Class 8 Hindi - MAHARASHTRA
Ek Tokari Bhar Mitti
Ek Tokari Bhar Mitti by Madhavrao Sapre is considered the first Hindi short story, included in the Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Hindi syllabus. The chapter highlights the themes of greed, repentance, and the emotional connection a poor old widow has to her small hut and ancestral soil. Through a poignant encounter between a wealthy landlord and a helpless widow, the story delivers a strong moral message about compassion, humanity, and how greed can cloud one's judgment. For board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, character analysis, and value-based writing skills.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Story Background
Published in 1901 in the 'Chhattisgarh Mitra' magazine, this story is historically significant as the first story written in Hindi.
Character of the Landlord
A wealthy and proud man who initially misuses his power to evict a poor widow from her hut, showing a lack of empathy.
Character of the Widow
A helpless, poor old woman whose livelihood and memories are tied to her small hut, symbolizing resilience and dignity in poverty.
The Climax (Tokari Bhar Mitti)
When the widow asks the landlord to help her put just one basket of soil onto her head, he realizes he cannot lift it alone, making him understand the immense weight of taking away someone's home.
Moral Value
The story teaches us that greed is a sin, and true wealth lies in kindness, empathy, and respecting the rights of the poor.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) Class 8 Hindi paper, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually include short answers about the plot, character sketches of the landlord and the widow, extract-based comprehension, and value-based long answer questions regarding the moral of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the author of 'Ek Tokari Bhar Mitti'?
The story was written by Madhavrao Sapre and is recognized as the first short story in Hindi literature.
Why did the widow ask for just a basket of soil?
The widow asked for a basket of soil from her old hut because her emotional attachment to the place was so deep that she wanted to carry a symbol of her home with her.
What lesson did the landlord learn in the end?
The landlord realized that the earth belongs to everyone and the sin of making a poor person homeless is too heavy a burden to carry, which made him repent and return the hut to the widow.
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