Introduction to the Story
“The Priceless Gift” (adapted from the renowned Bengali short story “The Price of Flowers” by Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay) is a deeply touching Class 9 English prose selection. It explores human empathy, cross-cultural bonds, selflessness, and the reality that genuine love and emotional sacrifices hold far more value than material wealth.
Plot Summary
1. The Accidental Encounter in London
The story begins with the narrator, Mr. Gupta, an Indian man staying in London. While visiting a crowded vegetarian restaurant, he notices a young girl observing him intently with large, sad eyes. Curious, Mr. Gupta asks the restaurant cashier about her and learns that her name is Maggie, a poor girl who works hard at a factory and only occasionally visits the restaurant as a small treat.
2. Building a Connection
Later, Mr. Gupta encounters Maggie again at the same restaurant and introduces himself, sitting at her table. Maggie asks him if he is an Indian, revealing that her older brother, Franky, is a soldier serving in India. Maggie lives with her widowed, ailing mother (Mrs. Bethy), and Franky is their primary emotional and financial anchor. Because they have not heard from Franky in a long time, the family is consumed by anxiety and fear for his safety.
3. The Visit and the White Lie
Moved by their plight, Mr. Gupta visits Maggie’s modest home and meets Mrs. Bethy. Bedridden and severely depressed due to her son’s absence, Mrs. Bethy clings to a superstition regarding a mystic blue stone ring, believing it can reveal information about distant loved ones.
Desperate to comfort her dying mother, Maggie begs Mr. Gupta to look into the ring and tell her mother that Franky is alive and well. Though hesitant to deceive, Mr. Gupta yields to compassion and reassures Mrs. Bethy that Franky is safe. Miraculously, this comforting news revitalizes the ailing mother, bringing a sudden, temporary recovery to her health and spirit.
4. The Bitter Truth and the Parting Gift
Shortly afterward, Mr. Gupta realizes through calculation that Franky had actually been killed in action around the exact time—or even before—he uttered that comforting white lie. Overwhelmed by guilt, he prepares to return to India, deciding to keep the tragic truth from Mrs. Bethy to protect her fragile recovery.
When Maggie learns that Mr. Gupta is heading back to India, she asks him a profound favor: to visit her brother’s grave and place flowers on it. She hands him a shilling—a coin earned through grueling manual labor at her factory—to buy those flowers.
Key Themes
- Sacrifice and Selflessness: Maggie’s willingness to part with a hard-earned shilling—money desperately needed by her impoverished family—highlights a pure, unconditional love that transcends personal comfort.
- Empathy over Truth: Mr. Gupta’s decision to tell a white lie demonstrates how profound human empathy can override rigid honesty when emotional survival is at stake.
- The True Meaning of Wealth: Financial riches pale in comparison to heartfelt gestures, kindness, and emotional solidarity. The title ironically highlights that a single humble shilling given with genuine love is truly a “priceless gift.”
The Priceless Gift Class 9 English detailed text explanation
This video provides a helpful chapter walkthrough and detailed textual breakdown of the story to aid with exam revision.
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