laxminarayan runs ahead of the convoy (रक्षा दल) at Thulo Gauchar to prepare the cowshed for the arrival of the king, and to make sure that the bull's death is not apparent (स्पष्ट) when the king arrives.
Answer: Gore and Jitman cry when the king declares that Male is dead because they are worried about the consequences (परिणामहरू) of the bull's death and the potential (सम्à¤ाव्यता) punishment they may face from the king.
Answer: We learn that the bull is dead when Jitman and Gore inform (बताउनु) Laxminarayan that the bull has died. They describe that the bull's eyes have grown still (मौन) and its tail has gone loose.
Answer: The play makes a satire on the feudal (सामन्ती) system by highlighting the king's obsession (लगाब) with rearing bulls and his disregard (बेवास्ता) for the well-being of his subjects. The king's punishment threats to Laxminarayan and cowherds, the cowherds' poor living conditions, and the king's extravagance (अनावश्यकता) in feeding the bull fine rice and lentil (दाल) soup of split red gram while the cowherds are sleeping on straw all showcase the excesses and injustices of the feudal system.
Answer: The play is about a bull named Male that falls sick and eventually (अन्ततः) dies. King Ranabahadur Shah, who is fond of rearing bulls, is informed of the bull's death by Laxminarayan, the bull doctor, and the cowherds Jitman and Gore. Laxminarayan, fearing punishment from the king, suggests moving the bull to the hill for a change of climate. The king agrees and decides to see the bull himself. Laxminarayan, the cowherds (गोठालाहरू), and the king travel to the cowshed at Thulo Gauchar where they find the bull dead. The king declares the bull dead and the play ends with Jitman and Gore crying in fear of the consequences (परिणामहरू) of the bull's death. The play satirizes (व्यंग्य गर्दछ) the feudal system by highlighting the king's obsession with rearing bulls, his disregard for the well-being of his subjects and the excesses and injustices of the feudal system.
The Bull [Long Question Answer]
Answer: The late 18th-century Nepali society as portrayed in the play, is a highly hierarchical (वर्गीकृत) and feudal (सामन्ती) society where the king is at the top of the social hierarchy and his subjects are at the bottom. The play depicts a society where the king holds immense (विशाल) power and his subjects are expected to be obedient (आज्ञाकारी), respectful and subservient to him. The king is portrayed as a ruler who is obsessed with rearing bulls, and is willing to use violence (हिंसा) and punishment to maintain his authority over his subjects. The play shows how the king's subjects live in constant fear of his wrath and are willing to go to great lengths to avoid angering him. The play also portrays the king's subjects as living in poverty and suffering while the king lives in luxury (विलासिता).
Answer: The relation between Laxminarayan and his wives tells us that the society of that time was patriarchal (पितृसत्तात्मक) and that men held most of the power in the household. Laxminarayan, despite having seven wives, is unhappy and unfulfilled. He is portrayed as a man who is not satisfied with his life and is unable to find happiness in his relationships. The play also shows the women in Laxminarayan's life are shown as being subservient to him, and not having much autonomy (स्वतन्त्रता) over their own lives. The Nepali society has changed significantly since then, in terms of gender roles and relationships, with more emphasis on gender equality and women's rights.
Answer: The practice of chakari, as portrayed (चित्रित) in the play, is a system of patronage (संरक्षण) and loyalty in which a person of lower social status provides services to a person of higher social status in exchange for protection and benefits. The play shows how Laxminarayan, who is a bichari of the Ita Chapali court and bull doctor, is dependent on the king for his livelihood and status and is willing to go to great lengths to avoid angering him. The practice of chakari is not as prevalent in modern societies, but the concept of patronage and loyalty can still be seen in different forms such as political, professional and social connections.
Answer: Laxminarayan outsmarts (चलाकीमा हराउनु) Ranabahadur by suggesting that the bull be moved to the hill for a change of climate, rather than admitting that the bull is dead. This allows him to avoid the king's wrath (क्रोध) and save his own life, as well as the lives of the cowherds Jitman and Gore. He also appears to be knowledgeable (जानकार) about the bull's health and suggests a solution that is in the best interest of the bull.
Answer: Laxminarayan is portrayed as a middle-aged man who is unhappy despite having seven wives. He is depicted as a man who is relegated (निष्कासन) to the sidelines of life and is unable to find happiness in his relationships. He is also portrayed as a man who is dependent (निर्à¤à¤°) on the king for his livelihood and status (स्थिति) and is willing to go to great lengths to avoid angering him. Despite his subservient position, Laxminarayan is shown to be intelligent and resourceful, as he is able to outsmart the king in order to save his own life and the lives of the cowherds. He is also portrayed as a man who is deeply concerned about the well-being (कल्याण) of the bull and is willing to act in the best interest of the animal. Overall, Laxminarayan is a complex character who is caught between his desire for survival and his sense of duty towards the bull and the king.
The Bull Exercises Questions and answer for understanding
Answer: King Ranabahadur Shah was fond of rearing four-footed animals.
Answer: The king started the custom of releasing a bull with a burnt mark every month at Pashupatinath Temple.
Answer: The king maintained Thulo Gauchar, a large cow pasture, where an airport has been built now.
Answer: The king threatened to get Laxminarayan shaved if he told him that a bull died.
Answer: Laxminarayan is around 40 years old.
Answer: Laxminarayan has seven wives.
Answer: Jitman and Gore are cowherds who work for the king.
Answer: The bull's death is reported to the king the next morning.
Answer: The king wants to move the bull to the hill for a change of climate.
Answer: Laxminarayan is deeply concerned about the well-being of the bull.
Answer: Jitman and Gore are worried that the king will behead them because of the bull's death.
Answer: The cowherds are not happy with their living conditions and they have to sleep on straw in the winter.
Answer: The bull had guavas, bananas, and sticks of sugarcane as snacks.
Answer: The king is portrayed as a ruthless ruler who is willing to execute people for the death of a bull.
Answer: Laxminarayan outsmarts the king by suggesting that the bull needs a change of climate and that he should accompany the convoy to the cowshed.
Answer: The main theme of the play is the satire on the feudal system and the relation between the king and his subjects.
Answer: Laxminarayan's relationship with his wives is not specified in the play, but it is suggested that he is not happy in his relationships.
Answer: The play takes place in the late 18th century during the month of Ashwin (V.S. 1854)
Answer: Laxminarayan Dahal (Jaisi) is the bull doctor.
Answer: Laxminarayan is a subedar with Samarjug Company, bichari of the Ita Chapali court, and bull doctor.
Laxminarayan shouts at his wives because he feels they are not taking care of him and he is not happy with them.
Answer: The name of the bull is Male.
Answer: Jitman and Gore run to see Laxminarayan to tell him the bull has died.
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