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    4.1. Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory - Class 8 - Honeydew




    📘 Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory

    Author: Satyajit Ray

    Textbook: Honeydew

    Genre: Fiction / Short Story


    📝 Summary:

    Bepin Choudhury, a solitary and introverted man from Kolkata, is shocked when a stranger named Parimal Ghose insists that they had met in Ranchi in 1958. Ghose recalls specific personal details, including Bepin’s knee injury and family history, which deeply disturbs Bepin, as he has no memory of such a trip. Haunted by doubts, Bepin contacts his acquaintance Dinesh Mukerji and old school friend Chunilal, both of whom confirm the Ranchi trip. Even his own body bears a scar from the supposed fall. His anxiety grows until he visits Ranchi in an attempt to jog his memory—only to fall unconscious at Hudroo Falls. Back in Kolkata, he receives a letter from Chunilal, revealing it was all a prank to punish Bepin for not helping him in his time of need. Relieved, Bepin pretends to have regained his memory to save face in front of his doctor.


    👤 Character Sketch

    Bepin Choudhury: A disciplined, serious, and hardworking man with a sharp memory. He leads a lonely life and is emotionally reserved. His logical mind struggles with the idea of memory loss, which disturbs his confidence. His unwillingness to help an old friend shows emotional detachment, but the story ends with a hint of humility as he quietly accepts the prank.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Memory and Identity

    The story explores how memory shapes one’s sense of identity and self-trust.

    Isolation and Relationships

    Bepin’s aloofness isolates him, leading to emotional detachment from friends.

    Revenge and Forgiveness

    Chunilal’s prank is a form of revenge, but it also forces reflection.

    Reality vs. Perception

    The conflict between what Bepin believes and what others claim drives the plot.

    ✨ Literary / Poetic Devices

    Device

    Example

    Effect

    Irony

    Bepin claims excellent memory but forgets Ranchi.

    Adds humor and builds the twist in the plot.

    Imagery

    “river breeze was bracing...”

    Creates a sensory scene and sets the mood.

    Suspense

    The build-up of whether Bepin is losing his mind.

    Keeps the reader engaged and guessing.

    Flashback

    Reference to the 1958 Ranchi trip.

    Adds depth to the narrative and builds mystery.

    📖 Title Justification

    The title “Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory” is apt because the entire story revolves around Bepin’s supposed memory loss of an important event in his life — a trip to Ranchi. The title sets the tone of mystery and psychological conflict. Ultimately, the lapse is revealed to be not a medical condition but a carefully crafted illusion by his friend, making the title both literal and ironic.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions

    1. Why did Bepin Babu go to Kalicharan’s every Monday?

      → To buy books, especially thrillers, for the week.


    2. What did Parimal Ghose claim about Bepin’s trip?

      → That Bepin had visited Ranchi in 1958 and stayed in a bungalow.


    3. Why didn’t Bepin ask Dinesh about Ranchi directly?

      → He feared Dinesh would mock him for forgetting.


    4. How did Chunilal claim he helped Bepin in 1958?

      → By booking his train tickets and fixing a fan in the compartment.


    5. What remedy did Dr Chanda suggest to cure Bepin’s condition?

      → To revisit Ranchi and see if it revived his memory.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions :

    1. Why was Bepin Babu confused after meeting Parimal Ghose?

      → Because Parimal knew personal details like the fall at Hudroo, his wife’s death, and his brother’s illness—yet Bepin had no memory of ever visiting Ranchi. It deeply

      shook his self-confidence and trust in his memory.


    2. What role did Chunilal play in the story?

      → Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin Babu who played a prank to get back at him for not helping during tough times. His detailed fabrication was so convincing that it made Bepin question his sanity.


    3. How did Bepin Babu react when he found out the truth?

      → Though shocked and embarrassed, he pretended to have regained his memory to avoid further humiliation. This shows a mix of relief and self-protection.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q: What lesson does the story teach us about friendship and empathy?

    → The story reminds us that success and pride should not make us indifferent to old relationships. True friendship requires compassion, and ignoring a friend in need may lead to regret, shame, or consequences later on. We must value people, not just achievements.


    End


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