Summary: “Dhunu’s Guitar” is Lesson 6 from the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 7 English textbook Sunbeam English Reader II. The story is based on the National Award-winning Assamese film Village Rockstars (2017) directed by filmmaker Rima Das. It centres on Dhunu, a spirited young girl from the village of Kalardiya near Chhaygaon in Assam, who has a burning dream of becoming a musician and forming a rock band with her friends. Dhunu lives with her mother and elder brother after the death of her father. Since the family is very poor, they cannot afford a real guitar. Undeterred, Dhunu and her friends make pretend guitars out of styrofoam boards to practise playing music together. The village women sometimes scold her for playing what they consider “boys’ games,” but Dhunu pays no attention and continues to pursue her passion.
The family owns a goat named Munu, and at one point they consider selling Munu to raise money for a real guitar, but financial hardship makes even this difficult. The village is also regularly affected by devastating monsoon floods, which destroy roads, bridges, and livelihoods. Despite all these difficulties, Dhunu never loses hope. Her mother, who sells snacks at local events to earn a living, quietly observes her daughter’s deep love for music. One night, when Dhunu is found sleeping with her makeshift styrofoam guitar clutched in her arms, her mother realises just how strongly her daughter longs for a real one. The story ends on a hopeful note — a testament to the belief that dreams, even the most difficult ones, can be achieved through hard work and determination. The story teaches students about perseverance, the power of a dream, and the challenges faced by children growing up in rural Assam.
About the Story
“Dhunu’s Guitar” is inspired by the internationally acclaimed Assamese film Village Rockstars (2017), written and directed by Rima Das, a self-taught filmmaker from Chhaygaon, Assam. The film was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Foreign Language Film in 2019. It won the National Film Award for Best Film (2018) and was screened at numerous international film festivals. The film is set in a real flood-prone village in Assam and features non-professional actors, including a young girl named Bhanita Das in the lead role of Dhunu. Village Rockstars is a deeply personal film that celebrates the indomitable spirit of children growing up in rural Assam, showing that dreams know no barriers of poverty or geography. By including this lesson in the Class 7 English textbook, ASSEB gives students an inspiring glimpse into Assamese cinema and literature.
A. Understanding the Lesson
1. Where does Dhunu live? Who does she live with?
Answer: Dhunu lives in the village of Kalardiya near Chhaygaon in Assam. She lives with her mother and her elder brother. Her father died some time ago, and the family manages their lives with the income that her mother earns by selling snacks at local events and festivals.
2. What is Dhunu’s dream? Why can’t her family fulfil it easily?
Answer: Dhunu’s dream is to become a musician and form a rock band with her friends. She is deeply passionate about the guitar. However, her family is very poor — they have no regular income and live a simple village life — so buying a real guitar, which costs a considerable amount of money, is beyond their financial reach. This is why her dream is difficult to fulfil easily.
3. What did Dhunu and her friends do since they could not afford real guitars?
Answer: Since Dhunu and her friends could not afford real guitars, they made pretend guitars out of styrofoam boards. They would hold these makeshift instruments and pretend to play music together, living out their dream of becoming a band in whatever way they could. This shows their creativity, enthusiasm, and refusal to give up on their passion despite their poverty.
4. What is the name of Dhunu’s goat? How is the goat connected to Dhunu’s dream?
Answer: The name of Dhunu’s goat is Munu. The goat is connected to Dhunu’s dream because at one point, the family considers the possibility of selling Munu in order to raise enough money to buy Dhunu a real guitar. However, even selling the goat turns out to be difficult for the struggling family, which shows how deep their financial hardship is.
5. What problems does Dhunu’s village face? How do these affect Dhunu’s life?
Answer: Dhunu’s village faces heavy rains and devastating floods every monsoon season. The floodwaters destroy bridges, roads, fields, and property. These floods affect Dhunu’s life in many ways — they disrupt her schooling (the bridge the children use to get to school may be destroyed), damage the family’s livelihood, and make it even harder for her already poor family to save money for things like a guitar. Yet despite all these hardships, Dhunu never loses her determination to pursue her dream.
6. How does Dhunu’s mother react when she sees her daughter sleeping with the styrofoam guitar?
Answer: When Dhunu’s mother sees her daughter sleeping with the makeshift styrofoam guitar clutched in her arms, she is deeply moved. She realises with great tenderness and sorrow just how much her daughter longs for a real guitar. Understanding the depth of Dhunu’s passion for music, her mother decides to act — she secretly visits a music shop to enquire about buying a real guitar for Dhunu, even though she knows how difficult it will be for the family financially. This moment shows the mother’s deep love for her daughter and her desire to support her child’s dream.
7. What does the story tell us about the attitude of the village women towards Dhunu’s hobby?
Answer: The story tells us that some village women disapprove of Dhunu’s hobby and scold her for playing activities that they consider to be “boys’ games.” They think that playing guitar or forming a band is not appropriate for a girl. This reflects the traditional and conservative attitudes that sometimes exist in rural communities. However, Dhunu does not let these comments discourage her. She ignores the criticism and continues to pursue her passion, showing great confidence and courage in following her dream regardless of what others think.
8. What is the message of the story “Dhunu’s Guitar”?
Answer: The central message of the story “Dhunu’s Guitar” is that dreams are achievable through hard work, courage, and determination, no matter how poor or difficult one’s circumstances may be. Dhunu faces poverty, the loss of her father, natural disasters, and social criticism, yet she never gives up on her dream of playing music. The story also tells us that we should never let financial hardship, gender bias, or social pressure stop us from pursuing what we love. Another important message is the power of a mother’s love — Dhunu’s mother quietly understands and supports her daughter’s dream. Ultimately, the story inspires us to believe in ourselves and to keep working towards our goals with hope and perseverance.
B. Quick Recall
(a) What is the name of the village where Dhunu lives?
Answer: Dhunu lives in the village of Kalardiya near Chhaygaon.
(b) What instrument does Dhunu dream of playing?
Answer: Dhunu dreams of playing the guitar.
(c) What material do Dhunu and her friends use to make pretend guitars?
Answer: Dhunu and her friends use styrofoam boards to make pretend guitars.
(d) What is the name of Dhunu’s goat?
Answer: The name of Dhunu’s goat is Munu.
(e) How does Dhunu’s mother earn money?
Answer: Dhunu’s mother earns money by selling snacks at local events and festivals.
(f) What natural disaster regularly affects Dhunu’s village?
Answer: Heavy rains and floods during the monsoon season regularly affect Dhunu’s village.
C. True or False
Write True or False for the following statements:
1. Dhunu is a twelve-year-old girl.
Answer: False. The story does not state that Dhunu is twelve years old.
2. Dhunu’s mother sells snacks at local events to earn money.
Answer: True.
3. Dhunu and her friends play with real guitars from the beginning.
Answer: False. They make pretend guitars out of styrofoam boards because they cannot afford real ones.
4. The floods destroy the bridge that children use to go to school.
Answer: True.
5. Dhunu’s mother immediately buys a real guitar after seeing Dhunu’s dream.
Answer: False. Dhunu’s mother visits a music shop to enquire about buying a guitar, but she does not immediately buy one because of their financial situation.
6. The story is based on a National Award-winning Assamese film.
Answer: True. The story is inspired by the film Village Rockstars directed by Rima Das, which won the National Film Award for Best Film.
D. Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct words:
1. Dhunu lives in the village of __________ near Chhaygaon.
Answer: Kalardiya
2. Dhunu’s father died some time ago, and she lives with her __________ and mother.
Answer: elder brother
3. Dhunu and her friends make guitars out of __________ to pretend to play music.
Answer: styrofoam
4. The family’s goat is named __________.
Answer: Munu
5. The village suffers from heavy rains and __________ during the monsoon season.
Answer: floods
6. Dhunu believes that with hard work, __________ can be achieved.
Answer: dreams
E. Word Study
1. Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| aspire | To have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something great |
| styrofoam | A lightweight, white foam plastic material, often used for packaging |
| makeshift | Something made as a temporary substitute using whatever is available |
| perseverance | Continued effort to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success |
| determination | Firmness of purpose; the quality of being resolute in pursuing a goal |
| passion | A very strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something |
| livelihood | A means of earning money or the things needed to live |
| monsoon | The seasonal winds that bring heavy rainfall to South and Southeast Asia |
| devastating | Highly destructive; causing severe damage or suffering |
| indomitable | Impossible to subdue or defeat; having an extremely strong will |
| band | A group of musicians who play together |
| musician | A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession |
| conservative | Holding traditional values and not liking change |
| criticism | The expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults |
| tentatively | In a hesitant or uncertain manner; not confidently |
2. Match the Word with Its Meaning
Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| aspire | to have a strong ambition to achieve something |
| makeshift | a temporary substitute made from whatever is available |
| perseverance | continued effort despite difficulty or failure |
| devastating | highly destructive; causing great damage |
| livelihood | means of earning money to survive |
| passion | very strong enthusiasm or excitement for something |
| indomitable | impossible to defeat or subdue |
| monsoon | seasonal winds bringing heavy rain |
3. Synonyms and Antonyms
Write a synonym and an antonym for each of the following words from the lesson:
| Word | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| dream | aspiration / ambition | reality / despair |
| poor | destitute / needy | rich / wealthy |
| brave | courageous / bold | cowardly / timid |
| difficult | hard / challenging | easy / simple |
| passionate | enthusiastic / ardent | indifferent / apathetic |
F. Grammar
1. Simple Present Tense
The Simple Present Tense is used to describe habits, routines, general truths, and facts. For third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), we add -s or -es to the base verb.
Exercise: Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb in brackets (Simple Present Tense):
(a) Dhunu __________ (live) in the village of Kalardiya near Chhaygaon.
Answer: Dhunu lives in the village of Kalardiya near Chhaygaon.
(b) Dhunu and her friends __________ (make) pretend guitars out of styrofoam.
Answer: Dhunu and her friends make pretend guitars out of styrofoam.
(c) Her mother __________ (sell) snacks at local events to earn money.
Answer: Her mother sells snacks at local events to earn money.
(d) The monsoon floods __________ (destroy) bridges and roads in the village.
Answer: The monsoon floods destroy bridges and roads in the village.
(e) Dhunu __________ (dream) of becoming a musician and forming a band.
Answer: Dhunu dreams of becoming a musician and forming a band.
2. Simple Past Tense
The Simple Past Tense is used to describe actions that have already happened. Regular verbs add -ed to form the past tense. Some irregular verbs change their form completely.
Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences in the Simple Past Tense:
(a) Dhunu dreams of becoming a musician.
Answer: Dhunu dreamed of becoming a musician.
(b) The children make guitars from styrofoam boards.
Answer: The children made guitars from styrofoam boards.
(c) Her mother sells snacks to earn money.
Answer: Her mother sold snacks to earn money.
(d) Heavy floods destroy the bridge near the school.
Answer: Heavy floods destroyed the bridge near the school.
(e) Dhunu sleeps with her styrofoam guitar in her arms.
Answer: Dhunu slept with her styrofoam guitar in her arms.
3. Use of ‘Can’ and ‘Cannot’
We use can to express ability or possibility, and cannot / can’t to express inability or impossibility.
Exercise: Complete the sentences using ‘can’ or ‘cannot’:
(a) Dhunu __________ afford a real guitar, so she makes one from styrofoam.
Answer: Dhunu cannot afford a real guitar, so she makes one from styrofoam.
(b) With hard work and determination, Dhunu believes she __________ achieve her dream.
Answer: With hard work and determination, Dhunu believes she can achieve her dream.
(c) The floods are so severe that the children __________ cross the bridge to reach school.
Answer: The floods are so severe that the children cannot cross the bridge to reach school.
(d) Dhunu’s mother __________ see how much her daughter loves music.
Answer: Dhunu’s mother can see how much her daughter loves music.
G. Activities and Writing
1. Write About Your Dream
Activity: Like Dhunu, you too have a dream. Write a short paragraph (5–8 sentences) about your dream and what you are doing to achieve it.
Answer (Sample Response): My dream is to become a doctor and serve the people of rural Assam. I have always admired doctors for the way they save lives and bring hope to sick people. I know that becoming a doctor requires years of hard study and dedication. Every day, I make it a habit to study my science and biology lessons carefully. I also read books about the human body and how medicines work. My teachers encourage me, and my parents support my dream wholeheartedly. Like Dhunu, I believe that no dream is too big if you work for it with honesty and sincerity. I hope that one day I will be able to set up a clinic in a village and serve people who cannot easily access good healthcare.
2. Write About Village Rockstars
Activity: Write five sentences about the Assamese film Village Rockstars, on which this lesson is based.
Answer:
- Village Rockstars is a 2017 Assamese film written and directed by Rima Das, a self-taught filmmaker from Chhaygaon, Assam.
- The film tells the story of Dhunu, a young girl from a flood-prone Assamese village who dreams of forming a rock band and owning a guitar.
- It was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Foreign Language Film in 2019.
- The film won the National Film Award for Best Film in 2018 and was screened at many international film festivals.
- Village Rockstars is a celebration of the spirit, dreams, and resilience of children growing up in rural Assam, and it makes all of us proud of Assamese cinema.
3. Imagine and Write
Activity: Imagine you are Dhunu’s best friend. Write a diary entry (6–8 sentences) describing the day you all played together with your styrofoam guitars and what you talked about for the future.
Answer (Sample Diary Entry):
Dear Diary,
Today was such a wonderful afternoon! Dhunu, our friends, and I sat under the big tree at the edge of the paddy field and played our styrofoam guitars for hours. We strummed them like real rockstars and sang at the top of our voices. Some of the village women walked past and shook their heads at us, but we just laughed and kept playing. Dhunu was especially full of energy today — she said that one day we will have real guitars and will perform on a real stage. I believe her completely, because when Dhunu says something with that fire in her eyes, I know it will happen. We talked about giving our band a name — “The Kalardiya Rockstars” — and we all agreed that nothing would stop us. When I came home in the evening, my heart was still singing. I am so lucky to have a friend like Dhunu who makes even an ordinary afternoon feel like an adventure.
Additional Questions and Answers
1. What qualities does Dhunu show throughout the story?
Answer: Dhunu shows many admirable qualities throughout the story. She is passionate — her love for music and the guitar is deep and genuine. She is creative — instead of giving up because she cannot afford a guitar, she makes one from styrofoam. She is courageous — she continues to pursue her interest in music even when village women scold and criticise her. She is resilient — despite poverty, the death of her father, and frequent floods, she never loses hope. And she is determined — she holds on to her dream with the firm belief that hard work can make dreams come true. Dhunu is an inspiring example for young readers everywhere.
2. How does the story reflect the challenges of growing up in rural Assam?
Answer: The story reflects the challenges of growing up in rural Assam in several ways. First, it shows the problem of poverty — Dhunu’s family cannot afford even a basic musical instrument. Second, it highlights the impact of annual monsoon floods, which destroy infrastructure like bridges and roads, disrupting children’s education and family livelihoods. Third, it shows the social challenge of gender bias — village women scold Dhunu for pursuing activities considered “boys’ games,” showing that girls in rural areas often face restrictions on their interests and ambitions. Despite all these challenges, the story presents a hopeful picture: a girl who refuses to be defeated by her circumstances and keeps dreaming and striving. This makes the story both realistic and deeply inspiring.
3. Rima Das made Village Rockstars with very little money and no film school training. What does this tell us?
Answer: Rima Das’s achievement in making Village Rockstars with limited resources and no formal film training tells us that talent, passion, and hard work can overcome every obstacle. She filmed the movie in her own village using real people from the community as actors, which gave the film its authentic and deeply moving quality. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Film and represented India at the Oscars. This tells us that great art does not require expensive equipment or elite training — it requires vision, dedication, and the courage to tell a true story honestly. Rima Das’s story is as inspiring as Dhunu’s: both show that a powerful dream, pursued with sincerity, can reach the highest stages in the world.
4. Why is it important for schools to include stories like “Dhunu’s Guitar” in textbooks?
Answer: It is important to include stories like “Dhunu’s Guitar” in school textbooks for several reasons. First, such stories are set in Assam and feature characters from local villages, which makes them relatable and culturally meaningful for Assamese students. Second, they carry powerful life values — perseverance, courage, the importance of supporting one’s dreams — that are essential for young people to learn. Third, they connect literature to the real world (the film Village Rockstars), showing students that great stories can come from their own backyard and that Assamese art and culture are worthy of national and international recognition. Finally, such stories inspire students who may themselves come from challenging backgrounds, telling them that their circumstances do not define their future.
5. Compare Dhunu and her mother. How are they both strong in their own ways?
Answer: Both Dhunu and her mother are strong women, each in their own way. Dhunu is strong in spirit and vision — she holds onto her dream of playing music despite poverty, criticism, and hardship. She is energetic, creative, and refuses to give up. Her mother, on the other hand, is strong in a quieter, more enduring way. She is a widow raising two children on her own, earning money by selling snacks. She works hard every day without complaint to keep her family together. When she sees Dhunu sleeping with the styrofoam guitar, rather than dismissing the dream, she shows compassion and immediately takes action to try to fulfil it. The mother does not talk about her love — she shows it through her sacrifice and effort. Together, these two characters represent the strength and resilience of women in rural Assam.
6. What is the significance of the styrofoam guitar in the story?
Answer: The styrofoam guitar is a powerful symbol in the story. On one level, it represents poverty and limitation — it is what the children have to make do with because they cannot afford a real instrument. But on a deeper level, the styrofoam guitar is a symbol of imagination, hope, and the refusal to give up. The fact that Dhunu and her friends make these instruments themselves shows their creativity and determination. The most touching moment in the story — when Dhunu’s mother finds her daughter sleeping with the styrofoam guitar in her arms — is what finally moves her mother to act. At that moment, the styrofoam guitar becomes a symbol of a dream so big and so real that even a simple foam board can carry it. It reminds us that the spirit of music lives in the heart, not in expensive instruments.
7. Write a short note on the film Village Rockstars and its connection to the lesson.
Answer: Village Rockstars is a 2017 Assamese-language film written and directed by Rima Das, a self-taught filmmaker from Chhaygaon in Kamrup district of Assam. The film was shot in Rima Das’s home village of Chhaygaon and features non-professional actors, including young Bhanita Das as the lead character Dhunu. The film tells the story of a young girl who dreams of forming a rock band and owning a real guitar, despite growing up in a flood-prone village in extreme poverty. Village Rockstars won the National Film Award for Best Film in 2018 and was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Foreign Language Film in 2019. The lesson “Dhunu’s Guitar” in the Class 7 ASSEB textbook is directly based on the central story and spirit of this film. By including it in the curriculum, ASSEB connects classroom learning to the living culture and creative achievements of Assam.
8. Floods are a major problem in Assam. How do they affect the lives of children like Dhunu?
Answer: Floods are one of the most serious and recurring natural disasters in Assam. They affect the lives of children like Dhunu in many ways. First, floods destroy infrastructure such as roads and bridges, making it difficult or impossible for children to reach school. This disrupts their education for weeks or months at a time. Second, floods damage homes, fields, and property, wiping out whatever savings a family has managed to build. For a poor family like Dhunu’s, this makes the dream of buying something like a guitar even harder to achieve. Third, floods destroy livelihoods — when a mother’s snack-selling business is disrupted, the family has less to eat and less to spare. Yet, despite all this, children like Dhunu show extraordinary resilience. They do not give up on their dreams even when the floodwaters rise. Their courage in the face of nature’s cruelty is a lesson for all of us.