Notes Class 7 Chapter 1.2 English Balbharati Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – Balbharati English Class 7

Odd One In

1. Introduction

• Title: Odd One In
• Author: Tithi Tavora
• Main Idea: The story is about Rima, a popular girl who judges and mocks a new classmate, Malti, but learns a lesson about kindness and humility as Malti proves her worth through talent and intelligence.

2. Characters

Rima:

• The protagonist, an only child, stylish, confident, but snobbish and unkind.
• She leads a group of friends and looks down on Malti for her appearance and English.

Malti:

• A new girl in Rima’s class from another state, simple-looking, with oily hair and a long skirt.
• Quiet, intelligent, talented in math and singing, and eager to learn despite being mocked.

Mr. Sen (Rima’s Father):

• A caring but firm father who disapproves of Rima’s attitude and tries to correct her.

Mrs. Sen (Rima’s Mother):

• Gentle and supportive, but worried about Rima becoming a snob.

Rima’s Friends (Shahnaz, Clare, Neha):

• Part of Rima’s clique, they initially join her in teasing Malti but later criticize her cruelty.

Teacher and Principal:

• Supportive of Malti, recognizing her intelligence and talent.

3. Summary of Key Events

Rima’s First Impression of Malti:

• On the first day of school, Rima tells her parents about Malti, a new girl who speaks poor English and comes from another state.
• She mimics Malti’s “Gud marning, Teeechurr” and mocks her oily hair and bindi.
• Mr. Sen hints that children from Malti’s state are clever, but Rima disagrees.

Teasing Begins:

• The next day, Rima and her friends greet Malti with a mocking “Gud marning,” and she innocently replies the same way.
• They criticize her oily hair (Shahnaz) and long skirt (Clare), but Malti stays quiet.

Malti’s Intelligence Shines:

• In class, Malti answers Teacher’s questions correctly, surprising everyone.
• Rima’s parents praise Malti’s cleverness at home, but Rima remains unimpressed, focusing on her bad English.

Singing Competition:

• At the Inter-House singing competition, Malti sings a Hindi song beautifully and wins first prize.
• Rima wins in the English song category but feels no joy, overshadowed by Malti’s success.
• The Principal and others clap for Malti, silencing Rima’s plan to jeer.

Malti’s Growing Popularity:

• Malti excels in math and sports, helping classmates and earning respect from teachers and students.
• Rima and her clique refuse to accept her, continuing to mock her English.

The Turning Point:

• One day, Rima mocks Malti for saying “aks” instead of “ask.”
• Malti, trembling, asks Rima to help her improve her English, but Rima cruelly refuses, saying it’s too hard for “countrified types.”
• Malti cries and runs off, and Rima’s friends (Shahnaz, Neha, Clare) call her behavior “horrid,” shocking Rima.

Rima’s Realization:

• Rima walks off in a huff and feels subdued at home, knowing she was wrong but too proud to admit it.
• Her parents discuss how her good school is making her a snob instead of a better person.

4. Themes

• Judging by Appearance: Rima judges Malti based on her looks and English, ignoring her talents.
• Kindness and Humility: Malti’s kindness wins hearts, while Rima’s pride isolates her.
• Growth and Change: Rima begins to see her mistake but struggles with her ego.
• Respect for Differences: The story shows the value of accepting people from different backgrounds.

5. Moral Lessons

• Don’t judge others by how they look or speak-everyone has unique strengths.
• Being kind and helpful is better than being mean and proud.
• True confidence comes from respecting others, not putting them down.

6. Important Quotes

1. “Children from that State are supposed to be clever.” – Mr. Sen (showing Malti’s potential).
2. “I do hope you and your friends will not make things too difficult for Malti.” – Mr. Sen (warning Rima).
3. “I know my English is weak. Please, will you help me to improve it?” – Malti (showing humility).
4. “That was horrid, Rima.” – Shahnaz (highlighting Rima’s cruelty).

7. Vocabulary (With Meanings)

• Grimaced: Made a face showing dislike or pain.
• Sniffed: Said something with a sneer or scorn.
• Cattily: In a mean, spiteful way.
• Atrocious: Very bad or terrible.
• Snob: Someone who looks down on others.
• Melodious: Sweet and pleasant to hear.
• Belied: Hid or contradicted (e.g., her simple looks hid her smartness).