The Passing away of Bapu

Main Idea of “The Passing Away of Bapu”

The Passing Away of Bapu by Nayantara Sahgal describes the deep grief and sorrow that swept across India after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on 30 January 1948. The lesson presents the shock and sadness felt by millions of people who regarded Gandhi as their guide and leader. Through vivid descriptions, the author shows how people from all walks of life gathered to pay their last respects to Bapu. The essay highlights Gandhi’s ideals of truth, non-violence, peace, and humanity, which continued to inspire people even after his death. It also emphasizes the unity of the nation in mourning and the lasting influence of Gandhi’s teachings. The main idea of the lesson is that although Mahatma Gandhi passed away physically, his values and principles remain alive in the hearts of the people and continue to guide the nation.

Important word meaning:-

Word/Phrase	Meaning in English	Meaning in Bengali
Numb	Unable to feel or react	অসাড়, অনুভূতিহীন
Stunned	Shocked and surprised	হতবাক, স্তম্ভিত
Clamoured	Demanded loudly	চিৎকার করে দাবি জানানো
Jostled	Pushed roughly in a crowd	ঠেলাঠেলি করা
Whimpers	Cried softly in a low voice	ফুঁপিয়ে কাঁদা
Mourning	Feeling sorrow for a death	শোক পালন করা, বিলাপ করা
Broadcast	To transmit news or information	প্রচার করা, সম্প্রচার করা
Stampede	A sudden rush of frightened people	দিশেহারা ভাবে ছুটোছুটি করা
Gathered	Came together in one place	জড়ো হওয়া
Blur of Faces	An unclear view of faces	অস্পষ্ট মুখের দৃশ্য
Brown Blur of Faces	A vague mass of Indian faces showing grief	শোকাহত মানুষের অস্পষ্ট মুখের সমাবেশ
Procession	A line of people moving together	মিছিল, শোভাযাত্রা
Agonising	Mentally very painful	মানসিক যন্ত্রণাদায়ক
Thick	Dense, closely packed	ঘন, সঘন
Commonplace	Ordinary, usual	গতানুগতিক, সাধারণ
Staff	A walking stick	লাঠি, ছড়ি
Clarity	Clearness of thought or understanding	ভাবনার স্বচ্ছতা, স্পষ্টতা

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:-

 MCQ 

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 gathering

Ans: C) A prayer meeting

2. The author came to know of Gandhiji’s death by—

A) A letter
B) A telephone call
C) A telegram
D) A public broadcast ✅

Ans: D) A public broadcast

3. When one is faced with the shock of a loved one’s death, one—

A) Whimpers ✅
B) Laughs
C) Claps
D) Shouts

Ans: A) Whimpers

4. Gandhiji was shot dead on—

A) 15th August, 1947
B) 2nd October, 1948
C) 30th January, 1948 ✅
D) 26th January, 1950

Ans: C) 30th January, 1948

5. Gandhiji breathed his last at—

A) Sabarmati Ashram
B) Raj Ghat
C) Birla House ✅
D) Sevagram Ashram

Ans: C) Birla House

6. What information was given by the broadcast?

A) India became independent
B) Bapu was no more ✅
C) Gandhiji was ill
D) A meeting was cancelled

Ans: B) Bapu was no more

7. Gandhiji’s funeral was to take place—

A) On the day of his death
B) Three days after his death
C) One day after his death ✅
D) A week after his death

Ans: C) One day after his death

8. Padamsi was Mrs. Naidu’s—

A) Niece
B) Sister
C) Friend
D) Daughter ✅

Ans: D) Daughter

9. While walking, Bapu used to carry in his hand a—

A) Flag
B) Staff ✅
C) Umbrella
D) Book

Ans: B) Staff

10. Who wrote The Passing Away of Bapu?

A) Rabindranath Tagore
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Nayantara Sahgal ✅
D) Sarojini Naidu

Ans: C) Nayantara Sahgal

11. Bapu refers to—

A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Mahatma Gandhi ✅
D) Sardar Patel

Ans: C) Mahatma Gandhi

12. The news of Gandhiji’s death made people—

A) Happy
B) Excited
C) Shocked and grief-stricken ✅
D) Angry

Ans: C) Shocked and grief-stricken

13. The funeral procession moved through—

A) Kolkata
B) Mumbai
C) Delhi ✅
D) Chennai

Ans: C) Delhi

14. The people gathered to pay their—

A) Taxes
B) Last respects ✅
C) Donations
D) Tributes to soldiers

Ans: B) Last respects

15. The lesson highlights Gandhiji’s ideals of—

A) Violence and power
B) Wealth and success
C) Truth and non-violence ✅
D) Politics and war

Ans: C) Truth and non-violence ✅

16.Question

The compartment was decked with—
A) Wreaths
B) Leaves
C) Flowers ✅
D) Flags

Ans: C) Flowers

17.Question

People could feel Gandhiji’s presence amid—
A) Ashes
B) Songs and flowers ✅
C) People
D) The way

Ans: B) Songs and flowers

18.Question

As the magic circle disappeared, she was left—
A) Unfit
B) Protected
C) At stake
D) Unprotected ✅

Ans: D) Unprotected

19.Question

The ashes were immersed in the—
A) Gomati
B) Ganges ✅
C) Yamuna
D) Narmada

Ans: B) Ganges

20.Question

The last walk with Bapu was—
A) Pleasant
B) Painful ✅
C) Strange
D) Delightful

Ans: B) Painful

21.Question

According to the narrator, walking with Bapu was—
A) Quite boring
B) A usual affair
C) Meaningless
D) An extraordinary affair ✅

Ans: D) An extraordinary affair

22.Question

According to the narrator, walking required—
A) A lot of money
B) A vehicle
C) One’s body and energy ✅
D) A walking stick

Ans: C) One’s body and energy ✅

True / False

Question

The author received an urgent telephone call in the morning.

Ans: False ❌

Supporting Statement: “I was having tea at home on the evening of January 30 when I was called to Birla House by an urgent telephone call.”

Question

People attempted to break into the Birla House.

Ans: True ✅

Supporting Statement: “They jostled one another in a stampede to break into the house.”

Question

The news of Gandhiji’s death did not shock the people.

Ans: False ❌

Supporting Statement: “People were too stunned to speak in the beginning.”

Fill in the Chart

Statement	Reason
(a) It was impossible to move.	There was a thick crowd.
(b) Padmasi declared that they would walk with Gandhiji in the funeral procession.	It was the last time they would be walking with Gandhiji.
(c) To walk was often the only way open to the average Indian.	Walking required no vehicle except one’s own body and cost nothing except one’s own energy.

Cause and Effect

Cause	Effect
(a) People could feel Gandhiji’s presence amid the flowers and songs.	People did not weep anymore.
(b) The magic circle vanished.	The author felt unprotected.
(c) Her values were not so weak.	The author felt that she would not lose courage so easily.