Bepin Choudhary's Lapse Of Memory Class 8th NCERT

We have shared Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th NCERT along with Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th NCERT Solutions to help the students with the summary as well as NCERT Solutions of the lesson Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory.

We have tried to help the students of class 8th in every possible manner with the summary and NCERT Solutions to give you the best solutions to go through before examinations and boost your preparation.

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th: Summary

It is a very light-hearted story of a man, Bepin Choudhary who is the main character of the story. He thinks he is sick and meets people who tell him about an incident that he never remembers.

This has created a cloud of confusion as he thinks only one memory is missing. He remembers everything and every incident but he does not remember the incident that gentleman told him about.

Bepin got a lapse of memory and the whole lesson follows all the events that show various incidents which proves that he lapses memory at a certain point in time. They were eager to find out the truth.

After the chapter, we came to know that the whole incident is made up. His old friends played a prank on him. Bepin once in their life did not help his friend in need and because of this, he has to face the music from him. He was always fine and nothing ever happened to him.

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th: NCERT Solutions

Q1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?

The man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because he pretended that he could not believe the fact that Bepin Babu was unable to recognize him. His actions made the unsuspecting Bepin Babu think he was losing his mind.

Q2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October 58?

Bepin Babu said that he went to Kanpur in October 1958. He was sure that he went to Kanpur at that time.

Q3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin babu.

Parimal knew the following things about Bepin Babu:

1) Bepin babu fell when visiting the Hundroo falls and cut his right knee. 2) Bepin Babu’s wife deceased in 1948 and he was childless. 3) Bepin Babu’s brother died insane, leaving a mark on Bepin Babu. So much so, that Bepin Babu didn’t want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi. 4) Bepin Babu did not like hotel food and wanted his meals cooked by a Kawachi.

Q4. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?

All the things that Parimal said led Bepin Babu to think that he had lost the memory of a particular time from the past. Since Bepin Babu’s brother was insane, he feared that this might be the beginning of his going insane too. That is why Bepin Babu worried about what Parimal Ghose said.

Q5. How did he try to decide who was right – his memory or Parimal Ghose?

After consulting his own memory, Bepin Babu decided to ask Haridas Bagchi, who was the host during Bepin Babu’s supposed Ranchi visit. But Mr. Bagchi was out traveling Japan with his wife. Next, he thought about verifying the matter with Dinesh Mukerji.

Parimal Ghose mentioned that Mr. Mukerji was in Ranchi too. But due to the sarcastic character of Dinesh Mukerji, Bepin Babu was afraid of being the butt of his jokes. Finally, Bepin Babu turned to Chunilal for help when he came to ask for a job.

Chunilal supported Parimal Ghose’s claims apparently without knowing any of them. This is how, Bepin Babu wanted to decide who was right, himself, or Parimal Ghosh.

Q6. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?

Mr. Mukerji was a very sarcastic person. If he smelled a whiff of what was going on in Bepin Babu’s life, he would make jokes about and make Bepin Babu’s life even more miserable than it already is. This is why Bepin Babu hesitates to visit Mr. Mukerji. Over the phone, it was not possible for Mr. Mukerji to understand what was going on and Bepin Babu could cut the line whenever he wanted. This would stop Mr. Mukerji from knowing the uncomfortable truth. This is why he finally decides to phone him.

Q7. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?

Mr. Mukerji said that Bepin Babu was in Ranchi in fact, adding to his woe. It agitated Bepin Babu very much and he lost his appetite that night.

Q8. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?

Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin Babu. Chunilal was in a financial crisis and he hoped that Bepin Basu will help him in getting a job.

Q9. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?

Bepin Babu decided after talking to Dinesh Mukerji and Chunilal that he had a very specific partial loss of memory. Therefore, he told his doctor that he forgot only about ever being in Ranchi.

This mysterious memory loss got Dr. Chanda thoroughly confused. Usual memory losses do not happen to such a particular memory as in the whole memory of ever having been to Ranchi. With all the other memories- short-term and long-term intact, it’s highly unusual that Bepin Babu would lose only the memory of Ranchi.

Q10. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?

No, Bepin Babu’s memory was as good as ever. Chunilal misled him into believing that he lost his memory. In fact, Chunilal was playing a prank on Bepin Babu for not helping him out with his financial condition.

Q11. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?

Chunilal wanted to teach a lesson to Bepin Babu. That is why he played a practical joke on Bepin Babu. Despite having no money, Chunilal had his imagination intact; using that imagination he punished Bepin Babu.

Q12. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?

Bepin Babu was doing a responsible job at a big firm and he was renowned for being a “tireless and conscientious worker”. His responsibility was so huge that he talked for half an hour at a crucial meeting. Moreover, he has been working at the same firm for twenty-five years now. This affirms that Bepin Babu was a serious and hardworking man exactly like in the author’s description.

Q13. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?

Bepin Babu initially was irritated as Chunilal refused to take the hint that Bepin Babu was unable to help him with his financial situation. However, on second thought he considered the fact that Chuni might be able to verify his doubts on the Ranchi trip in ’58.

That is why Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal. Chunilal not only confirmed that Bepin Babu was in Ranchi but also mentioned that he himself arranged for the train ticket to Ranchi as he had been a travel agent back then. As a result, Bepin Babu’s worst nightmare seemed to come true and the meeting only left Bepin Babu more miserable than before.

Q14. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hundroo Falls which made him unconscious. What do you think was the reason for this?

Bepin Babu went to visit Ranchi after his doctor Paresh Chanda asked him to do so in order to stoke his memory of going to Ranchi in 1958.

After going there Bepin Babu realized that the station, the streets, the bazaar, and everything else seemed new to him. Not a single memory of any kind came back to him. Unwilling to leave any stone unturned, he also went to the Hundroo Falls and realized his last hope was extinguished and no memory was ever coming back to him again.

This realization along with the fact that his brother was an insane person, made him sick being the reason for Bepin Babu’s unconscious at Hundroo Falls.

Q15. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?

When Bepin Babu found out that Chunilal had tricked him into believing an absolute falsehood, he was equal parts relieved and embarrassed. He was relieved that his memory was flawless. On the other hand, he was so embarrassed to have been hoodwinked by an old friend, that he told his doctor a lie.

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th: Speaking and Writing

Q1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?

Answer: After Bepin Babu came to know the truth, he was relieved and embarrassed in equal parts. He was relieved that his memory was flawless. On the other hand, he was so embarrassed to have been hoodwinked by an old friend, that he told his doctor a lie.

Q2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal‘s letter and feel ashamed 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 Chunilal promising to help him soon. Or A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friend? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

Answer:

I remember a prank that was pulled on my best friend Sumana in the pool car on way to school. We were sitting in our usual side of the car when Ravi came to talk to us about homework. He never finishes his homework so we were surprised. Anyway, we talked; later when we got off the pool car at the school gate, everybody was laughing at Sumana. Looking at her I started laughing too cause she was sporting a tail. In reality, Ravi took a rope and tied it to her belt. This made the rope look like she had a tail. Sumana was furious!

Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th: MCQs

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory

Read the given passages carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct alternative:

Now Bepin Babu realized that it was not he but this man who was making a mistake. Bepin babu had never been to Ranchi. He had been at the point of going several times but never made it. He smiled and said, “Do you know who I am?” The man raised his eyebrows, bit his tongue, and said, “Do I know you? Who doesn’t know Bepin Choudhury?” Bepin Babu now turned towards the bookshelves and said, “Still you’re making a mistake. One often does. I’ve never been to Ranchi.” The man laughed aloud.

Question 1.
Who was ‘this man?
(a) Parimal Ghose
(b) Shopkeeper
(c) Chetan Babu
(d) Chunni Lal
Answer
Answer: (a) Parimal Ghose
Question 2.
Bepin Babu had never been to
(a) Kanpur
(b) Lucknow
(c) Ranchi
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (c) Ranchi
Question 3.
“Do you know who I am?” For whom ‘I’ is used here?
(a) Parimal Ghose
(b) Bepin Choudhury
(c) Chetan Babu
(d) ChunniLal
Answer
Answer: (b) Bepin Choudhury

Question 4.
Give the meaning of ‘several’.
(a) various
(b) severe
(c) limited
(d) many
Answer
Answer: (d) many
Question 5.
Give the opposite of ‘aloud’.
(a) loudly
(b) fast
(c) slow
(d) sharp
Answer
Answer: (c) slow

Every Monday, on his way back from work, Bepin Choudhury would drop in at Kalicharan’s
in New Market to buy books. Crime stories, ghost stories, and thrillers. He had to buy at
least five at a time to last him through the week. He lived alone, was not a good mixer,
had few friends, and didn’t like spending time in idle chat. Today, at Kalicharan’s, Bepin
Babu had the feeling that someone was observing him from close quarters. He turned
around and found himself looking at a round-faced, meek-looking man who now broke into a smile.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) The Summit Within
(b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
(c) The SchoolBoy
(d) A Short Mansoon Dairy
Answer
Answer: (b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
Question 2.
What was Bepin Babu’s routine?
(a) To go out for a walk
(b) To exercise

(c) To collect novels for a week
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (c) To collect novels for a week
Question 3.
Who met Bepin Babu at New Market?
(a) ChunniLal
(b) Sita Ram
(c) Parimal Ghose
(d) Kalicharan
Answer
Answer: (c) Parimal Ghose
Question 4.
What was the man doing?
(a) Staring at Bepin Babu
(b) Reading books
(c) Buying books
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (a) Staring at Bepin Babu
Question 5.
What kind of man was Bepin Babu?
(a) A lonely man
(b) Had a few friends
(c) Not a good mixer
(d) All of these
Answer
Answer: (d) All of these

And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How? He even seemed to know some
intimate details. The bag of books, wife’s death, brother’s insanity... The only mistake was
about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake; a deliberate lie. In ’58, during the Pujas,
he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place. All Bepin Babu had to do was write
to—no, there was no way of writing to Haridas. Bepin Babu suddenly remembered that
Haridas had left with his wife for Japan some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.

Question 1.
For whom ‘The man’ word is used here?
(a) Bepin Choudhury
(b) Parimal Ghose
(c) Chetan Babu
(d) Chunni Lai
Answer
Answer: (b) Parimal Ghose
Question 2.
What intimate details are talked about in the passage?
(a) Bag of books
(b) Wife’s death
(c) Brother’s insanity
(d) All of these
Answer
Answer: (d) All of these
Question 3.
What was the only mistake?
(a) About having gone to Lucknow
(b) About having gone to Ranchi
(c) About having gone to Kanpur
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (b) About having gone to Ranchi
Question 4.
Where was Bepin in ’58 during the Puja holidays?
(a) Hapur
(b) Lucknow
(c) Kanpur
(d) Dimapur
Answer
Answer: (c) Kanpur
Question 5.
Who was Haridas Bagchi?
(a) Bepin’s brother
(b) Bepin’s friend

Bepin Babu’s car was safely parked in Bertram Street by the Lighthouse Cinema. He told
the driver as he got into the car, “Just drive by the Ganga, will you, Sitaram.” Driving up
Strand Road, Bepin Babu regretted having paid so much attention to the intruder. He
had never been to Ranchi—no question about it. It was inconceivable that he should forget such an incident which took place only six or seven years ago. He had an excellent
memory. Unless—Bepin Babu’s head reeled.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) The Summit Within
(b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
(c) The Tsunami
(d) A Visit to Cambridge
Answer
Answer: (b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
Question 2.
Where was Bepin Babu’s car parked?
(a) In Bertram Street
(b) In Bertram State
(c) In Bhartiya Street
(d) In Bertram City
Answer
Answer: (a) In Bertram Street
Question 3.
What was the name of the driver?
(a) Ramu
(b) Ramphal
(c) Raja
(d) Sita Rani
Answer
Answer: (d) Sita Rani

Question 4.
For ‘whom’ the word ‘intruder’ is used?
(a) Parimal Ghose
(b) ChunniLal
(c) Chetan Babu
(d) Bepin Babu
Answer
Answer: (a) Parimal Ghose
Question 5.
Give the meaning of ‘reeled’.
(a) realized
(b) revealed
(c) confused
(d) railed
Answer
Answer: (c) confused

“As far as I can make out,” said Dr. Chanda, “And I think you’re of the same opinion—you
must have been to Ranchi, but due to some unknown reason, the entire episode has
slipped out of your mind. What I suggest is that you go to Ranchi once again. The sight of
the place may remind you of your trip. This is not impossible. More than that I cannot do
at the moment. I’ve prescribed a nerve tonic and a tranquillizer. Sleep is essential, or the
symptoms will get more pronounced.”

Question 1.
What was Dr. Chanda talking about Bepin Babu?
(a) Lapse of memory
(b) Lapse of snorting
(c) Lapse of writing
(d) Lapse of sleep
Answer
Answer: (a) Lapse of memory
Question 2.
What did he suggest?
(a) To visit Lucknow
(b) To visit Ranchi once again
(c) To visit Kanpur
(d) None of these

Answer
Answer: (b) To visit Ranchi once again
Question 3.
What treatment did he give to Bepin Babu?
(a) A tablet
(b) A tranquilliser
(c) A nerve tonic
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c)
Question 4.
Give the meaning of ‘essential’.
(a) not necessary
(b) common
(c) necessary
(d) special
Answer
Answer: (c) necessary
Question 5.
Give the opposite of ‘impossible’
(a) not possible
(b) possible
(c) possibility
(d) happen
Answer
Answer: (b) possible

“Wait for just a minute ’58.....just let me check in my dairy.” For a minute there was silence.
Bepin Babu could feel that his heartbeat had gone up. He was sweating a little.
“Hello.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve got it. I’d been out twice.”
“Where?”
“Once in February—nearby—to Krishnanagar to a nephew’s wedding. And then......but you’d
know about this one. The trip to Ranchi. You were there too. That’s all. But what’s all this
sleuthing about?”

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) The Summit Within
(b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
(c) A Short Monsoon Diary
(d) This is Jody’s Fawn
Answer
Answer: (b) Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
Question 2.
Who was the speaker of first line?
(a) Dinesh Mukerjee
(b) Bepin Choudhury
(c) Chetan Babu
(d) ChunniLal
Answer
Answer: (a) Dinesh Mukerjee
Question 3.
He was talking to
(a) Chetan Babu
(b) The driver
(c) Bepin Babu
(d) ChunniLal
Answer
Answer: (c) Bepin Babu
Question 4.
Where did the speaker go in ’58?
(a) Krishnanagar
(b) Ranchi
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Lucknow
Answer
Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)
Question 5.
Give the meaning of ‘sleuthing’.
(a) to leave
(b) to help

The next morning, Bepin Babu was back in Culcutta. He realized that there was truly no hope for him. Soon he would lose everything: his will to work, his confidence, his ability, and his balance of mind. Was he going to end up in the asylum at....? Bepin Babu couldn’t think anymore. Back home, he rang up Dr. Chanda and asked him to come over. Then, after a shower, he got into bed with an ice bag clamped on his head. Just then the servant brought him a letter that someone had left in the letter box. A greenish envelope with his name in red ink on it.

Question 1.
What did Bepin Babu realize?
(a) That he is forgetting something
(b) He can’t think more
(c) That he is suffering from a ‘Lapse of Memory ‘
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (c) That he is suffering from a ‘Lapse of Memory ‘
Question 2.
Whom did he ring up?
(a) Dr. Chanda
(b) Dr. Chadha
(c) Dr. Mukerjee
(d) Dr. Chandra
Answer
Answer: (b) Dr. Chadha
Question 3.
What did Bepin do then?
(a) He began to study
(b) He started writing
(c) He took a cup of tea
(d) He got into bed
Answer
Answer: (d) He got into bed

Question 4.
What did the servant bring for him?
(a) A cup of tea
(b) A book
(c) A letter
(d) A newspaper
Answer
Answer: (c) A letter
Question 5.
‘Asylum’ is a place :
(a) to keep sick people
(b) to keep mad people
(c) to keep needy people
(d) none of these
Answer
Answer: (b) to keep mad people

Conclusion

We have jotted down Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th NCERT along with Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory Class 8th NCERT Solutions to help the students with the summary as well as NCERT Solutions of the lesson Bepin Choudhary’s Lapse Of Memory.