Matchbox Ashapurna Debi

Read and reflect:

“There are two ways of spreading light...
To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”
Women should choose between being a candle or a mirror, and work for their own emancipation as
well as for the generations to come.
About the Author
Ashapurna Debi (1909-1995) is a prominent Bengali novelist and poet, widely honoured with a
number of prizes and awards. She was awarded the Jnanpith Award and the Padma Shri by the
Government of India in 1976, and the degree of D. Litt by the Universities of Jabalpur, Rabindra
Bharati, Burdwan and Jadavpur. For her contribution as a novelist and short story writer, the Sahitya
Akademi conferred its highest honour, the Fellowship in 1994.
This short story is translated from Bengali by Prasenjit Gupta, a translator and writer.

INTRODUCTION:‘Matchbox’ is a short story written by the Bengali writer, Ashapurna Debi. The
writer compares woman to a matchbox. There is a reason for this comparison. A matchbox has
gunpowder in it. It can burn anything. But, it will not burn by itself. So, it is harmless. We can keep it
anywhere in the house. Women are like matchboxes. They have the strength to react. But they are
silent. Women suffer from the bad behaviour of men in families and public places. But, very often,
they don’t react against it. They are meek and silent. Men know this. When women begin to react, men
will change their bad manners. In fact, man is afraid of woman’s anger. The main characters in the
story are Nomita and her husband, Ajit.

It is written by Ashapurna Debi.

The theme is thought provoking
Nomita is the main character.
Ajit is her husband.
Nomita’s life is compared to a Matchbox.
Ajit’s very unkind and cruel towards her.
The language used here is powerful.
It is the masterpiece of the author.
A must read short story.
Matchbox is originally written in Bengali.

Justification of the title: The title is suitable because Nomita is like a matchbox. The title can also
mean that ‘match’ means ‘marriage’ and ‘box’ means ‘trap’. Her marriage proved to be a real trap as she
lost her freedom, peace of mind, joy, etc.

Sample Questions
1. Character Sketch

I. Ajit

. Overpowering
. Dominating
. not think about feelings of his wife
. Self centred
. Hesitates to help his mother in law
. A man of ego and prejudice
. Keeps an image of gentle man
. Insults his wife
. Member of a rich family
. Example of male
chauvinism(noun) = male prejudice
against women; the belief that men are
superior in terms of ability,
intelligence, etc.
Ajit is an important character in the short story “Matchbox” written by Ashapurna Debi. Ajit is the
husband of Nomita. He is from a rich and joint family. He married Nomita because of her beauty. He
considers his wife as a mere slave. He insults her. He reads the letters addressed to his wife without
her consent. He ridicules Nomita for her poor family background. Ajit is a typical Indian husband who
treats his wife as a puppet.
II. Nomita
Nomita is the central character in the short story “Matchbox” written by Ashapurna Debi. Nomita is
the wife of Ajit. She comes from a poor family. She is very bold and courageous. Ajit, her husband,
always reads the letters sent by her mother, without her permission. He always insults her. She
questions this attitude of her husband. She tries to fire her anchol of her sari when her husband
mistreated her. Nomita is a typical Indian woman.
III. Nomita’s Mother
Nomit’s mother is a different character in the short story “Matchbox” written by Ashapurna Debi. She
is a widow. She is a poor woman. She married off her daughter Nomita to the rich man, Ajit. She
seeks money from her daughter through letters. She knows that her son in law Ajit would help her.
But, her habits of begging for money made her daughter inferior. She expects money from her son in
law to repair her thatched roof. Her son in law Ajit ridicules her daughter for her begging. She is an
illiterate ordinary Indian woman.

2. Compare nuclear family with joint family

Nuclear Family Joint Family
Three or Four members Lot of members
Minimum property Lot of property
Democratic Family head is the authority
No training for social living Enough experiences for social living
Minimum Communication Enough Communication
Enough freedom Restricted freedom

3. The space of women in a family.

♦ They are not getting equal status in the family.
♦ They are the most hard working people in the family.
♦ The society is far away from the concept of equality.
♦ They are not getting better recognition for their hard work.
♦ They are more compassionate and generous than other family members.
♦ They are really living for others.

4. Seminar points for Gender equality

♦ Develop the culture of inclusion i n all walks of life.
♦ Make the society as women friendly.
♦ Develop the culture of sharing of house hold jobs.
♦ Give equal wages and equal status.
♦ Ensure women participation in all walks of public life.
♦ Give social justice to women.

Prepare a write-up discussing the space of women in a family.

Answer:The women are the lamps of the family. It is impossible to imagine a family without a woman
Although we say the man is the lord of the family, in most homes things are decided by the women.
They decide what to cook and what the members of the family should eat. They not only deliver
children but look after them and bring them up in the right way. They do all the household chores.
They also give a lot of love to their husbands and their children. Men are often rash but women are
compassionate and generous. People are so attached to their mothers that often when facing troubles
the word that comes to their lips is ‘mother.’ It is said that God created mothers because he could not
be everywhere at the same time.

5. How does the author substantiate the comparison between a woman and a
matchbox?
Answer:
The author compares women to matchboxes. Matchboxes contain enough gun powder to make a
hundred Lankas burn. But they sit around meek and innocent in the kitchen, in the pantry, in the
bedroom, in fact in any place. Women are the same. We see Nomita getting inflamed when Ajit
insults her. She takes out the matchbox and lights a stick and puts it to her sari which catches fire.
Fortunately Ajit is able to put the fire out. Soon she becomes a normal person and starts peeling
potatoes. That is why the author says that even when they have material within themselves to burn
many things, they never flare up to burn away the mask of men’s high-mindedness and their large-
heartedness. They don’t burn even their own colourful shells. The men know that. That is why they
leave them scattered carelessly in the kitchen, in the pantry, in the bedroom, here, there and
everywhere. Without fear, they also put them in their pockets.

6. Activity I. Review
It is often said that an empowered woman is the one who can ‘find her own voice’, ‘speak up’, and ‘be
seen and heard.’ In the present world, what we need is to foster a man-woman relationship which
contributes to healthy, mutual development. Man and woman should move forward together,
supporting and respecting each other, and being open to different opinions and situations.
How far is the above statement relevant to Nomita in Ashapurna Debi’s “Matchbox”? Prepare a review
of the story, emphasizing the role of its women characters.
Ans:
“Matchbox” written by Ashapurna Debi tells the story of a married couple. It unveils the unhealthy
man-woman relationship existing in most Indian families. She compares women to matchboxes.
Matchboxes have the potential to light up everything into fire. But in appearance, they are meek and
harmless. It is the same with women in their outlook. They also appear to be meek and harmless, but
they can set everything into fire within no time.
The central character of the story is Nomita. Her married life really reveals the above truth in a simple
and touching manner. Her husband Ajit has the habit of opening his wife’s mail and reading it. He
argues that it his right to screen her mail to confirm any case of lovers. He doesn’t pay any attention to
Nomita’s protest. Whenever she protests him, she is treated badly. Besides her poor family
background makes her suffer everything in silence.
The readers become very much empathetic with Nomita as they understand the poverty and other
miserable conditions of her mother. Her mother has the habit of begging money from her daughter
and son-in-law. The other members of the family too pinch her with sharp words. Really the letters
she received were from her loving mother. Mother used to write about her misfortunes and the
miserable conditions of their house. She asks for money to find a solution. She is afraid of dying under
the weight of a collapsed roof.
When we come to the climax of the story we see a woman who gets angry and goes out of control.
She even threatens him that she would teach him a lesson. But he is making humorous comments at
her raging phrases. In the end she frightens him by setting fire the anchol of her own sari. This story
really describes the consequences of her rage at the misbehaviour of her husband. It is really
interesting to see the husband’s efforts to make her calm and normal.
7. Activity II (Panel Discussion)
The word ‘panel’ means a group of experts. The discussion held among these expert members in front
of an audience could be called a panel discussion.
It helps to clarify the difficult aspects of a topic in a systematic and objective manner.
There are three sets of participants in a panel discussion.
They are : Panellist, Moderator, Audience.

a) Now, conduct a panel discussion on the topic “Indian women— finding a space in the socio-cultural
milieu”.
Points to be considered:
The effect of the media on a woman’s self-image
Healthy women, healthy nation
The need for cultivating mental strength and mental toughness
The need for a productive and harmonious work environment
Acting as a mentor and guide to other women and girls
Other marginalised sections of society
The pivotal role of women from the past to the present
Ans: SPEECH WELCOMING THE PANELLISTS AND INTRODUCING THEM ( “Indian
women- finding a space in the socio-cultural milieu”.)
Good morning,
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to this panel discussion on “Indian women –
finding a space in the socio cultural milieu.” We all know that everything is not rosy for the women
in India. Although we got our freedom in 1947, the Indian women are still not free to live their lives
the way they want. They have to face so many problems because of our male-dominated society.
Our women too need freedom to live their lives the way they want.
The panellists in this discussion are Dr. Ammini Jacob, a Senior Lecturer in St. Joseph’s College
Irinjalakuda, Dr. Ranbir Kaur, the HOD of English, at St. John’s College, Kochi, and Dr. Geeta
Agarwal, the Vice Principal of Hamidia College, Mancheri. We are sure their discussion will throw
light on some of the vexing problems that women face in our country. The moderator is Simi
Ibrahim, the well- known activist for women rights.

What do you mean by panel discussion?

A panel discussion is a specific format used in a meeting, conference or convention.
It is a live or virtual discussion about a specific topic amongst a selected group of pane lists
who share differing perspectives in front of a large audience. …
Some Topics:
1. Importance of tree plantation
2. Importance of listening to other’s problems
3. Drug abuse and healthy problems
4. Honest officials: need of the hour
5. Importance of teachers

b) After the panel presentation and discussion, the moderator synthesizes and summarizes the key
points. Prepare a script of a speech summarizing the panel discussion.
Answer:
Let’s review what we have discussed today. On the whole, it has turned out to be a fruitful venture.
We saw how Indian women are not given their rightful places in the society. There are 1.2 billion
Indians, nearly half of which are women. India had only one woman President and one woman PM so
far. Look at our Parliament. How many women MPs are there? Look at the Kerala Government. How
many women Ministers are there? Is it not shame that although we got our independence in 1947, our
women are still left behind when it comes to education, employment and leadership? Dr. Ammini
Jacob had some good suggestions regarding the effect of the media on a woman’s self-image. She
showed that how healthy women make a healthy nation. Dr. Ranbir Kaur emphasized the need for
cultivating mental strength and mental toughness in women. She spoke of the need for a productive
and harmonious work environment for women. She said that educated women should act as mentors
and guides to other women and girls. Dr. Geeta Agarwal was greatly concerned with the other
marginalized sections of the society. She showed how women played a pivotal role in the past, quoting
the examples of Rani Laxmi Bai and Sarojini Naidu. Women should come forward to take up
leadership positions. She asked the women not to wait patiently for their rights but grab them. I would
like to thank the panellists for giving us great ideas. I also thank the audience for being so disciplined
and well-behaved. I am sure they have benefited immensely from the discussion.
Together, let’s make a better tomorrow!
Thank you all!

8. Preparing script for panel discussion/group discussion

Common Expressions
Good morning,
Dear participants and friends,
I would like to talk on the topic.........
The topic is very important.
I would like to conclude my words.
Thank you
Model Question:
a) You are a participant in a panel discussion on the topic "Corruption is the curse of our society”.
Draft the script for your presentation.
Answer: Dear participants and friends.
I would like to talk on the topic corruption. The topic is very important. Corruption is the curse of our
society. It is dangerous. Corruption prevents the development of our country. We should fight against
it. It is our duty. Poor people are the victims of corruption. Poor people do not get the benefits of
government programmes. Corruption destroys our country. Government should take action against
corruption. I would like to conclude my words.
Thank you

9. Activity III (Blurb Writing)

Blurb is the description of a book on its back cover. It's a brief summary of the book designed for
marketing. It has no uniform pattern. Given below is a sample of a book blurb.

Now prepare a blurb of Pratham Pratishruti making use of the hints given below.
• Ashapurna Debi created a space of her own in the world of creative literature, and Gender Studies.
• She once said, “Slowly and steadily a completely new world was getting created within my mind. It
was a world of comprehension, of feeling. It was a world with a never-ending flow of feelings.”
• Most of her writings marked a firm protest against the inequality and injustice rooted in gender
discrimination.
• Her magnum opus Pratham Pratishruti won for her the Jnanpith Award.
• The novel is about an uncommon woman, Satyavatie who dared to break the so-called rules made to
control the lives of the Bengali women in those days.
• The novel that depicts the endless suffering and the liberation of women in Bengal is the true story
of women everywhere in India.
• The novel inspires young minds to create an enlightened world free of segregation.
• The novel was published by Ananda Publishers (first published in 1964)
• Notable works by Ashapurna Debi - Subarnolata, Bakul Katha
Answer:
Pratam Pratishruti is a novel about an uncommon woman, Satyavatie, who dared to break the so-
called rules made to control the lives of the Bengali women in her days. The novel depicts the endless
suffering and the liberation of women in Bengal. In fact it is the story of women everywhere in India.

Ashapurna Debi, the novelist, created a space of her own in the world of creative literature, and
Gender Studies. She once said, “Slowly and steadily a completely new world was getting created
within my mind. It was a world of comprehension, of feeling. It was a world with a never- ending flow
of feelings.” Most of her writings marked a firm protest against the inequality and injustice rooted in
gender discrimination.

Pratam Pratishruti inspires young minds to create an enlightened world free of segregation. It was
published by Ananda Publishers, first in 1964. Other notable works of the writer are Subarnolata and
Bakui Katha.

A good book blurb should have the following qualities:

10. ADVICE/ OPINION

Q. 1. Nomita had a fierce quarrel with Ajit. Imagine you are Nomita’s friend. How would you console
her? Write four pieces of advice that you would like to give her.
You may use expressions like:
I think you should ...../ Why cant you........../ if i were you ........./ I'd like to suggest.......
Ans. 1. Why can’t you control yourself? You should do it.
2. If I were you I would have discussed it with my mother.
3. I’d like to suggest that you should settle the matter by discussing this with elders of the family.
4. I think you should try to find a job for yourself to support your mother.

Q2) Ajit’s elder brother notices the rift between Ajit and Nomita. He makes the couple meet a
counsellor. If you were the counsellor what advice would you give Ajit? Write three pieces of
advice, using expressions like ‘You should ... , You ought to ... , You had better..............
Answer:
You should not read the letters addressed to others unless they permit you to do so.
You ought to show more respect to your wife Nomita and give her all the letters addressed to her
without opening them.
You had better take a resolution not to open Nomita’s letters. If she wants you to read them, she
will give them to you after she reads them. Letters are private affairs and no one has a right to
read the letters addressed to others.
Home work
Q. 3. Ajit had a fierce quarrel with Nomita, his wife and she tried to commit suicide. Ajit became
afraid of his wife’s behaviour. Imagine you are Ajit’s friend. He discussed this matter with you.
How would you console him? Write four pieces of advice that you would like to give him.
You may use expressions like:
I think you should ...../ Why cant you........../ if i were you ........./ I'd like to suggest.......

4) Ajit did not give Nomita an easy time. He belittled and insulted her, using harsh words. You are
Ajit’s friend. Write four pieces of advice you would give Ajit. You may use expressions like :
Ajit, I think you should.../ Why don’t you.../ If I were you.../ Why can’t you…

5) ‘I used to lift a hot pot of water off the stove – and that did it.’ Here, Nomita in ‘Matchbox’ tries to
hide her problems from the other members of the family. Do you justify her action ? Why/why not ?

11. Essay
a) In the story’ Matchbox’, the rift between Nomita and Ajit occurred when Ajit hid her mother’s
letter and read the content secretly. Nomita could not win the quarrel and had to return to her normal
routines without a second thought. If the same situation arises in the life of a modern couple, how
would it affect their relationship? What would be the woman’s response to such an issue? Prepare an
essay on ‘Modern Woman – her dreams, aspirations and role in society.
Answer:
Modern Woman – her Dreams, Aspirations and Role in Society
In the story ‘Matchbox’ by Ashapurna Debi, there is a rift between Nomita and Ajit. It was caused
when Ajit read Nomita’s mother’s letter secretly. Nomita is angry and in the argument that ensues,
Nomita goes to the extent of attempting to burn herself. Somehow the quarrel is patched up and
Nomita returns to her normal duties.
Things would have been different if this happened to a modern woman. In the past women were
considered the lamps of the family. Most of the time, they stayed at home and did the household
chores and looked after the children. The men were the lords of the family. Important things were
decided by the men and women had hardly any say in such matters. Girls married the men who were
chosen by their fathers. But all this is past history. Today’s woman is more assertive and she will not
tolerate a husband like Ajit.
Modern women think they are equal to men and they have a role to play even outside their homes. In
the modern world, women are educated and they also want to work and earn money. They don’t want
to depend on the goodwill of their husbands to get certain things they want. In the home, modern
wives expect their husbands to share household chores. In the past the wives would be busy in the
kitchen, but the husbands would be reading newspapers or listening to the news.
Now, the wives also want to read the newspapers and listen to the news. They also want to be
entertained and taken out for meals outside and also an occasional trip to attractive places. Modern
women also want their share in politics. They are no more satisfied to be led by men. They think they
too have the capacity for leadership. Women like Golda Meir (Israel), Mrs. Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka),
Margaret Thatcher (England) and Indira Gandhi of India have shown that women can be even better
leaders than men. Today we have Theresa May as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Angela
Merkel as the President of Germany. It was only because of some bad luck Hillary Clinton lost to
Donald Trump in the USA. Otherwise we would have a woman at the helm of affairs in the richest
and most powerful nation in the world.

b) SPACE OF WOMAN IN A FAMILY

Throughout history, the space occupied by women has undergone a dramatic change. The attitudes of
the society towards her role in the family were shaped mostly by the different religious texts. The first
pairs of couples – Adam and Eve and Siva and Parvathy introduced by the three religions –
Christianity, Islam and Hinduism throw light on the fact that Man and Woman together make one and
the whole. Hence religions present woman’s role neither lesser nor inferior, but her role is to complete
the other half. But what later history relates is the deterioration of her role in a patriarchal society.
Woman was confined within the four walls of the house. Child bearing and rearing became her sole
responsibility. Her voice could not be heard even about the matters related to her future. She became
the victim of many atrocities. Thanks to the efforts of many reformers, gradually women could break
the walls.
Education liberated them and gave them dignity. They began to assume the role of bread winner and
family head. She started finding a space in the public too. This public space won her worthy
position in the private also.The twenty first century witnesses a redefinition of woman’s role in the
family. From the traditional roles of housewife and mother she has marched ahead. Her voice is
heard in matters regarding marriage, procreation and so on. The disintegration of joint family and
formation of nuclear families resulted in the crumbling of family as an institution.
Now woman enjoys rights regarding when she should marry, whether she should marry, when she
should have children, how to plan in favour of career etc. Side by side we can see that premarital
and extramarital relations are on the rise. This results in the erosion of values of love and
compassion. Children became the worst sufferers. The broken families have generated crimes and
violence.
It is high time man and woman extended their hands in mutual support and mutual respect to hold
family safe and secure. At a time when woman finds a space even in space, her role rolled from
submission to autonomy. Still, in some quarters, she is tarnished, while in some other quarters, she
forgets what she can do in shaping a generation. Love is the noblest feeling one can cherish and it can
be profusely found in the set up of a family only. Only a woman can restore the family within the
bondage of love. Therefore, her space within in the family has become all the more vital.
12. Debate
a) Imagine that a debate was held in your class on the topic ‘Nuclear Family. An Ideal Place for
Women Empowerment.’ The following points were presented by one group against the topic.
a) Nuclear family provides unlimited freedom to women.
b) Nuclear family is not safe for women.
c) Nuclear family makes women irresponsible.
d) In a nuclear family, woman tends to neglect her children. Write four points supporting the topic.

Ans: a. Nuclear family is more democratic.

b. Women are allowed to purse their dreams in nuclear family.
c. Women are also free to select their carrier in a nuclear family.
d. Women get enough time to look after their children.

b) A debate was conducted in the class on the topic “who is and ideal wife - a wife who lives
according to to the wishes of her husband or a wife with strong views and opinions?” The major
arguments for the topic as follows:
a. An ideal wife is one who lives to th;e wishes of the husband because women regard husbands as
God
b. In the male dominated society, women find themselves in a better position to live according to the
wishes of their husbands.
c. Women are labelled as weaker sex.
d. Women are submissive.
Prepare four arguments against.
Ans: a. In Indian culture women are treated as mothers; so they must have more freedom.
b. Husbands and wives have equal status.
c. Men should not try to dominate women because women have their own talents.
d. Men may have more muscle power but we cant achieving everything by muscle power alone.

Home work
c) A discussion was held in your class on the topic ‘Domestic Violence’. One of your friends
remarked, ‘If we are to fight discrimination and injustice against women, we must start from the home,
for if a woman cannot be safe in her own house then she cannot be expected to feel safe anywhere.”
Write four points supporting this opinion.

13. Panel discussion

A panel discussion is conducted in your school on the topic ‘Role of Media in Women Empowerment.’
You are asked to initiate the discussion. How would you introduce the topic? Draft an introductory
speech. Hints: (media-wide publicity-reach millions of viewers- require careful handling of details-
wrong messages conveyed by advertisements and serials – responsibility of media)
Answer:
Respected Teachers and my dear friends, Good Morning!
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to this panel discussion on “Role of Media in
Women Empowerment.” If women empowerment has to be a reality, the media, both print and
electronic, have to play a big role in it. Media can give wide publicity as they reach the nook and
corner of the country. The majority of homes in India have television and many homes get daily
newspapers. So by using these media, women empowerment can be given the boost it needs. When
using the media for women empowerment the details must be handled carefully. Women
empowerment does not mean that women are given the right to do what they like and say whatever
they feel. Many people consider women empowerment means a woman’s ability to smoke publicly, to
drink in open bars or wear the kind of clothes she likes. This is not the meaning of empowerment. Its
aims are more serious and graceful where women can contribute to the welfare and prosperity of their
community and humanity at large.
We are often misguided by advertisements and serials. There is a tendency to show women’s bodies to
sell anything – from salt to satellites! The concept is that men get hooked to the curvaceous bodies and
comely faces of women. This should be stopped. Women should not be used as promoters of
merchandise! Some of the serials are grossly immodest and present women in bad light. Women
should be bold and courageous but not unnecessarily aggressive and blood thirsty, consumed by
vengeance.
Media have a big and positive role to play in Women Empowerment in India.
We shall now listen to various views by our panellists.
Have a nice and fruitful day!

14. Editing
a) Given below is the blurb of a famous book. There are a few errors in it. Edit the passage. Hints:
(subject-verb concord-spelling-punctuation)
1984
The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwells prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the
world we was becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of ‘negative utopia’
– a startlingly original and haunting novel that create an imaginary world that is completely
convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny that novels holds the
imagination of whole generations.

Answer:
Wrong – Right
George Orwells – George Orwell’s
was – were
create – creates
Holds – hold

b) Nomita after gaining control of her anger speaks to Ajit about his insulting behaviour. Edit the
errors in the dialogue given below.
Nomita : Ajit, you hurted me today. Why do you read my mother’s letters? Do you know how much
she loves me? She is proud for her son-in-law. Still you don’t like her.
Ajit : Nomita, I didn’t do it deliberately. I’m sorry.
Answer:
Wrong – Right
hurted hurt
we – us
for – of
delibaretely – deliberately

15. Comparison - Nomita and Ratna

Read the following excerpts from ‘Matchbox’ and ‘Horegallu’.
‘I can’t? I can’t do anything? You want to see if I can do anything?’, says Nomita ‘God has given me
two ears to listen to others. I hear them out with sympathy and without any judgement,’ says Ratna.
What do you understand about the character of Nomita and Ratna? Compare and contrast the
characters of Nomita and Ratna.
Answer:
From the talk of Nomita one can easily guess that she is a hot-tempered woman. Here she is
challenging her husband saying that if he thinks she can’t do certain things, he is mistaken. She can do
some things which he thinks she can’t. She is challenging him and telling him whether he is prepared
to see what she is capable of doing. It is by talking like this, she puts a burning match stick to her sari
which catches fire. The conversation shows Nomita is not a dependable woman and she can act quite
rashly in an unthinking manner.
But Ratna is quite a different woman. She is a middle- aged senior clerk and she is always smiling.
Every day after lunch she sits with some person and listens to her/him. She is listening to people’s
problems. Even by listening to them, she can help them. A big problem the modern world faces is that
people have no time to listen to the problems of others! God has given us two ears to listen. A person
with a problem feels relieved even when somebody sympathetically listens to him or her. Between the
two women, Ratna is by far the better one.

16. Giving Suggestions

A person can react against injustice in different ways. Nomita reacted by quarrelling with her husband
and setting fire to the anchol of her sari. What are the other possible ways in which Nomita could have
reacted against her husband’s dirty habit? Suggest three other possible methods of response that could
have been adopted by Nomita.
Answer:
People can react in different ways when they face problems. Nomita reacted by quarrelling with her
husband and even setting fire to her sari. She could have used some other ways to show her displeasure
and to mend the ways of her husband.
Tell him how impolite and rude the habit of reading letters addressed to others is. Reading letters
addressed to others is uncivilized behaviour.
She could have explained to him the helpless condition of her mother and the need to help her without
complaining.
She could have stopped talking to him for some time so that he can realize that she is offended and
this might help him in changing his bad habit.

17. Conversation
a) Imagine that Nomita’s mother visits Ajit’s household a few days after the quarrel between Nomita
and Ajit. Nomita narrates the entire incident to her mother. She tries to console her daughter and
promises that she won’t write letters to her. What would be the conversation between the mother and
daughter? Draft the conversation.

Answer:
Nomita’s Mother : I’m sorry Nomita that this happened because of my letter. How was I to know that
he opens your letters?
Nomita : At least now you know. So please do not write such letters again.
Mother : What shall I do then? There is nobody to help me.
Nomita : If you need money so badly, phone me. This is my number.
Mother : From now on, I will do that. I know it is hard on you to help your mother as you do not earn
any money. But you must consider my helplessness.
Nomita : It’s okay, Mom. I will do what I can. But call me only when you are in real need of money.
You know it is not easy to get money from Ajit. When I get the call from you I shall find some way of
sending you help.
Mother : Thank you, Nomita! You are a sweet girl. Glad that you have not forgotten your poor
mother!
Nomita : It is okay, Mom.
b) Nomita, in the story ‘Matchbox’ faces many insults from her husband Ajit. At last, one day, she tells
her sister-in-law the whole story. Prepare the likely conversation between the two women, in at least
four exchanges.

18.Comprehension
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Nomita speaks her mind so no one attacks her outright to her face; they only pinch her with sharp
words.
a) What is the meaning of the expression ‘pinch with sharp words’?
(a. make someone happy, b. make someone angry, c. irritate d. speak rudely and cause pain)
b) What quality of Nomita is evident here?
c) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
d) What is the plight of Nomita in the family?
Answer:
a) speak rudely and cause pain
b) Nomita speaks frankly without caring how others take it. Others are afraid of her because she can
speak her mind openly.
c) The word ‘They’ refers to the members of Ajit’s family.
d) She is not much liked by the other sisters-in-law. They are fond of laughing at her. They are united
against Nomita and Nomita has to fight alone.

19. letter
Nomita is angry with Ajit for reading the letter sent by her mother. She found the letter in Ajit’s
pocket. What could have been the contents of the letter? Attempt it.
Answer:
Vaishno Devi
13/IVM.G. Road
Calcutta
6 June 2015
Dearest daughter,
It’s been quite a long time since I heard anything from you. How are you there? How is Ajit? How are
the other members of the family?
I can’t say I am quite fine. Since Last week I have been suffering from some cough and cold. I tried
some local medicines, but the cough is persisting. Our neighbours told me I must visit the doctor.
The roof our house is leaking heavily. If it is not repaired immediately, our house will be no more.
And I don’t like to be buried with it. But the fact is I have no money to repair and pay the doctor’s fee
or to buy the medicine. My clothes have become very old and I need a new sari also. I know you are
living like a queen and your husband is high-minded and large-hearted.
So I have to ask you to send me some money. I know I am bothering you. But what can I do? Your
immediate response will help me.
Yours lovingly,
Sd/-
Vaishno Devi

20. Paragraph Writing

a) Nomita is a housewife. Is she an empowered woman? Write your opinion in a paragraph of about
100 words.
Answer:
Nomita is not an empowered woman. For every little thing she has to ask her husband. She has no
money of her own and therefore she has to beg her husband to send some money to her mother.
Nomita is not empowered in the sense that she does not think rationally. How can she set fire to her
sari just because her husband Ajit did not give her the letter addressed to her? An empowered person
would be able to take rational decisions. Nomita can talk cheaply. When her sister-in-law accuses her
of rushing to Ajit at every small opportunity, she asks her to come and peek into her room to see what
is happening there, this is a cheap retort. Nomita is a snob. She has forgotten that she came from a
poor family. She calls Ajit a common and vulgar man forgetting that she comes a very poor family and
she is vulgar herself. She had forgotten her roots. An empowered woman will not forget her roots.

b) ‘She grabs Ajit’s matchbox on the table, lights a matchstick and touches it to her sari.’ This is how
Nomita in ‘Matchbox’ responds to the humiliation of her husband. What is your opinion of Nomita’s
impulsive reaction ? Write your answer in a paragraph.

21. Asking Request

‘Nomita keeps thinking about how she might be able secretly to send her mother a few rupees’.
Imagine that Nomita stealthily goes to a post office to send a money order to her mother. She seeks
the help of the postmaster to send the money order. How will she ask for help? Draft two request
statements for her.
Begin the answer like this:
Sir, Would you please help me...............
Answer:
Sir, would you please help me to send Rs. 50/- to my mother? Here is the money. Her address is
Vaishno Debi, 13/IVM.G. Road, Calcutta.
Sir, I want to send Rs. 50/- to my mother by money order. Please help me. Her address is Vaishno
Debi, 13/IVM.G. Road, Calcutta.

22. Reporting
Read the following conversation between Nomita and Ajit.
He said “What letter? Indeed, there was a letter from your mother. I just hadn’t got around to giving
it to you
“Why hadn’t you got around to it?
“What a nuisance! Ajit said, I’d forgotten -what else? Imagine that Rini, Ajit’s niece overhears the
conversation and reports it to her mother. Draft the report for Rini.
Answer: Ajit asked Nomita what letter it was and added that indeed there had been a letter from her
mother and he had not got around to giving that to her.
Then Nomita asked him why he had not around to.
As a reply Ajit exclaimed that she was a nuisance and added that he had just forgotten to give her the
letter and it was nothing else.

23. Giving personal Opinion

Given below are a few newspaper headlines on ‘Domestic Violence’ displayed in a classroom. The
teacher asks the students to respond to these headlines. A student writes a note of protest against
increasing violence towards women.
Woman hangs herself, father alleges in-laws demanded dowry.
Meerut man pours acid on wife and in-laws.
Man kills 8 month old daughter, in a fit of rage surrenders to police
Brother attacks sleeping sister, gouges her eyes.
She/He starts the note like this.

I am really shocked by these newspaper headlines. I can’t believe that I am living in the twenty first
century. These headlines
................................................... ................................................... ...................................................
Complete the note for her/him.
Answer:
l am really shocked by these newspaper headlines. I can’t believe that I am living in the 21stcentury.
These headlines show how terrible the life of a woman is in India. In the first case a woman hangs
herself because she was not able to give adequate dowry to her husband and his family. She was
grossly mistreated in the husband’s home and she could not take it any longer. In the second case, a
cruel man pours acid on his wife and the in-laws. In the third case a man kills his 8-month old
daughter in a fit of rage. In India girls are considered a burden on the family. There used to be female
infanticides. Now we have female foeticide. By ultrasound scanning the sex of the foetus is
determined and if it is a female, abortion is done. The last one is horrible. Imagine a brother attacking
her sleeping sister and gouging her eyes. Where is brotherly love? Atrocities against women are
rampant in our society. We speak of equality of women with men. That equality is only on paper.
Women are discriminated against socially, economically and culturally. One really wonders if one is
living in the 21st century! When indeed when, will these atrocities end!

24 Blog
According to recent studies, in our country, every four minutes, one woman faces domestic violence.
In ‘Matchbox’, we get a glimpse of this reality. After reading the story “Matchbox”, you decide to
write about the hardships of Nomita, in your personal blog (an online diary). Prepare the blog-post.
You may use the following hints.
(Struggles, challenges, lack of identity, humiliation)

25 Speech
A webinar is conducted by the English club of your school on the topic ‘21st century Indian women
and the challenges they face in society’. As a member of the club, you are asked to make a speech on
the topic. Prepare the script of your speech.

26 Narration
Nomita, in the story ‘Matchbox,’ is often insulted and humiliated by her husband, Ajit. Sometimes, he
hurts her feelings very much. Imagine that Nomita meets Ratna (the character mentioned in
‘Horegallu’), and she narrates the incidents of her life with Ajit to Ratna. Prepare the likely narrative.

26 Points
The story Matchbox is written by Ashapurna Debi.
Nomita is the wife of Ajit. She comes from a poor family.
Her mother frequently writes letters requesting money.
Ajit opens and reads letters addressed to Nomita without her permission.
This behaviour of Ajit hurts Nomita‟s self respect.
She had told him many times not to do it.
Nomita becomes angry and quarrels with Ajit.
Nomita, flaming with anger, picks a matchbox and lights a stick and puts it on her sari which instantly
catches fire.
Ajit rushes and with his bare hands, he puts out the fire.
Soon after this quarrel, she goes back to the kitchen.
She even tells lies about the burning of her sari.
She pretends as if nothing has happened.
In the story, Nomita represents the typical Indian village woman.
The story clearly presents the pathetic condition of women in an average Indian family. Most of them
are treated as subhuman and are denied of even the basic human rights. Social evils like child
marriages and denial of equal opportunity in the case education and employment also intensify the
misery of women in our society.