The Blue Bead Story Summary in English and Hindi Pdf. The Blue Bead is written by Norah Burke.
The Blue Bead Story Summary in English by Norah Burke
The Blue Bead About the Author
Norah Burke was born on August 2, 1907 at Bedford. She was a well known novelist and a famous non-fiction writer.Her father, Redmond St. George Burke, was a Forest Officer in India and her early childhood was spent travelling through the Indian forests, often on elephant back. The Indian jungle and her interactions with its wild animals inspired her autobiographical travel books – Jungle Child (1956), Eleven Leopards (1965), and Midnight Forests (1966). She also wrote a short story “Journey By Night.”
Norah Burke was also an enthusiastic travel writer, relating many of her early adventures in autobiographical travel books – Jungle Child, Tiger Country and Eleven Leopards. She also wrote about wildlife in King Todd (1963), Fire in the Forest arid the Midnight Forest (1966) and numerous short stories. She collaborated with her father on his book of big game hunting and camp life in the Indian jungles, Jungle Days (1935).
She married Henry Humphrey R. Methwold Walrond (1904-1987), a lawyer, and had two sons. She lived for many years at Thorne Court, in Cockfield, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffollk. She died in 1976.
The Blue Bead About the Story
The story is about the heroic deed of a twelve years old girl Sibia who saves the life of a Gujar woman from a crocodile. But she does not bray about her bravery. She only shows her fondness for a blue bead.
The story The Blue Bead’ depicts the courage and determination of a twelve years old Indian girl who saves the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile.
It revolves around Sibia, the young girl, who is marked for work. Since her childhood, she had husked corn, gathered sticks and put dung to dry, cooked food and cut grass for fodder. She was going with her mother and some other women to get paper grass from the cliffs above the river, which they sold to the agent who despatched it to the paper mills.
The women followed the dusky track towards the river. On the way they passed a Gujar encampment of grass huts where the nomadic graziers lived. The Gujars were junglis, as Sibia was, too, born and bred in the forest. The women reached the river. They came out on the shore and made for the stepping stones. They shouted as they quarrelled above the gush of the rivers. Noise frightens crocodiles. The big crocodile did not move, and all the women crossed in safety to the other bank. Here they had to climb a still hillside to get at the grass.
Down below there ran the river. Great turtles and crocodiles lived there. Now it was time for the women to return to their homes. The loaded women set out to cross the river. Sibia hung back to see the clay cups. The women crossed the river safely. Silence fell.
Sibia put her big load down on a big boulder. At the same time a Gujar woman came to get good clear water in her two pitchers. She walked into the stepping stone. She was within a yard of the crocodile when he lunged at her. The woman screamed and dropped both brass pots with a clutter on the boulder. The Gujar woman recoiled from the crocodile, but his jaws closed on her leg at the same moment as she slipped and fell on the bone breaking stone, and clutched one of the timber logs to save herself.
The log jammed between two boulders with the woman clinging to it and screaming while the crocodile pulled on her leg and tried to carry her off into the depth of the pool. Blood spread everywhere. Sibia sprang. She aimed at the reptile’s eyes. With all the force of her little body, she drove the hayfork at the eyes and the crocodile reared up in convulsion and then disappeared. Sibia got her arms round the fainting woman and somehow dragged her from the water.
She saved the woman’s life from the crocodile. Then she put sand on her wounds and bound them with rag and took her to her home in the Gujar encament. Thus she displayed her fearlessness in saving the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile.
The Blue Bead Summary in English
In the beginning of the story ‘The Blue Bead’, the writer gives a detailed description of the crocodile before she introduces a twelve year old Indian girl named Sibia to the readers.
The crocodile lived in a great Indian river. He was twice the length of a tall man. The crocodile rested in the glassy shallows, among logs and balanced there on tiptoe on the rippled sand. The crocodile, blackish brown above and yellow white under, lay motionless, able to wait forever till food came. He was a ferocious and formidable animal. His mouth was closed and fixed in that evil bony smile. Escaping the birds of prey and the great carnivorous fishes that ate baby crocodiles, he had prospered, catching all the food he needed, and storing it till putrid in holes in the bank. Tepid water to live in and plenty of rotten food grew him to his great length.
The big crocodile fed mostly on fish, but also on deer and monkeys, which came to drink, perhaps a duck or two. And sometimes he went to the burning ghats and found the half-burned bodies of Indians cast into the stream. Beside him in the shoals as he lay waiting glimmered a blue gem. It was not a gem, though, it was sand- worn glass that had been rolling about in the river for a long time. By chance it was perforated right through – the neck of a bottle perhaps ? – a blue bead.
Sibia’s poor life
In a village there lived a little girl in a mud house. She came out of her mud house after eating her last meal. She was dressed in an earthen-coloured rag. She was twelve years old girl and had great eyes and ebony hair. She was barefoot and born to toil. She was poor and had never owned anything but a rag. She had never owned even one anna. She knew what finery was, though.
Sibia’s visit to the bazaar
She had been with her parents and brothers all through the jungle to the little town at the railhead where there was a bazaar. She had visited the bazaar and liked several things in the bazaar. She had stood before the sweetmeat stall to gaze at the brilliant confections. She had stood before the cloth shop and liked satin with real silver thread. She had seen the tin trays and a sari which had got chips of looking glass embroidered in the border. She liked them. She had seen several other wonderful things of the world in the bazaar, but there was no end to the wonders of the world.
Sibia’s hard life
Sibia, the poor girl, was marked for work. During her childhood, she husked corn, gathered sticks and put dung to dry, cooked food and cut grass for fodder. She was going with her mother and some other women to get paper grass from the cliffs above the river, to sell it to the agent who would dispatch it to the paper mills.
The Gujars
The women followed the dusky track towards the river. On their way they passed a Gujar encampment of grass huts where the nomadic graziers lived. Sibia glanced at the Gujar woman as she went past. They wore trousers, tight and wrinkled at the ankles, and in their ears large silver rings made out of melted rupees. The men and boys were out of camp just now with the herd or gone to the bazaar to sell produce. The Gujars were junglis, as Sibia was, too, born and bred in the forest.
The women reached the river and could hear it rushing along. They came out on the shore and made for the stepping stones. They had plenty to laugh and bicker about. They shouted above the gush of the river. Noise frightens crocodiles. The big crocodile did not move, and all the women crossed in safety to the other bank. Here they had to climb a still hillside to get at the grass.
The river and the women
Down below, there ran the broad river. Great turtles lived there. Crocodiles too lived there. Sometimes they could be seen lying on the slabs of clay. Now it was time for the women to go back to see to their animals and the evening meal. The loaded women set out to cross the river again. Sibia hung back to see the clay cups. The women crossed the river safely.
Gujar woman’s struggle with crocodile
Sibia came down alone on the stepping stones. She stepped on to the first stone. When she was halfway over, she put her load down on a big boulder to rest. At the same moment a Gujar woman came down with two pitchers to the water on the other side. In order to get the good clear water, she walked onto the stepping stones. She was within a yard of the crocodile when he lunged at her. The woman screamed, dropped both brass pots with a clatter on the boulder, and Sibia saw them bob away in the current.
The Gujar woman recoiled from the crocodile, but his jaws closed on her leg at the same moment as she slipped and fell on the bone breaking stone. She clutched one of the timber logs to save herself. The log jammed between pvo boulders with the woman clinging to it and screaming, while the crocodile pulled on her leg, trying to carry her off into the depths of the pool. Blood spread everywhere. Sibia sprang. From boulder to boulder she came leaping like a rock goat and in one moment she was beside the shrieking woman. The crocodile’s eyes rolled on to Sibia. One slap of tail could kill her. He struck up. Up shot the water, twenty feet, and fell like a silver chain.
Sibia’s attack on the crocodile
Sibia aimed at the reptile’s eyes with all the force of her little body. She drove the hayfork at the eyes, and one prong went in, while its pair scratched past on the horny cheek. The crocodile reared up in convulsion and then disappeared. Sibia got her arms round the fainting woman and somehow dragged her from the water. She stopped her wounds with sand and bound them with a rag, and helped her home to the Gujar encampment where the men made a litter to carry her to someone for treatment. Then Sibia went back for her grass and sickle and fork. She gathered all the things and set off home.
On the way back she met her anxious mother who was worried about the safety of her daughter. She had thought that something must have happened to her daughter. But, Sibia bursting with her story, cried, “Something did ! I found a blue bead for my necklace, look !”
The Blue Bead Word Notes and Explanations
swallowed : made food go down the throat
sleepers : heavy pieces of wood
jostled : pushed roughly
cliffs : rocks
trilling : making high sound
juggernaut : any large destructive force
ferocious : violent / savage
formidable : impressive/ powerful
parasites : small animals that get their food from others
milling : people moving in large number
lunged : moved forward/ attacked
shipped : moved forward
dazzle : impress
encampment : a group of tents
clinking : making sharp sound
pastoral : rural
sickle : a tool with a curved blade
dawdle : to take a long time to go
clatter : to make a sound
convulsion : fit/shaking movement of body
dragged : pulled
wobbling : moving from side to side in an unsteady manner
smudged : smeared
wriggle : twist or turn your body
morose : sad
scolding : rebuke
bead : a small piece of glass
The Blue Bead Theme
In this story The Blue Bead’, Norah Burke depicts the courage, confidence and determination of a twelve years old Indian girl who saves the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile. She struggles with the crocodile in a heroic manner and defeats the crocodile.
The story conveys the idea that we do not need super powers to help others, we need to toughen up to help others. Sibia, the young girl, displays rare courage and presence of mind to save the Gujar woman from the crocodile.
Sibia is a village young girl who is marked for work since her childhood. Since her childhood, she had husked corn, gathered sticks and put dung to dry, cooked food and cut grass for fodder. She was going with her mother and other women to get paper grass from the cliffs above the river. On the way they pass a Gujar encampment of grass huts where the nomadic graziers lived. The women reached the river. They came out on the shore and made for stepping stones. They shouted above the gush of the river. Noise frightens crocodiles. The big crocodile did not move and all the women crossed in safety to the other bank. Here they had to climb a still hillside to get at the grass.
Down below there ran the river. Great turtles and crocodiles lived there. Now it was time for the women to return to their homes. The loaded women set out to cross the river. Sibia hung back to see the clay cups. The women crossed the river safely. Silence fell.
Sibia put her big load down on a boulder. At the same time a Gujar woman came to get clear water in her two pitchers. She walked into the stepping stone. She was within a yard of the crocodile when he lunged at her. The woman screamed and dropped both the brass pots. The Gujar woman recoiled from the crocodile but his jaws closed on her leg at the same moment as she slipped and fell on the stone and clinched one of the timber logs to save herself. The log jammed between two boulders with the woman clinging to it and screaming while the crocodile pulled on her leg and tried to carry her off into the depth of the pool. Blood spread everywhere. Sibia sprang. She aimed at the reptile’s eyes. With all the force of her little body, she drove the hayfork at the eyes of the crocodile and the crocodile reared up in convulsion and then disapeared. She dragged the woman out from the water and saved her life.
This shows that Sibia is a bold, selfless and helpful girl. She is simple and modest and does not brag about her act of bravery. The story reflects the idea that, like Sibia, we should also do selfless deeds to help others.
The Blue Bead Title
The title of the story ‘The Blue Bead’ seems to be misleading and inappropriate but if we read the whole story very carefully, we find that the title is effective and meaningful because it reflects the true character of Sibia, the protagonist of the story.
The title reveals that Sibia is a simple, humble and modest girl. She does not brag about her act of bravery. At the end of the story when her mother asks her what happened to her, she responds by telling her about the blue bead she has found and not about her act of saving a woman’s life. She is not proud of saving the life of the woman but is excited to get the blue bead. So the title ‘The Blue Bead’ is effective and meaningful.
The Blue Bead Message
In this story ‘The Blue Bead’, the writer conveys a message that we do not need super powers to help others at the time of need, we need to toughen up to help others. Sibia, the twelve years old Indian girl, displays courage, confidence, determination and presence of mind to save the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile. Sibia is a village young girl who is marked for work from the very childhood. She goes with her mother and other women to get paper grass from the cliffs above the river. On the way they pass a Gujar encampment of grass huts where the nomadic graziers live. The women reach the river. They come out on the shore and make for stepping stones. The big crocodiles do not move and all the women cross in safety to the other bank. Here they have to climb a still hillside to get at the grass.
Down below there runs a river. Great turtles and crocodiles live there. Now the women begin to return home. The loaded women cross the river. Sibia hangs back to see the clay cups. The women cross the river safely. Silence prevails.
Sibia puts her big load down on a boulder. At the same time a Gujar woman comes to get clear water in her two pitchers. She walks into the stepping stone. She is within a yard of the crocodile when he lunges at her. The woman screams and drops both the brass pots. The Gujar woman struggles to save herself. The Gujar woman clings to the boulder while the crocodile pulls on her leg and tries to carry her off into the depth of the pool. Blood spreads everywhere Sibia springs and aims at the reptile’s eyes. With all the force of her little body, she drives the hayfork at the eyes of the crocodile and the crocodile rears up in convulsion and then disappears. She drags the woman out and saves her life.
The writer wants to convey the idea that we should also do selfless deeds to help the others.
The Blue Bead Character Sketch
SIBIA
- poor, brave Indian girl
- twelve years old girl with great eyes
- worked hard during her childhood
- aware of the beauty of the elegant clothes
- fearless, active and alert
- gets attracted by several things in the bazaar
- goes to collect paper grass
- toils the whole day
- brave, selfless, helpful
- displays a rare courage and presence of mind
- saves the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile
- loves the blue bead
Sibia is a twelve year old Indian girl with ebony hair and great eyes. She is a village young girl who is poor but brave. She is marked for work since her childhood. Since her childhood, she had husked corn, gathered sticks, put dung to dry, cooked food and cut grass for fodder. She has never owned anything but a rag. She does not have any money to buy glass beads from the bazaar. But she is aware of the beauty of the elegant clothes. She is fearless, active and alert. She goes with her parents and brothers all through the jungle to the little town at the railhead where there is a bazaar. She walks through all the milling people. Like many young girls, of her age, she is also attracted by several wonderful things in the bazaar.
She goes with her mother and some other women to get paper grass from the cliffs above the river. Then she sells it to the agent. She toils all the day at this work. She skips along with the sickle and home-made hayfork beside her mother.
She is brave, selfless and helpful. She displays a rare courage and presence of mind in saving the life of a Gujar woman from the crocodile. It is really an act of heroism. But she is simple, modest and humble and does not brag about her act of saving the woman’s life. At the end of the story when her mother asks her what happened to her, she responds by telling her about the blue bead she has found and not of her act of saving the life of a Gujar woman.
The Blue Bead Critical Appreciation
Detailed description
The story ‘The Blue Bead’ begins with a detailed description of the crocodile, before it depicts the life of a twelve years old girl named Sibia.
“The mugger crocodile, blackish brown above and yellowy white under, lay motionless able to wait forever till food came …. His mouth, running almost the whole length of his head, was closed and fixed in that evil bony smile ….” Every minute detail about the crocodile is given. Sibia, the protagonist of the story, is also described in the same way : “With her ebony hair and great eyes, and her skin of oiled brown cream, she was a happy child- woman about twelve years old.”
Pictorial quality
The writer has used his artistic skill in creating vivid scenes in the story. She has created a beautiful images of the Gujar women by using appropriate and exact words. “They (Gujar women) wore trousers, tight and wrinkled at the ankles, and in their ears large silver rings made out of melted rupees; and one of them was clinking a stick against the big brass gurrahs in which they fetched water from the river for the camp, to see which ones were empty.” This quality of creating pictures is poetic in nature.
Language and style
The writer makes use of long sentences to describe the situations and characters. The sentences are involved, complex and cumbersome. Some of them are not easily intelligible. One has to read some of the sentences twice to comprehend the full meaning. The style is neither simple nor lucid. It is learned and poetic.