দশম শ্রেণীর ইংরেজি গল্প The Passing Away of Bapu সম্পূর্ণ স্টাডি গাইডে তোমাদের স্বাগতম। “The Passing Away of Bapu” is not just a historical account; it is a deeply emotional memoir by Nayantara Sehgal that captures the grief of a nation losing its father.
Here, we have broken down the entire story into its three units as it is in your textbook, Bliss. Whether you are looking for a summary, line-by-line Bengali meaning, or an interactive quiz to test your preparation, you will find everything here.
About the Author and the Text
Nayantara Sehgal, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, writes from a personal perspective. This text is an excerpt from her memoir, Prison and Chocolate Cake. It vividly describes the events following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948, moving from personal shock to collective mourning, and finally to a realization of carrying forward Bapu’s legacy.
Unit 1: The Shock of the News
(বাপুর মৃত্যুসংবাদ ও প্রাথমিক আঘাত)
The story begins on the evening of 30th January 1948. The narrator is having tea at home when she receives an urgent call to come to Birla House. The news is devastating: Gandhiji has been shot on his way to a prayer meeting.
Upon arriving, she witnesses a scene of deep sorrow. The room is filled with an “unnatural silence.” Outside, thousands of people stand like a “brown blur of faces,” stunned into silence. Later, the crowd becomes uncontrollable, clamouring to see their leader. They only calm down when it is announced that they can see Bapu before the funeral. The narrator captures the feeling of helplessness, comparing the mourning people to “lost children.”
📖 Read the Detailed Guide for Unit 1
Get the line-by-line Bengali meaning, word notes, and the Mock Test for Unit 1.
Unit 2: The FuneralProcession
(শেষযাত্রা ও হাঁটার তাৎপর্য)
The funeral takes place the next day. Padmasi, Mrs. Naidu’s daughter, speaks for everyone when she says, “We will walk. It is the last time we shall be walking with Bapu.”
The procession is “agonizing.” Thousands weep and try to touch Bapu’s feet as his body passes on an open truck. The narrator reflects on the deeper meaning of “walking” with Bapu. For the average Indian, walking was the only way open—it required no vehicle and cost nothing but energy. Gandhiji had transformed this simple necessity into a joyful effort for freedom. Walking with him meant walking through the rough and smooth of India’s history.
📖 Read the Detailed Guide for Unit 2
Understand the symbolism of “walking” and practice the Unit 2 Quiz here.
Unit 3: The Ashes and The Realization
(চিতাভস্ম বিসর্জন ও নতুন শপথ)
A special train decorated with flowers carries Gandhiji’s ashes to Allahabad. The journey is filled with bhajans, and people no longer weep, feeling Bapu’s presence in the song and prayer. The ashes are immersed in the Ganges amidst a huge crowd.
Back in Delhi, the narrator feels “at sea” (lost). She feels her “magic circle” of protection has vanished. However, this despair is temporary. She realizes that Bapu’s values are not weak. She asks herself, “Had Bapu lived and died for nothing?” The answer is no. She realizes that even if Bapu is gone, the young generation is strong and proud enough to bear his banner. Bapu lives on in his children.
📖 Read the Detailed Guide for Unit 3
Find the vocabulary list, analysis of the “Magic Circle,” and the final Quiz here.
Major Themes of the Story
- Loss and Grief: The text vividly portrays the initial shock and the feeling of being orphaned (“lost children”).
- Unity: In their grief, the “brown blur of faces” represents a united India mourning together.
- Responsibility: The story ends with a shift from sorrow to duty. The youth must carry the legacy forward.
শেষ কথা
“The Passing Away of Bapu” is a journey from darkness to light. It teaches students that while physical bodies perish, great ideals remain alive through the people who believe in them.