THE DOCTOR’S WORD - class-12-english-summary-questions-and-answers-chse
SUMMARY OF THE DOCTOR’S WORD BY K. NARAYANA REDDY
This story highlights the importance of a doctor’s responsibility and the value of truth in saving lives.
Dr. Raman was a well-known and respected doctor, famous for his honesty and straightforwardness. He never gave false hopes to his patients. His best friend, Gopal, was seriously ill and near death. When Gopal asked Dr. Raman about his condition, the doctor realized that speaking the truth would crush Gopal’s hope and hasten his death.
For the first time in his life, Dr. Raman told a lie. He assured Gopal that he would recover. This false statement gave Gopal courage and hope. Miraculously, Gopal’s health began to improve, and he survived.
The story shows how words can heal, and how sometimes compassion is more important than truth. It emphasizes that a doctor not only treats the body but also has the power to heal through words of hope and encouragement.
Message: Human life is precious, and sometimes a small lie, spoken with compassion, can save a life.
SHORT QUESTION-ANSWERS
1. Who is the author of The Doctor’s Word?
Ans: The story is written by K. Narayana Reddy.
2. Who was Dr. Raman?
Ans: Dr. Raman was a famous and respected doctor, known for his honesty and straightforwardness.
3. How was Dr. Raman’s character different from other doctors?
Ans: Unlike others, he never gave false hopes to patients and always told the truth about their condition.
4. Who was Gopal?
Ans: Gopal was Dr. Raman’s closest friend.
5. What was Gopal suffering from?
Ans: Gopal was suffering from a serious illness and was near death.
6. What did Gopal ask Dr. Raman?
Ans: Gopal asked Dr. Raman to tell him honestly whether he would live or die.
7. Why was Gopal anxious to know the truth?
Ans: Gopal wanted to make arrangements for his family and property if he was going to die.
8. What was Dr. Raman’s dilemma?
Ans: He was torn between his principle of truth-telling and his fear that the truth might kill his friend’s hope.
9. What did Dr. Raman finally tell Gopal?
Ans: Dr. Raman told Gopal that he would recover.
10. Why was Dr. Raman’s statement unusual?
Ans: Because for the first time in his life, Dr. Raman told a lie to a patient.
11. How did Gopal react to Dr. Raman’s assurance?
Ans: Gopal felt relieved, confident, and hopeful after hearing the doctor’s words.
12. What miracle happened after Dr. Raman’s words?
Ans: Gopal’s health improved, and he gradually recovered.
13. What does the story show about the power of words?
Ans: It shows that hopeful words can give courage, strength, and even save lives.
14. Why did Dr. Raman lie to his friend?
Ans: He lied out of compassion, to give Gopal hope and courage to fight for his life.
15. What was Dr. Raman’s usual habit with his patients?
Ans: His usual habit was to speak only the truth, even if it was harsh.
16. How did Gopal’s faith in Dr. Raman help him?
Ans: Gopal completely trusted Dr. Raman’s words, which gave him strength to recover.
17. What lesson does the story teach us about doctors?
Ans: Doctors must treat both the body and the mind; sometimes words of hope are as important as medicine.
18. What is the central theme of the story?
Ans: The theme is the healing power of compassion and hope.
19. Why was Gopal’s recovery surprising?
Ans: It was surprising because he was on the verge of death but survived due to his renewed hope.
20. What moral do we learn from The Doctor’s Word?
Ans: We learn that truth is important, but sometimes a compassionate lie can save a life.
LONG QUESTION-ANSWERS
1. Describe the character of Dr. Raman in the story.
Answer:
Dr. Raman is portrayed as a famous and respected doctor known for his honesty and straightforwardness. He never misled his patients and always told the truth, even if it was harsh. However, his compassion for his best friend Gopal made him break his principle for the first time. This shows that apart from being truthful, he was also deeply human and caring.
2. What kind of friendship existed between Dr. Raman and Gopal?
Answer:
Dr. Raman and Gopal shared a lifelong friendship built on trust and loyalty. Gopal trusted Dr. Raman completely, even in matters of life and death. Dr. Raman, on the other hand, cared for Gopal so much that he went against his own principles to give his friend hope. Their bond reveals the depth of true friendship.
3. Why was Gopal worried about his illness?
Answer:
Gopal was worried because he felt he was nearing death. He wanted to make arrangements for his family and property before he passed away. His anxiety made him ask Dr. Raman to tell him the truth about his condition.
4. Why was Dr. Raman in a dilemma when Gopal asked him about his condition?
Answer:
Dr. Raman was caught between truth and compassion. He was known for never telling lies to his patients, but he feared that telling Gopal the truth would break his spirit and hasten his death. Finally, he chose to tell a lie out of love and compassion for his friend.
5. How did Dr. Raman’s lie affect Gopal?
Answer:
Dr. Raman’s assurance that Gopal would recover gave him confidence, courage, and hope. This positive state of mind worked like medicine. Gopal’s health improved gradually, and he miraculously recovered.
6. Why is Dr. Raman’s lie considered noble?
Answer:
Dr. Raman’s lie is noble because it was not told for selfish reasons but to save his friend’s life. He sacrificed his principle of honesty for the greater good of giving hope and comfort. His compassionate lie proved life-saving.
7. What role does hope play in the story?
Answer:
Hope plays a central role in Gopal’s recovery. Without hope, Gopal was close to giving up his life. But Dr. Raman’s encouraging words filled him with hope, which gave him the strength to fight against illness and survive.
8. How is truth presented in the story?
Answer:
Truth is shown as an important principle for Dr. Raman, who always spoke it. However, the story shows that truth, though important, is not always helpful in every situation. Sometimes, a compassionate lie can be more powerful than bitter truth.
9. What does the story teach us about the doctor-patient relationship?
Answer:
The story highlights that the doctor-patient relationship is built on trust. Patients not only depend on medicines but also on the doctor’s words and assurance. A doctor must treat the body and the mind together to bring true healing.
10. How does The Doctor’s Word show the power of words?
Answer:
The story shows that words can heal as much as medicine. Dr. Raman’s words of hope gave Gopal the mental strength to fight his illness. Words have the power to destroy or to build, and in this case, they gave life.
11. What qualities of a true doctor are shown through Dr. Raman?
Answer:
Through Dr. Raman, the story shows that a true doctor must be honest, responsible, compassionate, and capable of inspiring confidence in patients. His ability to balance truth with kindness makes him an ideal doctor.
12. Why was Gopal’s recovery considered miraculous?
Answer:
Gopal’s recovery was miraculous because his condition was critical, and he was expected to die soon. However, the assurance from Dr. Raman gave him new hope, which helped him recover against all expectations.
13. How does the story highlight the value of friendship?
Answer:
The story beautifully highlights that true friendship involves care, sacrifice, and love. Dr. Raman’s compassionate lie saved his friend’s life. It shows that sometimes friendship demands going beyond principles to save someone we love.
14. How is compassion shown in the story?
Answer:
Compassion is shown when Dr. Raman chooses to give his dying friend hope rather than blunt truth. His humanity and care outweighed his professional principle, proving that compassion is a vital quality in human relationships.
15. Explain the title of the story The Doctor’s Word.
Answer:
The title refers to the importance of a doctor’s assurance in a patient’s life. Dr. Raman’s words carried great weight and trust. His single assurance changed Gopal’s outlook, saved his hope, and gave him life. Hence, the doctor’s word becomes a symbol of healing power.
16. What does the story suggest about the relationship between mind and body?
Answer:
The story suggests that the mind and body are closely connected. Gopal’s mind was strengthened by hopeful words, which in turn helped his body fight illness. Mental strength plays a vital role in physical recovery.
17. Why did Gopal trust Dr. Raman completely?
Answer:
Gopal trusted Dr. Raman because of his lifelong honesty, reputation, and their close friendship. He believed that Dr. Raman would never hide the truth from him, which is why Raman’s words had such a powerful effect.
18. Do you think Dr. Raman was right in telling a lie? Give reasons.
Answer:
Yes, Dr. Raman was right. Sometimes, truth can harm, while a compassionate lie can heal. His intention was not to deceive but to save his friend. The result proved him right, as Gopal survived because of that lie.
19. What moral lessons can be learned from the story?
Answer:
The story teaches us that compassion is as important as truth, hope is as powerful as medicine, and friendship can inspire sacrifices. It also reminds doctors to heal with both treatment and encouragement.
20. Why is The Doctor’s Word considered a humanistic story?
Answer:
The story is considered humanistic because it emphasizes human values such as compassion, friendship, love, and hope. It shows that sometimes emotions and humanity are more important than strict principles.
