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Atithi (Guest): Tarapada and Kathaliya | ISC Class 12

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English LiteratureISC Class 12 · Atithi / Guest

Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and His Departure (ISC Class 12 Literature in English)

Updated 18 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Tarapada is a runaway boy and free spirit who lives as a guest in Motilal Babu's home at Kathaliya. Annapurna loves him with a mother's feeling, which he respects but does not return in equal measure; Charushashi is jealous and possessive, smashing his flute in anger. When the household draws him towards marriage, he slips away to the open world of nature, because he cannot be bound.

Understand Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya

Why this topic matters. Atithi is a frequently studied Prism story; questions often ask about Tarapada's nature, his relationships and his departure. The story is in copyright, so this page paraphrases the chapter page and gives no long quotations: collect your own short quotations from Prism.

1. Who he is. Tarapada is a young boy who has run away from home even though his mother is alive. He is a wanderer by nature, drawn to music, nature and ordinary people, and he never stays long in one place. He is gifted and accomplished, shy and respectful.

2. Annapurna. Motilal Babu's wife is moved by the boy. He awakens her maternal feelings: she is curious about his background, surprised that he left home though his mother lives, and longs to feed, clothe and care for him. Tarapada respects her feelings but does not return her love in the same measure; his affection is real but light, because he is emotionally detached.

3. Charushashi. The couple's only daughter is wild and wilful. She is jealous of the attention the newcomer receives and shows hostility openly, though secretly impressed by his accomplishments. She is jealous of his friendship with Sonamani and in a fit of anger smashes his flute. She wants him to herself. When Tarapada learns English she tries to compete and throws tantrums when she cannot keep pace. Tarapada is indulgent and does not take her seriously.

4. The marriage plan. In time Annapurna and Motilal Babu think of Tarapada as a husband for Charushashi. Motilal Babu is at first reluctant: he knows nothing of the boy's family, she is his only daughter whom he wants well married, and Tarapada is a vagabond. But the parents hope Tarapada would temper their daughter's wild nature, and since she is their only daughter, such a marriage would let her stay with them.

5. Why he leaves Kathaliya. Just as the household draws him into bonds of affection and marriage, Tarapada slips away and returns to the open world of nature. He is a free spirit who cannot be tied down by social and emotional bonds.

6. Themes to link. Freedom and refusal to be bound; oneness with nature (Tagore's philosophy, which the examiners advised teachers to explore); love, possessiveness and jealousy; social customs of the period, such as marriage arrangements with a guest of unknown family.

7. How to write the 10 marks (200-250 words). Introduction with Tarapada's nature (2), Annapurna (2), Charushashi (3), departure and its reason (2), expression (1).

Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya: key facts

Tarapada in four words
  • free
  • wandering
  • detached
  • gifted
Use as the opening line of a character answer.
Two attachments
Annapurna: maternal, generous | Charushashi: jealous, possessive
Both try to hold him; both fail.
Why he leaves
  • Nears marriage
  • Feels bound
  • Escapes the cage of emotions
  • Returns to nature
Link to freedom.

How to answer Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya questions

Use this plan for a question on Tarapada's relationships or his departure.

  1. 1Open with who he is: a runaway, free spirit and guest.
  2. 2Give one paragraph for Annapurna, with her feeling and his response.
  3. 3Give one paragraph for Charushashi: jealousy, the flute, the English lessons.
  4. 4Explain the marriage plan and Motilal Babu's reluctance if asked.
  5. 5End with his departure and the theme of freedom and nature.

Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Affection that cannot hold

Suppose a boarding-school student is treated like a son by a local family, who make elaborate plans for his future, but he quietly leaves for a mountain trek on the day of the plan.

How is he like Tarapada, and what does the family feel?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. He values freedom above the comfort and bonds offered.
  2. The family, like Annapurna, offers love that he cannot return in the same measure.

Answer: He resembles Tarapada as a free spirit who escapes bonds, leaving the family hurt.

Memory hook: Love can bind; freedom resists.

Tricks to remember Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • A-C-M-L

    Annapurna, Charushashi, Marriage plan, Leaving.

    Use it when: Order of a 10-mark answer.

  • Mother's love, rival's love

    Annapurna loves like a mother; Charushashi loves like a jealous rival.

    Use it when: Contrasting the two attachments.

Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Who smashed the flute · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

In Atithi, the flute of Tarapada was smashed by:
(a) Motilal Babu (b) Sonamani (c) Charushashi (d) Annapurna

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Charushashi, jealous of his friendship with Sonamani, smashed it in anger (0.5).
  2. The other three did not (0.5).

Answer: (c) Charushashi.

Example 2: Why Motilal Babu hesitated · 1 mark · Short answerBoard level

Finish the sentence with the cause: Motilal Babu was at first reluctant to marry his daughter to Tarapada because ____

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. He knew nothing of the boy's family and Tarapada was a vagabond (0.5).
  2. Charushashi was his only daughter and he wanted her well married (0.5).

Answer: he knew nothing of Tarapada's family, Tarapada was a vagabond, and he wanted his only daughter well married.

Example 3: Annapurna and Tarapada (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe Annapurna's feelings for Tarapada and how he responds. (100-150 words)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Her feeling is maternal: she is curious about his background and surprised that he left home though his mother is living (1.5).
  2. She longs to feed, clothe and care for him (1).
  3. He respects her feelings but does not return her love in equal measure (1.5).
  4. His detachment comes from his free nature, so her love cannot hold him (1).

Answer: Annapurna, moved by the runaway boy, feels a mother's love, wonders why he left his living mother, and longs to feed, clothe and care for him. Tarapada is shy and respectful and appreciates her kindness, but he does not return her love in the same measure. He is emotionally detached and free by nature, so her affection, however generous, cannot bind him.

Example 4: Charushashi's jealousy (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Why does Charushashi smash Tarapada's flute, and what does this show about her relationship with him? (100-150 words)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. She is wild and wilful, jealous of the attention he receives and of his friendship with Sonamani (1.5).
  2. In a fit of anger she smashes his flute (1).
  3. She is also secretly impressed by his accomplishments and wants him to herself (1.5).
  4. She competes with him in English and throws tantrums; he is indulgent and does not take her seriously (1).

Answer: Charushashi, a wild and wilful girl, is jealous of the attention given to the newcomer and of his friendship with Sonamani. In anger she smashes his flute, yet she is secretly impressed by him and wants him for herself. She tries to compete when he learns English and throws tantrums when she cannot keep pace. Tarapada is indulgent and does not take her seriously, which shows her possessive, hostile love meeting his detachment.

Example 5: Relationships and departure (10 marks) · 10 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Discuss Tarapada's relationships with Annapurna and Charushashi and explain why he leaves Kathaliya. (200-250 words)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Introduce him as a runaway free spirit who becomes a guest at Kathaliya (2).
  2. Annapurna's maternal love and his respectful but unequal response (2).
  3. Charushashi's jealousy, the smashed flute and his indulgence (3).
  4. The parents' marriage plan, Motilal Babu's reluctance, and the hope that Tarapada would temper their daughter (1).
  5. He slips away as the household draws him into bonds; he cannot be tied by social and emotional bonds and returns to nature (2).

Answer: Tarapada, a young runaway and free spirit, becomes a guest in Motilal Babu's home at Kathaliya. Annapurna is moved by him; her maternal feelings make her long to feed and care for him, and he respects her love but does not return it in equal measure. Charushashi, the wild only daughter, is jealous of the attention he gets and of Sonamani, and smashes his flute in anger, yet she is secretly impressed and wants him to herself; he is indulgent and does not take her seriously. The parents come to think of him as a husband for Charushashi, hoping he would temper her nature; Motilal Babu is at first reluctant since the boy's family is unknown and he is a vagabond. Just as these bonds of affection and marriage draw him in, Tarapada slips away from Kathaliya. As a free spirit who cannot be tied down by social and emotional bonds, he returns to the open world of nature.

Where students lose marks in Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Retelling the whole plot

    The question is about relationships and departure.

    Wrong working

    A long summary from the beginning of the story.

    Right working

    Paragraphs on Annapurna, Charushashi and the reason for leaving.

    Do this: Follow the question words.

    Usually costs: 2-3 marks of 10.

  • Mistake: Calling Tarapada cruel or ungrateful without a reason

    He is detached by nature, not unkind.

    Wrong working

    He is selfish and uses the family.

    Right working

    He is a free spirit whose attachment is light; he cannot be bound.

    Do this: Explain his nature.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong cause for the smashed flute

    The cause is jealousy and anger.

    Wrong working

    She broke it by accident.

    Right working

    In a fit of jealousy and anger over his friendship with Sonamani.

    Do this: Learn the cause.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Prism short-story questions appear in the Literature in English paper.
  • Collect two or three short quotations of your own from the Prism text; none are reproduced here.
  • Link every paragraph to freedom and nature.
  • Keep 10-mark answers to 200-250 words.

Practice questions on Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Who is Sonamani, as far as the chapter page tells us?

    Hint

    Think of the jealousy.

    Answer

    A friend of Tarapada whose friendship made Charushashi jealous.

  2. Q2 · 5 marks · Long answerBoard level

    Why do Annapurna and Motilal Babu think of Tarapada as a husband for Charushashi?

    Hint

    Hope and convenience.

    Answer

    They hope that Tarapada would temper their wild and wilful daughter, and as she is their only daughter, such a marriage would let her stay with them even after it. Motilal Babu is at first reluctant, since he knows nothing of the boy's family and Tarapada is a vagabond.

  3. Q3 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    'Tarapada is a free soul who cannot be restrained by the bonds of society.' Do you agree? Give two examples. (100-150 words)

    Hint

    Home, Kathaliya.

    Answer

    Yes. He has run away from his own home though his mother is alive, and he never stays long in one place. At Kathaliya he accepts the family's kindness but does not return Annapurna's love in equal measure, and just when the household plans his marriage he slips away to the open world of nature. Both examples show that he refuses to be tied down by social and emotional bonds.

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Compare the love of Annapurna and Charushashi for Tarapada. What is common to both and what happens to it?

    Hint

    Maternal and possessive.

    Answer

    Annapurna's love is maternal and generous: she wants to feed, clothe and care for him. Charushashi's love is jealous and possessive: she is hostile, smashes his flute and wants him to herself. Both attempt to hold him and both fail, because Tarapada is a free spirit and slips away from Kathaliya, unwilling to be bound.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Who wrote Atithi?Show answer

    Rabindranath Tagore.

  2. 2.Where does the story's household live?Show answer

    Kathaliya.

  3. 3.Who smashes Tarapada's flute?Show answer

    Charushashi.

  4. 4.What does Tarapada return to?Show answer

    The open world of nature.

Atithi (Guest): Tarapada, His Relationships and Why He Leaves Kathaliya: frequently asked questions

Is Tarapada's mother alive?

Yes, according to the chapter page, which is why Annapurna is surprised that he left home.

Does Tarapada marry Charushashi?

No; he slips away from Kathaliya as the marriage is planned.

Why is the story called Atithi?

He is a guest in Motilal Babu's household, passing through.