Iswaran the Storyteller Notes Chapter 3 English Class 9 CBSE

Written by: R.K. Laxman
Theme: The story shows how storytelling can make ordinary events exciting. It also shows imagination, loyalty, and human fear of the unknown.
It is about Mahendra, a supervisor, and his talkative cook Iswaran, who was a master storyteller.

1. Mahendra –

2.Iswaran –

Mahendra worked in a firm that hired supervisors for construction sites.
He moved from one project to another as ordered.
His cook, Iswaran, followed him everywhere and managed all household tasks perfectly.
Iswaran was very resourceful – he could find vegetables and cooking materials even in deserted places.
He was also a great storyteller who kept Mahendra entertained with his dramatic tales.

Iswaran’s stories were influenced by the Tamil thrillers he read.
He added suspense and dramatic expressions to even simple events.
Example: When he once saw an uprooted tree on the road, he described it as a “huge beast lying sprawled across the road.”
Mahendra loved listening to him every night.

Iswaran often told stories about the place he came from – a forest area famous for timber.
One day, a wild elephant escaped from the timber yard and created chaos.
It broke fences, smashed fruit stalls, and entered a school ground.
Everyone ran away in fear, but young Iswaran showed great courage.
He took a cane, approached the elephant, and hit it on its third toenail.
The elephant collapsed immediately.
Later, he explained that he used a Japanese art like karate or jujitsu to paralyse the animal.

One day, after cooking a special meal for a festival, Iswaran told Mahendra that the factory site was built on a burial ground.
He said he had even seen human skulls and bones.
Then he told Mahendra about a female ghost that appeared at midnight on full-moon nights, carrying a foetus in her arms.
Mahendra got angry and called Iswaran’s story nonsense, saying ghosts don’t exist.
However, from that night, Mahendra started feeling uneasy and afraid.

On a full-moon night, Mahendra woke up to a low moaning sound near his window.
At first, he thought it was a cat, but the sound became louder and scarier.
Finally, he looked outside and saw a dark cloudy figure carrying a bundle.
Terrified, he fell back on his bed, sweating and trembling.
He tried to convince himself that it was just his imagination.

In the morning, Mahendra had almost forgotten the incident.
Iswaran greeted him cheerfully and said,”Sir, you saw the ghost yourself last night! I came running when I heard the moaning from your room.”
Shocked and scared, Mahendra decided to leave the place immediately.

Iswaran was faithful and hardworking, but had a habit of exaggerating stories.
His dramatic style made him an excellent storyteller.
Mahendra, though logical and educated, was influenced by Iswaran’s ghost tale.
The story ends with Mahendra leaving the place out of fear.

Power of Imagination: Iswaran’s imagination makes his stories lively and thrilling.
Supernatural Beliefs: The story shows how even educated people can fear ghosts.
Loyalty and Companionship: Iswaran’s dedication and loyalty to Mahendra are admirable.
Suspense and Humor: The tale mixes both excitement and comedy.