Essay Questions

Why was the dog laughing?

At the end of "Ashamanja Babu's Dog," we learn why the dog was laughing at the American businessman. Ashamanja tells the reporter that the dog was laughing because the "gentleman thinks money can buy everything." This marks a sense of affinity between Ashamanja and the dog and symbolizes the fact that the protagonist is reclaiming his power, showing the American businessman that money doesn't always equate to power.

What do many of Ray's protagonists have in common?'

Interestingly, many of Ray's protagonists are similar kinds of characters. Firstly, they are often residents of Calcutta, and through them, Ray beautifully describes the vibrancy of the city. Additionally, the protagonists often feel the need to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Ray stated himself in an interview that he "usually likes to write about lonely people and things happening to them." Indeed, many of Ray's protagonists suffer from loneliness and have a desire for companionship and connection.

What is the significance of Ashamanja's dog being English?

In "Ashamanja Babu's Dog," we learn that the protagonist, Ashamanja, really wants a dog. Specifically, he wants an English dog, and decides that he wants it to have an English name:

"How nice would it be if his dog obeyed such commands! Ashamanja Babu liked to believe that dogs belonged to the English race. Yes, an English dog and he would be its master."

Here, we see a certain power dynamic playing out. Ashamanja, an Indian man, desires to have control over an English dog. As readers, we might see this as a manifestation of the lack of control Ashamanja feels due to the historical colonization of India, and a desire to take back the power his country lost.