(Marks 5) | class XI WBCHSE 2nd Semester
In the tale “A Ghostly Wife,” who pretended to be the Brahmani? How did she get into the Brahman’s home? What was the difference between the Brahmani and the ghostly wife? [‘A Ghostly Wife’ গল্পে কে ব্রাহ্মণীর রূপ ধরে? Is there anything that can be done to help? The phrase “ভূত-বউ ব্রাহ্মণীর থেকে কোন্ বিষয়ে ভিন্ন ছিল?
Answer: In the tale “A Ghostly Wife,” a Sankchinni pretended to be a Brahmani.
> While visiting the tank one evening, the Brahman’s wife unintentionally brushed past a Sankchinni. The she-ghost grabbed her as she touched Sankchinni and threw her into a tree hole. The woman was so terrified that she lay there nearly dead. The she-ghost then went into the Brahman’s home dressed as a Brahmani.
> The mother-in-law noticed some changes in her daughter-in-law the following morning. The woman who had been weak and lethargic had suddenly become lively and prompt. In a much shorter time than before, she started cooking and bringing everything over. She had a considerable amount of arm length. The woman was cooking using her foot as fuel, which was the most startling alteration.
. Describe what a “Sankchinni” is. What was her residence? Describe what happened before Sankchinni entered the Brahman’s home. [শাঁখচিন্নি কী? সে কোথায় বাস করত? শাঁখচিন্নির ব্রাহ্মণের ঘরে প্রবইশের ঘটনা বর্ণনা করো।]
Yes. A “Sankchinni” is a white-faced female ghost. They typically stand near the base of trees in the dead of night. They resemble white cloth sheets. The Sanskrit term “Sankhachurni” is the root of the English word “Sankchinni.” They are the spirits of Hindu married women who wear conch shell or “shankha” bangles. Trees are their home.
> The Sankchinni resided on tree boughs in the tale “A Ghostly Wife.” This tree was located next to a Brahman’s home on the tank’s embankment.
> While visiting the tank one evening, the Brahman’s wife unintentionally touched the Sankchinni. The she-ghost grabbed the Brahmani by the throat, climbed up the tree, and pushed her into a hole in the trunk because she was angry. The woman was so terrified that she lay there nearly dead. The ghost then went into the Brahman’s home dressed as a Brahmani.
Who is called an ‘ojha’? What role does he play in the story ‘A Ghostly Wife’?
The Bengali word “ojha” refers to an exorcist who drives a possessed person or spirits out of a location. The occupation of a “ojha” was highly esteemed in rural Bengal due to superstitious beliefs about ghosts.
> The ojha is crucial in “A Ghostly Wife” in resolving the catastrophe that has engulfed Brahman and his family. An ojha was called in when the daughter-in-law’s actions were scrutinized and her identity was suspected. The ojha demonstrated that the daughter-in-law was either a ghost or a lady under the influence of a ghost by placing a piece of burning turmeric beneath her nose and watching her reactions, such as screaming and fleeing. After that, the Ojha put her under his control and made her reveal who she was and what had occurred to the Brahmani by beating her with slippers. They took the Brahmani home. The Brahman and his family were able to live happily once the ojha finally freed the ghost from his enchantment. Therefore, the ojha was essential in bringing the Brahman family’s happiness back.
What was the she-ghost up to in the Brahman’s house? [ব্রাহ্মণের বাড়িতে পেতনি কী কী কররমমাণ্ড ঘটাল?
Yes. The she-ghost’s odd and unusual actions are the primary source of the folktale “A Ghostly Wife’s” charm. The she-ghost, furious at the Brahmani, grabbed her, threw her in the tree’s hole, dressed as the lady, and went into the Brahman’s home. There, the mother-in-law was taken aback by how quickly she prepared meals and brought items from afar. It would take her a lot less time to stretch her arm and carry something from a few yards away or the next room. The house ran out of firewood one day. However, an odd thing occurred: the mother-in-law pushed her foot into the oven as fuel when she realized her daughter-in-law was cooking. She shouted out loud and fled the room as the “ojha” put a piece of burning turmeric under her nose. However, she revealed her identity and the fate of the Brahman’s genuine wife while under the influence of the ojha, speaking with a pronounced nasal accent. She concluded by solemnly promising not to hurt the Brahman and his family any more.
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[ In “A Ghostly Wife,” how did Brahman and his family escape the Sankchinni? [‘A Ghostly Wife’ গল্পে ব্রাহ্মণ এবং তার পরিবার কীভাবে শাঁখচিন্নি থেকে মুক্তি পায়?
Answer: “A Ghostly Wife” is a straightforward story about a sankchinni’s adventures and how Brahman and his family were freed from her. By dressing like the Brahmani, the sankchinni took on her appearance. She entered the Brahman’s house. His mother and the Brahman had no doubts about her appearance. However, the mother-in-law noticed some changes in her daughter-in-law the following morning. Her feeble daughter-in-law had become more energetic and prompt than before, which pleased her. However, she was shocked to see that she was reaching out to fetch something from a faraway location. When the mother-in-law told her son about it, they both started keeping a tight eye on her. The mother-in-law was shocked to discover one day that her daughter-in-law was cooking with her foot as fuel. She described the miracle she had witnessed to her son, and they both recognized her as a she-ghost. In order to get rid of the she-ghost, they hired an exorcist, known as ojha in Bangla. In order to determine whether she was a spirit, the exorcist first placed burnt turmeric beneath her nose. She let out a loud cry and fled the room when the lit turmeric was brought close to her. It was obvious that she was either a ghost or a ghost-possessed lady. Upon being questioned about her identity, she remained silent. In order to beat her, the Ojha put on his slippers. She then stated that she was a Sankchinni with a nasal accent. Over time, the exorcist was able to learn from the ghost that she had pushed the actual Brahmani into the tree’s hole. The wife was saved and returned. Then the spirit was set free. In this manner, the Sankchinni was freed from Brahman and his family.