Subject : ENGLISH Std. 10th Date: 09-5-2020

The Thief’s Story (by : Ruskin Bond)

IntroductionThe Thief's Story is about two person, Hari Singh and Anil. Hari Singh a thief, his life changes when he meets Anil, a struggling writer. Anil's unspoken words and kind gestures leaves a very positive impact on Hari Singh.

Summary The story is about two people, A 15-year-old thief, who changes his name every month to stay ahead of the police and old employers. This time he named himself Hari Singh. The other person a 25 year old struggling writer named Anil.The thief meets Anil while watching a wrestling match and asks him if he can work for him. Taking him into confidence, Hari Singh gets Anil to take him on as a servant and a cook, though he did not know how to cook. Hari Singh agreed to get only food for the work he did.The first meal cook was a complete disaster but Anil was overtaken by Hari Singh’s expression, allowing him to continue, as he began trusting Hari Singh.However, Hari Singh continues to make money through the grocery purchases. Anil earns money by fits and starts, One day Anil, having sold his story came home with money about Rs. 600. Hari Singh plans to steal the money, that night when Anil slept with the money under his pillow; Hari Singh silently stole it and left for the railway station to board a train to Lucknow. Unfortunately, he missed it. He roamed through the bazaar. It was raining and Hari Singh was completely drenched, he takes shelter under the clock tower.Hari Singh thought of Anil and how Anil used to teach him. He then though how sad he would be to find his money stolen. He realized that without education he would remain a thief all life long, but now with the education he could do some job and earn more money in future and live a better life.

Hari Singh had a change of mind and decided to return to Anil and keep the money under the pillow. However, next morning, Anil gives Hari Singh Rs. 50 saying he had earned it and told him he would be paid regularly. Hari Singh realized that his crime had been discovered as the note was still wet.

NCERT: Questions’ AnswersQ1. Who does I refer to in this story?Ans: Here in this story “The Thief's story " I refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story.Q2. What is he a fairly successful hand at ?Ans: He is fairly successful hand at stealing, He is an experienced thief. He is so swift in his work that he robs people without being caught.

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By : A. D. Verma

Q3. What does he get from Anil in return for his works ?Ans: In return of his works, Anil gives him food and a place to live in.Q4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft ?Ans: Hari Singh thought, Anil would be sad not because of the loss of memory but because of the loss of trust he had in Hari.Q5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?Ans: Hari Singh was experience at theft and aware of differences in reactions of people when

they are robbed. A greedy man shows fear, the rich anger and a poor man acceptance.Q6. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?Ans: Anil realised that he had been robbed, as he gave a fifty rupee note to Hari Singh which

was still wet due to night's rain.

Q1. What are Hari Singh's reactions at the prospect of receiving an education ? Do they change overtime ? ( Hint: compare, for example, the thought: I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve with these later thoughts: Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal and something just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else) What makes him return to Anil?Ans: Hari was very happy and grateful when he learned to write his name. He was very excited when Anil promised to teach him to write whole sentences as well. He knew that being an educated man will add to his abilities and he could achieve anything.But when he left Anil's house, he realised that stealing was simply a crime to indulge himself but being educated was an entirely different thing. He knew the respect, reputation and possibilities that would come to him once he was educated. So his urge to receive education compelled him to return to Anil.Q2. Why does Anil not hand the over to the police ? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers ?Ans: Unlike others, Anil does not handover Hari to the Police. He knew about the theft but he did not even mentioned about it. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education. Anil wanted Hari to lead a respectful life.He is different from other such employees because he is very understanding.

Q1. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life ?Ans: People like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. Though exceptions might be there, these people are rarely found in real. Anil was very kind and concerned about Hari Singh's education and future while Hari was a thief, whose heart changes after realising the importance of education for his future.

Q2. Do you think it is a significant details in the story that Anil is a struggling writer ? Does this explain his behaviour in any way ?Ans: It is significant that Anil is a struggling writer. His lifestyle was simple and he used to spend according to his pocket at all times. His works sometimes earn a lot of money, while at other times he used to worry about the next payment.Q3. Have you met anyone like Hari Singh ? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen year old boy into a thief ?Ans: No, I have not meet anyone like Hari Singh, but existence of such people is certain. A fifteen year old boy can be forced by circumstances to become a thief. It may be the need to feed stomach, fulfil luxurious demands or due to evil company.Q4. Where is the story set? ( You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it ). Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoken to each other in English?Ans: The story is set somewhere in Uttar Pradesh. We can say so because the story mentions about the railway station, presence of sweet shops and bazaars. No, the characters in the story do not speak to each other in English but probably in Hindi.

Handouts

Answer the following in 30 – 40 words each:

1. Who was Hari Singh? Why did he want to have work for Anil?

2. What kind of person was Anil?

3. Give three reasons as a thief to rob Anil.

Answer the following in 100 – 120 word:

How is Anil more different in nature than Hari Singh?

Subject : HINDI Std. 10th Date: 08-5-2020

Read the following carefully and make fair note-book

EKLAVYA GROUP OF SCHOOLNOTE: All assignments to be done in a thin copy.