Chapter 8 

                                                   A Clean Confession


1. Why did the narrator and his relative develop an interest in smoking?

Answer: They developed an interest in smoking because they thought it would give them pleasure. They were also influenced by the narrator’s uncle who smoked regularly, and they tried to copy him.

2. Did the boys actually enjoy smoking in the beginning? Explain.

Answer: No, they did not actually enjoy smoking. They disliked the smell of cigarettes, but still imagined that smoking was pleasurable and tried it out of curiosity and imitation.

3. How did the boys manage to get cigarettes without money?

Answer: Since they had no money, they first collected cigarette stumps thrown away by the uncle. Later, when this was insufficient, they began stealing small coins from the servant’s pocket money.

4. Why were cigarette stumps not enough for them?

Answer: The cigarette stumps were not enough because they were often unavailable and did not give enough smoke. This made the boys dissatisfied.

5. Why did the boys feel frustrated with their situation?

Answer: They felt frustrated because they could not smoke freely and had to depend on elders. They also felt they lacked independence, which made them angry and restless.

6. Why did the boys think of committing suicide?

Answer: They thought of committing suicide out of extreme frustration and disgust with their lack of independence and inability to act freely.

7. How did they try to prepare for suicide?

Answer: They went to the jungle, collected dhatura seeds, and decided to take them as poison. They also chose an auspicious time and went to a temple before attempting it.

8. Why did they visit the temple before attempting suicide?

Answer: They visited the temple to seek peace of mind and perform religious rituals before taking the extreme step.

9. Why did their courage fail at the last moment?

Answer: Their courage failed because they became afraid of death and uncertain about the consequences. They started questioning whether suicide was the right decision.

10. What decision did the boys take after their fear?

Answer: They decided not to commit suicide and instead accepted their situation. They also decided to leave the idea completely.

11. What did the suicide attempt ultimately lead to?

Answer: It ultimately led them to give up the habit of smoking and stealing coins, as they realized the seriousness of their actions.

12. What was Gandhiji’s later opinion about smoking?

Answer: Gandhiji later considered smoking a barbarous, dirty, and harmful habit and completely avoided it throughout his life.

13. Why did Gandhiji feel choked in a smoking-filled compartment?

Answer: He felt choked because he strongly disliked smoking and could not tolerate cigarette smoke in closed spaces.

14. What was the second theft committed by Gandhiji?

Answer: The second theft was stealing a piece of gold from his meat-eating brother’s armlet to clear his brother’s debt.

15. Why did Gandhiji steal the gold piece?

Answer: He stole it to help his brother clear a debt of about twenty-five rupees.

16. How did Gandhiji feel after committing the second theft?

Answer: He felt unbearable guilt and remorse, which made him deeply disturbed and restless.

17. What decision did Gandhiji take after realizing his mistake?

Answer: He decided never to steal again and also decided to confess his wrongdoing to his father.

18. Why was Gandhiji afraid to tell his father directly?

Answer: He was not afraid of punishment but feared causing emotional pain to his father.

19. How did Gandhiji finally confess his mistake?

Answer: He wrote a confession on a piece of paper, handed it to his father, and asked for punishment and forgiveness.

20. What did Gandhiji include in his confession letter?

Answer: He admitted his guilt, asked for adequate punishment, promised never to steal again, and requested his father not to punish himself emotionally.

21. What was Gandhiji’s condition when he gave the confession?

Answer: He was trembling with fear and emotion while giving the confession to his father.

22. What was his father’s physical condition at that time?

Answer: His father was confined to bed and lying on a simple wooden plank.

23. How did his father react after reading the confession?

Answer: His father read it silently, tears flowed down his cheeks, and he tore up the letter without saying anything harsh.

24. Why did Gandhiji’s father tear the confession letter?

Answer: He tore it because he was deeply moved by his son’s honesty and repentance rather than anger.

25. What emotional effect did the confession have on Gandhiji?

Answer: It made him cry and feel deeply emotional as he saw his father’s love and silent forgiveness.

26. How did Gandhiji describe his father’s reaction?

Answer: He described it as peaceful, loving, and full of silent understanding rather than anger or punishment.

27. What lesson did Gandhiji learn from this incident?

Answer: He learned that true repentance and honest confession bring forgiveness and strengthen love and trust.

28. What is meant by “clean confession”?

Answer: A clean confession means admitting one’s mistake honestly with a sincere promise not to repeat it again.

29. Why does Gandhiji call his confession “pure repentance”?

Answer: Because it was sincere, truthful, and accompanied by a strong promise never to repeat the sin.

30. How did the confession affect his relationship with his father?

Answer: It strengthened their bond and increased his father’s affection and trust for him.

Answer by Mrinmoee