Class – VIII

Chapter-10 The Underserved Reward

                  by Premchand

B.

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

Ans. The narrator secretly admires the district officer as he is a man of learning. He has done considerable research in history and old coins. The narrator wonders how he finds time for it in the midst of his official duties. The narrator had read his works and is impressed by him.

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

Ans. When the father-in-law insisted on prolonging his daughter’s stay at his house, the Indian officer became furious and issued summons for his father-in-law.

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

Ans. When the narrator was invited by the district officer to see him, his friends said that it was an insult to him because they thought that the district officer should have himself come to his house if he was so keen to meet him.

4. Why was the narrator happy that the district officer had not come to his house himself instead of calling him?

Ans. The narrator was happy that the district officer had not come to his house because it would have created a problem for him as there was not even a decent chair in his house. It would have been difficult for him to entertain the district officer for long even after spending a lot of money. If his wife also accompanied him, it would have made the matter worse as the narrator’s wife would have been able to entertain her.

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

Ans. The narrator had acquaintance with the district officer and it was easy for him to convince people that through him they could get favour from the district officer. But he considered taking advantage of his friendship with the district officer as mean and dishonest.

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

Ans. The narrator and Baldev had studied together about forty five years ago. Baldev was dull in studies and his teacher was fed up with him. So, he gave the narrator the task of giving extra lessons to Baldev. The narrator’s sympathetic approach yielded results. Baldev was soon well up in studies and they became friends.

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

Ans. Baldev’s son quarreled with the police on a number of occasions and they had always been on the lookout for an opportunity to implicate him. When a dacoity took place in the village, they got their chance and during investigation roped him in.

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.

Ans. Baldev presented many arguments before the narrator to convince him to speak to the district officer. He told the narrator that he considered him as his elder brother and depended upon him to get his son out of trouble. He argued that if his son would be sentenced the whole family would be ruined. He told him that the boy’s mother was crying her heart out and his son’s wife had not eaten anything since his arrest. He told him that both the women will die if his son was sent to jail. He also reminded the narrator that he was his childhood friend and also his guru.

HOTS

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

Ans. The narrator feels sorry that his countrymen gave a lot of importance to the government officials. They try to flatter by inviting them to preside over public functions or naming the school or a hospital after them. This mentality of Indians makes the narrator feel sorry for them.

Life  skills

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

T    The doing of some good work should result in a reward as the person who has done it gets a motivation from this reward.Even if hedoesnot demand,the deserving action should be rewarded for the spread of the good deed.For ex., if someone finds money on the road and then returns it to its owner, he should be rewarded as this will motivate him for doing such things in the future also.But reward should also be given to deserving ones.

A. 

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

iiIntellect involves reasoning and understanding something before making a decision whereas conscience guides one in making decisions.If decisions are made out of conscience alone , the decision maker may not put into consideration the consequences of his or her decision. Therfore it is important to use intellect too, so that one is able to understand the feeling and do appropriate decision making by using both intellect and conscience.

II    

Writing Skills

A.   You are the narrator. You are overcome with a feeling of guilt after Baldev and his son leave his house. Write a letter to Baldev expressing your guilt over accepting the honour that you did not deserve.

Examination Hall
New Delhi.

date :.

 Dear Baldev

It is with a great sense of shame that I write this letter to make a confession. The other day, the honour that you gave me for getting your son acquitted was an undeserved one. When you brought all those gifts to express your gratitude, I should have told you about it. But I could not gather enough courage to tell you the truth. I must tell you that I did not talk to the district officer and I have no role in the release of your son. The case was decided on his own merit. Instead of thanking me, express your thankfulness to God for showering justice on your son. Hope you will forgive me.

Your friend

Premchand