Supplementary Chapter 10 Class 6 NCERT: A Strange Wrestling Match

Chapter Summary and Overview

The story revolves around Vijay Singh, a mighty wrestler who had one major weakness: he loved to boast. One day, he foolishly boasted that he was not afraid of ghosts and wished to meet a strong one to teach it a lesson. Taking up his challenge, the villagers sent him to the Haunted Desert. Before leaving, an eccentric old woman gifted him a small packet containing an egg and a lump of salt.

Upon entering the desert at night, Vijay Singh met a ghost named Natwar. Instead of panicking, Vijay pretended to be highly unimpressed by the ghost, calling him weak. To prove his superiority, the ghost challenged Vijay to tests of physical strength. Using the egg and the salt gifted by the old woman, Vijay tricked the ghost into believing he could squeeze fluid and powder out of hard stones. Terrified of Vijay's apparent superhuman strength, the ghost invited him to his cave, planning to murder him in his sleep. However, Vijay's sharp intellect saved him once again, leading to the ghost fleeing in terror.

Key Characters and Literary Themes

Vijay Singh

A famous, muscular wrestler who is boastful but highly intelligent, practical, and possessive of excellent presence of mind.

Natwar the Ghost

A ghost residing in the Haunted Desert who tries to scare travellers but is easily fooled and intimidated by Vijay's tricks.

The Old Woman

An eccentric villager who wisely gives Vijay a packet containing an egg and a piece of salt, which ultimately saves his life.

Wit over Strength

The central theme of the story, demonstrating that cleverness and mental sharpness can defeat raw physical power and supernatural elements.

Step-by-Step: How Vijay Singh Outsmarted the Ghost

1. Step 1: Squeezing the 'Stone' (The Egg Trick) — The ghost challenged Vijay to squeeze fluid from a stone. Vijay took a real stone but secretly took out the egg from his pocket. He squeezed both together. The egg broke, releasing fluid, tricking the ghost into thinking Vijay squeezed liquid from a rock.
2. Step 2: Crushing the 'Rock' (The Salt Trick) — Next, the ghost handed Vijay another stone to crush into powder. Vijay swapped the real stone with the lump of salt from his pocket and crushed it easily, letting the ghost taste the salty powder to prove it was a crushed mineral.
3. Step 3: The Bolster Trick in the Cave — Sensing that the ghost would try to attack him while he slept in the cave, Vijay placed a large bolster (pillow) on his bed and covered it with a blanket to look like a sleeping body, while he hid safely in a dark corner.
4. Step 4: Terrifying the Ghost — The ghost struck the bolster seven times with a heavy club, thinking he killed Vijay. When Vijay woke up, walked out, and complained about 'insects flapping their wings,' the ghost became utterly terrified and fled the cave forever.

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not confuse the sequence of tricks: Remember that the egg was used first (to show fluid coming out of a stone) and the salt was used second (to show a stone being crushed into powder).
• Focus on Character Traits: If asked about Vijay's character, explain that while he was a boaster, he was also courageous and practical. He did not lose his head when facing real danger.
• Spellings and Terms: Pay attention to terms like eccentric, bolster, haunted, and wrestler to score high on spelling and vocabulary in your answers.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why did Vijay Singh decide to visit the Haunted Desert? A: Step 1: Understand Vijay Singh's core flaw. He was extremely boastful and liked to show off. Step 2: Note the conversation. He openly claimed to his friends that he was not afraid of ghosts and wished to fight one. Step 3: State the consequence. To avoid looking like a coward after boasting, he had to go to the Haunted Desert when challenged. Final answer: Vijay Singh visited the Haunted Desert because he had proudly boasted to his friends that he wished to meet a ghost and show off his wrestling skills. He had to go to keep his word.
• Q: How did the old woman's gift help Vijay Singh defeat the ghost's first challenge? A: Step 1: Identify the gift. The old woman gave Vijay a small packet containing an egg and a piece of salt. Step 2: Detail the application. During the first challenge of squeezing a stone, Vijay secretly held the egg beside the stone. Step 3: Explain the outcome. When he squeezed them together, the egg broke, creating the illusion that he had extracted juice from a solid stone. Final answer: The old woman's gift of an egg helped Vijay Singh fake superhuman strength, making the ghost believe Vijay could squeeze liquid out of a hard stone.
• Q: What did the ghost do to kill Vijay Singh at night, and how did Vijay survive? A: Step 1: Identify the ghost's malicious plan. The ghost invited Vijay to sleep in his cave with the intention of crushing him with a heavy stick. Step 2: Detail Vijay's defense mechanism. Vijay anticipated danger, placed a bolster (pillow) under his blanket, and hid in the corner of the room. Step 3: Describe the final interaction. The ghost struck the bolster repeatedly, thinking it was Vijay. Vijay survived because he was not in the bed. Final answer: The ghost tried to beat Vijay to death with a heavy club while he slept. Vijay survived by placing a bolster under his blanket to look like a sleeping body, while he hid safely in a dark corner.
• Q: Why did the ghost run away from the cave in panic? A: Step 1: Explain the ghost's state of mind. The ghost believed he had delivered seven fatal blows to Vijay with his club. Step 2: Describe Vijay's action. The next morning, Vijay walked up to the ghost calmly and casually complained about a 'troublesome insect' flapping its wings at night. Step 3: Connect to the ghost's reaction. The ghost thought Vijay was a giant who could survive heavy club blows without pain, causing him to flee in terror. Final answer: The ghost ran away because he thought Vijay was an indestructible giant who considered heavy club blows to be mere insect flaps. This broke the ghost's confidence completely.

Frequently Asked Questions