The Passing Away of Bapu

The Passing Away of Bapu” is a very important prose piece in the Class 10 English syllabus under the West Bengal Board (WBBSE). This lesson, spread over covers Gandhiji’s final moments, the emotional impact of his passing, and the responsibility passed onto the youth of India. In this post, we’ve provided the complete and updated question answers, including multiple choice questions (MCQ), fill in the blanks, true/false, short answers, long questions, and writing activities. Perfect for Madhyamik 2026 exam preparation

Lesson–3 | Comprehension Exercises

I. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences:

(a) Gandhiji’s ashes were taken to –
(ii) Allahabad

(b) A huge crowd had gathered by the –
(i) Ganges

(c) Gandhiji awakened people to one another’s –
(iii) suffering

II. Complete the following sentences: The Passing Away of Bapu

(a) People on the special train –
sang Bhajans.

(b) The author felt she had grown up within –
a magic circle.

(c) Bapu had passed away but –
his India would continue to live in his children.

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) Gandhiji had been shot on his way to
(i) the Birla House
(ii) the author’s house
(iii) a prayer meeting
(iv) a family gathering

Ans :– (iii) a prayer meeting

(b) The author came to know of Gandhiji’s death by
(i) a letter
(ii) a telephone call
(iii) a telegram
(iv) a public broadcast

Ans :– (ii) a telephone call

Ans :– (i) whimpers

Fill in the chart with information from the text :
(a) date on which Gandhiji // 30th January 1948
was shot dead

(b) place where Gandhiji // Birla House breathed his last

State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer :
(a) The author received an urgent telephone call. in the morning.– (False)
S.S :– I was having tea at home on the evening of 30th January 1948, when I was called to Birla house by an urgent telephone.

(b) People attempted to break into the Birla House.– (True)
S.S :– They jostled one another in a stampede (আতঙ্কে দিশাহারা হয়ে) to break into the house.

(c) The news of Gandhiji’s death did not shock the people. — (False)
S.S :– The people were too stunned (দুঃখে স্তব্ধ) to speak in the beginning.

III. Fill in the chart with information from the text: The Passing Away of Bapu

Cause	Effect
(a) They could feel Gandhiji’s presence amid the flowers and the songs.	People did not weep anymore.
(b) The magic circle vanished.	The author was left unprotected.
(c) Her values were not so weak.	The author felt she wouldn’t lose courage so easily.

IV. Join the following pairs of sentences (as directed): The Passing Away of Bapu

➤ Using participle:

(a) I saw a snake. I ran away.
Seeing a snake, I ran away.

➤ Using preposition with gerund:

(b) He learns music. He listens to the chords.
He learns music by listening to the chords.

➤ Using noun in apposition:

(c) Gold is a precious metal. It is used to make ornaments.
Gold, a precious metal, is used to make ornaments.

➤ Using alternative conjunction: The Passing Away of Bapu

(d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination.
Study hard or you will not pass the examination.

➤ Using nominative absolute:

(e) The sky was cloudy. We postponed our journey.
The sky being cloudy, we postponed our journey.

➤ Using adverbial phrase:

(f) The boy wrote the answer. The answer was incorrect.
The boy wrote an incorrect answer.

V. Join the following pairs (Compound Sentences): The Passing Away of Bapu

➤ Using illative conjunction:

(a) The old man is unwell. He cannot go out.
The old man is unwell, so he cannot go out.

➤ Using cumulative conjunction:

(b) He is honest. He is humble.
He is honest and humble.

➤ Using adversative conjunction:

(c) Sonali cannot write poetry. She keeps on trying.
Sonali cannot write poetry, but she keeps on trying.

➤ Using alternative conjunction: The Passing Away of Bapu

(d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination.
Study hard or you will not pass the examination.

VI. Join the following pairs (Complex Sentences):

➤ Using adjective clause:

(a) Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet. He won the Nobel Prize.
Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet who won the Nobel Prize.

➤ Using adverb clause:

(b) He returned home. Everyone in the family had fallen asleep.
When he returned home, everyone in the family had fallen asleep.

➤ Using noun clause:

(c) The sun rises in the east. Everyone knows it.
Everyone knows that the sun rises in the east.

VII. More Sentence Joining (Mixed): The Passing Away of Bapu

➤ (a) It rained hard. The roads were not flooded. (Compound)

It rained hard, but the roads were not flooded.

➤ (b) He completed his work. He took rest. (Simple)

Having completed his work, he took rest.

➤ (c) Rahul is a great singer. He can sing different kinds of songs. (Complex)

Rahul is a great singer who can sing different kinds of songs.

➤ (d) The time of departure of the train has changed. Alia knew it. (Complex)

Alia knew that the time of departure of the train had changed. The Passing Away of Bapu

➤ (e) I do not watch television. I do not listen to the radio. (Compound)

I neither watch television nor listen to the radio.

➤ (f) The child was short. He could not pick the guava from the tree. (Simple)

Being short, the child could not pick the guava from the tree.

VIII. Split the sentences into two: The Passing Away of Bapu

(a) It rained and I could not leave my room.
It rained. I could not leave my room.

(b) He thought that he could win the race.
He thought. He could win the race.

(c) Having been informed of the trouble, the Principal left for home.
The Principal was informed of the trouble. He left for home.

(d) Nasir, who was the captain of the team, scored a century.
Nasir scored a century. He was the captain of the team.

Writing Activities The Passing Away of Bapu

1. Write a biography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (within 100 words)

MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born on 11th November 1888. He was a well-known writer. He mostly composed poetry in Urdu. He also worked as a journalist. He took part in the freedom movement of India and strongly protested against the British Raj. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji’s ideas. Azad wrote many books like India Wins Freedom, Ghubar-e-Khatir, etc. He was the first Education Minister of Independent India. His birthday is celebrated as National Education Day. He passed away on 22nd February 1958.

2. Paragraph: How a building is constructed (using flow-chart)

Construction of a Building
The construction of a building goes through several stages. At first, a plan of the building is drawn by an architect. Thereafter, the plan is got sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities. After that, masons and labourers are engaged and the construction is started with bricks, cement and sand. Next, doors and windows are fitted. Then, plastering of the walls is done and electric wiring is completed. After that, electric and water connections are taken. Next, the building is painted. At last, the construction is finished and the building becomes ready for living. The Passing Away of Bapu