Broad Questions and Answers from Bonku Babu's Friend (RTC) by Satyajit Ray
Every year, a new batch of students replaced the old one, but old or new, the tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu continued among all the students. Some drew his cartoon on the blackboard; others put glue on his chair; or, on the night of Kali Puja, they lit a chasing rocket and set it off right behind him.
(i) What do these lines tell about Bonku Babu?
Answer: These lines show that Bonku Babu was constantly the target of his students’ teasing and pranks. Every year, as new batches replaced the old, the tradition of teasing teacher Bonku Babu carried on.
(ii) How long has Bonku Babu been teaching in that school?
Answer: Bonku Babu has been teaching in Kankurgachhi Village Primary School for the last twenty-two years.
(iii) What form of teasing was used by his students?
Answer: The students of Kankurgachhi Village Primary School continuously teased Bonku Babu every year. Some sketched mocking cartoons of him on the blackboard, others smeared glue on his chair. On the night of Kali Puja, they even set off a chasing rocket right behind him.
(iv) How did Bonku Babu react to the teasing by the students? / How did Bonku Babu sometimes lightly condemn the students?
Answer: Bonku Babu did not get upset by the teasing of the students. He remained calm. Only sometimes he cleared his throat and said, "Shame on you boys". The tradition of teasing Bonku Babu continued among all the students of every year, yet no one had ever seen Bonku Babu get angry.
(v) According to the Bonku Babu, what made his life as a teacher worth living?
Answer: According to Bonku Babu, teaching a handful of good students in every class made his life as a teacher worth living. Even if the rest of the class was full of pranksters, teaching those sincere boys was rewarding for him. He often invited them to his house, offered them snacks, and told them tales of distant lands and thrilling adventures.
(vi) Why did Bonku Babu put up with the teasing of students?
Answer: Bonku Babu put up with the teasing of the students knowing he couldn’t afford to lose his temper. As a middle-aged man, he knew it would be difficult it would be for him to find another job if he gave up this job. There was also another reason for staying in the school. He had a handful of good students in every class, and he felt teaching them was rewarding for him.
(vii) What was difficult for the students to imagine? Why?
Answer. For the students, it was difficult to imagine Bonku Babu ever losing his temper and what he might say or do if he ever gets angry. It is because no one had ever seen him get cross even after endless teasing.
(viii) Which tradition continued among the students?
Answer. The tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu among the students continued every year, whether they were old or new students.
(ix) What impression do you form of Bonku Babu?
Answer. Bonku Babu appears as a gentle, patient and enduring teacher. He was constantly mocked by his students and treated as an easy target. But he maintains his composure and avoids outbursts. He gives an impression of a kind but vulnerable man, quietly enduring humiliation without protest.
Answer. For the students, it was difficult to imagine Bonku Babu ever losing his temper and what he might say or do if he ever gets angry. It is because no one had ever seen him get cross even after endless teasing.
(viii) Which tradition continued among the students?
Answer. The tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu among the students continued every year, whether they were old or new students.
(ix) What impression do you form of Bonku Babu?
Answer. Bonku Babu appears as a gentle, patient and enduring teacher. He was constantly mocked by his students and treated as an easy target. But he maintains his composure and avoids outbursts. He gives an impression of a kind but vulnerable man, quietly enduring humiliation without protest.
“Only the other day -- less than two months ago--, they were talking about ghosts. Usually, Bonku Babu kept his mouth shut. That day, for some unknown reason, he open it and declared that he was not afraid of the ghost that was all! but it was enough to offer a golden opportunity to others. On his way back home later, that night Bonku Bhaiya was attacked by a spook.”
(i) What did Bonku Babu declare in the group that lead the spook attack?
Answer. In a meeting at Sripati Majumdar's house, Bonku Babu declared that he wasn’t afraid of ghosts.
Answer. In a meeting at Sripati Majumdar's house, Bonku Babu declared that he wasn’t afraid of ghosts.
(ii) Sometimes Bonku Babu tried to keep away from this group. Why?/ Why did Bonku Babu come back thinking he won't go to the get-together?
Answer. Bonku Babu tried to keep away from this group because he disliked being the target of amusement by the members of the group. He could tolerate the pranks by the students but when grown-ups, even the middle-aged men started playing fool with him, it became too much to bear.
(iii) What made his associates arrange and attack on Bonku babu by a spook? / What was the favourable conditions for the spook to attack?
Answer: One evening at Sripati Majumdar’s house, the group was discussing ghosts. Suddenly Bonku Babu declared that he was not afraid of them. This gave the others the perfect chance to prank him. Later that night, on his way back Bonku Babu was attacked by a ‘spook’. The event suggests that the attack was planned by someone at the gathering.
(iv) Describe in your own words the attack by the spook.
Answer: At a gathering in Sripati Babu’s house, Bonku Babu once boldly declared that he was not afraid of ghosts. Later that night, on his way back Bonku Babu was attacked by a ‘spook’. While passing under a tamarind tree, a tall, thin figure leapt down and landed on Bonku Babu's back. Though he didn’t feel frightened, he was injured, and his neck ached for three days. Moreover, his new kurta was torn and had black stains all over it.
(v) What happened to Bonku Babu as a result of the attack? / How did this encounter with the ghost affect Bonku Babu?
Answer: As a result of the spook attack, Bonku Babu got injured and his neck ached for three days. His new kurta was torn with black ink stains all over it. He was quite irritated by the prank of his associates who were grown and middle-aged.
(vi) Why did Bonku Babu attend a meeting despite the attack by the spook? What does it show about rural life in this area?
Answer: Despite the attack by the spook, Bonku Babu attended the meeting because he didn't want to offend Sripati Majumdar. Sripati Majumdar was an important figure in the village and the school committee. Bonku Babu also knew that if he stayed away, the gathering would lose its only source of amusement—him. So, even when he tried to keep his distance, he was fetched back to the meetings.
It shows that in rural life, people place great value on proper behaviour, showing respect to elders and authority figures, and keeping strong social bonds within the community.
Ramkanai, being younger, offered a more positive view, acknowledging the accomplishment of space travel as a human feat.
“That particular evening Bonku Babu was the first to spot the strange light. Then he called Nidhu Babu and showed it to him. However, when he arrived at the meeting,he found that Nidhu babu has coolly claimed full credit for being a person to see it,and was boasting a great deal about it. Bonku Babu said nothing” (i) One day which topic came up for conversation? What were the views of most of the persons?
Answer. The topic that came up for conversation that day was space, mainly about spaceships and space travel.
Most of the group didn’t have much knowledge about satellites. They felt that such things had no practical value in their lives and dismissed them as nonsense. Some said satellites are just machines as simple as a spinning top, while others believed that rockets and space travel may sound like a great achievement but had no real meaning for ordinary people like them.
(ii) Why did Nidhu babu say that he was the first person to spot the strange light? What does it say about his character?
Answer: Nidhu Babu claimed credit for being the first person to spot the strange light because he wanted attention and appear important in front of the group.
It shows that Nidhu Babu is a person who tried to appear knowledgeable and desire recognition. He is an opportunity seeker, and did not hesitate to take other's credit, mainly if it was Bonku Babu, to whom he shows no respect at all.
(iii) What does Bonku Babu's silence show about his character?
Answer: When Nidhu Babu claimed credit for spotting the strange light, despite Bonku Babu being the actual first person to spot it, he remained silent. His silence shows that he is not a confrontational person and prefers to avoid conflicts. He is also humble and not interested in taking credit.
(iv) Later, why did they change the topic of satellites?
Answer: They changed the topic of satellites because Chandi Babu expressed doubt about the hype surrounding a point of light in the sky. This led to a discussion about the value of satellites. Nidhu Babu then dragged the conversation towards the topic of rockets, which was considered more meaningful and interesting than satellites by some members of the group.
(iii) What does Bonku Babu's silence show about his character?
Answer: When Nidhu Babu claimed credit for spotting the strange light, despite Bonku Babu being the actual first person to spot it, he remained silent. His silence shows that he is not a confrontational person and prefers to avoid conflicts. He is also humble and not interested in taking credit.
(iv) Later, why did they change the topic of satellites?
Answer: They changed the topic of satellites because Chandi Babu expressed doubt about the hype surrounding a point of light in the sky. This led to a discussion about the value of satellites. Nidhu Babu then dragged the conversation towards the topic of rockets, which was considered more meaningful and interesting than satellites by some members of the group.
(v) What did Ramkanai say about human achievement?
Ans: Ramkanai believed that it might not be many of them, but satallites are a human achievement. Ramkanai appreciates the achievement of launching a satellite into space.
(vi) What is the prospect of a rocket landing in the village? Why? What was Bonku Babu's view on this?
Answer: The prospect of a rocket landing in the village was discussed among a group of people, including Bonku Babu, who believed it was unlikely to happen. Because rockets were not a common occurrence in their area, they also did not see any practical purpose or benefit for a rocket to land in their village. Bonku Babu remained silent, later he suggested the possibility of an alien visit.
The prospect of a rocket landing in the village was considered almost impossible. The people felt such things would only happen in big places, not in a small village, and had no real connection to their lives.
Bonku Babu, however, did not openly dismiss the idea. He remained thoughtful and quiet and more open-minded than the others, not laughing at the possibility like they did.
Everyone agreed, with the sole exception of Bonku Babu. Chandi Babu decided to take things a bit further. He nudged Nidhu Babu silently, pointed at Bonku Babu and spoke innocently: “Why, I think Bonku is quite right. Isn’t it natural that aliens should want to come to a place where there’s a man like our Bonkubihari ? If they wanted to take away a human specimen, could they find anything better?”
“No, I don’t think so!” Nidhu Babu joined in.
“Consider his looks, not to mention his brains … yes, Bunkum would be the ideal specimen!”
“Right. Suitable for keeping in a museum or a zoo,” Ramkanai chipped in.
(i) What had Sripati Babu said to which almost all agreed?
Answer: Sripati Babu said that if aliens ever came to Earth, they would not land in a place like Kankurgachhi, like fools. He believed the aliens were sahibs and so they would land in a western country, among the sahibs. Almost everyone agreed with Sripati Babu, except Bonku Babu.
(ii) What was Bonku Babu's opinion about it?
Answer: Though unlikely, Bonku Babu thought it was not impossible for an alien to come to Kankurgachhi. He thought, if an alien had to visit Earth, it wouldn’t really matter where they landed first—it could be anywhere.
(iii) What did Chandi Babu want when he nudged Nidhu Babu?
Ans. When Chandi Babu nudged Nidhu Babu, he wanted Nidhu Babu to support his remark and to join to tease Bonku Babu.
(iv) When Chandi Babu says “I think Bonku is quite right", does he mean it? In which tone he speaks? / What does it imply when Chandi Babu says “I think Bonku is quite right"?
Ans. No, he didn’t mean it seriously. He spoke it in a mocking, sarcastic tone, only to ridicule Bonku Babu further.
(v) What for would Bonku Babu be suitable according to Ram Kanai?
Ans. Ramkanai thought Bonku Babu would be fit to be kept in a museum or a zoo. This way he did not treat Bonku Babu like a person but rather a specimen.
(vi) What impression do you form of the speakers participating in the discussion?
Ans. Though the speakers were grown up, they were insensitive to Bonku Babu's feelings and acted cruelly toward him. They showed no respect to him instead took pleasure in humiliating Bonku Babu.
"Consider his looks, not to mention his brains... yes, Bunkum would be the ideal specimen!" "Right. Suitable for keeping in a museum. Or a zoo," Ramkanat chipped in. Bonku Babu did not reply, but wondered silently: if anyone were to actually look for a specimen, weren't the others just as suitable? Look at Sripati Babu. His chin was so much like a camel's. And that Bhairav Chakravarty his eyes were like tortoise. Nidhu Babu looks like a rat, Ramkhanai is like a goat and Chandi Babu is like a flittermouse. If a zoo really had to be filled up...! Tears sprang to his eyes.”
(i) Why did he call Bonku Babu an 'ideal specimen' and for whom?
Answer: Chandi Babu called Bonku Babu an ‘ideal specimen’ only to mock him. As Bonku Babu had said that it was not impossible for aliens to come to their village, Chandi Babu made fun of it. Sarcastically, he remarked that if they ever did, it would be to take Bonku Babu as their human specimen. His comment was meant to ridicule Bonku Babu’s looks and supposed lack of intelligence.
(ii) Name three of his associates whom Bonku Babu says could be other specimens. What reasons did he give for his choice?
Ans: Bonku Babu thinks that Sripati Babu, Bhairav Chakravarty, Ramkanai, Chandi babu and Nidhu Babu could easily be specimens.
In Bonku Babu's thought, Sripati Babu's chin resembled a camel's, Bhairav Chakravarty's eyes looked like those of a tortoise, and Nidhu Babu looked like a rat. Ramkanai was like a goat, Chandi Babu like a flittermouse. So, they were no less fit to be specimens.
(iii) What did Bonku think about Bhairav Babu?
Answer. Bonku Babu believed Bhairav Babu’s eyes resembled those of a tortoise’s.
(iv) According to Bonku Babu, how could a zoo be filled up?
Answer. According to Bonku Babu, a zoo could easily be filled up with the people in the gathering who were mocking him. In his thoughts, Sripati Babu’s chin looked like a camel’s, Bhairav Chakravarty’s eyes resembled those of a tortoise, Nidhu Babu looked like a rat, Ramkanai was like a goat, and Chandi Babu like a flittermouse. To him, they were no less “specimens” than he was, and if a zoo had to be filled, they too would fit right in.
"Tears sprang to his eyes. Bonku Babu had come to the meeting hoping, for once, to enjoy himself. That was clearly not to be. He could not stay here any longer. He rose to his feet."
(i) Why had Bonku come to the meeting?
Answer. Bonku Babu was regularly ridiculed in the gathering. So, this time he attended the meeting hoping to enjoy himself and socialize for once.
(ii) When Bonku was about to leave, what comment did Ramkanai make that made everyone laugh?
Answer. When Bonku Babu was about to leave, Ramkanai reminded him that it was a moonless night and also a Saturday which was an auspicious night for ghosts. It made everyone laugh.
(iii) Why did Bonku Babu wonder silently about his associates ? what would have happened if he had spoken?
Answer. He wondered silently because, while they mocked him as a “specimen,” he felt the others looked no less odd themselves, with animal‑like features that made them equally fit to be specimens.
If he had voiced these thoughts, the group would likely have mocked him even more harshly, turning his attempt at defense into fresh humiliation.
Puzzled, Bonku Babu walked another 20 yards and then he suddenly saw the light. At first, he thought that a fire had broken out. Bang in the middle of Poncha Ghosh's the bamboo groove, in the clearing near a small pond, quite a large area was glowing pink. A dull light on every branch and every leaf. Down below the ground behind the pond was lit by much stronger, pink light.
(i) From where Bonku Babu was coming? Was he in a hurry that day?
Answer: Bonku Babu was coming from the gathering at Sripati Babu's house.
He was not in a hurry that day though he made an excuse in the meeting that he had papers to correct.
(ii) Describe what Bonku Babu saw in front of him?
(ii) Describe what Bonku Babu saw in front of him?
or
What made Bonku Babu think that fire had broken out in the area? How did he react?
Ans: In the middle of Poncha Ghosh's bamboo grove, Bonku Babu saw a glowing pink light. At first, he thought it was a fire. The light was quite large and it was shining on the branches, and leaves. Since the light did not flicker, he realized it was not fire but some unusual light.
Ans: In the middle of Poncha Ghosh's bamboo grove, Bonku Babu saw a glowing pink light. At first, he thought it was a fire. The light was quite large and it was shining on the branches, and leaves. Since the light did not flicker, he realized it was not fire but some unusual light.
Bonku Babu felt curious and intrigued, when he saw that the light was coming from a clearing in Poncha Ghosh's bamboo grove. He continued to move closer to find out the reason behind it.
(iii) Briefly describe the object that Bonku Babu saw.
Answer: The object that Bonku Babu saw looked like a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond completely. The bowl was translucent, and a strong, yet gentle pink light was shining out from it, illuminating the whole area. The light made every branch and leaf glow pink, and the ground behind the pond was also lit up by a much stronger pink light.
(iv) Which light is referred to in the second line?
Answer. The light referred to in the second line is the pink light emanating from the clearing near the pond of Poncha Ghosh's bamboo grove.
(v) Why did Bonku think that a fire had broken out?
Answer. Bonku thought a fire had broken out in the middle of Poncha Ghosh's bamboo grove, because a strong pink light illuminated a large area, exactly like a fire.
(vi) How did the ground behind the pond look?
Answer. The ground behind the pond was lit by a much stronger pink light than the rest of the area. The light was still, so he realized it was not fire.
(vii) Why did Bonku Babu’s ears begin to ring? What did he hear?
Answer. As Bonku Babu kept moving, all at once, his ears started ringing. It was a long, steady noise, and he felt as if someone were humming loudly and there was no way he could stop it.
(viii) What effect did the noise have on Bonku Babu? Why did he move forward?
Answer. The noise made Bonku Babu break out into goose pimples.
Bonku Babu felt an irrepressible curiosity that drove him further forward to reveal the mystery of the light.
Through that door emerged a head—like a plain, smooth ball—and then the body of a weird creature. Its arms and legs were amazingly thin. With the exception of its head, its whole body was covered by a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of ears, it had tiny holes on each side of its head. On the face were two holes where there should have been a nose, and another gaping hole instead of a mouth. There was no sign of hair anywhere. Its eyes were round and bright yellow. They appeared to be glowing in the dark.
(i) Who came out of the strange object?
Answer: An unusual looking creature came out of the strange object.
(ii) How did that creature look?
Answer: The creature had a head like a small plain ball. Its arms and legs were very thin. Except for its head, its whole body was covered by a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of ears, it had tiny holes on each side of its head. One the face, two holes replaced nose, and aother gaping hole for mouth. It had round bright glowing yellow eyes. There was no sign of hair anywhere.
(iii) What did it have instead of ears?
Answer. Instead of ears, the creature had tiny holes on either side of its head, possibly serving as auditory receptors.
(iv) Describe the face of the alien.
Answer. Its face is described as having two holes for a nose and a single gaping hole for a mouth. It also had two round glowing yellow eyes.
(v) What did the strange creature do after coming out of that object?
Ans. After coming out, the creature walked slowly towards Bonku Babu and stopped only a few feet away, staring at him steadily without blinking.
"I am Ang, from the planet Craneus. A far superior being than man". What! This creature, barely four feet tall, with such thin limbs and a weird face. Was superior to man? Bonku Babu nearly burst out laughing. Ang read his mind immediately. "There's no need to be so sceptical. I can prove it. How many languages do you know?"
(i) What had the strange creature told Bonku Babu just before this?
or
What did the creature tell Bonku about himself?
Answer. The strange creature told Bonku Babu he was from the planet Craneus and a far superior being to man.
(ii) How did Bonku react when the creature told him that he was a more superior being than man?
Answer. When the creature told him that he was a more superior being than man, Bonku Babu almost laughed.
(iii) How did the strange creature prove that he was much superior to Bonku Babu?
Answer. Ang proved his superiority by stating that he knew 14,000 languages. He also mentioned his age and showed off his superiour science.
(iv) How many languages did the creature know? What more did he tell about himself?
Answer. The creature, Ang knew about 14,000 languages, where Bonku Babu knew only two and a half languages.
There was not a single language in the solar system that Ang did not know. He also knew thirty-one languages spoken on planets outside the system. He was 833 years old. He had stopped eating meat. He also showed devices that could make an enemy utterly powerless, without actually hurting him physically. He also showed Bonku Babu various scenes from all around the world.
(v) Who was Ang? and describe his appearance according to the extract.
Answer: Ang is an alien who is a creature from the planet Craneus.
(v) Who was Ang? and describe his appearance according to the extract.
Answer: Ang is an alien who is a creature from the planet Craneus.
The creature has a head like a small plain ball. Its arms and legs were very thin. Except its head, its whole body was covered by a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of ears, it had tiny holes on each side of its head. On the face two holes replacing the nose, and another gaping hole for mouth. It had round bright glowing yellow eyes. There was no sign of hair anywhere.
(vi) Why does he say he is superior to human beings?
Answer: The creature, Ang knew about 14,000 languages, where Bonku Babu knew only two and a half languages. There was not a single language in the solar system that Ang did not know. He also knew thirty-one languages spoken on planets outside the system. He was 833 years old. He had stopped eating meat. He also showed devices that could make an enemy utterly powerless, without actually hurting him physically.He also showed Bonku Babu various scenes from all around the world. He possesses advanced technology that is not available to humans.
(vi) Why does he say he is superior to human beings?
Answer: The creature, Ang knew about 14,000 languages, where Bonku Babu knew only two and a half languages. There was not a single language in the solar system that Ang did not know. He also knew thirty-one languages spoken on planets outside the system. He was 833 years old. He had stopped eating meat. He also showed devices that could make an enemy utterly powerless, without actually hurting him physically.He also showed Bonku Babu various scenes from all around the world. He possesses advanced technology that is not available to humans.
(vii) What does Ang say about his knowledge of language?
Answer: Ang claims to know 14,000 languages, including every language in their solar system and thirty-one languages spoken on planets outside of their system.
(viii) How does Bonku Babu react when Ang greeted him?
Answer: When Ang greeted Bonku Babu by saying "Namaskar!", Bonku Babu sighed with relief and returned the greeting by saying "Namaskar!" in response. This suggests that Bonku Babu was relieved and felt a sense of familiarity and comfort upon hearing a recognizable greeting.
(ix) Why does Ang reveal their age to Bonku Babu?
Answer. Ang revealed his age to Bonku Babu to show how old and wise they were compared to Bonku Babu’s 50 years.
(x) What is the significance of Ang mentioning they stopped eating meat?
Answer. Ang mentioning their kind stopped eating meat shows their peaceful nature and hints that otherwise Bonku Babu himself might have been eaten. This emphasizes the contrast between Ang’s compassion and the villagers’ cruelty.
(xi) What does Ang want Bonku Babu to understand by offering the pebble-like object?
Answer. Ang offers the object to demonstrate their technological prowess. The electric shock showcases a device that can incapacitate without physical harm, potentially leaving Bonku Babu impressed and wary.
(xii) Where is he from?
Answer: Ang claims to be from the planet Craneus.
(xiii) How does Bonku Babu treat Ang?
Answer: At first, Bonku Babu treats Ang with curiosity and fear, but gradually Ang won him over with his skill and technology. They became friends, and Ang influenced changes in Bonku Babu's life too.
(xiv) Did Bonku Babu change and get stronger in the story?
Answer: Yes, Bonku Babu changes and gets stronger in the story because of Ang's influence. At first, he is timid, mocked by his students and villagers, and quietly endures humiliation. But after meeting Ang, he learns courage and self‑respect. He becomes confident and strong. His body language changes too. He holds his head high and protests boldly against the villagers.
“Bonku Babu peered through the glass and felt all his hair rise. Could this be true? Could he really believe eyes? Before him stretched and endless expanses of snow dotted with large Hill locks also covered with ice and snow. Above him, against a deep blue sky, all the colours of a rainbow were forming different patterns, changing every second. The Aurora Borealis what was that? An igloo. There was a group of polar bears wait, there was another animal, a strong, peculiar creature...”
(i) What did Bonku Babu think he wanted to see?
Answer: Bonku Babu felt that Bengal itself had so many wonders he had never had the chance to see - the snowy Himalayas, the sea at Digha, the wild Sunderbans, or even the famous banyan tree at Shibpur’s Botanical Gardens. Bonku Babu admitted that there was much he longed to see, but above all, he wished to visit the North Pole, because he came from a warm country and had never seen snow.
(ii) What was 'the glass'? Who gave it to Bonku Babu? Why?
Answer: The "glass" referred here was a small tube, one end of which was covered by a piece of glass. Ang gave Bonku Babu the tube to look at things he wanted to see. Through this tube, Bonku Babu was able to see amazing sights, including the Aurora Borealis, polar bears, walruses, and a dense forest in Brazil.
Ang gave to Bonku Babu the tube so that he could experience the sights that he wished to see. Ang also wanted to prove that they were superior to human.
(iii) Which was the strange peculiar creature that Bonku Babu had seen? What was his reaction?
Answer: The strange, peculiar creature that Bonku Babu saw through the glass was walruses. There were two walruses fighting with their huge tusks which looked as large as radishes. The two animals were attacking each other, and streams of bright red blood stained the white snow. This sight shocked Bonku Babu, because the sight he saw through the tube was beyond his imagination. He broke out into a sweat even in the December winter.
(iv) When Ang mentioned Brazil what was the first thought that came to Bonku Babu? What does it show about Bonku Babu's character?
Answer: When Ang mentioned Brazil, the first thought that came to Bonku Babu's mind was of the deadly carnivorous fish, namely piranhas.
This shows that Bonku Babu, who teaches Geography in school, is a person who gets easily influenced by the things he reads or hears about. His imagination is vivid, and he is a person who is interested in learning and gaining knowledge.
(v) After watching through the tube for some time, why Bonku Babu could not bear to watch anymore? What did Ang ask after Bonku Babu was done looking through the instrument?
Answer: After watching through the tube for some time, Bonku Babu could not bear to watch anymore because the scenes he saw were too intense and overwhelming for him. His limbs were trembling, and his head was reeling painfully. After Bonku Babu was done looking through the tube, Ang asked him if he was satisfied with what he had seen. Bonku Babu also agreed that Ang was a superior creature to human.
“Look, I have been observing you and I have examined your arms and legs you belong to a much inferior species. There is no doubt about that. However, as human beings go you are not too bad. I mean you are a good man but you have a major fault you must to make and build. That is why you have made so little progress in life. You must always speak up against injustice and protest. If anyone hurts or insults you without any provocation to take things quietly is wrong. Not just for humans but for any creature anywhere. Anyway, it was nice to have met you all though I wasn't really supposed to be here at this time. There's no point investing more time on your earth. I had better go.
(i) According to Ang what was Bonku Babu’s major fault?
Why did Ang say that Bonku Babu made little progress in life?
Answer: According to Ang, Bonku Babu's major fault was that he was too meek and mild. Ang said that Bonku Babu should speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurt or insulted him without any provocation. Ang said that taking things quietly was wrong not just for man, but for any creature anywhere.
Ang believed that Bonku Babu's meekness and mildness were the reasons why he had made little progress in life.
(ii) What did Ang advise Bonku Babu to do if anyone hurt him without any provocation?
Answer: Ang's advice to Bonku Babu was to speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurts or insults him without any provocation. Ang believed that taking things quietly is wrong, not just for man, but for any creature anywhere.
(iii) Why did Ang leave the planet in a hurry?
Answer: Ang left the planet in a hurry because he had to go to planet Pluto. He was not supposed to be on Earth at that time, but due to an issue with a spaceship he had here. He felt there was no point in wasting more time on Earth.
(iv) How did Bonku Babu take Ang's advice what was its result?
Answer: Bonku Babu followed Ang's advice and confronted the people who insulted him at the meeting. He spoke out against their behaviour and stood up for himself. He first tells everyone that they spoke nonsensically about things they are not familiar with. He says to Chandi Babu that hiding his shoes and umbrella is childish, and he must give them back. He warns Nidhu Babu that if he calls him “Bunkum,” he will call him “Nitwit.” To Sripati Babu, he says he will not be a part of his group or follow him. He tells Poncha Ghosh that he met an alien, Ang, in his bamboo grove, who was the most amiable one. Finally, Bonku Babu leaves after slapping Bhairav Chakravarty's back so hard that he choked.
(similar question only the first line of the answer is different)
How did Bonku Babu reply to each of his associates mentioned in the extract and the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Bonku Babu finally responds confidently to each of his associates and defends himself. He first tells everyone that they speaks nonsensically about things they are not familiar with. He says to Chandi Babu that hiding his shoes and umbrella is childish, and he must give them back. He warns Nidhu Babu that if he calls him “Bunkum,” he will call him “Nitwit.” To Sripati Babu, he says he will not be a part of his group or follow him. He tells Poncha Ghosh that he met an alien, Ang, in his bamboo grove, who was the most amiable one. Finally, Bonku Babu leaves after slapping Bhairav Chakravarty's back so hard that he choked.
(v) Why is Bonku Babu upset with Nidhu Babu?
Answer. Bonku Babu was upset because Nidhu Babu called him Bunkum.
(vi) Why did Nidhu Babu call him as "Bunkum"? What does it say about his perception/behaviour/attitude toward Bonku Babu?
Answer: Nidhu Babu called Bonku Babu as "Bunkum" as a derogatory nickname.
Answer: Nidhu Babu called Bonku Babu as "Bunkum" as a derogatory nickname.
Referring to Bonku Babu as "Bunkum" suggests that Nidhu Babu showed no respect for Bonku Babu and makes fun of his silent and innocent nature.x
(vii) What threat does Bonku Babu make to Sripati Babu?
Answer. Bonku Babu announced that he would not be coming to the gathering. Sripati Babu was an important person so he might need people who flatter him but he would not be his "chamcha" or sycophant anymore. Instead, he could send his cat, since it was good at licking feet.
(viii) What is the significance of Bonku Babu mentioning an “Ang” from Craneus?
Answer. Bonku Babu's mention of Ang has a big significance in his speech. He wanted to impress everyone by showing that an alien really did come to their village, which proved their earlier disbelief wrong. He also said that the alien, who came from another planet was quite amiable than the people he met regularly.
(ix) How does Bonku Babu’s body language portray his feelings after his speech?
Answer. After his speech, Bonku Babu’s body language showed his confidence and pride. He slapped Bhairav Chakravarty’s back with force as a revenge, walked out with a bounce and a whistle, kept his head held high, and his eyes sparkled. These actions clearly reflected his joy, relief, freedom and newfound boldness after finally speaking his mind.
(x) State, whether Ang really existed or was a literal device to sow one's self-confidence.
Answer: Ang in Bonku Babu’s Friend is best understood as a literary device rather than a literal alien. The story uses Ang’s appearance to symbolize Bonku Babu’s sudden rise in self‑confidence. For years he was mocked and silenced, but the “encounter” with Ang gave him the courage to speak boldly, challenge his tormentors, and leave with dignity. In this sense, Ang represents the spark of confidence and self‑respect that transformed Bonku Babu’s character.
(xi) What is the likely reason behind Ramkanai’s dramatic reaction (dropping the cup and spilling tea)?
Answer. Ramkanai’s reaction is likely because of surprise at Bonku Babu’s sudden shift in behaviour and attitude also his story about meeting an alien in their village. The cup was dropped and shattered due to his shock and disbelief.
