Chapter 10
THE TRIBUTE
A. Choose the correct alternative:
1. The story shows Bubuli's father as
(a) healthy
(b) dead
(d)
(c) 111
Answer: (b) dead
2. Babuli's second brother appears as
(a) broad minded
(b) selfish
(c) friendly
(d) none
Answer: (b) selfish
3. Babuli was gifted a wrist-watch when he was studying in
(a) eighth class
(b) ninth class
(c) tenth class
(d) eleventh class
Answer: (d) eleventh class
4. In the story the tribute has been paid by
(a) the eleder brother to Babuli
(b) Babuli to the elder brother
(c) the second brother to the mother
(d) the sister-in-law to the father
Answer: (b) Babuli to the elder brother
5. The chief reason of the division of property is a quarrel between
(a) the brothers living in the village
(b) the sisters-in-law living in the village
(c) the mother and the sisters in law
(d) Babuli and the second brother
Answer: (b) the sisters-in-law living in the village
6. The theme of The Tribute is
(a) religious
(b) domestic
(c) political
(d) historical
Answer: (b) domestic
C. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words:
1. What was the complaint of Babuli's mother in her letters to him?
Answer: Babuli's mother often complained in her letters that he had stopped writing to the family. She felt hurt by his negligence and reminded him of the days before his marriage when he would write regularly and stay emotionally connected to home. She expressed her disappointment over his growing distance and silence.
2. How did Babuli's wife react to hear about the partition?
Answer: Babuli's wife was completely unperturbed when she heard about the partition. She showed no emotional reaction and instead asked him, "When?" as if she had been waiting for this moment. She was more interested in the monetary value of their share and suggested selling the land to buy household items like a fridge, a scooter, and gold ornaments, showing her materialistic mindset.
3. What was the attitude of Babuli's second brother regarding the partition?
Answer: Babuli's second brother was very particular, adamant, and eager about the partition. He insisted on dividing the property and showed no emotional attachment to the family or their shared past. He was materialistic and self-centered, often whispering with his wife and focusing only on his personal gain. His attitude reflected selfishness and a complete disregard for family bonds.
4. How did Babuli feel when he accompanied his eleder brother to the paddy fields?
Answer: When Babuli accompanied his elder brother to the paddy fields, he felt deeply emotional and overwhelmed. As he walked through the fields, he could sense his elder brother’s hard work, love, and sacrifice in every corner. He realized how much his brother had done for the family and for him personally. Babuli felt small and guilty for his own ingratitude and detachment, and the visit to the fields stirred a strong sense of respect, love, and remorse in his heart.
5. Why was Babuli's wrist-watch mortgaged?
Answer: Babuli's elder brother had mortgaged his own wrist-watch to send Babuli money when he was in his M.A. final year. Babuli needed ₹150 to go to Delhi for a job interview, and his elder brother sacrificed his beloved watch—gifted to him by their father when he was in the eleventh class—to support Babuli's future. This act symbolized his brother's selfless love and deep concern for Babuli's success.
D. Answer the following questions in about 60 words:
1.How did Babuli differentiate between his student life and the present life?
Answer: Babuli recalled his student life as a time filled with strong emotional bonds and deep attachment to his home and village. Back then, he would often visit his family, ignoring the strain of the journey, and found comfort in the warmth and love of his home. However, in his present life, he had become distant and emotionally detached. He was swept up in the busyness of city life, had stopped writing letters home, and hadn’t visited for years. He realized that he had changed a lot, becoming indifferent and caught in a web of complacency, unlike the emotionally rich life he had as a student.
2 How was Babuli fed during his stay at home when he was a student?
Answer: During his student days, Babuli was treated with great affection and care at home. His elder brother would catch fish from the pond behind their house especially for him, knowing how much Babuli loved fish. Even if the catch was small, the dish would be prepared exclusively for Babuli. His brother would ask his wife to cook it deliciously using mustard paste, just the way Babuli liked it. This thoughtful and loving gesture reflected the elder brother’s deep care and affection for him.
3. How did the family members behave with Babuli when he came home at the time of the partition?
Answer: When Babuli returned home for the partition, he was met with a cold and unusual atmosphere. Unlike earlier times, none of his nephews ran to greet him, and his sister-in-law did not come out of the kitchen to welcome him. Only his mother came and stood quietly near him. His second brother and his wife showed no emotion or warmth, as they were fully focused on the partition. The house felt lifeless, as if it were preparing for a collapse. This indifferent behavior deeply saddened Babuli and highlighted the emotional distance that had grown within the family.
4. Which childhood memories did come up in Babuli's mind when he was on the village road while returning from Bhubaneswar?
Answer: While walking on the village road with his elder brother, Babuli was flooded with childhood memories. He remembered how he used to go for tuition classes in the evening and return late at night. His elder brother would always come to escort him back home, carrying a lantern and Babuli’s bag of books, ensuring that he was not scared. Sometimes, if Babuli was tired, his brother would even carry him on his shoulders while going to the fields for a walk. These memories filled Babuli with a deep sense of nostalgia and made him realize how selfless and caring his elder brother had always been.
5. Justifiy the title of the story "The Tribute".
Answer: The title "The Tribute" is deeply meaningful and perfectly suited to the story. It symbolizes the heartfelt offering that Babuli makes to his elder brother, not in the form of material wealth, but through an emotional acknowledgment of love, sacrifice, and gratitude. Throughout Babuli's life, his elder brother supported him selflessly — mortgaging his precious wristwatch for Babuli’s career, feeding him lovingly during student days, and never once complaining about anything.
In the end, when the property is being divided, Babuli realizes that no land or money can repay his brother’s silent sacrifices. So, he gives up his share of the land, calling his elder brother his true “land” from which he harvested everything in life. This symbolic act of giving up his claim is Babuli's tribute — a heartfelt expression of love and indebtedness to his elder brother. Thus, the title highlights the emotional core of the story: love, gratitude, and familial bond.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions "who", "whom'or "that":
1. The perosn donated money is a famous industrialist.
Answer: The person who donated the money is a famous industrialist.
2. The boy from I borrowed the book is my friend.
Answer: The boy from whom I borrowed the book is my friend.
3. The book contains the data of census is in our library,
Answer: The book which contains the data of the census is in our library.
4. The bank manager the police arrested is from Mumbai.
Answer: The bank manager whom the police arrested is from Mumbai.
5. The currency notes acceptable. were banned on Nov. 8, 2016 are no more
Answer: The currency notes which were banned on Nov. 8, 2016 are no more acceptable.
6. The wrist-watch I bought last year is not working properly.
Answer: But for clarity or formality, you may also write:
7. Is Anil the man you met at the airport last Sunday?
Answer: Alternatively, for a slightly more formal tone, you could write:
8. The terrorist the army killed is said to be from Pakistan.
Answer: The terrorist whom the army killed is said to be from Pakistan.
9. The Indian scientists work at the NASA are highly talented.
Answer: The Indian scientists who work at NASA are highly talented.
10. The foreign travellers culture. visited India in the past praised the Indian
Answer: The foreign travellers who visited India in the past praised the Indian culture.
