1. ✍️ About the Author

The story "The Priceless Gift" is a widely acclaimed adaptation, originally based on "The Price of Flowers" written by the eminent Indian author Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay.

• Full Name: Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay (1873–1932)

• Background: He was a renowned Bengali author, widely regarded as one of the best short story writers in Bengali literature, heavily influenced by Rabindranath Tagore.

• Family & Life: He was born in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. He went to London to study law but his true passion was literature.

• Notable Works: Navakatha, Deshi O Bilati, and Galpanjali.

• Theme of the Story: The story elegantly captures human emotions, the struggles of a poverty-stricken family, and the profound love between a sister and her brother.

2. 📖 Stanza/Paragraph Explanation

Part I

• Snippet: "I went to a vegetarian restaurant... Her interest in me aroused my curiosity in her."

• English Meaning: The narrator, Mr. Gupta, visits a crowded vegetarian restaurant and notices a young girl looking at him with sad eyes. She asks the cashier if he is an Indian and leaves. Her strange behavior makes the narrator very curious about her.

• Odia Meaning: ଲେଖକ (ଶ୍ରୀ ଗୁପ୍ତା) ଏକ ଶାକାହାରୀ ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟକୁ ଯାଇଥିଲେ। ସେଠାରେ ସେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଛୋଟ ଝିଅକୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଆଖିରେ ଚାହିଁଥିବାର ଦେଖିଲେ। ଝିଅଟି କ୍ୟାସିୟରଙ୍କୁ ସେ ଭାରତୀୟ କି ନୁହେଁ ପଚାରି ଚାଲିଗଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଝିଅଟିର ଆଗ୍ରହ ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଉତ୍କଣ୍ଠା ଜାଗ୍ରତ କଲା।

Part II

• Snippet: "The week passed. Saturday came again... How could I shatter their dream?"

• English Meaning: Next Saturday, the narrator approaches the girl (Maggie) and starts a conversation. She reveals that her brother, Franky, is a soldier in India and they haven't heard from him, causing her widowed mother great worry. Maggie takes the narrator to her home to meet her mother, Mrs. Bethy. The mother shows him a ring sent by Franky, believing an Indian can look into it and see the past and future. The narrator doesn't want to break their hearts by telling them it's just an ordinary ring.

• Odia Meaning: ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଶନିବାର, ଲେଖକ ଝିଅଟି (ମ୍ୟାଗି) ସହ କଥା ହେଲେ। ସେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପାଇଲେ ଯେ ତା'ର ଭାଇ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ଭାରତରେ ଜଣେ ସୈନିକ ଅଛି ଏବଂ ବହୁ ଦିନ ହେବ ତା'ର କୌଣସି ଖବର ନାହିଁ, ଯେଉଁଥିପାଇଁ ତା'ର ମା' ବହୁତ ବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ଅଛନ୍ତି। ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ତା' ଘରକୁ ନେଇଗଲା। ମା' ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ମୁଦି ଦେଖାଇ ଭାବିଲେ ଯେ ଜଣେ ଭାରତୀୟ ସେଥିରେ ଅତୀତ ଓ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଦେଖିପାରିବେ। ଲେଖକ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବାକୁ ଚାହିଁଲେ ନାହିଁ।

Part III

• Snippet: "Several months passed... I wrote a letter to them, announcing my departure and bidding them goodbye."

• English Meaning: Months pass with no news. Mrs. Bethy falls seriously ill from anxiety. Maggie begs the narrator to look into the ring and lie to her mother that Franky is alive, to save her life. The narrator tells the lie, and the mother recovers. However, it is later revealed that Franky had actually died in battle. The narrator feels immensely guilty and ashamed.

• Odia Meaning: କିଛି ମାସ ବିତିଗଲା କିନ୍ତୁ କୌଣସି ଖବର ଆସିଲା ନାହିଁ। ମା' ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ଚିନ୍ତାରେ ଗୁରୁତର ଅସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଲେ। ମା'ଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ମୁଦିରେ ଚାହିଁ ଭାଇ ଜୀବିତ ଅଛି ବୋଲି ମିଛ କହିବାକୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲା। ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ମିଛ କଥା ଶୁଣି ମା' ସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇଗଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ପରେ ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଲା ଯେ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଛି। ଏହା ଜାଣି ଲେଖକ ବହୁତ ଲଜ୍ଜିତ ଏବଂ ଦୋଷୀ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ।

Part IV

• Snippet: "Maggie had come to say goodbye... The joy of doing it was beyond all price."

• English Meaning: On the day of the narrator's departure to India, Maggie visits him. She gives him a hard-earned shilling to buy flowers and place them on her brother's grave in Punjab. The narrator realizes the deep love and sacrifice behind this small coin. It was truly a 'priceless gift'.

• Odia Meaning: ଲେଖକ ଭାରତ ଫେରିବା ଦିନ ମ୍ୟାଗି ତାଙ୍କୁ ବିଦାୟ ଦେବାକୁ ଆସିଲା। ସେ ତା'ର କଷ୍ଟ ଉପାର୍ଜିତ ଗୋଟିଏ 'ଶିଲିଂ' (ମୁଦ୍ରା) ଦେଇ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲା ଯେ ସେ ଭାରତରେ ଥିବା ତା' ଭାଇର କବର ଉପରେ ଫୁଲ ଦେବେ। ଲେଖକ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ ଯେ ଏହି ଛୋଟ ମୁଦ୍ରା ପଛରେ ଥିବା ଭଲପାଇବା ଓ ତ୍ୟାଗ ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଅଟେ। ଏହା ହିଁ ଥିଲା ସେହି "ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପହାର" (Priceless Gift)।

3. 📝 Word Meanings (>35 Words)

4. 📜 Long Summary (English)

The Priceless Gift is a touching story narrated by an Indian gentleman, Mr. Gupta, who meets a poor, young English girl named Maggie in a London vegetarian restaurant. Maggie shows a keen interest in him upon learning he is an Indian. Curious about her behavior, the narrator approaches her the following week. He learns that Maggie lives with her old, widowed mother, Mrs. Bethy. Her only brother, Franky, is serving as a soldier in the Punjab region of India, and the family hasn't received any news from him for a long time, deeply worrying the mother.

Maggie invites Mr. Gupta to their humble home. There, Mrs. Bethy shows him a ring sent by Franky, believing the superstition that a true Indian can gaze into it and see the past and future. Not wanting to destroy their hope, Mr. Gupta remains silent about the ring's ordinary nature. Months pass, and Mrs. Bethy falls critically ill due to her relentless anxiety about Franky. To save her mother’s life, Maggie begs Mr. Gupta to look into the ring and tell a lie that Franky is safe. Overcoming his moral hesitation, he does so, and the mother miraculously recovers from her illness.

Tragically, news arrives soon after that Franky had actually been killed in action. Mr. Gupta feels deeply ashamed for lying. Before he departs for India, Maggie visits him in mourning clothes. She offers him a shilling—a coin earned through intense hard work—requesting him to buy flowers and place them on her brother’s grave in Punjab. Deeply moved by her sacrifice, love, and immense grief, the narrator accepts the shilling. To him, that simple coin was a "Priceless Gift", representing the purest form of sibling love and emotional sacrifice.

5. 📖 Long Summary (Odia)

ଦି ପ୍ରାଇସ୍‌ଲେସ୍ ଗିଫ୍ଟ (ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପହାର) ହେଉଛି ଶ୍ରୀ ଗୁପ୍ତା ନାମକ ଜଣେ ଭାରତୀୟଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ ଏକ ହୃଦୟସ୍ପର୍ଶୀ କାହାଣୀ। ଲଣ୍ଡନର ଏକ ଶାକାହାରୀ ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟରେ ସେ ମ୍ୟାଗି ନାମକ ଏକ ଗରିବ ଇଂରେଜ ଝିଅକୁ ଭେଟନ୍ତି। ଲେଖକ ଭାରତୀୟ ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ପରେ ଝିଅଟି ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶେଷ ଆଗ୍ରହ ଦେଖାଇଥିଲା। ଏହି ଉତ୍କଣ୍ଠାର କାରଣ ଖୋଜିବାକୁ ଯାଇ ଲେଖକ ଝିଅଟି ସହ କଥା ହୁଅନ୍ତି। ସେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପାଆନ୍ତି ଯେ ମ୍ୟାଗି ତା'ର ବିଧବା ମା' ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥିଙ୍କ ସହ ରହେ। ତା'ର ଏକମାତ୍ର ଭାଇ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ଭାରତର ପଞ୍ଜାବରେ ଜଣେ ସୈନିକ ଭାବରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଛି, ଏବଂ ବହୁ ଦିନ ଧରି ତା'ର କୌଣସି ଖବର ନଥିବାରୁ ମା' ବହୁତ ଚିନ୍ତିତ ଅଛନ୍ତି।

ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ତା' ଘରକୁ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ କରେ। ସେଠାରେ ତା'ର ମା' ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ପଠାଇଥିବା ଏକ ମୁଦି ଦେଖାଇ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରନ୍ତି ଯେ, ଜଣେ ଭାରତୀୟ ସେଥିରେ ଚାହିଁ ଅତୀତ ଓ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଦେଖିପାରିବେ। ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଆଶା ନ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବା ପାଇଁ ଲେଖକ ଚୁପ୍ ରହନ୍ତି। କିଛି ମାସ ପରେ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କିର କୌଣସି ଖବର ନପାଇ ମା' ଗୁରୁତର ଅସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇପଡ଼ନ୍ତି। ମା'ଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କରେ ଯେ ସେ ମୁଦିରେ ଚାହିଁ ମିଛରେ କହନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ସୁସ୍ଥ ଅଛି। ଲେଖକ ସେୟା କରନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ମା' ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ ଭାବେ ସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇଯାଆନ୍ତି।

କିନ୍ତୁ ଦୁଃଖର ବିଷୟ, ପରେ ଖବର ଆସେ ଯେ ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଛି। ନିଜର ମିଛ ପାଇଁ ଲେଖକ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଲଜ୍ଜିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି। ଲେଖକ ଭାରତ ଫେରିବା ଦିନ, ମ୍ୟାଗି ଆସି ତାଙ୍କୁ ବିଦାୟ ଜଣାଏ ଏବଂ ନିଜର କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମରେ ରୋଜଗାର କରିଥିବା ଏକ 'ଶିଲିଂ' ଦେଇ ଅନୁରୋଧ କରେ ଯେ ସେ ଭାରତରେ ତା' ଭାଇର କବର ଉପରେ ଫୁଲ ଚଢ଼ାଇବେ। ଝିଅଟିର ଏହି ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ଭଲପାଇବା ଓ ତ୍ୟାଗ ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ଆଖିରେ ଲୁହ ଆଣିଦିଏ। ତାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସେହି ଛୋଟ ମୁଦ୍ରାଟି ଥିଲା ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ଏକ "ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପହାର"।

6. 🎓 Class Suggestions

For Teachers 🧑‍🏫

• Role Play: Divide the class into groups and ask students to enact the scene between Mr. Gupta, Maggie, and Mrs. Bethy. This builds conversational confidence.

• Vocabulary Building: Ask students to identify suffixes and prefixes used in the text (e.g., poverty-stricken, miraculous) as provided in the grammar section.

• Moral Discussion: Initiate a debate on "Was Mr. Gupta right in telling a lie to save a life?" It stimulates critical thinking and moral reasoning.

For Students 🧠

• Reading Aloud: Read the story loud focusing on the emotional tone. Notice how Mr. Gupta's tone changes from curious to guilty, and finally to deeply moved.

• Word Association: Create sentences using the compound adjectives given in the lesson (e.g., moth-eaten, bed-ridden).

• Empathy Exercise: Write a short diary entry from Maggie's perspective on the day she handed the shilling to Mr. Gupta.