Class -8, English (It So Happened), Chapter -8 (Jalebis) Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions

English

(It So Happened)

Class -8, Chapter -8

(Jalebis)

Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions  

-- Summary -- 

⭐ Summary In English:- 

I

• Temptation for Jalebis:- Munna was a student of fifth class at the Government School, Kambelpur. He was going to school with four rupees in his pocket to pay his fees. But his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, was on leave. So the fees could not be paid that day. On his way back, the sight of Jalebis tempted him. The coins in his pocket began to jingle.

• Coins Spoke:- Coins do not talk. But that day they actually spoke. One rupiya said, “What are you thinking about ?” It drew his attention to the fresh, hot jalebis. It told Munna that they were meant to be eaten. Only those with money in their pocket can eat them. And money is meant to be spent.

• Reasons for not following Advice:- He didn’t follow the coin’s advice. It was the money for the fees. How could he spend it on jalebis ? He won’t show his face to his teacher and God. Besides this, he was a good boy. He got so much to eat at home. So he considered even looking at something in the bazaar a sin. If Master Ghulam Mohammed got angry, he would keep him standing on the bench. Moreover, he belonged to a well-to-do family. So he enjoyed great prestige. Therefore, it was not proper for him to eat jalebis standing in the bazaar.

• Behaviour of the Rupiyas:- The rupiyas did not like what Munna had said. They began to speak at the same time. They made such a loud noise that the passers by stared at him with surprise. So he held them tight in his fist. They were now silent. The oldest rupiya told him they were trying to tell him something for his own good. He asked Munna if he didn’t like eating those jalebies. If he spent the money that day, he would get the scholarship the next day. Then he can pay his fees.

• The Temptation:- Munna could not overcome his temptation. The rupiyas went on persuading him to eat jalebis. So he rushed out of the house barefoot to eat jalebis. He ran towards the bazaar. He told the halwai to give him a rupee worth of jalebis. Those were not expensive days. One rupee could fetch more than Rs. 20 does nowadays. The halwai heaped a pile of jalebis on a newspaper. He took the jalebis and ran into a street. He ate many jalebis.

II

• Neighbourhood Boys:- The boys from the neighbourhood assembled in the street. Munna began to give jalebis to the children around. When other children heard about it, they also came there. Munna ran to the halwai. He bought one more rupee’s worth of Jalebis. He distributed these jalebis among the children. A huge crowd of children gathered round him. Beggars too came there. The children were so happy that they could have done anything for him. Munna bought jalebis for the remaining two rupees. He distributed them also.

• Munna’s Problem:- Munna returned home. Digesting the jalebis was now a problem for him. A burp came with every breath. There was the danger of every burp bringing out a jalebi or two. He had to take his dinner also. Otherwise he would have been asked why he did not want any food. If he had pretended illness, a doctor would have been called. The result was that he lay coiled up like a jalebi during the night. But he was able to digest the jalebis.

• Another Problem:- Munna faced another problem. He went to school the next day. He found out that he won’t get his scholarship that day. It would be paid next month. Master Ghulam Mohammed had announced that he would take the fees during the recess. But when the recess bell rang, Munna left the school. On the way, he prayed to God to arrange four rupees for him. He reached the Kambelpur Railway Station. The elders had given him two warnings. First, he should not cross railway tracks. Second, he must never eat sweets with his fees money.

III

• Munna’s Absence from School:- Munna sat under a tree near the railway tracks. He started thinking about his miserable condition. The matter had looked simple and straightforward. This was because he could pay the fees with the scholarship money. If he had known that he would get the scholarship next month, he would not have bought jalebis. Now he was absent from school for the first time because of the jalebis. He felt like crying. He started thinking about his fees and his teacher’s cane. He closed his eyes and began to pray.

• His Prayer to God:- Munna prayed to God to help him. He said that he was a very good boy. He has memorized the entire namaaz. He even knows the last ten surats of the Quran by heart. He can recite the entire ayat-al-kursi. He needed money for his school fees. He made a mistake. But he was not alone to eat jalebis. He fed them to a large member of children. He prayed to God to put only four rupees in his bag. There was no shortage of anything in God’s treasury. He was asking only for four rupees.

• Munna’s Disappointment:- After the prayer, he offered namaaz. He also recited ten surats, ayat-al-kursi, etc. Then he blew over his bag saying choo. But he was disappointed when he didn’t find even four paise in his bag. He felt like crying as loudly as he could. He was very tired. He got up from there and walked to the bazaar. He waited for the school bell to ring. He would go home with other children. He wanted to show that he had come straight from school. The next day also he did the same thing. He again prayed to God to give him four rupees.

• Munna’s Game with God:- Munna suggested the God to play a game. He will go from here to the signal. God should secretly place four rupees under that big rock. He will touch the signal and come back. It will be a great fun if he could find four rupees under the rock. He went to the signal and came back. He said ‘bismillah’ and lifted the rock. He found a big hairy worm under it. He screamed and ran away. Once again he touched the signal. He was about to leave. He once again looked at the rock. He saw the worm sitting on it and staring at him.

• His next day’s Programme:- While going, he was thinking of doing wazu the next day. He will wear clean clothes and come here. He will keep reading the namaaz till noon. Even then if God does not give four rupees, he will make a deal. The report of his absence from school had reached home. Later on he kept on thinking if there could be any harm if God had sent him four rupees. He realized if God gave everything for asking, man will be no better than birds. He will not learn to do anything. This is because he will get everything without effort.

⭐ Summary In Hindi:- 

I

• जलेबियों का लालच:- मुन्ना कम्बलपुर के सरकारी स्कूल में पाँचवी श्रेणी का विद्यार्थी था। वह अपनी फीस देने के लिए चार रुपये जेब में लिए स्कूल जा रहा था। परन्तु उसका अध्यापक Master Ghulam Mohammed छुट्टी पर था। इसलिए फीस उस दिन नहीं दी जा सकी। वापस आते समय, जलेबियों को देखकर उसका मन ललचाया। उसकी जेब में सिक्के खनकने लगे।

• सिक्के बोले:- सिक्के बात नहीं करते। परन्तु उस दिन वे वास्तव में बोले। एक रुपये ने कहा, “तुम किस बारे में सोच रहे हो ?’ उसने उसका ध्यान ताजे, गर्म जलेबियों की तरफ आकर्षित किया। उसने मुन्ना को बताया कि वे खाने के लिए बनी हैं। केवल वे लोग जिनकी जेब में पैसा है उनको खा सकते हैं। और पैसा खर्च करने के लिए होता है।

• सलाह न मानने का कारण:- उसने सिक्कों की सलाह नहीं मानी। यह पैसा फीस का था। वह कैसे इसे जलेबी पर खर्च कर सकता था ? वह अपना मुँह अध्यापक और भगवान को नहीं दिखा पायेगा। इसके अलावा वह एक अच्छा लड़का था। उसको घर में खाने को काफी कुछ मिल जाता था। इसलिए बाजार में किसी चीज को देखना भी वह पाप मानता था। अगर Master Ghulam Mohammed को गुस्सा आ गया तो वह उसको बैंच पर खड़ा रखेगा। इसके अलावा वह एक खाते-पीते परिवार से था। इसलिए उसकी काफी इज्जत थी। इसलिए उसके लिए बाजार के बीच खड़े होकर जलेबियाँ खाना ठीक नहीं था।

• रुपयों का बर्ताव:- जो कुछ मुन्ना ने कहा रुपयों को पसन्द नहीं आया। वे सब के सब एक साथ बोलने लगे। उन्होंने इतना शोर मचा दिया कि राहगीर आश्चर्य से उसकी तरफ घूर-घूर कर देखने लगे। इसलिए उसने सबको अपनी मुट्ठी में जोर से दबा लिया। वे अब चुप हो गए। सबसे पुराने रुपये ने उससे कहा कि वे उसकी भलाई के लिए ही उसे कुछ बताना चाहते हैं। उसने मुन्ना से पूछा कि क्या उसको वे जलेबियाँ खानी पसन्द नहीं हैं। अगर उसने पैसा आज खर्च कर दिया तो कल उसको वजीफा (छात्रवृत्ति) मिल जाएगा। फिर वह अपनी फीस दे सकता है।

• लालच:- मुन्ना अपने लालच पर काबू नहीं पा सका। रुपये उसे जलेबी खाने के लिए मनाते रहे। इसलिए वह जलेबी खाने के लिए घर से बाहर नंगे पैर निकल पड़ा। वह बाजार की तरफ दौड़ा। उसने हलवाई को एक रुपये की जलेबी देने को कहा। वे कोई महंगे दिन नहीं थे। एक रुपये में आजकल के 20 रुपये जितनी खरीद हो सकती थी। हलवाई ने एक अखबार पर जलेबियों का ढेर लगा दिया। उसने जलेबियाँ ली और एक गली में भाग गया। उसने ढेरों जलेबियाँ खायीं।

II

• पड़ोसी बच्चे:- पड़ोस के बच्चे गली में इकट्ठे हो गए। मुन्ना ने अपने आस-पास के बच्चों को जलेबियाँ देनी शुरू कर दीं। जब अन्य बच्चों ने उसके बारे में सुना तो वे भी वहाँ आ गए। मुन्ना दौड़ता हुआ हलवाई के पास गया। उसने एक रुपये की जलेबियाँ और खरीद लीं। उसने इन जलेबियों को बच्चों में बाँट दिया। बच्चों की भारी भीड़ उसके चारों तरफ इकट्ठी हो गई। भिखारी भी वहाँ आ पहुँचे। बच्चे इतने खुश थे कि वे उसके लिए कुछ भी कर सकते थे। मुन्ना ने बचे हुए दो रुपयों से जलेबियाँ खरीद लीं। उसने उन्हें भी बाँट दिया।

• मुन्ना की समस्या:- मुन्ना घर वापस आ गया। जलेबियों को पचाना अब उसके लिए एक समस्या थी। हर साँस के साथ उसको डकार आने लगी। उसको इस बात का खतरा था कि हर डकार के साथ एक दो जलेबी बाहर आ जाएगी। उसको अपना शाम को खाना भी खाना था। वरना उससे पूछा जाता कि उसको खाना क्यों नहीं चाहिए। अगर वह बीमारी का बहाना करता तो डाक्टर को बुला लिया जाता। परिणाम यह हुआ कि वह रात में जलेबी की तरह कुंडली बनाए लेटा रहा। परन्तु वह जलेबियाँ पचाने में सफल हो गया।

• दूसरी समस्या:- मुन्ना के सामने एक और समस्या थी। वह अगले रोज स्कूल गया। उसे पता लगा कि उसको उस दिन वजीफा नहीं मिलेगा। यह अगले महीने दिया जाएगा। Master Ghulam Mohammed ने घोषणा कर दी थी कि वह मध्यावकाश के दौरान फीस लेगा। लेकिन जब मध्यावकाश की घण्टी बजी, मुन्नी स्कूल से चल पड़ा। रास्ते में उसने भगवान से उसके लिए चार रुपये का इन्तजाम करने की प्रार्थना की। वह कम्बलपुर रेलवे स्टेशन पहुँचा। बुजुर्गों ने उसको दो चेतावनियाँ दी थीं। पहले तो यह कि उसको रेल की पटरियाँ पार नहीं करनी चाहिएँ। दूसरे, उसको फीस के पैसे से मिठाइयाँ नहीं खरीदनी चाहिएँ।

III

• मुन्ना की स्कूल से अनुपस्थिति:- मुन्ना रेल की पटरियों के पास एक पेड़ के नीचे बैठ गया। वह अपनी दु:खी हालत पर सोचने लगा। मामला बिलकुल आसान और सीधा लगता था। वह इसलिए कि वह अपने वजीफे के पैसे से फीस दे सकता था। अगर उसे यह पता होता कि वजीफा उसको अगले महीने मिलेगा तो वह जलेबी नहीं खरीदता। अब वह जलेबियों के कारण स्कूल से पहली बार अनुपस्थित था। उसे ऐसा लगा जैसे कि वह चिल्लाना चाहता हो। वह अपनी फीस और अध्यापक के बेंत के बारे में सोचने लगा। उसने अपनी आँखें बन्द कर लीं और प्रार्थना करने लगा।

• भगवान से उसकी प्रार्थना:- मुन्ना ने भगवान से अपनी मदद के लिए प्रार्थना की। उसने कहा कि वह एक बहुत अच्छा लड़का है। उसने सारी नमाज को याद कर लिया है। कुरान की आखिरी दस सूरतें भी उसको कंठस्थ है। वह सारी अयात-अल-कुरसी भी सुना सकता है। उसको अपने स्कूल की फीस के लिए पैसा चाहिए। उसने गलती की। परन्तु जलेबी खाने वाला वह अकेला नहीं था। उसने उन्हें बहुत सारे बच्चों को खिलाया। उसने भगवान से प्रार्थना की कि वह उसके थैले में केवल चार रुपये डाल दे। भगवान के खजाने में किसी चीज की कमी नहीं है। वह तो केवल चार रुपये माँग रहा था।

• मुन्ना की निराशा:- प्रार्थना के बाद, उसने नमाज़ की। उसने दस सूरतों का अयात-अल-कुरसी इत्यादि का भी पाठ किया। फिर उसने ‘छु’ बोलकर अपने थैले पर फेंक मारी। परन्तु जब अपने थैले में चार पैसे भी नहीं मिले तो उसको निराशा हुई। उसने जितना ऊँचा चिल्ला सकता था चिल्लाना चाहा। वह बहुत थका हुआ था। वह वहाँ से उठा और पैदल बाजार की तरफ चल पड़ा। उसने स्कूल की घण्टी बजने का इन्तजार किया। वह दूसरे बच्चों के साथ घर जाएगा। वह यह दिखाना चाहता था कि वह सीधा स्कूल से आया है। अगले दिन भी उसने ऐसा ही किया। उसने फिर चार रुपये देने के लिए भगवान से प्रार्थना की।

• मुन्ना का भगवान के साथ खेल:- मुन्ना ने भगवान को सुझाव दिया कि वह एक खेल खेले। वह यहाँ से सिगनल तक जाएगा। भगवान को उस बड़े पत्थर के नीचे चुपचाप चार रुपये रख देने चाहिएँ। वह सिगनल छूकर वापस आ जाएगा। यह बड़े मजे की बात होगी अगर पत्थर के नीचे उसको चार रुपये मिल जाएँ। वह सिगनल के पास गया और वापस आ गया। उसने बिस्मिल्लाह पुकारा और पत्थर उठाया। उसको इसके नीचे एक बालदार बड़ा कीड़ा मिला। उसने चीख मारी और भाग गया। एक बार फिर उसने सिगनल को छुआ। वह जाने वाला था। उसने एक बार फिर चट्टान की तरफ देखा। उसने कीड़े को उसके ऊपर बैठे और उसकी तरफ घूरते देखा।

• उसकी अगले दिन की योजना:- जाते हुए, वह अगले दिन वजू करने की सोच रहा था। वह साफ कपड़े पहनेगा और यहाँ आएगा। वह दोपहर तक नमाज़ पढ़ता रहेगा। अगर फिर भी भगवान चार रुपये नहीं देता है तो वह उससे सौदा करेगा। उसके स्कूल से अनुपस्थित होने की सूचना घर पहुँच चुकी थी। बाद में वह सोचता रहा कि अगर भगवान उसको पैसा भिजवा देता तो क्या नुकसान होता। उसने महसूस किया कि अगर भगवान माँगने से सब कुछ देता है तो आदमी की हालत पक्षियों से अच्छी नहीं होगी। वह कुछ भी करना नहीं सीखेगा। यह इसलिए कि उसको हर चीज बगैर कोशिश मिल जाएगी। 

-- Word Meanings --

• Temptation - प्रलोभन, लालच

• Leave - छुट्टी

• Clamour - कोलाहल, शोर

• Passers-by - राहगीर, राही 

• Babble - बक बक करना 

• Prestige - इज्ज़त 

• Clench - जकड़ना, कसकर पकड़ना 

• Shriek - चिल्लाना 

• Devour - खा जाना, भक्षण करना 

• Nostril - नाक

• Assemble - इकट्ठा करना 

• Get into - मज़ा लेना

• Dash - टकराना 

• Assault - हमला

• Virtuous - धार्मिक 

• Digest - हज़म करना

• Tuck - लपटेना , समेटना 

• Displease - अप्रसन्न करना, नाराज़ करना 

• Decree - आदेश करना

• Worm - कीड़ा

• Strike - प्रहार करना, प्रभाव डालना 

• Bargains - सौदा

-- NCERT Solutions --

Comprehension Check (Page 65)

Question 1.- Why didn’t he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?

Answer:- The boy couldn’t pay the school fees on the day he brought to school because the teacher Master Ghulam Mohammed was on leave.

Question 2.- 

i) What were the coins ‘saying’ to him?

Answer:- The coins in the boy’s pocket urged him to buy hot and fresh jalebis.

ii) Do you think they were misguiding him?

Answer:-  Yes, the coins were misguiding him because the money was meant for paying school fees.

Question 3.- Why didn’t he take the coin’s advice? Give two or three reasons.

Answer:- Initially, the boy didn’t take the advice of the coins seriously for a couple of rea­sons. He could not spend the money meant for paying school fees on jalebis. Sec­ondly, the boy knew the harsh nature of the master and the punishment.

Question 4.- 

i) What did the oldest coin tell him?

Answer:- The oldest coin convinced him that they were telling him for his own good. He can pay his fee next day with his scholarship money. So he should not suppress his desire for jalebis.

ii) Did he follow his advice? If not, why not?

Answer:- He didn’t follow his advice. He was a promising student. He was from a good family of repute. He didn’t want to get defame for it. 

Question 5.- He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?

Solution:- After reaching home he couldn’t suppress his temptation for fresh Jalabis. He rushed to the shop of halwai. He bought jalebis and enjoyed them.

Comprehension Check (Page 68)

Question 1.- 

i) Why didn’t he eat all the jalebis he had bought?

Answer:- He had bought jalebis for one rupee. But he couldn’t eat all of them because of their quantity.

ii) What did he do with the remaining Jalebis?

Answer:- He distributed the remaining jalebis among the boys from the neighbourhood.

Question 2.- “The fear was killing me.” What was the fear?

Answer:- He had eaten so many jalebis that there was the problem of digesting them all. His fear was that one jalebi or two would come out with a burp.

Question 3.- “Children’s stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do you understand by that? Do you agree?

Answer:- It means that children have the capacity to digest a lot of things that they overeat. I agree with the statement but only partly.

Question 4.- How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?

Answer:- He planned to pay the fees the next day when he would get his monthly scholarship. 

Question 5.- When it is time to pay the fees, what does he do? How is he disobeying the elders by doing so?

Answer:- When the time draws near to pay the fees, he tucked the bag under his arm and slips out of the school. He had disobeyed his elders by crossing the railway track.

Comprehension Check (Page 72)

Question 1.- What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?

Answer:- As a result of spending his fees money on jalebis, he had to be absent from school for the first time in his life.

Question 2.- His prayer to God is like a lawyer’s defence of a bad case. Does he argue his case well? What are the points he makes?

Answer:- He tries to please God with his requests and the recitation of the entire namaz. He admits that he made a mistake. He wouldn’t have spent his money on jalebis if he had known about the delay in scholarship. Thus, he argues his case like a lawyer.

Question 3.- He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?

Answer:- The game is that he will go upto the signal, touch it and come back. And in the meantime God should put four rupees under a big rock.

Question 4.- Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to see under the rock?

Answer:- No, he didn’t get four rupees by playing the game. When he lifted the rock, he saw a worm instead of coins.

Question 5.- If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have caused him in later life?

Answer:- If God had granted his wish that day he wouldn’t have learnt a lesson to do no wrong in future. He would have been like a bird and learnt no skill.

EXERCISE (PAGE 72)

Work in small groups.

Question 1.- Select and read sentences that show

a) that the boy is tempted to eat jalebis.

Answer.- 

• Jalebis are meant to be eaten, and those with money in their pocket can eat them.

• But then, these jalebis are no common sort of Jalebis They’re crisp, fresh and full of syrup.

• My mouth watered. I rushed out of the house bare foot and ran towards the bazaar.

b) that he is feeling guilty

Answer:- 

• My head started to spin.

• When the recess bell rang I tucked my bag under my arm and left the school.

• Now for the crime of eating a few Jalebis, for the first time in my life I was absent from school.

• Sitting under a tree, at first I felt like crying.

c) that he is justifying a wrong deed.

Answer:- 

• I didn’t eat them all by myself, and I fed them to a whole lot of children.

• Allah Miyan! I am a good boy. I have memorised the entire namaz and the last – ten surats of the Quran by heart.

Question 2.- Discuss the following points.

a) Is the boy intelligent? If so, what is the evidence of it?

Answer:- The boy is definitely intelligent. The first evidence is that he has won a schol­arship. He is a promising boy. He knows what is right and what is wrong. He argues his case before God like a lawyer.

b) Does his outlook on the jalebis episode change after class VIII? Does he see that episode in a new light?

Answer:- Yes, his outlook changed after class VIII. He later realised that nothing comes without a price. If God were to grant all one’s wishes for the asking, man would not learn any skill. He would be no better than birds.

c) Why are coins made to ‘talk’ in this story? What purpose does it serve?

Answer.-  The coins are made to talk because they reflect the conflict going on in his own mind.

-- Frequently Asked Questions --

Question 1.- How did the coins persuade the boy to buy jalebis?

Answer.- The coins told the boy that the jalebis were fresh, crisp and syrupy. They were meant to be eaten and only those with money in their pocket could eat them.

Question 2.- How did the boy respond to the coins?

Answer.- The boy didn’t heed to the coins. He was a good and intelligent boy. He told the coins not to misguide him. He got so much at home that he considered even looking at something in the bazaar a sin.

Question 3.- Why did the boy hold all the four coins tight in his fist?

Answer.- All the four coins began to speak at the same time in order to make the boy ready to buy the jalebis. There was such a clamour that passersby in the bazaar stared at him and his pocket. So, the boy grabbed all of them and held them tight in his fist to make them silent.

Question 4.- Did the boy eat all the jalebis by himself? How can you say?

Answer.- The boy didn’t eat all the jalebis by himself. He ate himself to his heart’s content and distributed the rest among the boys from neighbourhood.

Question 5.- Why did the boy’s head start to spin in the school?

Answer.- As soon as he reached the school, he came to know that the scholarship was going to be paid the following month. This news intensified his tension so much that his head started to spin.

Question 6.- Comment on the significance of the jalebis in the story.

Answer.- Jalebisare central to the story. These are hot, fresh and syrupy. A school boy falls to the sweet temptation of jalebis. He spends all his school fees money in buying jalebis. He eats himself and also distributes them among children. He regrets his weakness later. He prays to God to send him four rupees. But he gets no help from God. He realises in later life that God cannot meet everybody’s demand. Were he so generous, man would not have developed the skill of making jalebis.

Question 7.- Write a short note on the character of the schoolboy in Jalebis.

Answer.- The schoolboy in the story Jalebis carries four rupees to school to pay the school fees. He is honest, God fearing and brilliant student. He has won a scholarship also. He has never been punished. He enjoys prestige. He feels shy of standing in the bazaar and eating jalebis. But the coins in his pocket persuade him to go wrong. And he repents his foolishness. He asks for God’s help. He can recite the namaz and some portions from the Quran. His experience, however, teaches him a valuable lesson.

Question 8.- How does the schoolboy try to please God to come to his rescue?

Answer.- The schoolboy faces a crisis after he has spent his school fees on the jalebis. He turns to Allah Miyan for help. He apologises to God. He promises to never repeat that mistake, and recites the namaaz and few verses from the Quran. He hopes in vain that God will put money under the rock. He plays a game with God. But he finds no coins but a hairy worm under the rock.

-- By Durgesh Pandey

(Eklavya Coaching Institute)