Bepin Babu’s Lapse of Memory – Class 8 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Bepin Babu’s Lapse of Memory,” Class 8 English NCERT. This story teaches us valuable lessons about the importance of being kind and helpful to friends in need. Through Bepin Babu’s experience, we learn that revenge and trickery can cause immense mental distress to others. The story also highlights how our past actions can come back to affect us in unexpected ways.

Word Meanings

Comprehension Check

1. Why Did the Man Stare at Bepin Babu in Disbelief?

The man, Parimal Ghose, stared at Bepin Babu in utter disbelief because despite sharing detailed memories of their time together in Ranchi, including specific incidents like Bepin Babu’s knee injury at Hudroo falls and their discussions over tea, Bepin Babu completely denied ever visiting Ranchi. Parimal was shocked that someone could forget such vivid memories of events that happened just a few years ago.

2. Where Did Bepin Babu Say He Went in October ’58?

Bepin Babu firmly stated that he spent the Puja holidays in October ’58 with his friend Haridas Bagchi in Kanpur. He was absolutely certain about this fact and used it to counter Parimal Ghose’s claims about his alleged visit to Ranchi during the same time.

3. Mention Any Three (or More) Things That Parimal Ghose Knew About Bepin Babu.

Parimal Ghose demonstrated intimate knowledge about Bepin Babu’s life through several specific details:

• He knew about Bepin Babu’s accident at Hudroo Falls where he injured his right knee and needed iodine treatment
• He was aware that Bepin Babu preferred home-cooked food by a bawarchi over hotel food
• He knew personal details about Bepin’s family – his wife’s death ten years ago and his brother’s mental illness
• He even remembered that Bepin Babu always carried a bag of books during sightseeing trips

4. Why Did Bepin Babu Worry About What Parimal Ghose Had Said?

Bepin Babu became increasingly worried because Parimal Ghose knew extremely personal details about his life that a stranger couldn’t possibly know. The accuracy of these details – from his habit of carrying books to his wife’s death and brother’s mental illness – made him question his own memory. The fact that Parimal could describe such intimate details yet be completely wrong about the Ranchi trip seemed impossible, which led Bepin Babu to worry about his own mental state.

5. How Did He Try to Decide Who Was Right – His Memory or Parimal Ghose?

Bepin Babu took several steps to verify the truth:

• He first checked his right knee and found an old injury mark, though he couldn’t remember its origin
• He decided to contact Dinesh Mukerji, who according to Parimal, was also in Ranchi during that time
• When still uncertain, he consulted his old schoolmate Chunilal to verify the facts
• Finally, he even took a trip to Ranchi to see if visiting the place would trigger any memories

6. Why Did Bepin Babu Hesitate to Visit Mr. Mukerji? Why Did He Finally Decide to Phone Him?

Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji because he was concerned about appearing foolish or mentally unstable. He knew Mukerji had a reputation for harsh sarcasm, and asking about a trip that never happened (according to his memory) might make him seem like he was “going nuts.” However, his growing anxiety and need for clarity eventually compelled him to contact Mukerji. He chose to phone him instead of visiting in person to avoid the embarrassment of showing his confusion and distress on his face.

7. What Did Mr. Mukerji Say? Did it Comfort Bepin Babu, or Add to His Worries?

Mr. Mukerji’s response intensified Bepin Babu’s worries significantly. After consulting his diary, Mukerji confirmed that they were indeed together in Ranchi during October ’58. This confirmation from a reliable source directly contradicted Bepin’s own memory, making him question his mental stability even more. Instead of providing comfort, this conversation became a turning point that deepened his anxiety and led him to seek medical help.

8. Who was Chunilal? What Did He Want from Bepin Babu?

Chunilal was Bepin Babu’s old schoolmate who had fallen on hard times. He repeatedly visited Bepin Babu hoping to get help in finding a job. Despite their past connection, Bepin Babu had been avoiding him, knowing he couldn’t help but not wanting to directly refuse. This strained relationship and Bepin’s lack of assistance would later prove significant in understanding the story’s twist.

9. Why was Dr. Chanda Puzzled? What Was Unusual About Bepin Babu’s Loss of Memory?

Dr. Chanda was puzzled because Bepin Babu’s case was unlike any he had encountered before. What made it particularly unusual was the selective nature of the memory loss:

• Bepin Babu could remember everything else from his past perfectly
• Only the memories of the Ranchi trip were missing
• The forgotten event was relatively recent (just six years ago)
• There was no apparent trauma or injury that could explain this specific memory loss

10. Had Bepin Babu Really Lost His Memory and Forgotten All About a Trip to Ranchi?

No, Bepin Babu hadn’t actually lost his memory or forgotten any trip to Ranchi because he had never been there in the first place. The entire situation was an elaborate prank orchestrated by Chunilal as revenge for Bepin Babu’s indifference to his troubles. Chunilal had created a detailed fictional account and convinced others to play along, causing Bepin Babu severe mental distress through this psychological manipulation.

11. Why Do You Think Chunilal Did What He Did? Chunilal Says He has No Money; What is it That He Does Have?

Chunilal orchestrated this elaborate scheme as revenge for Bepin Babu’s lack of help during his difficult times. While he lacked money, Chunilal possessed:

• A creative and imaginative mind capable of crafting detailed stories
• Excellent writing skills and storytelling ability
• A thorough understanding of human psychology
• The ability to plan and execute complex schemes
• Knowledge of Bepin Babu’s personal life and habits

Working with Text

1. The Author Describes Bepin Babu as a Serious and Hardworking Man. What Evidence Can You Find in the Story to Support This?

The story provides several pieces of evidence that demonstrate Bepin Babu’s serious and hardworking nature:

• He had worked consistently at the same firm for twenty-five years
• He maintained a reputation for being a tireless and conscientious worker
• He lived alone and avoided unnecessary social interactions, focusing on his work
• He maintained a strict routine, such as buying books every Monday
• Even when disturbed by the memory issue, he spoke for half an hour at an important office meeting
• His distress about potentially losing his ability to work showed how seriously he took his responsibilities

2. Why Did Bepin Babu Change His Mind About Meeting Chunilal? What Was the Result of This Meeting?

Bepin Babu initially avoided meeting Chunilal because he couldn’t help him with employment. However, he changed his mind when he realized Chunilal might help verify the Ranchi incident, as they had known each other for many years. The meeting ended up increasing his anxiety because Chunilal confirmed the Ranchi trip and even provided specific details about booking the railway tickets and fixing a faulty fan in his compartment. This confirmation from yet another source pushed Bepin Babu to seek medical help for his apparent memory loss.

3. Bepin Babu Lost Consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What Do You Think Was the Reason for This?

Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls due to extreme mental stress and anxiety. The overwhelming pressure of trying to recall a trip that never happened, combined with the fear of losing his sanity, became too much for him to handle. When he visited the falls and still couldn’t remember anything despite it being the supposed site of his injury, the psychological strain reached its peak, causing him to faint. The location became symbolic of both his alleged past injury and his present psychological breakdown.

4. How Do You Think Bepin Babu Reacted When He Found Out That Chunilal Had Tricked Him?

When Bepin Babu discovered Chunilal’s deception, he likely experienced a complex mix of emotions:

• Initial relief at knowing he wasn’t losing his mind
• Anger and betrayal at being manipulated so cruelly
• Guilt and remorse for not helping Chunilal when he needed it
• Embarrassment about how easily he was deceived
• Realization about how his treatment of others can have unexpected consequences

Working with Language

1. Study the Sentences in the Two Columns

Analysis of the verb forms in the two columns reveals:

• Column B indicates that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place because it uses the present perfect tense “has worked” showing continuity from past to present
• Column A suggests Chunilal is waiting for the publisher’s reply as it uses the simple past tense “wrote” indicating a completed action
• Column B suggests the person still remembers the movie because “have seen” indicates a connection to the present
• Column B suggests the Ranchi visit experience is fresh in mind as “have visited” shows relevance to the present

2. 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 had 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.

3. Dictionary Work with Idioms

Here are the meanings of the idioms arranged alphabetically:

• At/from close quarters – From a very short distance; in close proximity to observe something clearly
• Beat about the bush – To avoid talking about something directly; to speak in an indirect way
• Break into a smile – To suddenly begin smiling; to start smiling unexpectedly
• Carry on – To continue doing something; to proceed with an activity
• Have a clean record – To have a history free from any mistakes or wrongdoing; to maintain a good reputation

4. Rearranging Jumbled Sentences with Idioms

1. “Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.”
Idiom: beating about the bush – avoiding the main topic
2. “If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.”
Idiom: pay attention – to focus on something carefully
3. “The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.”
Idiom: pin the crime – to blame someone for a wrongdoing
4. “Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.”
Idiom: under doctor’s orders – following medical instructions
5. “The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.”
Idiom: raised his eyebrows – to show surprise or doubt