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The Undeserved Reward (8th)

 

Chapter -10    

The Undeserved Reward

               Word                             Meaning

Misconstrued             misunderstood

Predicament                 difficult and unpleasant situation

Obligatory                     compulsory

Snooty                           a person who considers himself to be superior to others

Naib-tehsildar               a naib-tehsildar was an assistant officer in a district

Seditious                        that would provoke people against the government

Canons                            principles

Pies                                  an old coin

Overwhelmed                overpowered by a strong emotion

Seer                                  unit of weight slightly less than a kilogram

Implicate                          involve in a criminal case

Blemish                             charge

Reprimanded                   scolded

Maligning                          bringing bad name to someone without any basis

Undeserved                      unfair, unworthy

Fed up                                tired

Hefty                                 strong

In a great fix                     confusion

Let me down                   insult

Acquaintance                  a person who knows slightly

Q.1. Why is the narrator a secret admirer of the district officer?

The narrator is a secret admirer of the district officer because he is a man of learning. He has done a considerable research in History and in old coins. The writer is impressed with his works.

Q.2. What did the Indian officer do when his father-in-law insisted on prolonging his daughter’s stay at his house?

The Indian officer issued summons for the arrest of father-in-law when his father-in-law insisted on prolonging his daughter’s stay at his house.

Q.3. When the narrator was invited by the district officer to see him, his friends said that it was an insult to him. Why?

The friends felt that the officer had acted in a snobbish way. According to his friends if the district officer really wanted to meet the writer, he should come to him.

Q.4. Why was the narrator happy that the district officer to see him, his friends said that it was an insult to him. Why?

The narrator was happy because he knew if it would happen, he would not be able to entertain him and serve him at his home properly.

Q.5. ‘I considered this as downright mean and dishonest.’ What did the narrator consider to be mean and dishonest?

‘I considered this as downright mean and dishonest.’ The narrator did not like to take help or advantage of his relationship with the district officer. Taking favours from the high officials was against his principles.

Q.6. How did the narrator and Baldev become friends in their childhood?

The narrator and Baldev had studied together. They were then eight or nine years old. Baldev was dull minded whereas the narrator was very intelligent. Baldev never understood anything in class. The narrator began to help him in his studies and he began to help him in his studies and he began to do well.

Q.7. Why had the police involved Baldev’s son in a false case of dacoity?

Baldev’s son was well built, stout person. Many a time he quarrelled with the police. The police was searching for an opportunity to involve him in a criminal case. They got a chance to involve him in a false case.

C. Baldev presented many arguments before the narrator to convince him to speak to the district officer. State a few arguments and identify the one which you think to be the most convincing, giving reasons to justify your choice.

Baldev gave several arguments to convince the narrator. He told that his son was innocent. He also told that the entire family and son’s life would be ruined. He appealed that he approached him for help only because his son was innocent otherwise he could have never disturbed him. The son’s mother was crying and had not eaten anything since his arrest. Baldev asked the narrator what could he have done if his own innocent son was arrested like that. In my opinion, the last argument is most convincing. If it would have been the matter of the narrator’s own innocent son, he might have approached the district officer for the sake of his son. It was the matter of an innocent life.

HOTS

Q. ‘I feel sorry at the mentality of my countrymen,’ says the narrator. Why does the narrator feel sorry for it? Explain.

The narrator felt sorry at the mentality of the countrymen. The weaker always give too much respect to the stronger or rich. They think that they need their help to lead a smooth life though they seldom get their help. People should learn to live independent and decent life in whatever condition they are.

LIFE SKILLS

‘Every deserving action should be rewarded , likewise every reward should be well deserved. Does this statement always holds true in real life? Substantiate your answer with examples.

Every deserving action should be rewarded , likewise every reward should be well deserved.  But this statement does not always hold true in real life. For instance, in our country hockey players do not get deserved reward wheresas cricketers are over rewarded.

‘One should listen to all but take one’s own decision guided by both intellect and conscience.’ Discuss.

It is true that one should listen to all but take one’s own decision guided by both
intellect and conscience. Otherwise later one has to repent over the decision made on the basis of others suggestions or requests. In the story the narrator decided help Baldev free his son from the police but later he regretted doing so because he knew that his son was not a good person and that was the reason that the district officer did not consider it proper to interfere in the case.

Values
A.’ I could not gather the courage to tell them that I had done nothing.’
Should the narrator have accepted the credit for saving Baldev's son from imprisonment or should have he admitted openly that he had done nothing in the matter? Discuss In the class.

Ans. It is a right statement - ’I could not gather the courage to tell them that I had done nothing.’ No, the narrator should not have accepted the credit for saving Baldev’s son from imprisonment. He should have admitted openly that he had done nothing in the matter. The truth is a great virtue. He should be truthful and have courage to speak the truth.

B. (i) Where the teacher's cane failed, my sympathetic approach yielded results'. It was not uncommon to see children being subjected to corporal punishment earlier. Do you think it was relevant in these times?

Ans. Where the teacher's cane failed, my sympathetic approach yielded results'. It was common to see children being subjected to corporal punishment in earlier times. It is not relevant because where love and sympathy can play a good role, there is no need to give punishment.
(i) Do you think capital punishment is justified?
Ans. No, capital punishment is not justified because there are more ways to deal with the students rather than giving them capital punishment.

v. Writing Skills

A. Baldev is extremely rejoiced at the help rendered by his old friend. On behalf of Baldev
prepare a thanksgiving card for the narrator thanking him for his help.

Ans. Dear Premchand
Accept my thanks for what you have done to save my son 's life. I know ’thanks’ is
a very small word for such type of help. You have also proved this dicum right that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Yours

Baldev


B. You are the narrator . You are  overcome with a feeling of gullt after Baldev and his son leave your house. Write a letter to Baldev  expressing your guilt over accepting the
honour that you did not deserve.
Ans. Examination Hall
16TH November, 2020

Dear Baldev

I was really overwhelmed to see that your son was released by the police because he was innocent. He deserved this. But I would like to apologise that I had not done any favour. You know well my principles that I do not like taking any obligation. So I did not visit the district officer. Your son had been released because he did not commit any crime. Hence, he was not punished. I am really feeling guilty for accepting the reward which I didn't deserve. I would also like to send back all the gifts that you brought.
taking any
Yours
Premchand

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SOLVED

Q1. Do you think the narrator was a true friend of Baldev? Comment.

Ans. 1he narrator was a man ol principles. He did not like taking obligations in his life.
When he was approached by an old friend Baldev for a favour from district officer, he
found himself helpless in this situation. But it does not prove that he was not a true
friend of Baldev. He had sympathy for Baldev and his son. So he became overwhelmed
seeing the release of Baldev’s son as he was innocent.
Q2. What is your opinion about Baldev’s friendship with the narrator?
Ans. Baldev who called himself the narrator’s bosom friend did not appear before talling into a trouble. He came to him only after getting knowledge of the narrator's relations with the district officer. He showed his intimacy to flatter the narrator and brought gifts for him to pay back his obligations. Overall, Baldev does not appear to be a true and close friend to the narrator.
93. Write character sketch of the district officer on the basis of your reading of the story.
Ans. The district officer in the story is a wise, and well learned person, who manages time to study history and coins from his busy schedule. He is an amiable person who invites the narrator as he is a writer and talks to him in a very polite manner. It is his  keen observation and wisdom that the son of the narrator’s friend has been let off without any charge. He scolds the daroga and warns him if in future he indulges in bringing bad name to anyone without any base, he would be dismissed. Thus, the district officer is a true human being and just in his decisions.

 

 

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