Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse Of Memory

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

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

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 bawarchi.

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.

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 travelling 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 it. This is how, Bepin Babu wanted to decide who was right, himself, or Parimal Ghosh.

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 decide to phone him.

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.

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.

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 loose only the memory of 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.

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.

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 for now. This affirms that Bepin Babu was a serious and hardworking man exactly like in the author’s description.

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.

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.

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.

(i) I have to cut my hair every month.

(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She had 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 has to finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

The following table gives the meaning of the idioms.

(i) Column B tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place.

(ii) Column A suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher.

(iii) Column A suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw.

(iv) Column B suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker’s mind.

(i) Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

Idiom: Beating about the bush = discuss a matter without coming to the point.

(ii) If you don’t pay attention to the announcement you might board the wrong train.

Idiom: to board: to take/ to ride

(iii) The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.

Idiom: Pin the crime: to accuse someone of the crime.

(iv) Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.

Idiom: Under doctor’s orders: absolutely essential

(v) The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.

Idiom: Raised his eyebrows = doubting the truthfulness of a situation or statement.

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.

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!.

The speaker in the poem is a person looking for work. He is not a very usual man, but somebody with a depth of persona.

“The king, sword in hand” suggests (ii) power. What the king has but no one else have to match him, is power. The king might as well be the wealthiest person in his state but it is power that sets him apart from any of his men.

The old man offering money was not enough to hire the man as money is the most material thing. That is why he turned down the offer.

(i) “I hire you with nothing.” –said by the child.

(ii) Her smile paled and melted into tears- this is said about the fair maid.

(iii) But his power counted for naught- said about the king who boasted of his power.

This was no ordinary child as the child represented God Himself. The joy and happiness that God gives is compared to none. That is why the speaker felt bliss after talking to the child on the beach.