Chapter 4: Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory
Chapter Summary
The story, written by the famous filmmaker Satyajit Ray, revolves around Bepin Choudhury, a man who believes he has an excellent memory. His life is turned upside down when a man named Parimal Ghose approaches him in a bookshop and claims to have met him during a trip to Ranchi in 1958. Bepin Babu is certain he has never been to Ranchi and dismisses the man as mistaken.
However, Parimal Ghose provides several intimate details about Bepin's life, including information about his wife's death and his brother's insanity, which deeply unsettles him. Doubt begins to creep in. To confirm, Bepin calls his friend Dinesh Mukerji, who Ghose claimed was also in Ranchi. To Bepin's horror, Dinesh confirms the Ranchi trip, leaving Bepin utterly bewildered and worried that he is losing his mind.
His worry intensifies, affecting his work. He loses his appetite and confidence. He then remembers another acquaintance, Chunilal, who might know about the trip. Chunilal, an old school friend who often pesters Bepin for a job, confirms the Ranchi trip as well. Panicked, Bepin consults a specialist doctor, Paresh Chanda, who advises him to visit Ranchi again, hoping the familiar sights might trigger his memory.
Bepin takes the trip to Ranchi but remembers nothing. He feels hopeless. Upon returning to Calcutta, he receives a letter. The letter, signed by Chunilal, reveals that the entire episode was a prank. Chunilal had orchestrated the whole thing as a form of revenge because Bepin, despite his wealth, had refused to help him when he was down on his luck. The letter explains that Bepin's "lapse of memory" was entirely fabricated. The story ends with Dr. Chanda arriving to treat Bepin, who, now understanding the prank, tells the doctor he is fine after a "fall in Ranchi."
Questions and Answers
Comprehension Check (Page 61)
1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Answer: The man, Parimal Ghose, stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin Babu claimed not to recognise him, even though Ghose was certain they had spent a whole week together in Ranchi in 1958.
2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?
Answer: Bepin Babu said he spent the Puja holidays in October '58 with a friend in Kanpur.
3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Answer: Parimal Ghose knew that:
- Bepin Babu's wife was dead.
- Bepin Babu's only brother had died of insanity.
- He always carried a bag of books with him on his sightseeing trips.
- He had a cut on his right knee from a fall in Hudroo.
Comprehension Check (Page 64)
1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Answer: Bepin Babu worried because Parimal Ghose knew a great deal of personal details about him. This made him doubt his own memory, and he began to wonder if he was really losing his mind, especially since there was a history of insanity in his family.
2. How did he try to decide who was right — his memory or Parimal Ghose?
Answer: He tried to decide by checking with someone else who was supposedly on the trip. He called his friend, Dinesh Mukerji, to ask if he remembered a trip to Ranchi in October '58.
3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Answer: Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji because he was afraid of the ruthless sarcasm he would face if the story turned out to be false. He finally decided to phone him because the doubt was consuming him, and he felt he had to settle the question to ease his mind.
Comprehension Check (Page 67)
1. What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Answer: Mr. Mukerji confirmed that they had indeed been to Ranchi in October '58. This did not comfort Bepin Babu at all; it added immensely to his worries and made him feel that he was truly losing his memory.
2. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Answer: Chunilal was an old schoolmate of Bepin Babu. He had fallen on hard times and wanted Bepin Babu to help him find a job.
3. Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Answer: Dr. Chanda was puzzled because he had never dealt with a case like Bepin Babu's before. The unusual thing was that Bepin Babu remembered everything in his life perfectly, except for one specific period—his supposed trip to Ranchi.
Comprehension Check (Page 70)
1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Answer: No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory. The entire incident was a prank played on him by his old friend, Chunilal.
2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
Answer: Chunilal did it as a form of revenge because Bepin Babu, his old friend, had become prosperous but refused to help him when he was in need. Chunilal says he has no money, but what he does have is imagination, which he used to create and execute this elaborate prank.
Working with the Text
1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Answer: The evidence is:
- He worked daily at his office, had a responsible job, and had a reputation for being a conscientious worker.
- He lived alone, was not a great mixer, and had few friends.
- His main hobby was reading books, and he would buy at least five books every week to last him through the week.
2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
Answer: Bepin Babu initially did not want to meet Chunilal because he knew Chunilal was only there to ask for help with a job, and Bepin was not in a position to help. He changed his mind because it occurred to him that Chunilal might remember something about the 1958 Ranchi trip. The result of the meeting was disastrous for Bepin's peace of mind, as Chunilal confirmed the trip, further convincing Bepin that he had indeed lost his memory.
3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Answer: Bepin Babu likely lost consciousness due to the immense stress, anxiety, and shock he was experiencing. Having found no familiar signs in Ranchi to confirm his memory, his hope was shattered. The thought that he had truly lost his memory was too much for him to bear, causing him to faint.
4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
Answer: When Bepin Babu found out he had been tricked, he probably felt a huge sense of relief that he wasn't actually losing his mind. This was likely followed by feelings of anger and regret—anger at Chunilal for putting him through such a terrible ordeal, and regret for not having helped his old friend when he was in need, which prompted the revenge in the first place.
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