Satyajit Ray’s “Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory” is a captivating tale that explores the fragility of memory and the power of a well-crafted prank. This blog post, designed for Class 8 English students, dives into the story of Bepin Choudhury, a serious executive who grapples with doubts about his past after strangers claim he visited Ranchi in 1958—a trip he vehemently denies. Through detailed sections, bullet points, tables, and preserved questions with their original answers, this guide unravels the story’s themes, characters, and surprising twist, bringing the narrative to life.
Introduction
“Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory” is a short story by Satyajit Ray that centers on Bepin Choudhury, a Calcutta-based executive who faces confusion when others insist he visited Ranchi in 1958, a trip he denies. The story unfolds with growing tension, explores themes of memory and doubt, and concludes with a humorous revelation that relieves Bepin’s mental strain.
- Story is written by Satyajit Ray.
- Focuses on Bepin Choudhury’s memory doubts.
- Bepin denies visiting Ranchi.
- Others claim he was there in 1958.
- Story ends with a surprising twist.
- Explores memory and confusion.
- Reveals a humorous prank.
- Relieves Bepin’s mental stress.
- Set in Calcutta and Ranchi.
- Bepin is a serious executive.
Encounter with Parimal Ghose
Bepin’s routine visit to Kalicharan’s bookshop takes an unexpected turn when he meets Parimal Ghose, a stranger who claims they met in Ranchi in 1958, sparking the first seeds of doubt in Bepin’s mind.
- Bepin visits Kalicharan’s bookshop weekly.
- Buys crime and ghost story books.
- Notices someone watching him closely.
- Meets Parimal Ghose, a stranger.
- Parimal claims they met in Ranchi, 1958.
- Mentions arranging car for Hudroo falls.
- Notes Bepin’s knee injury from a fall.
- Says Bepin stayed in a bungalow.
- Bepin denies ever visiting Ranchi.
- Says he was in Kanpur in 1958.
- Believes Parimal is mistaken.
- Parimal knows Bepin’s wife died.
- Mentions brother’s mental illness.
- Describes Bepin’s book bag habit.
- Bepin leaves shop, unconvinced.
- Parimal stares in disbelief.
- Meeting sparks Bepin’s doubts.
Growing Uncertainty
Haunted by Parimal’s claims, Bepin begins to question his memory, especially after discovering a mysterious cut on his knee and hearing confirmation from another acquaintance.
- Bepin drives by Ganga to reflect.
- Regrets listening to Parimal’s claims.
- Insists he never went to Ranchi.
- Believes his memory is reliable.
- Finds old cut on his knee.
- Cannot recall how it happened.
- Considers asking Dinesh Mukerji.
- Hesitates, fearing Dinesh’s sarcasm.
- Phones Dinesh about 1958 events.
- Dinesh confirms Bepin was in Ranchi.
- Bepin feels shocked and skips lunch.
- Questions his own mental state.
- Knows he was in Kanpur.
- Doubts grow stronger daily.
Seeking Answers
Bepin’s confusion affects his work, prompting him to seek answers from an old friend, Chunilal, who further confirms the Ranchi trip, deepening Bepin’s distress.
- Bepin cannot focus at office.
- Leaves work early, unusual for him.
- Known as a dedicated worker.
- Feels mind is in confusion.
- Chunilal, old friend, visits him.
- Chunilal seeks a job, struggling.
- Bepin asks about Ranchi trip.
- Chunilal confirms 1958 visit.
- Says he booked Bepin’s ticket.
- Shocked Bepin forgets trip.
- Bepin blames overwork.
- Chunilal leaves, concerned.
- Bepin’s doubts deepen further.
Consulting Dr Chanda
Desperate for clarity, Bepin consults Dr. Paresh Chanda, who suggests revisiting Ranchi to jog his memory, prescribing medication and a trip that Bepin hopes will resolve his turmoil.
- Bepin visits Dr Paresh Chanda.
- Shares memory loss problem.
- Says it affects his work.
- Seeks urgent cure.
- Dr Chanda is puzzled.
- Finds case very unique.
- Suggests revisiting Ranchi.
- Thinks it may spark memory.
- Prescribes tonic and tranquilliser.
- Bepin feels better next day.
- Books Ranchi train ticket.
- Plans to leave that evening.
Ranchi Visit
Bepin’s trip to Ranchi proves fruitless as nothing seems familiar, and a fainting spell at Hudroo Falls leaves him feeling defeated and more uncertain than ever.
- Bepin arrives in Ranchi.
- Finds town completely unfamiliar.
- Drives around, sees streets.
- Recognises no buildings or places.
- Visits Hudroo Falls.
- Hopes to recall something.
- Faints beside a boulder.
- Found by Gujarati picnickers.
- Feels hope is lost.
- Returns to Calcutta defeated.
- Fears losing confidence, mind.
Truth Revealed
A letter from Chunilal reveals the Ranchi story was a prank, orchestrated as revenge for Bepin’s refusal to help him, bringing humorous relief to Bepin’s ordeal.
- Bepin receives an urgent letter.
- Green envelope with red ink.
- Written by Chunilal.
- Reveals Ranchi story was prank.
- Bepin refused to help Chunilal.
- Chunilal used imagination for revenge.
- Mentions writing a novel.
- Bepin feels fine after letter.
- Asks Dr Chanda for painkiller.
- Story ends with humorous relief.
Questions & Answers
- Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
- Answer: Parimal Ghose was shocked because Bepin firmly denied visiting Ranchi, despite Parimal knowing personal details about Bepin’s life, such as his wife’s death and his brother’s illness.
- Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?
- Answer: Bepin said he was in Kanpur in October 1958, spending the Puja holidays with his friend Haridas Bagchi, and insisted he never went to Ranchi.
- Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu?
- Answer: Parimal knew that Bepin’s wife died ten years ago, his brother died of mental illness, and Bepin always carried a book bag on sightseeing trips.
- Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
- Answer: Bepin worried because Parimal knew intimate details about his life, such as his family and habits, and confidently claimed Bepin was in Ranchi, which made Bepin question the reliability of his own memory.
- How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose?
- Answer: Bepin tried to decide by checking his knee for a cut, phoning Dinesh Mukerji to confirm the 1958 events, and later asking Chunilal if he had visited Ranchi, hoping to verify his memory.
- Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
- Answer: Bepin hesitated to visit Dinesh Mukerji because he feared Dinesh’s sharp sarcasm and the embarrassment of being thought mad, but he decided to phone him to confirm the Ranchi trip without facing Dinesh in person, hoping to avoid awkwardness.
- What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
- Answer: Dinesh Mukerji confirmed that Bepin was in Ranchi in 1958, which added to Bepin’s worries because it contradicted his memory of being in Kanpur, making him doubt his mental stability further.
- Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
- Answer: Chunilal was Bepin’s old school friend who was struggling financially and repeatedly visited Bepin to seek help in finding a job.
- Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
- Answer: Dr Chanda was puzzled because he had never encountered a case where someone forgot a specific significant event like a Ranchi trip while remembering everything else clearly, which was unusual and outside his medical experience.
- Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
- Answer: No, Bepin had not lost his memory; the Ranchi trip was a prank orchestrated by Chunilal, and Bepin had never actually been to Ranchi.
- Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
- Answer: Chunilal orchestrated the prank to take revenge on Bepin for refusing to help him when he was in need, and while he has no money, he says he has imagination, which he used to create the convincing story about Ranchi.
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