Class 8 English Notes Chapter 8 (Jalebis) – It so Happend Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 8, 'Jalebis', from your 'It So Happened' book. This is a delightful yet thought-provoking story, originally written in Urdu by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi. It explores childhood innocence, temptation, and the consequences of our actions. Pay close attention, as understanding the nuances is important, especially for competitive exams.

Detailed Notes: Chapter 8 - Jalebis

1. Introduction:

• The story is a first-person narrative told from the perspective of a young schoolboy.
• It recounts an incident from his childhood involving school fees money and irresistible jalebis.
• The tone is humorous and nostalgic but carries a significant moral lesson.

2. Main Character:

• The Narrator (The Boy):
  • A bright student, in the fifth standard.
  • Comes from a relatively well-to-do family (implied by the fees amount and his status).
  • Receives a scholarship.
  • Honest and god-fearing initially.
  • Easily tempted, especially by jalebis.
  • Rationalizes his wrong actions.
  • Learns a valuable life lesson through the experience.

3. Plot Summary:

• The Setup: The boy is on his way to school with four rupees in his pocket, meant for paying the school fees. Master Ghulam Mohammed, the teacher who collects fees, is on leave that day, so the fees will be collected the next day.
• The Temptation: As he reaches the bazaar, the sight of hot, fresh, syrupy jalebis tempts him immensely. The money in his pocket feels heavy.
• The Coins 'Speak': The story uses personification where the coins seem to argue with the boy, urging him to buy jalebis. They reason that the fees can be paid the next day with his scholarship money, which is also due. The coins represent his inner desire and rationalization.
• Giving In: Despite his initial resistance and fear of God and his elders, the boy succumbs to temptation. He convinces himself that he can pay the fees with the scholarship money.
• The Feast: He buys a whole rupee's worth of jalebis (a large quantity back then). He eats many himself and generously shares them with a crowd of neighbourhood children. He enjoys the moment immensely but eats far too many.
• The Aftermath - Fear and Indigestion: The immediate consequence is severe indigestion. Burps tasting of jalebis plague him. More significantly, the fear of getting caught sets in. He realizes the scholarship money might be delayed, or he might not even get it the next day.
• Skipping School: The next day, terrified of facing Master Ghulam Mohammed without the fees money, he skips school and hides near the railway station, under a tree.
• Prayers and Bargaining with God: Feeling helpless, he turns to prayer. He prays earnestly to Allah Miyan, asking for just four rupees to appear magically under the nearby rock. He makes elaborate promises: he'll never steal, always pray, donate, etc. He even tries different postures and recites various verses. He bargains, suggesting God has vast resources and four rupees is nothing.
• The Disappointment: Despite his fervent prayers and bargaining, no money appears. He waits, rationalizes (maybe God wanted him to touch the rock), tries again, but fails.
• The Realization: He slowly understands that God doesn't simply grant wishes that arise from wrongdoing. If God provided money like this, people wouldn't learn skills or work hard. He learns that actions have consequences, and prayers cannot magically undo mistakes.
• The Lesson: The story ends with the boy, now much older, reflecting on the incident. He mentions that the lesson he learned that day has stayed with him. He understands that one must take responsibility for one's actions.

4. Key Themes:

• Temptation vs. Reason: The central conflict is the boy's struggle between his desire for jalebis and his knowledge that the money is for fees.
• Childhood Innocence: The boy's naive belief that prayers could magically solve his self-inflicted problem highlights childhood innocence.
• Rationalization: The way the boy (and the 'talking' coins) justifies spending the fee money shows how people rationalize wrong actions.
• Consequences of Actions: The story clearly demonstrates that actions, especially dishonest ones, have unavoidable consequences (indigestion, fear, skipping school, potential punishment).
• Learning from Mistakes: The incident becomes a significant life lesson for the narrator about responsibility and the nature of prayer.
• Honesty: The story subtly underscores the importance of honesty and using money for its intended purpose.

5. Important Details for Exams:

• Amount of money: Four rupees.
• Purpose of money: School fees.
• Class: Fifth standard.
• Teacher collecting fees: Master Ghulam Mohammed.
• Reason fees weren't collected: Teacher was on leave.
• Source of hope for replacement money: Scholarship money (also four rupees), due the next day.
• Amount spent on jalebis: One whole rupee.
• Where he hid: Under a tree near the railway station.
• What he prayed for: Four rupees to magically appear.
• Core lesson learned: God helps those who help themselves; prayers don't magically erase the consequences of wrongdoing.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Here are 10 MCQs based on Chapter 8, 'Jalebis':

1. How much money did the boy have initially for his school fees?
   a) One rupee
   b) Two rupees
   c) Four rupees
   d) Five rupees
   Answer: c) Four rupees

2. Why were the school fees not collected on the day the boy brought the money?
   a) The boy arrived late to school.
   b) The Master, Ghulam Mohammed, was on leave.
   c) The school office was closed.
   d) The boy forgot to bring the money.
   Answer: b) The Master, Ghulam Mohammed, was on leave.

3. What object does the author personify to represent the boy's temptation?
   a) The jalebis
   b) The school bag
   c) The coins
   d) The school bell
   Answer: c) The coins

4. How did the boy plan to pay the fees after spending the initial amount?
   a) By asking his parents for more money.
   b) By using his scholarship money due the next day.
   c) By borrowing from a friend.
   d) By selling his books.
   Answer: b) By using his scholarship money due the next day.

5. How much money did the boy spend on jalebis?
   a) Four annas
   b) Eight annas
   c) One whole rupee
   d) Two rupees
   Answer: c) One whole rupee

6. What was the immediate physical consequence of eating too many jalebis?
   a) A stomach ache and indigestion
   b) A headache
   c) Feeling very energetic
   d) Falling asleep in class
   Answer: a) A stomach ache and indigestion

7. Where did the boy hide when he skipped school the next day?
   a) In the marketplace
   b) At his home
   c) Under a tree near the railway station
   d) In the school library
   Answer: c) Under a tree near the railway station

8. What did the boy repeatedly ask Allah Miyan for in his prayers?
   a) Forgiveness for eating jalebis
   b) For the scholarship money to arrive early
   c) For Master Ghulam Mohammed to forget about the fees
   d) For four rupees to magically appear
   Answer: d) For four rupees to magically appear

9. What realization did the boy come to after his prayers were not answered?
   a) That Allah Miyan was angry with him.
   b) That God doesn't provide instant solutions for problems caused by one's own mistakes.
   c) That he should have prayed harder.
   d) That someone had stolen the money God left.
   Answer: b) That God doesn't provide instant solutions for problems caused by one's own mistakes.

10. What is the central theme explored through the boy's experience?
    a) The importance of sharing food.
    b) The struggle between temptation and responsibility, and learning from consequences.
    c) The difficulties of the education system.
    d) The joy of eating sweets.
    Answer: b) The struggle between temptation and responsibility, and learning from consequences.

Study these notes carefully. Understanding the character's motivations, the sequence of events, and the underlying message is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!