Chapter 4

1. When did Aditya leave the local school?

Answer: Aditya left the local school after passing the matriculation examination to continue his studies in Calcutta.


2. Why did Aditya think that the school would not be recognisable?

Answer: Aditya thought the school would not be recognisable because he had left the place twenty-nine years ago, and the school building might have undergone many changes during that time.


3. Who were Aditya's ancestors?

Answer: Aditya's ancestors were the zamindars of Bramhapur.


4. How was the landscape through which they travelled?

Answer: The landscape was filled with paddy fields on either side of the road, and the harvest was over, indicating a good crop. It was the middle of winter and the sun was soothing.


5. What did Aditya visit?

Answer: Aditya visited his old school and then Nagen uncle’s tea shop, which he remembered from his childhood.

6. Where was Nagen uncle's shop?

Answer: Nagen uncle's tea shop was next to a grocery shop and opposite a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.


7. Besides tea, what did Nagen uncle have in his shop?

Answer: Besides tea, Nagen uncle had biscuits and savouries, including nankhatai.


8. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal?

Answer: Nagen uncle said that Sasanka Sanyal led a cursed life. He had sold his land to get his daughter married, and after losing his wife and only son, he became mentally disturbed. Despite his condition, he never forgot past incidents, had an acute sense of self-respect, and always paid for his tea and biscuits.


9. In what way was Mr. Sanyal's behaviour strange?

Answer: Mr. Sanyal’s behaviour was strange because he suddenly stood up in the tea shop, stretched his arms, and began reciting a poem by Tagore aloud, then made a Namaste gesture to no one in particular and walked away, which made him appear a little crazy to the observer.


10. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal's past life?

Answer: Nagen uncle said that Sasanka Sanyal had sold his lands to arrange his only daughter's marriage. Later, he lost his wife and only son, which deeply affected him. Since then, he had not been mentally normal, though he remembered every incident from the past.


11. How did Sanyal show that he had a sense of self-respect?

Answer: Sanyal showed his sense of self-respect by always paying for his tea and biscuits, despite being poor and living in difficult circumstances.


12. Why was the attic 'a favourite place for the children?

Answer: The attic was a favourite place for children because it made them feel like they were in a world of their own, away from the rest of the house, offering a sense of mystery and adventure.


13. What did Aditya do on reaching the attic?

Answer: On reaching the attic, Aditya climbed on top of a wooden packing case and put his hand inside the ventilator, disturbing a sparrow’s nest. He was searching for something and finally retrieved a hidden object, which he did not reveal immediately.


14. What did the jeweller say about the article?

Answer:The jeweller said that the article was an antique.


15. Was Sanyal happy about his visitors?

Answer: No, Sanyal was not particularly happy about the visitors. He spoke in an unperturbed and indifferent manner, saying “No one visits me” and even vented his anger on Aditya for a past incident, showing he had not forgotten or forgiven.


16. Why did Sanyal recite the poem in the tea shop earlier?

Answer: Sanyal recited the poem in the tea shop on purpose, because he had recognised Aditya by the mole on his cheek, and wanted Aditya to remember him. He recited the same poem he had recited on the prize-giving day to trigger Aditya's memory.


17. What was engraved on the medal?

Answer: The medal had the following words engraved on it:

"Sriman Sasanka Sanyal Special Prize for Recitation 1948."


A. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences.

1. Write a few lines about the owner of the shop.

Answer: The owner of the shop was Nagen uncle, a man over sixty years old, with white, neatly-combed hair and a clean appearance. He wore a dhoti and a blue striped shirt under a green shawl. Though a little rustic in manner, he was kind and hospitable, offering tea, biscuits, and savouries to his customers. He was also observant and familiar with the local people, including Mr. Sanyal.


2. What was the daily routine of Sanyal?

Answer: Sanyal would regularly visit Nagen uncle's tea shop, have tea and biscuits, and always remembered to pay. Despite his poor condition, he maintained his self-respect and lived with a friend of his father's, Jogesh Kabiraj.


3. Why was there a sudden change in Aditya's expression?

Answer: There was a sudden change in Aditya’s expression when he saw Mr. Sanyal at the tea shop, recognizing someone from his past whom he had wronged during childhood by taking away his prize medal.


4. Why did Aditya decide to visit his ancestral home?

Answer: Aditya decided to visit his ancestral home because he felt it had become essential after seeing Mr. Sanyal and recalling the incident of the lost medal. He was likely feeling guilty and wanted to retrieve the medal hidden in the attic.


5. What was the condition of the attic?

Answer: The attic was in a dilapidated state, with a crumbling wall, broken furniture, twigs, straw, and pigeon droppings scattered on the floor. It had been badly affected by wind and weather over the years.


6. When did Aditya heave a sigh of relief? Why?

Answer: Aditya heaved a sigh of relief when he found the medal hidden in the attic's ventilator, confirming that the prize medal he had taken long ago was still there and could now be returned to its rightful owner, Mr. Sanyal.


7. Why did Aditya and his friend go to the jeweller?

Answer: Aditya and his friend went to the jeweller to find out the weight and value of the medal. The jeweller remarked that it was an antique, helping Aditya estimate its current worth in order to compensate Mr. Sanyal.


8. What did Aditya offer Sanyal?

Answer: Aditya initially offered Rs. 150 in cash to Sanyal as compensation for the medal he had taken and never returned. However, when Sanyal refused the money and expressed his desire for the actual medal, Aditya gave him the original recitation medal that had been hidden in the attic for twenty-nine years.


9. "Your grievances are absolutely justified." Who says this to whom? Why?

Answer: Aditya says this to Sasanka Sanyal.

He acknowledges that Sanyal’s anger and hurt feelings were valid, because Aditya had taken away his prize medal as a child and never returned it. By saying this, Aditya shows that he has realised his mistake, is remorseful, and respects Sanyal’s right to be upset.


1. Give a detailed account of all thoughts and questions in the narrator's mind while accompanying Aditya from the tea shop to Sanyal's house

Answer: After leaving Nagen uncle’s tea shop, the narrator noticed a sudden change in Aditya’s behaviour. Aditya became tense, quiet, and emotionally disturbed, which made the narrator feel uneasy and curious. Although he was eager to ask questions, he decided to remain silent, respecting Aditya’s mood.

The narrator kept wondering:

  • Who was the strange man at the tea shop who had recited the poem?
  • Why had Aditya’s mood shifted so suddenly?
  • What was he searching for so urgently in the attic of his ancestral house?
  • Why did he go to the jeweller after finding the hidden object?

These unanswered questions kept running through his mind. Despite his growing curiosity, the narrator trusted Aditya and waited for the truth to unfold. His silence showed both his loyalty as a friend and his awareness that Aditya was confronting something deeply personal.


2. 'Man does change with time' — What were the various changes that came about in Aditya?

Answer: Aditya underwent a remarkable transformation over time. As a child, he had been jealous, proud, and dishonest—taking Sasanka Sanyal’s prize medal and never returning it, giving a false excuse.

But after coming face to face with Sanyal again, Aditya showed signs of:

  • Remorse and guilt: He was clearly disturbed after seeing Sanyal and decided to make amends.
  • Emotional maturity: Instead of avoiding his past, he chose to confront it, return to his ancestral home, and retrieve the hidden medal.
  • Honesty and courage: He admitted his mistake openly in front of Sanyal, showing how much he had changed.
  • Compassion: He tried to offer money as compensation, showing that he cared about making things right.
  • Respect for others: He recognized Sanyal’s pain and acknowledged it without any excuses.

    These changes proved that Aditya had evolved into a responsible and humble person, who understood the importance of truth, respect, and redemption.


3. Give a brief character sketch of Sasanka Sanyal

Answer: Sasanka Sanyal is portrayed as a dignified, intelligent, and self-respecting man, despite his tragic life experiences. Once a brilliant student and winner of a recitation prize, he had been deeply hurt by Aditya’s betrayal.

Key traits of Sasanka Sanyal:

  • Emotionally strong: Even after losing his wife and son, and facing poverty, he remained composed and principled.
  • Highly intelligent: He could recite poetry with depth and expression, and remembered every detail of the past.
  • Self-respecting: He never accepted charity and always paid for his tea and biscuits.
  • Sensitive and honest: He was still affected by the injustice done to him as a child but was honest in expressing his pain.
  • Forgiving: Although he was angry at first, he eventually forgave Aditya and accepted the returned medal with grace.

    In short, Sasanka Sanyal is a man of integrity, who values dignity, memory, and justice over material gain.