Consider the following statements about the Ladyland passage in Sulta…

Consider the following statements about the Ladyland passage in Sultana's Dream:

(A) The narrator met more than a hundred women there, but not a single man.
(B) In Ladyland, the women are shut indoors, as in the zenana.
(C) The narrator, a purdahnishin woman, was not used to walking about unveiled.
(D) Sister Sara called Ladyland free from sin and harm.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → A, C and D only

(A) The narrator met more than a hundred women there, but not a single man. — Correct. The narrator reports that she met more than a hundred women while walking in Ladyland, but not a single man.

(B) In Ladyland, the women are shut indoors, as in the zenana. — Incorrect. The roles are reversed in Ladyland. It is the men who are shut indoors, just as women are kept in the zenana in Sultana's own world.

(C) The narrator, a purdahnishin woman, was not used to walking about unveiled. — Correct. As a purdahnishin woman, the narrator feels awkward because she is not accustomed to walking about unveiled.

(D) Sister Sara called Ladyland free from sin and harm. — Correct. Sister Sara reassures her that she need not fear meeting a man, as this is Ladyland, free from sin and harm.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.3 Struggle for women’s equality and rights …
…”What is the matter, dear?” she said affectionately. “ I feel somewhat awkward,” I said, in a rather apologising tone, “as being a purdahnishin woman I am not accustomed to walking about unveiled.” “You need not be afraid of coming across a man here. This is Ladyland, free from sin and harm…” …I became very curious to know where the men were. I met more than a hundred women while walking there, but not a single man. “Where are the men?” I asked her. “In their proper places, where they ought to be.” “Pray let me know what you mean by ‘their proper places.”’ “Oh, I see my mistake, you cannot know our customs, as you were never here before. We shut our men indoors.” “Just as we are kept in the zenana?” “Exactly so.” “How funny.” I burst into a laugh. Sister Sara laughed too.”