Bipin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory
Part I – Comprehension Check
Q1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Ans. Because Bepin Babu could not remember ever meeting him in Ranchi in 1958, though the man, Parimal Ghose, claimed they had spent a week together there.
Q2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?
Ans. He said he had spent Puja in October 1958 with a friend in Kanpur.
Q3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Ans. Things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
- He had cut his knee in Hudroo Falls.
- He always carried a bag of books on sightseeing trips.
- His wife had died ten years ago.
- His only brother had died insane.
- He did not like hotel food and preferred a cook.
Part II – Comprehension Check
Q1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Ans. Because Parimal knew intimate details of his life, and Bepin Babu feared that forgetting such an important trip could mean he was losing his mind.
Q2. How did he try to decide who was right — his memory or Parimal Ghose?
Ans. He thought of confirming the matter with his friend Haridas Bagchi, but could not contact him, and finally decided to phone Dinesh Mukerji.
Q3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Ans. He hesitated because he feared Dinesh might mock him if he had never been to Ranchi. He decided to phone to avoid embarrassment on his face.
Q4. What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Ans. Mr Mukerji confirmed that Bepin had been to Ranchi in 1958. This added to Bepin’s worries instead of comforting him.
Part III – Comprehension Check
Q1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Ans. Chunilal was Bepin Babu’s old school friend. He wanted help in finding a job.
Q2. Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Ans. He was puzzled because Bepin remembered everything except one particular event — the Ranchi trip — which is rare in memory loss cases.
Part IV – Comprehension Check
Q1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Ans. No, he had never lost his memory; the Ranchi trip was an invention by Chunilal as a prank and to punish him for not helping.
Q2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
Ans. He did it in retribution for Bepin’s unfeeling behaviour. He had imagination, which he used to trick Bepin.
Working with the Text
Q1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Ans. He lived alone, spent his time reading, avoided idle talk, worked in a responsible position for 25 years without a break, and was known as a conscientious worker.
Q2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
Ans. He changed his mind because he thought Chunilal might remember the Ranchi trip. Chunilal confirmed it, which deepened Bepin’s confusion.
Q3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Ans. It was likely due to the shock and despair of realising he could not remember anything about Ranchi, making him fear for his sanity.
Q4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
Ans. He probably felt embarrassed and relieved, and may have realised he should have helped his friend earlier.
Working with Language
Q1. Fill in the blanks using ‘had to’/‘have to’/‘has to’:
(i) I have to cut my hair every month.
(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She has to tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They have to take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We have to complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.
(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.
Q2. Meanings of idioms:
- at/from close quarters – from a short distance
- break into a smile – suddenly begin to smile
- carry on – continue doing something
- have a clean record – have no history of bad behaviour or crime
- beat about the bush – avoid coming to the main point
Q4. Rearranged sentences and idioms:
(i) Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Idiom: beating about the bush – avoiding the main point.
(ii) If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.
Idiom: board the wrong train – make a wrong choice or mistake.
(iii) The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Idiom: pin the crime on – blame someone for something.
(iv) Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.
Idiom: under doctor’s orders – following a doctor’s advice.
(v) The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.
Idiom: raised his eyebrows – showed surprise or disbelief.
Speaking/Writing
Q1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth?
Ans. He might have felt ashamed for not helping his old friend and decided to make amends by offering assistance.
Q2. Letter to Chunilal (short sample):
Dear Chunilal,
I was shocked to learn that the Ranchi episode was your creation. I realise now how wrong I was not to help you when you needed me. Please forgive me. I will do my best to support you in finding work. Let us meet soon.
Yours sincerely,
Bepin Choudhury
