Class 8 English Honedrew Bepin Chaudhury’s Lapse of Memory

Bepin Chaudhury’s Lapse of Memory 

Satyajit Ray

1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?

Answer: The man was surprised because Bepin Babu was not recognizing him. Even when Bepin Babu confirmed that he was ‘Bepin Chaudhury’ then also he refused to recognize the man. This can happen to anybody. Usually people don’t talk to a person until and unless they are doubly sure about the person’s identity. Moreover, the way that man is giving detail of Bepin Babu’s Hudroo and Netrahat trips, it is very likely that he did what he was saying for somebody called Bepin Babu.

2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October '58?

Answer: Bepin Babu said that he spent the Durga Puja of October 1958 in Kanpur and he didn’t go to Ranchi at all.

3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.

Answer: Parimal Ghose knew following things about Bepin Babu:

(a) That Bepin Babu slipped near Hudroo falls and hurt his leg. (b) That Bepin Babu stayed in a Bunglow because he preferred food by bawarchi. (c) That Bepin Babu’s wife died 10 years before his Ranchi trip in ,58. (d) That Bepin Babu’s brother died insane and that is why Bepin Babu did not want to visit the mental asylum in Ranchi. 4. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said? Answer: Parimal Ghose knew so much detail about Bepin Babu’s personal life. He knew about Bapin’ wife, brother and Bepin’s habit of carrying lots of books. If someone knows such details about you then he must have been very close to you. Yet Bepin Babu was perplexed how did Parimal talk about a trip which Bipin never made apparently. There must have been something wrong with either Parimal or Bepin. 5. How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose? Answer: Bepin thought of cross checking with either Haridas Bagchi or Deepak Mukherjee. Haridas Bagchi was his friend at Kanpur where Bipin claimed to visit during October .58. Deepak Mukherjee had been to Ranchi in October ,58 as per Parimal’s statement. 6. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him? Answer: There was a fear of inviting acid lashed sarcasm from Mr. Mukherjee. Bepin Babu wanted to avoid that embarrassment. When the thought of Parimal’s conversation disturbed Bepin Babu then he decided to clear his confusion by talking to Deepak Mukherjee over telephone. 7. What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries? Answer: Mr. Mukherjee confirmed that Bepin had been to Ranchi in October ,58. This further made him uncomfortable. Bepin Babu became so worried that he even lost his apetite. 8. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu? Answer: Chunilal was Bepin’s school time friend. He was going through a bad phase and wanted some help from Bepin to land a job. 9. Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu's loss of memory? Answer: Dr. Chanda was not a psychiatrist, so Bepin’s case was out of his area of expertise. Chanda had never encountered such strange case of a perfectly normal person forgetting one important episode of his life. 10. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi? Answer: Bepin Babu lost his memory and forgotten about his trip to Ranchi. But the moment he got off at Ranchi railway station he felt a pain in his hip. The pain helped him relive the memory of fall he had near Hudroo falls in ,58. 11. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have? Answer: Chunilal was fed up of unfriendly behaviour of Bepin Babu. So he wanted to punish him by rekindling haunting memory of his fall near Hudroo. Chunilal seems to be a good writer with very fertile imagination. That is what he believes would help him to tide over his bad phase. imagine you are bipin choudhary .you have recived a chuunilal letter and feel ashament that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck now you want to do something for him .write a letter to chunnilal promising to help him soon These questions focus on developing your writing and creative skills. We recommend that you frame such answers on your own. However, a few pointers are given below for your reference. * ashamed of my behaviour * did not bother to help you in times of crisis * my affluence seems to have turned me mad * extremely sorry for everything * its never too late * sending you a interview call letter * just be there in time and tell my reference * they will pay you a good salary * also, sending a cheque of Rs 5000 for the time being * you can return whenever you feel comfortable