The Last Stone Carver (Prose)

Prose – The Last Stone Carver

Warm Up

Work in pairs.

1. Draw the letter A
2. Just below A draw the letter B. So A is a cap for B.
3. Give B one eye, a round nose and a big mouth.

Picture Clue: He is in circus.

Write step-by-step instructions for the following picture.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. ___

Section I – Reading

Listen to the teacher read this section.

The young man flung the hammer and the chisel to the ground and cried,

“I’m leaving Father. I’m leaving you and this work. Look what it’s brought us!”

He spread out his arms and glanced indifferently at the small, congested work-room. The white-washed walls were stained by many monsoons. The window, bare of curtains, opened into a tiny backyard.

“After all these years of work, this is all we have – nothing, nothing. This kind of work just doesn’t pay!”

The old man stared at his son in surprise. Although his voice trembled, it didn’t lose its usual gentleness.

“It’s not only the money that matters, son. It’s the service, our service to God.”

“Father,” the young man grunted impatiently, “Times have changed. The stone-carver’s work has changed too. You can’t live on sculptures for temples only. You have to mass produce, mass produce like all the others in Agra. Come on, Father! Wake up.”

The lines around the man’s mouth tightened.

“No, my son. This is the work I learnt from my father. And he learned from his father. We have kept up this tradition for hundreds of years… and I hoped you would continue our work.”

“No, Father,” the young man replied with determination.

“I’m tired of working for a pittance for the committee of the temple in Srinagar. I’m leaving, Father.”

The young man moved angrily out of the room, leaving his old father crouching in front of a half-finished marble statue. He dropped his hands into his lap, and closed his eyes. He began to pray and didn’t even hear the hesitant ‘goodbye’. His son called out from the door.

“Masterjee!” called Salim, the servant boy, entering the workshop barefooted. He held out a glass of steaming tea in his hand.
“Masterjee?” he asked once more, his voice filled with concern.

The old man looked up. His face was ashen. He looked tired. He called the boy to come closer and motioned him to sit down.

“Salim,” he said gently, “Soon I will be the last stone-carver here. All the others would have gone to Agra. There they are turning out cheap candle-stands, paper-weights and ashtrays by the dozen. They are making money but they betray our skill, our age-old tradition. Now Gopal has also gone. I’ll have to finish this sculpture alone. And with the help of God, I’ll do it, Salim.”

“I know you will, Masterjee,” the boy answered. “You’ll make many more.”

The old man looked at the orphan boy who had come to work for him five years ago. Drenched to the skin, dressed in tatters, he had begged for shelter during a monsoon storm. And had stayed on to work for the old master-craftsman. He had grown tall and strong. The old man knew that Salim too would leave him one day.

He shook his head.

“My strength is waning. I can’t work with the chisel like I used to. Carving takes too long, much too long.”

Then he straightened up and said with fresh determination,

“I’ll have to finish this work. And surely I will.”

“Yes, you will,” the boy repeated, offering his master the glass of tea. “Drink, please. It will do you good.” Then he added, “I have to go to the market for an hour or two. But I’ll be back in time to prepare dinner.”

The old man nodded. He sighed and picked up the chisel and hammer. The cool metal of the tools filled him with happiness and confidence. He loved his work and didn’t want to change it for any other in the world.

Glossary

• congested – overcrowded
• grunted – made a low sound
• crouching – sitting on heels
• determination – firmness to do something

Choose the correct sentence

1. stained by – mark made on clothes or materials
   The white-washed walls were stained by many monsoons.
   a. The walls were made dirty by rains. ✅
   b. The monsoon removed the dirt from the walls.

2. working for a pittance – working for very little money
   I am tired of working for a pittance.
   a. He didn’t want to work because he was tired.
   b. He didn’t want to work as he gets low income for his work. ✅

3. ashen – pale
   His face was ashen.
   a. He looked pale and dull. ✅
   b. He looked bright and cheerful.

4. drenched – thoroughly wet
   He is drenched to the skin.
   a. He is thin and skinny.
   b. He is thoroughly wet. ✅

Section II

Days and weeks went by. It was a month since Gopal had left. The old man worked tirelessly. It was all there, in the stone – the strong, straight shoulders of Krishna, his soft curved hips, the pointed fingers holding the flute delicately to his lips, his serene face eternally beautiful – the old man could see it in the stone. He could feel it. He only had to set it free with the chisel.

He didn’t feel hunger, he didn’t feel thirst. He was driven by the strong desire to finish the sculpture in time. It was his biggest piece of work, his best. It would also be his last.

On and on he worked, his chisel striking the stone again and again. But then came the day when the old man felt his strength ebb. His shoulders began to ache, his arms felt heavy and his vision blurred. Overcome with fear, he sank to his knees and prayed. The old man prayed a lot these days.

“Masterjee,” Salim said, “You haven’t touched your food again. Please have some rice and vegetables. You only had a glass of milk for breakfast. Have the curd. You like curd, I know you do.”

The old man looked up. He whispered,

“I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it. If Gopal was here, it would be different. He hadn’t yet learnt to carve the finer details but in a year or two he would have learnt surely.”

He fell silent.

“It was the features and hands that gave him trouble. There was something missing in his figures. That something which can’t be taught.”

“Because it comes from somewhere deep inside you,” Salim whispered. “From deep inside here!” and he pointed to his heart.

The old man looked at the boy, surprised. He saw him blush and turn his face away.

“You are right, Salim, you are right.” And then he added with sudden bitterness, “And if you don’t have it here,” he thumped his chest, “then you’d better go to Agra and mass-produce ashtrays for tourists from abroad. Then…” The old man coughed painfully and reached for his glass of water.

“Eat, Masterjee, eat. Everything will be alright.”

After he had eaten, the old man once again took up his hammer and chisel. He worked till late in the night. In the early hours of the morning the chisel fell from his hand and the hammer dropped to the ground. His old body sagged, falling forward limply. His forehead struck Krishna’s flute and slid down the statue to rest on the pedestal.

“Hai Ram,” he muttered, and sank into a comfortable darkness.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a cot in his bedroom, covered by a light cotton blanket.

Glossary

• serene – calm
• blurred – became unclear
• blush – show shyness

Sequence the sentences

1. He wished to have Gopal with him.
2. Salim felt that it should come from within.
3. He thought he wouldn’t be able to finish it.
4. The old man worked tirelessly on the sculpture.
5. He realized that Gopal must learn to carve the finer details.
6. He had a strong wish to finish it in time.
7. Over days, he felt very weak.

Correct order: 4 → 6 → 7 → 3 → 1 → 5 → 2

Section III

From the workshop, the chipping sound of the chisel reached his ears. He listened. Had his ears deceived him? No, he could hear it again – the strong blow of the hammer on top of the chisel.

Gopal! He was back! Gopal had returned. He would help him. They would finish the statue! He stumbled to his feet, crossed the small room and reached the door.

“Gopal!” He was about to shout when the words froze on his lips.
“No!” he wanted to cry out. “Stop! Stop the work!”

But he couldn’t move. Shock had immobilised him. He stood staring at the back of the young stone-carver working on the face of the statue, on the eyebrows, arching over a pair of fine eyes.

But it wasn’t his son sitting cross-legged before the biggest statue he had ever carved. It was Salim, his servant.

The old man watched, stunned. The first wave of shock, fear and anger passed to give way to a feeling of great relief and happiness.

“Hai Ram,” the old man whispered. “Hai Ram,” and tottered over to the boy. Dropping his hand on his shoulder he said softly, “Salim.”

The startled boy turned and looked up at his master. He rose to his feet clumsily, the hammer and chisel still in his hands.

“Salim,” the old man searched for words.
“I…I…I…only wanted to help,” whispered the boy, “I…I’ll learn, if you teach me, Masterjee! I have practised secretly for almost two years in the quarry.”

“Please tell me! For many years, I wanted to become a sculptor like you, yet I fought the feeling. But it proved too strong. I know there is nothing in this world I would like to do more, there is nothing in life that I could do better. I want to become a stone-carver. Will you please teach me, Masterjee?”

The old man pulled the boy’s head against his shoulder and whispered,

“There’s nothing I can teach you, my son, beta. Go ahead. You have it in your hands and in your heart. I know you will be one of the country’s finest stone-carvers.”

About the Author

Sigrun Srivastav is an Indian author of German origin. She is a multi-faceted artist – a writer, a sculptor and an illustrator. As a writer she has written over 25 books for children of all ages.

Glossary

• stumbled – lost balance
• immobilized – stopped from moving
• tottered over – moved unsteadily
• startled – surprised

Read Section III (para 1 & 4) and answer

Paragraph 1
1. Who listened to the chipping sound of the chisel? The old man
2. Who was working with the hammer and chisel? Salim

Paragraph 4
1. Who was staring? The old man
2. Who was the young stone-carver? Salim
3. What was he working on? The eyebrows of the statue

Vocabulary

A. Alphabetical order & meaning

1. Appliqué – decorative work in which pieces of fabric are sewn on to a larger piece
2. Calligraphy – decorative handwriting
3. Ikebana – Japanese art of flower arrangement
4. Origami – Japanese art of paper folding
5. Tapestry – piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs

B. Match tools with art forms

1. Hammer and chisel – Sculpture
2. Paint brush and palette – Painting
3. Moulds and roll pin – Pottery
4. Scissors and paper – Collage
5. Needle and thread – Embroidery

Language Check Point

• see – something that you do naturally without thinking
• look – make an effort to see something
• watch – something you look at for a period of time

Listening

Questions	Responses
1. Madhubani paintings are from ______ state.	Bihar
2. Madhubani paintings were originally done on ______.	walls
3. This painting has international recognition.	yes
4. Dilli Haat is a ______.	craft bazaar
5. Madhubani painting can also be a ______.	career

Speaking

Work in pairs. Find answers and present to the class.
- Do you have art/craft session in your school?
- Which session do you like – art/craft?
- What do you do in that session?
- Do you work individually or in pairs?
- Can you do an art work or a craft work on your own?
- What qualities do you gain by doing art or craft?

Picto Grammar

Active: The dog chews the shoe.
Passive: The shoe is chewed by the dog.

Active: My mom has made a cake.
Passive: A cake has been made by my mom.

Active: The cat is chasing the rat.
Passive: The rat is being chased by the cat.

In the active voice, the subject performs the action.
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Use Grammar

E. Construct meaningful sentences

1. Silence should be practised at homes as well as in public places.
2. Cars should not be parked in ‘No Parking’ area.
3. Cleanliness should be maintained in libraries, hospitals, etc.
4. Cell phones should be avoided in petrol bunks.
5. Junk food should be avoided as it is bad for health.
6. Sweets should be avoided as they cause cavities and toothache.

F. Underline passive verbs in the news report

The police had announced that the State Bank of India was robbed yesterday… Customers and bank clerks were asked to lie down… one of the bank clerks was made to fill robbers’ bags… more than one lakh of rupees was stolen… nobody was injured… the robbers would be found soon.

G. Fill blanks with passive verbs

1. Paper is produced from wood.
2. The fibres of wood from trees are mixed with water to make a soft wet pulp.
3. Later, it is dried to make paper.
4. This method was invented in 2nd BCE in China.
5. Papyrus plants were used by Egyptians to make paper.

H. Complete the soup paragraph

The packet is opened and the contents (i) are mixed with 750 ml of water without allowing it to form lumps. The mixture (ii) is poured into a heavy-bottomed vessel. It (iii) is simmered in low flame for five minutes. The soup (iv) is transferred into soup bowls and (v) is served with fried corns.

Writing

I. Toy choice & reasons

(plastic toys / wooden toys / clay toys / metallic toys)
Write a short paragraph stating which toy you would choose and why.

J. Thank-you letter

Write a letter to your friend appreciating the beautiful art piece she gifted you on your birthday.

K. Eco-friendly craft description

Describe in a few sentences:
- Name of the craft work
- Materials used
- Nature (handy/eco-friendly/long-lasting/affordable)
- Use (place/person/time)

Practice Practice Exercises

1. Draw the letter A

2. Just below 'A' draw the letter B. So A is a cap for B.

3. Give B one eye, a round nose and a big mouth.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Madhubani paintings are from state.

Bihar Assam

2. Madhubani paintings were originally done on .

Canvas Walls

Yes No

4. Dilli Haat is a .

Tourist place Craft bazaar

5. Madhubani painting can also be a .

Product Career

1. Paper (produce) from wood.

2. The fibres of wood from trees (mix) with water to make a soft wet pulp.

3. Later, it (dry) to make paper.

4. This method (invent) in 2nd BCE in China.

5. Papyrus plants (use) by Egyptians to make paper.

The packet is opened and the contents (i) with 750 ml of water without allowing it to form lumps. The mixture (ii) into a heavy-bottomed vessel. It (iii) in low flame for five minutes. The soup (iv) into soup bowls and (v) with fried corns.

The white washed walls were stained by many monsoons.

a. The walls were made dirty by rains.

b. The monsoon removed the dirt from the walls.

a. He didn’t want to work because he was tired.

b. He didn’t want to work as he gets low income for his work.

a. He looked pale and dull.

b. He looked bright and cheerful.

He is drenched to the skin.

a. He is thin and skinny.

b. He is thoroughly wet.

1. He wished to have Gopal with him.

2. Salim felt that it should come from within.

3. He thought he wouldn’t be able to finish it.

4. The old man worked tirelessly on the sculpture.

5. He realized that Gopal must learn to carve the finer details.

6. He had a strong wish to finish it in time.

7. Over days, he felt very weak.

1. Who listened to the chipping sound of the chisel?

2. Who was working with the hammer and chisel?

1. Who was staring?

2. Who was the young stone carver?

3. What was he working on?

1. -

2. -

3. -

4. -

5. -