Class 11 Hindi - ISC
Prose: Jamun Ka Ped
Jamun Ka Ped by Krishna Chander is a famous satirical prose piece in Hindi for Class 11 ISC students. The story revolves around a government secretariat where a massive jamun tree falls on a poet during a storm. Instead of immediately rescuing the man, red-tapism, bureaucratic apathy, and file-pushing take center stage. Officials debate whose department jurisdiction the tree falls under, passing the file from agriculture to horticulture and culture departments. By the time permission is finally granted from the Prime Minister's secretariat, the poet has died. This chapter is vital for board exams as it tests critical analysis of satire, government inefficiency, and human empathy.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
व्यंग्य (Satire)
A literary device used in the story to mock the rigid and lifeless bureaucratic system of government offices where rules matter more than human life.
लाल फीताशाही (Red-tapism)
Excessive official formality and routine adherence to rules that cause long delays, highlighted through the endless movement of files for cutting the tree.
संवेदनहीनता (Apathy)
The complete lack of emotional response or empathy from government officials toward a dying fellow human being trapped under the tree.
विभागीय अधिकार क्षेत्र (Departmental Jurisdiction)
The bureaucratic maze where departments argue whether the tree falls under horticulture, agriculture, or forestry, delaying action.
अंतराष्ट्रीय कूटनीति (International Diplomacy)
Even the Prime Minister's visit and foreign relations (cultural exchange with Laos) become factors that delay saving the poet's life.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
For ISC Class 11, this chapter typically carries 5 to 10 marks in the Hindi literature paper. Common question types include context-based questions (सप्रसंग व्याख्या), short answer questions testing the satirical nature of the story, and long essay-type questions analyzing the critique of government machinery and bureaucratic apathy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of Jamun Ka Ped?
The central theme is the absurdity and callousness of bureaucratic red-tapism, where official rules override basic human empathy and life.
Why was the poet not rescued immediately?
Because government officers were busy shifting responsibility, passing files between departments, and waiting for higher-level permissions instead of taking direct action.
What message does Krishna Chander want to convey through this story?
The author highlights how administrative machinery becomes robotic and insensitive, losing touch with human values and common sense.
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