Tales of Bhola Grandpa Class 9 | Bliss | WBBSE

Tales of Bhola Grandpa class 9 by Manoj Das is an amusing and adventurous short story that has been included in Bliss, the Textbook for English; a second language, under the syllabus of class 9; WBBSE.

The story, Tales of Bhola Grandpa, had been narrated by a young man who saw the hilarious adventures of Bhola Grandpa through his own eyes.

About the author

Manoj Das (1934-) is an Indian award-winning bilingual writer who writes in Oriya and English. This text is an edited version of Manoj Das’s short story. He also writes many other short stories, poems, and travelogues.

About the Text

This tale narrates Bhola Grandpa’s hilarious, amusing, and entertaining adventures seen through the eyes of a young man who had known him closely. The simplicity of openness and forgetfulness, dreaminess. or absentmindedness of Bhola Grandpa provides an element of humor on which the story runs.

Read: English Textbook [Bliss] solution Class 9 All Chapters

Bengali meaning of Tales of Bhola Grandpa

Word Notes :

Overshadow –  cast a shadow over ওপরে ছায়ার সৃষ্টি করে

Troop– a great number অসংখ্য

Moonlit – lighted by moon চন্দ্রালোকিত পূর্ণিমার রাত

Foggy – fuzzy/misty কুয়াশাচ্ছন্ন

Wail – make mournful sound দুঃখজনক আর্তনাদ

Halted – cease moving থেমে যাওয়া

Enquiry – investigation খোঁজ নেওয়ার পরে

Revealed – unfold জানা গেল

Held on – to keep a firm grip শক্ত করে ধরে ছিল

Slipped – to slide suddenly পিছলিয়ে চলে যাওয়া

Grip – grasp/hold ধরা

Cosy – comfortable আরামদায়ক

Related – associated সম্পর্কিত

Sand Dune  -sand hill/hillock বালিয়াড়ি

Pirates – a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea. জলদস্যু

Hidden – conceal গোপন

Treasure – wealth সম্পদ

Howling  -utter a loud prolonged mournful cry as that of wolf or tiger/growl তীব্র দুঃখজনক আর্তনাদ

Confessed – admitted স্বীকার করা

Midday – in the middle of the day মধ্যদিনে

Nap – sleep for short time at daytime দিনের বেলায় অল্পসময়ের জন্য ঘুম

Sundown – sun set সূর্যাস্ত

Growl – howl বাঘের গর্জন

Gaze – stare একদৃষ্টে চেয়ে থাকা

Instantly – immediately তৎক্ষণাৎ

Banyan Tree  – a kind of tree having strong and big branches.বটগাছ

Circled – round and round গোল গোল করে ঘোরা

Mound – hillock/an artificial elevation of earth চড়াই

Bewildered – puzzled/ at a loss হতভম্ব হয়ে যাওয়া

Beast – animal  পশু

Stretching – expanding প্রসারিত করা

Yawning –  gaping হাই তোলা

Century – a period of 100 years একশো বছর

Lamented – to feel or express or regret for বিলাপ করা

Sigh –  to let out one’s breath audibly as from sorrow দীর্ঘনিঃশ্বাস

Main points in every paragraph of Tales of Bhola Grandpa:

1st Paragraph

• Bhola Grandpa lived with his wife at the western end of village.
• A large bokal tree over their hut.
• Troops of monkey on the bokal tree.

 2nd Paragraph

• The narrator and his father with Bhola Grandpa and other people were returning from festival.
• The narrator was on village chowkidar’s shoulder.
• Suddenly Bhola Grandpa realized he lost his grandson whom he took to the festival.
• Then he let out a loud wail.

 3rd Paragraph

• Two sharp eyed men found the Bhola Grandpa’s grandson in a cosy shelter under a cow’s belly.

 4th paragraph

• It was a rainy afternoon.
• Bhola grandpa wild with excitement informed Narrator’s father a gang of pirates burying a large box under a sand dune.
• At once Narrator’s father with his friends were looking for the hidden treasure.
• It was past midnight when Bhola Grandpa confessed that it was all dream which he had during his midday nap.

 5th Paragaraph

• After sundown people moved in groups in the Sundarbans. 
• The Royal Bengal Tigers freely roamed about in the jungles.

 6th Paragaraph

• One evening, Bhola Grandpa was returning from the weekly market.
• He heard the growl of a Royal Bengal Tiger at a distance of about five yeards.

7th Paragaraph

• He climbed up a banyan tree.
• The tiger roared and circled the tree a hundred times and settled down under a bush without taking off him.
• Bhola Grandpa heard the tiger beating off its tail on the dry leaves.

8th & 9th Paragraph

• Dawn broke with the cooing of doves.
• Bhola Grandpa came down from the tree
• He found some men at a distance.
• He asked them some water to drink.
• He forgot about the tiger .
• When the man asked him about his courage, he was almost going to lose his sense.

 10th Paragaraph

• Bhola Grandpa died at the age of 95.
• His wife was 80 then.

Tales of Bhola Grandpa Textual Exercise with Answers

Exercise 1

Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives.

1. In the bokal tree there lived

(a) crows

(b) monkeys

(c) tigers

(d) sparrows

2. On the way back from the festival, Bhola Grandpa tightly held on to the two fingers of his

(a) son

(b) cousin

(c) grandson

(d) nephew

3. A gang of pirates were burying a

(a) large box

(b) small box

(c) large bag

(d) small bag

4. Bhola Grandpa was returning from the

(a) yearly market

(b) monthly market

(c) daily market

(d) weekly market

5. Bhola Grandpa died at the age of

(a) eighty-five

(b) ninety-five

(c) fifty-five

(d) seventy-five

Exercise 2

Answer the following questions within fifteen words:

(a) When did Bhola Grandpa let out a loud wail?

Ans : Bhola Grandpa let out a loud wail when he realized that his grandson whom he had taken to the festival had lost after his fingers slipped out from his hand while returning from a festival.

 (b) Where had the grandson found a cosy shelter?

Ans : The boy had taken a cosy shelter under a cow’s belly.

 (c) What request did Bhola Grandpa make to the first man he saw on the mound?

Ans : Bhola Grandpa requested the first man he saw on the mound some water to drink.

 (d) How old was Bhola Grandpa’s wife when he died?

Ans : Bhola Grandpa’s wife was eighty years old when he died.

Exercise 3

Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:

(a) Why was no real treasure found under the sand dunes?

Ans : There was no real treasure found under the sand dunes because Bhola Grandpa confessed that he had seen the gang of pirates burying a large box under the sand dunes in his dream which he had during his midday nap.

(b) What did the tiger do after Bhola Grandpa had climbed up the banyan tree?

Ans : After Bhola Grandpa had climbed up the banyan tree, the tiger roared and circled the banyan tree three times and then settled down under a bush without taking its eyes off him.

 (c) What was the reason of Bhola Grandpa’s death according to his wife?

Ans : According to his wife, Bhola Grandpa died as he must have forgotten to breathe as he was forgetful by nature.

Exercise 4

Change the mode of narration of the following sentences:

(a) Bulbuli said to his friend, “Will you come tomorrow?”

Ans : Bulbuli asked his friend if he would come next day.

(b) Paulami says,” I am fine.”

Ans : Paulami says that she is fine.

(c) The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.”

Ans : The teacher ordered the students to Keep quiet.

(d) My mother said to me, “May your dreams come true.

Ans : My mother wished me that my dreams might come true.

(e) The students said,” Sir, please allow us to play in the field.”

Ans : The students politely requested their teacher to allow them to play in the field.

Exercise 5

In each of the sentences of the following passage some articles and prepositions are used in an incorrect manner. Underline them and replace them with the appropriate ones:

On an winter night I was aboard a boat. It was a moonlit night full on stars. The boat was anchored up a great river. I was thrilled to see a beauty of nature.

Ans : On a winter night I was aboard a boat. It was a moonlit night full of stars. The boat was anchored in a great river. I was thrilled to see the beauty of nature.

Composition:

Exercise 6

Write a dialogue within 100 words on the need to ban the use of animals like tigers and lions as circus attractions:

Hints: wild animals decreasing-ill treatment to animals in circuses-criminal offence-laws against such-need to be humane to animals

Ans:

Ishita : Vaishali ! nice to meet you.

Vaishali : Are you from a circus show?

Ishita : Well, guessed. Have you been to the circus ?

Vaishali : Yes, it’s amazing. But one thing hurts me.

Ishita : Really, What’s that?

Vaishali: The caged tigers and the lions. Even they are made to show their tricks with life risk.

Ishita : Right, you’re! They are fallen victims to negligence and malnutrition. The laws for protection of wild animals are painfully neglected.

Vaishali : The government should be more stringent and vigilant.

Ishita: Public voice must be raised against this nexus.

Vaishali : Absolutely! Oh I have to attend a tuition class !

Ishita : Ok! See you!

Exercise 7

Write a story within 100 words using the given hints. Glve a title to the story:

Hints: returning from educational excursion by bus-night Journey—sudden breakdown-tires punctured-had to wait for two hours at a lonely place-tyres fixed-back home.

Extra different types of questions from Tales of Bhola Grandpa

From Tales of Bhola Grandpa Extra different types of question found in previous years’ English Questions and all questions and answers have been provided in the following..

A. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences :

(1) The author of the story ‘Tales of Bhola Grandpa’ is –

(a) Ajay Das

(b) Bijoy Das

(b) Bhola Das

(c) Manoj Das

(2) Manoj Das is an Indian award-winning bilingual writer who writes in –

(a) Oriya and English

(b) Telegu and English

(c) Malayalam and English

(d) Bengali and English.

(3) Bhola Grandpa and his wife lived at –

(a) the eastern end of the narrator’s village

(b) the western end of the narrator’s village

(c) the northern end of the narrator’s village

(d) the southern end of the narrators village

(4) When Bhola Grandpa realized that he had lost his grandson, he let out –

(a) a shrill cry

(b) a loud wail

(c) a screech

(d) a sigh of relief.

(5) The number of men who accompanied Bhola Grandpa to the festival to look for his grandson were-

(a) three

(b) four

(c) two

(d) five.

(6) The grandson had taken shelter under –

(a) a cow’s belly

(b) a hut

(c) a deserted shop

(d) a tree.

B. Pick out the correct alternatives from the given answers.

(7) Bhola Grandpa told the narrator’s father and his friends about –

(a) the troop of monkeys

(b) his grandson

(c) a gang of pirates

(d) an adventure in the Sunderbans.

(8) Bhola Grandpa told the narrator’s father and his friends about the gang of pirates on –

(a) a sunny afternoon

(b) a cold afternoon

(c) a rainy afternoon

(d) a dull afternoon.

(9) When Bhola Grandpa had told the narrator’s father and his friends about the pirates, he was –

(a) crazy with excitement

(b) wild with excitement

(c) wild with terror

(d) wild with fear

(10) The gang of pirates were burying a large box under –

(a) sand dunes

(b) the well

(c) the house

(d) the soil

(11) Bhola Grandpa confessed that there was no real treasure –

(a) past midnight

(b) before midnight

(c) at midnight

(d) before dawn.

(d) crazy with terror

(12) While returning from the weekly market Bhola Grandpa heard –

(a) the chirping of a bird

(b) the growl of a Royal Bengal Tiger

(c) the laugh of a hyenah

(d) the roar of a lion.

(13) Bhola Grandpa heard the growl of a Royal Bengal Tiger at a distance of about –

(a) three yards ahead of him

(b) five yards behind him

(c) a few yards right of him

(d) ten yards back to him.

C. Pick out the correct alternatives from the given answers.

(14) On seeing the tiger, Bhola Grandpa instantly climbed up a nearby –

(a) bokal tree

(b) banyan tree

(c) peepal tree

(d) mango tree.

(15) The tiger roared and circled the tree about –

(a) a thousand times

(b) ten times

(c) twelve times

(d) a hundred times

(16) After circling the tree the tiger settled down under –

(a) a bush

(b) a bokal tree

(c) a banyan tree

(d) a palm tree

(17) The tiger settled down under a bush without –

(a) licking its paws

(b) taking its eyes off Bhola Grandpa

(c) sniffing its prey

(d) hesitation.

(18) The forest grew dark and silent –

(a) before nightfall

(b) with nightfall

(c) at daybreak

(d) before daybreal

(19) Bhola Grandpa could hear –

(a) the tiger beating its tail

(b) the tiger snoring

(c) the tiger growling softly

(d) nothing.

(20) The grandson had taken  ………….. under a cow’s belly.

(a) a cosy shelter

(b) a comy shelter

(c) a cony shelter(d) a copy shelter 

B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:  

(1) Bhola Grandpa didn’t mind the troop of monkeys that lived in the bokal tree.

(2) Bhola Grandpa realised that he had loosened his grip over his grandson’s fingers when someone asked Bhola Grandpa what he was gripping.

(3) The narrator’s father and his friends could not find the hidden treasure as Bhola Grandpa saw everything in a dream.

(4) Bhola Grandpa confessed that he saw the pirates in his midday dream.

(5) After sundown people moved about only in groups weigers used to roam in the jungles.

(6) When he heard the growl of a tiger Bhola Grandpa instantly climbed up a nearby banyan tree.

(7) Climbing up the mound Bhola Grandpa requested the first man he saw for some water to drink.

(8) At the age of 95 Bhola Grandpa died.

(9) According to Bhola Grandpa’s wife Bhola Grandpa died because he forgot to breathe.

C. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases / words in support of your answer :  

(1) Bhola Grandpa and his grandson lived at the western end of the village. – False

Supporting Statement : Bhola Grandpa and his wife lived at the western end of the village.

(2) While returning from village fair the narrator was riding on the village chowkidar’s shoulders. True

Supporting Statement : “I was riding on the village chowkidar’s shoulders.”

(3) Bhola Grandpa was loosely holding the fingers of his grandson. False

Supporting Statement :  “He had tightly held on to the two fingers of the boy.”

(4) The writer heard a story of Bhola Grandpa from his father. True

Supporting Statement :  “I remember another funny incident about Bhola Grandpa related by my father.”

(5) In a rainy evening Bhola Grandpa saw a gang of pirates. False

Supporting Statement :   “It had been a rainy afternoon.”

(6) The jungle of the Sundarbans was thick. True

Supporting Statement :   The jungles of the Sunderbans were dense.

(7) The village market used to sit twice a week. False

Supporting Statement :   The market use to sit weekly.

(8) Bhola Grandpa saw a tiger three yards away from him. False

 Supporting Statement :   Suddenly at a distance of about five yards behind him, Bhola Grandpa heard the growl of a Royal Bengal tiger.

(9) Dusk fell with the cooing of doves. False

Supporting Statement :  Dawn broke with the cooing of doves.

(10) The tiger stayed under the tree throughout the night. True

Supporting Statement :  On nightfall Bhola Grandpa could hear the tiger beating its tail on the dry leaves.

(11) Bhola Grandpa’s forgetfulness killed him. True

Supporting Statement :  The old man must have forgotten to breathe.

D. Answer the following questions

1. How did Bhola Grandpa live with his wife in the village ?

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa and his wife peacefully lived with a small troop of monkeys living on the bokal tree that overshadowed their hut. They lived at the western end of the village.

2. How did they find Bhola Grandpa’s grandson?

Ans:  The narrator’s father chose two sharp-eyed men from their existing group to go back with Bhola Grandpa to the festival. He was soon found taking a cosy shelter under a cow’s belly.

3. One rainy afternoon what did Bhola Grandpa tell the narrator’s father and his friends ?

Ans:  One rainy afternoon Bhola Grandpa told the narrator’s father and his friends that he had seen a gang of pirates burying a large box under one of the sand dunes on the seashore by their village.

4. Where did Bhola Grandpa and his wife live ?

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa and his wife lived at the western end of the narrator’s village.

5. What overshadowed Bhola Grandpa’s hut?

Ans:  A large bokal tree overshadowed Bhola Grandpa’s hut.

6.  Who lived in the bokal tree? Did Bhola Grandpa mind its presence?

Ans:  A small troop of monkeys lived in the bokal tree. Bhola Grandpa and his wife did not mind it.

7. On whose shoulders was the narrator riding on while returning from the festival ? 

Ans:  The narrator was riding on the village chowkidar’s shoulders while returning from the festival.

8.  Why was everybody surprised while returning from the festival ?  

Ans:  On realising that he had lost his grandson at the festival Bhola Grandpa let out a loud wail. This surprised everyone.

E. More important Answer the following questions

9. Which incident shows that Bhola Grandpa was imaginative by nature ?

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa’s description of pirates’ hiding a large box in sand dunes was actually a dream. This incident shows that he was imaginative by nature.

10.Why did people move about in groups after sundown, in those days?  

Ans:  In those days, Royal Bengal tigers used to roam about freely in the dense jungles of the Sundarbans. So, for safety, people used to move about only in groups after sunset.

11.Why did Bhola Grandpa almost lose his senses in fear?  

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa almost lost his senses in fear as he realized that he had walked past a hungry Royal Bengal Tiger at dawn. Being absentminded, he had hardly noticed the tiger lying in the bush near the banyan tree.  

12.What did Bhola Grandpa see when he came down the banyan tree at dawn ?  

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa saw a group of men on a mound a little away from the banyan tree at dawn.

13. Briefly describe the character of Bhola Grandpa in your own words.

Ans:  Bhola Grandpa was a simple man who lived at the western end of the village with his wife. He was forgetful  and imaginative by nature. From the story we see he lost his grandson or simply walked past the Royal Bengal tiger for his forgetfulness nature. Sometimes he mixed the reality and the dream for his imaginative nature. Overall, he was a funny character, and his act provides an element of humour.

F. More important Answer the following questions

14. What did the Royal Bengal Tigers do in the Sundarbans those days

Ans : In those days the Royal Bengal Tigers freely roamed in the dense jungles of the Sunderbans.

15.  What usually did the people do in order to protect themselves from the tiger ?

Ans : In order to protect themselves from the tiger, people took care to move about only in groups.

16. When did Bhola Grandpa encounter the Royal Bengal Tiger?  

Ans : Bhola Grandpa encountered the Royal Bengal Tiger one evening, while returning from the weekly market.

17. What did Bhola Grandpa do on spotting the tiger?

Ans :  On spotting the tiger, Bhola Grandpa instantly climbed up a nearby banyan tree.

18. What could Bhola Grandpa hear as the forest grew dark and silent?

Ans : As the forest grew dark and silent, Bhola Grandpa could hear the tiger beating its tail on the dry leaves.

19. When did Bhola Grandpa come down the banyan tree ?  

Ans : As dawn broke, Bhola Grandpa Carme down from the banyan tree.  

20. Why was the man bewildered ?

Ans : The man was bewildered as he failed to understand how Bhola Grandpa could simply walk past hungry tiger.  

Watch the video for line-by-line Bengali meaning of ‘Tales of Bhola Grandpa’