The Passing Away of Bapu | Nayantara Sehgal – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
The Passing Away of Bapu by Nayantara Sehgal is an important prose chapter for WBBSE Class 10 English. The prose describes the writer's experience on 30 January 1948, the news of Gandhiji's assassination, the atmosphere at Birla House, the grief of the people and the events surrounding his funeral and the immersion of his ashes. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
The questions below are arranged for Madhyamik revision and cover MCQs, True or False, sentence completion, short questions and descriptive answers based on the source material.
The Passing Away of Bapu – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
The following question-answer set is designed to make revision easier. Read the prose carefully first, then use these questions to test your understanding of the chapter.
The Passing Away of Bapu – MCQ Questions and Answers
1. Gandhiji had been shot on his way to —
(A) the Birla House (B) the author's house (C) a prayer meeting (D) a family gathering2. The author came to know about Gandhiji's death through —
(A) a letter (B) a telephone call (C) a telegram (D) a public announcement3. The narrator was having tea at home when she received the urgent call on —
(A) 29 January 1948 (B) 30 January 1948 (C) 31 January 1948 (D) 2 February 19484. The narrator was called to —
(A) her own house (B) Birla House (C) the prayer ground (D) the railway station5. What did the common people hear from the broadcast?
(A) Bapu was recovering (B) Bapu was travelling (C) Bapu was no more (D) Bapu was speaking to the peopleTrue or False with Supporting Statements
1. The author received an urgent telephone call in the morning.
Answer: False.
2. People attempted to break into the Birla House.
Answer: True.
3. The news of Gandhiji's death did not shock the people.
Answer: False.
Complete the Following Sentences
1. The narrator got an urgent telephone on ________.
Answer: The narrator got an urgent telephone on 30 January 1948.
2. The narrator was called to ________.
Answer: The narrator was called to Birla House.
3. Gandhiji had been shot ________.
Answer: Gandhiji had been shot on his way to a prayer meeting.
4. At Birla House, the room where Gandhiji had breathed his last was filled with ________.
Answer: an unnatural silence.
Short Questions and Answers
1. What was the condition of the narrator after receiving the telephone call?
Answer: The telephone call left Nayantara Sehgal numb with shock. The sudden news of Gandhiji's assassination deeply affected her.
2. What broadcast did the common people listen to?
Answer: The common people heard through the broadcast that their Bapu was no more.
3. Where was Gandhiji shot?
Answer: Gandhiji was shot on his way to a prayer meeting.
4. What did the people try to do at Birla House?
Answer: The people tried to break into Birla House in their intense desire to see Gandhiji after hearing the tragic news.
5. What did the people hear from the radio?
Answer: They heard that Bapu was no more. This announcement made the people shocked and grief-stricken.
Important Questions and Answers
1. What happened on 30 January 1948?
Answer: On the evening of 30 January 1948, Nayantara Sehgal was having tea at home when she received an urgent telephone call asking her to go to Birla House. She learned that Gandhiji had been shot on his way to a prayer meeting. The news created shock and grief among the people. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
2. Describe the atmosphere at Birla House after Gandhiji's death.
Answer: Birla House was filled with grief, shock and confusion. Gandhiji's relatives and followers gathered around his body, while the people outside were deeply distressed and many tried to enter the house. The atmosphere reflected the enormous emotional impact of his death. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
3. Why did people try to break into Birla House?
Answer: People desperately wanted to see Gandhiji for the last time. Their grief and emotional shock led them to push through the crowd and attempt to enter the house. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
4. What does the expression “magic circle” mean?
Answer: The expression “magic circle” refers to Gandhiji's powerful living influence over the people. According to the source, this influence seemed to disappear with Bapu's passing away. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
5. How did the magic circle vanish?
Answer: The magic circle vanished with the passing away of Bapu. His death ended the immediate living presence and influence that had surrounded him. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
6. What could the narrator not accept?
Answer: The narrator found it difficult to accept the reality of Gandhiji's death.
The Funeral Procession of Bapu
The prose also describes the profound response of the people to Gandhiji's death and the arrangements connected with his funeral. The enormous public grief made the occasion deeply memorable. The funeral procession became an expression of collective mourning. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Why Was Everyone Asked to Walk?
According to the source material, it was decided that everyone in Gandhiji's funeral procession should walk. This detail is important for questions relating to the funeral procession and the symbolic significance of walking in the prose. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Immersion of Gandhiji's Ashes
The prose also refers to the immersion of Gandhiji's ashes in the Ganges. This forms part of the final sequence of events associated with the mourning of Bapu and is an important area for descriptive questions. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
The Writer's Feelings After Gandhiji's Death
Nayantara Sehgal presents the death of Gandhiji not merely as a personal tragedy but as a moment that deeply affected the people around her. Her own response is marked by shock, grief and the difficulty of accepting that Bapu was no longer alive.
The prose focuses strongly on the emotional impact of Gandhiji's death, the reaction of ordinary people and the sudden absence of a deeply influential national figure.
Important Points for Madhyamik Revision
- The narrator received an urgent telephone call on the evening of 30 January 1948.
- She was called to Birla House.
- Gandhiji had been shot on his way to a prayer meeting.
- The people at Birla House were shocked and deeply distressed.
- People attempted to enter the house to see Gandhiji.
- The radio broadcast announced that Bapu was no more.
- The expression “magic circle” refers to Gandhiji's living influence.
- The prose describes the funeral procession and immersion of the ashes.
The Passing Away of Bapu – Quick Revision Table
| Question Point | Answer / Key Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Gandhiji's assassination | 30 January 1948 |
| Where was the narrator called? | Birla House |
| Where was Gandhiji shot? | On his way to a prayer meeting |
| How did the narrator receive the news? | Through an urgent telephone call |
| What did the broadcast announce? | Bapu was no more |
| Meaning of “magic circle” | Gandhiji's great living influence |
| What happened to the magic circle? | It vanished with Bapu's passing away |
How to Prepare The Passing Away of Bapu
For Madhyamik English preparation, first read the complete prose carefully. Then revise the important events in chronological order. After that, practice MCQs, True or False questions, sentence completion, short answers and descriptive questions separately.
Recommended Study Method
Read the prose → understand the sequence of events → revise key facts → practice objective questions → write short answers → practice descriptive questions.
Conclusion
The Passing Away of Bapu is an important prose chapter that records the shock, grief and emotional response following the death of Gandhiji. Nayantara Sehgal describes the urgent telephone call, the atmosphere at Birla House, the reaction of ordinary people, the funeral procession and the emotional effect of Bapu's passing. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
For WBBSE Class 10 examination preparation, students should pay special attention to the date, Birla House, the prayer meeting, the radio announcement, the “magic circle” and the events connected with the funeral and immersion of the ashes.
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