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Ruskin Bond is the author of The Banyan Tree. This chapter is modeled after the well-known traditional Indian play about the conflict between the cobra and the mongoose. The story is divided into two parts.
In the first section, the narrator gives a description of the banyan tree in his garden.
The second section of the chapter is about the amazing sight the boy saw under the Banyan tree.
The author was visiting his grandparents' home and claimed the banyan tree was his. He made this claim because his grandpa was 65 years old and could not climb the tree. The author felt happy when he saw the tree's branches, which used to hang in bunches from the tree to the ground. There were loops in these roots in which the squirrels, snails, and butterflies lived. The tree was far older than both the home and Grandpa. It was as old as Dehradun itself.
First, the author intended to make the little squirrel his friend. Though the squirrel objected to the author's invasion of his personal space. But when he saw that the author didn't have anything to hurt him, he changed his mind and became friendly. The author soon began bringing him snacks like cakes and cookies. The squirrel began nibbling on snacks that were in his hands. The squirrel quickly began searching through the author's pockets for everything he could find. He was a young squirrel, and his family considered him foolish for believing in humans.
The Banyan tree bloomed fully in the spring season loaded with small red figs (type of fruit). Crows, parrots, bulbul, and other birds used to fight each other over trivial issues. During the fig season, their combined voices used to fill the garden with noise. The author had constructed a platform in a simple design on top of the tree. He often spent time here in the late afternoon when it wasn't too hot. He placed a cushion there from the living room so he could lean against the tree and read. He had made a small tree library and read Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, and The story of Dr. Dolittle there.
Everyone was inside because it was so hot outside. The author felt drowsy and lethargic. Rather, he was about to walk to the pond to swim with Ramu and the buffaloes when he observed a snake emerging from a bunch of cacti and a mongoose emerging from the bushes. The mongoose emerged from the bushes and headed right towards the cobra. Both the cobra and the mongoose met each other under the Banyan tree. The Cobra knew that the mongoose was a very skilled fighter. However, the cobra had long, sharp, toxic fangs and was a skilled fighter himself. So, it was a contest between two champions. As a sign of defiance, the cobra hissed and moved its tongue quickly in and out. It then got up off the ground and spread its hood to fight and attack. The mongoose also brushed his tail and raised his fur as a sign that he was also prepared to fight.
The competitors in the battle were unaware of the author's presence in the tree, but two spectators, a myna and a crow were seen quite well. They saw everything and then sat on a cactus to see the outcome. However, they did not just stand by and watch. Instead, they joined in the fight. The cobra was making motions in an attempt to hypnotise the mongoose, but the latter was fully aware of its opponents' power. He began the attack by aiming for a spot directly below the cobra's hood. The mongoose made false movements and came close to the cobra. The cobra made its lightning-speed strike and rapidly slid its hood down, it seemed as if the mongoose would not escape. But the mongoose jumped and moved quickly to one side and also bit the snake on the back before fleeing out of the cobra's reach.
As soon as the cobra attacked, the crow and myna rushed toward him to fight. After making short, loud attack noises, they went back to the cactus plant. Blood stains could be seen on the cobra's back. The cobra tried to bite but failed. Once again, the mongoose leaped away. Once again attempting to attack the snake, the birds ran into one another. They cried as they returned to the cactus. The birds attempted to attack the cobra in the same way for the third time, but this time there was a difference from the previous two attempts. They avoided running into one other. The crow attempted to continue the struggle in the air and return as the myna flew back to its shelter. During the second trial, the cobra attacked the crow with full power while moving quickly.
The author saw the bird fall from twenty feet away. For a while, it continued to shake, but eventually, it stopped moving and died. After this, the myna stayed upon the cactus plant without becoming involved in the fight. The cobra was exhausted and defeated. The mongoose attacked without fear and eventually killed the cobra by wearing it down with a series of cunning and quick attacking techniques. It dragged the snake into the woods after catching it on its hood. The myna fell to the ground, and after some hopping, she got to the bushes. She flew off after making a congratulatory, high-pitched noise.
The Mongoose won, even though the Cobra was more poisonous and dangerous. This shows that one needs to be smart and quick to survive. The snake and the mongoose are great examples of how smartness and intelligence are more important than physical strength. The death of the crow reminds us that the consequence of interfering in the fight that someone else is having may have tragic results.
Q1. Why did the speaker find the old banyan tree exclusively his own?
Ans: The author was visiting his grandparents' home and claimed the banyan tree was his. He made this claim because his grandpa was 65 years old and could not climb the tree.
Q2. What did the speaker do while hiding himself in the banyan tree branches?
Ans: He had made a small tree library and read books like Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, and The story of Dr. Dolittle there and also observed the world below.
Q3. Why was the banyan tree the noisiest place in the garden in spring?
Ans: The Banyan tree bloomed fully in the spring season loaded with small red figs (a fruit). Crows, parrots, bulbul, and other birds used to fight each other over trivial issues. During the fig season, their combined voices used to fill the garden with noise.
Q4. Where did the author usually spend his afternoons?
Ans: The author usually spends his days on the platform he had constructed in a simple design on top of the tree.
Q5. What trick did the mongoose apply to overpower and kill the cobra?
Ans: The snake was first bit twice on the back. The mongoose grabbed the cobra by the snout when it was exhausted. Finally, he dragged the snake into the bushes.
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