NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 2 Say the Right Thing — Let us do these activities before we read
Book page 70 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
Work in pairs and discuss. What does ‘Athithi Devo Bhava' mean?
Answer
‘Atithi Devo Bhava' (अतिथि देवो भव) is a Sanskrit phrase from the Taittiriya Upanishad. It means “May the guest be as God to you” — that is, treat every guest with the same respect you would show to God.
Word
Meaning
अतिथि (atithi)
A guest — literally, one who comes without a fixed tithi (date), i.e. unannounced
देव (deva)
God, a divine being
भव (bhava)
May (he) be / consider (him) to be
The line comes from a teacher's farewell address to his students, alongside Matri Devo Bhava (mother as God), Pitri Devo Bhava (father as God) and Acharya Devo Bhava (teacher as God).
What it means in practice: Welcome the guest at the door, offer water first, then food; give the guest the best seat and the best of what you have; never make a guest feel unwanted or ask when they will leave. The beauty of the word atithi is that it covers even the unexpected visitor — hospitality that does not depend on an invitation.
Q2.
Work in pairs and discuss. Why is it important to be polite to guests?
Answer
Politeness to guests matters for four clear reasons:
A guest is at a disadvantage. They are in someone else's house, unsure of the rules. Politeness removes that discomfort at once.
It shows respect for the person, not their position. Good hosts treat the postman and the principal alike.
It builds relationships. Mrs. Shaw invites Mrs. Harding precisely because she wants friends in a new town — “There isn't much to do here in Lanfield, and I want to know some more people.”
It is part of our culture and of ordinary kindness. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava' has guided Indian households for centuries, and a guest who leaves feeling welcome carries that warmth into their own home.
Link to the play: This is exactly what Mary fails to do. She is not cruel — she is simply careless with her words, and by the end of the visit two guests are hurt, her mother is embarrassed, and the friendship Mrs. Shaw wanted is lost.
Q3.
Choose the statements that display polite behaviour when you have guests at home. 1. Offer the guests a glass of water. 2. Enquire about the well-being of the guests. 3. Ask the guests when they would leave. 4. Comment critically about the habits of guests. 5. Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
Answer
The polite behaviours are 1, 2 and 5.
No.
Statement
Polite?
Why
1
Offer the guests a glass of water
✔ Polite
The first act of Indian hospitality — it says “rest, you are welcome here”
2
Enquire about their well-being
✔ Polite
Shows genuine interest in the guest, not just in the visit
3
Ask when they would leave
✘ Impolite
It tells the guest you want them gone. Mary does exactly this at the end of the play
4
Comment critically about their habits
✘ Impolite
Criticism embarrasses a guest who cannot answer back in your house
5
Accompany them to the door when they leave
✔ Polite
A warm ending, and it shows you are sorry to see them go
Notice: Mrs. Shaw's advice to Mary covers all three polite behaviours — “say things that will please them”, “laugh a lot”, and “Ask them to stay a little while longer.”
Q4.
Sometimes you find that a few friends in class are rude while disagreeing with each other on certain issues. Work in groups. How would you deal with such a situation? Share at least three ways in which you can do this.
Answer
Disagreeing is not the problem; disagreeing rudely is. Here are five ways to handle it — pick any three for your answer.
Separate the idea from the person. Teach the phrase “I don't agree with that idea” instead of “You are stupid”. Attack the argument, never the classmate.
Use ‘I' statements. “I feel we should try it the other way, because…” is far harder to quarrel with than “You are wrong.”
Give each side a full turn. Agree that nobody interrupts, and that each speaker gets one minute. Most rudeness begins with interruption.
Ask them to state the other side's point. Before replying, each must say what the other person actually meant. This cools the temperature immediately.
Change the setting. If voices are rising, suggest continuing after the period, or bring in the class teacher or a neutral classmate.
Useful polite phrases for a disagreement: “I see your point, but…”, “Could I add something here?”, “I'm not sure I agree — may I explain why?”, “Perhaps we are both partly right.”
Why this matters: Mrs. Shaw's rule works for classroom arguments too — “you'll always be right if you're kind to people.” You can disagree completely and still be kind.