UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 2 – The Thief’s Story (Supplementary Reader)

In this story, a young thief named Hari Singh encounters a trusting and kind man named Anil. Hari met Anil when he was 15 years old while he was watching a wrestling match. Hari thought that he could easily steal from Anil. So, he goes to Anil and asks to work for him, even though Anil can’t pay him. Anil agrees and Hari begins living with him on the condition that Hari has to cook.

On the first day, Anil finds that Hari has lied to him. However, he still keeps Hari and tells him that he would teach him how to cook. Apart from cooking, Anil also taught Hari to write his name and promised to teach him how to write whole sentences and to add numbers.

One evening, Anil returns home with money from selling a book to a publisher, which he keeps under the mattress. Hari feels tempted to steal it. He remembers that he has been working for Anil for almost a month and had gained Anil’s trust. Anil had given the key of the room to Hari. For Hari, this was the opportunity to rob Anil. However, due to Anil’s trust, it was a difficult task for Hari. But he put away these thoughts and decided to rob Anil that night. Hari goes into Anil’s room while he’s asleep, takes the money from under the mattress and plans to catch a train to Lucknow. When he counted the money, he was happy to find 600 rupees.

इस कहानी में, एक हरी सिंह नामक युवा चोर एक विश्वास करने वाले और दयालु व्यक्ति अनिल से मिलता है । हरी अनिल से 15 वर्ष की आयु में मिला था, जब वह कुश्ती का मुकाबला देख रहा था। हरी ने सोचा कि वह आसानी से अनिल के यहाँ चोरी कर सकता था । इसलिए, वह अनिल के पास जाता है और उससे अपने लिए काम माँगता है, यद्यपि अनिल उसे वेतन नहीं दे सकता था। अनिल सहमत हो जाता है और हरी उसके साथ इस शर्त पर रहना प्रारम्भ कर देता है कि हरी को खाना पकाना पड़ेगा।

पहले दिन ही, अनिल जान जाता है कि हरी ने उससे झूठ बोला था। हालाँकि, वह फिर भी हरी को रखता है और उससे कहता है कि वह उसे सिखा देगा कि खाना कैसे बनाया जाता है। खाना पकाने के अतिरिक्त, अनिल ने हरी को उसका नाम लिखना सिखाया और उसे पूरा वाक्य लिखना और अंकों को जोड़ना सिखाने का वायदा किया।

एक शाम, अनिल एक पुस्तक प्रकाशक को पुस्तक बेचने पर मिली धनराशि के साथ घर वापस लौटता है, जिसे वह गद्दे के नीचे रख देता है। हरी उसे चुराने के लिए ललचाता है। उसे याद आता है कि वह लगभग एक महीने से अनिल के लि कार्य कर रहा है और अनिल का विश्वास प्राप्त कर चुका था। अनिल ने कमरे की चाबी हरी को दी थी। हरी के लिए, यह अनिल को लूटने का अवसर था। हालाँकि, अनिल के भरोसे के कारण, हरी के लिए एक मुश्किल कार्य था। लेकिन उसने इन विचारों को दूर किया और उस रात अनिल को लूटने का निश्चय किया। जब अनिल सो रहा होती है, तो हरी उसके कमरे में जाता है, गद्दे के नीचे से धनराशि निकाल लेता है और लखनऊ की ट्रेन पकड़ने की योजना बनाता है। जब उसने धनराशि गिनी, तो उसे 600 रूपये प्राप्त करके प्रसन्नता हुई।

(a) Ruskin Bond

(b) Anil

(c) Hari Singh

(d) Anil’s friend

Ans. (c) Hari Singh

(a) Ate it happily

(b) Kept it in the refrigerator

(c) Threw it to a stray dog

(d) Asked the boy to eat it all

Ans. (c) Threw it to a stray dog

(a) His happy face

(b) His honesty

(c) His appealing smile

(d) His hard work

Ans. (c) His appealing smile

(a) The Narrator

(b) Hari Singh

(c) Anil

(d) None of these

Ans. (c) Anil

(a) Hari Singh

(b) Anil

(c) Mangal Pandey

(d) Suresh

Ans. (a) Hari Singh

(a) Laddu Sweet Shop

(b) Ganga Sweet Shop

(c) Jumna Sweet Shop

(d) Jogi Sweet Shop

Ans. (c) Jumna Sweet Shop

(a) Work

(d) Eatables

(b) he wanted some place to sleep for a night

(c) he wanted to train Anil as a cook

(d) he wanted to learn cooking

Ans. (a) he wanted work and food

(a) Making tea

(b) Bringing day’s supplies

(c) Doing odd jobs

(d) All of the above

Ans. (d) All of the above

(a) out of the station home

(b) away from

(c) at the ticket office.

(d) on the deserted platform

Ans. (d) on the deserted platform

(a) 15 years

(b) 17 years

(c) 20 years

(d) 21 years

Ans. (a) 15 years

(a) write only his name

(b) cook and add numbers

(c) cook, write and add numbers

(d) cook and write

Ans. (d) cook and write

(a) Hari Singh

(b) Anil

(c) The writer of the story

(d) The previous employer of the thief

Ans. (a) Hari Singh

(a) The thief

(b) A publisher

(c) Anil

(d) A master

Ans. (c) Anil

Ans. The narrator of the given story is Hari Singh. Before Hari Singh met Anil, he used to be a thief. Although, he was only fifteen years old at that time, he was experienced in stealing things.

Ans. Hari Singh was an experienced small town thief who was fairly successful in his thefts. He knew how to win others’ trust and steal from them without getting caught.

Ans. The thief made friend with Anil because he wanted to have an acquaintance with him to make him his next victim. Moreover, he needed a place to live. He started to work for Anil who was a credulous person.

Ans. Hari Singh wasn’t his real name. He lied to Anil because he took a new name every month. That kept him ahead of the police and his former employers.

Ans. It was difficult for Hari to rob Anil because Anil was the most trusting person Hari had ever met. He was simple and kind. He had even given key of the door to Hari. Hari did not want to break Anil’s trust.

Ans. Before Hari Singh had reached the station, he counted the money he had stolen from Anil, his employer. It was a total of 600 rupees in fifty rupee notes.

Ans. When Hari Singh was standing alone on the deserted platform, he thought about the place where he could spend his night. He did not have any friends nor did he want to go to a hotel. He had no idea where to go. He knew only Anil whom he had robbed.

Ans. In return for Hari Singh’s work, Anil gives him food and a place to live. Anil also taught him how to write his name, how to write whole sentence and how to add numbers.

Ans. Hari’s experience at theft had made him aware of the differences in reactions of people when they’re robbed. According to him, a greedy man shows fear, a rich man shows anger and a poor man shows acceptance.

Ans. Yes, Anil realised that he had been robbed. He would have noticed it because all the notes that Hari kept were wet the next morning. He also knew that it had rained the previous night, so it was likely that somebody had taken the money out. But he also realised that the thief changed his mind and kept his money back. So he pardoned the thief.

Ans. When he left Anil’s house, Hari realised that stealing was simply a crime, but being given education was an entirely different thing. He knew the respect, reputation and possibilities that would come to him from education. The respect that comes with education compelled him to return the money to Anil.

Ans. Everyone has an inner conscience that tells them what is right or wrong. In the story ‘The Thief’s Story’, the narrator’s/Hari’s conscience is disturbed as he robs a honest and kind man.

He works for Anil with the purpose of looking for an opportunity to rob him, but during his stay with his master he not only learns about love, sympathy and trust but also understands the importance of education.

Even though Anil knows that Hari keeps one rupee as profit from his daily routines, he never asks Hari for it and teaches him to write. When Hari robs Anil, he states that it is difficult for him to rob Anil but it is much difficult for him to run away after robbing Anil.

He does not want to hurt Anil and wants to change himself. This not only forces him to return the money but also makes him want to get educated.

The inner conscience which came forward in Hari had been dormant (hidden) before he had stolen Anil’s money. Just like Hari did not put it into practice, many people ignored it. It is the circumstances that awaken the inner conscience and put it into practice.

Ans. Anil was a young man of 25 years of age. He was a tall and lean fellow. He looked like an easygoing, kind and simple man.

Hari Singh, a fifteen years old thief, met him. He wanted to rob Anil. Anil gave him a job and shelter in his room. Anil taught him to write his name and promised to teach him whole sentences and add numbers. Hari was happy to work for Anil. He did not cheat him except some small profits which he gained from buying things of daily requirements. Anil knew it, but he never said anything. Anil earned money by fits and starts. He wrote articles for magazines. One day, he earned 600 rupees. Hari stole that money and ran away but his conscience stopped him. Anil was kind and helpful towards him. He also knew that he could become respectful and a clever man by education. He did not want to break Anil’s faith. He realised the importance of education and returned back to Anil’s house. It was Anil’s goodness and kindness that changed a thief. Hari understood the value of faith, honesty, kindness and education by the influence of Anil and changed his way of life.

Ans. Anil did not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mention in it front of Hari. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education in life. Anil wanted Hari to become a literate man and lead a respectful life.

Unlike Anil, most people would have beaten up Hari Singh or would have handed him to the police for stealing the money. Anil was different from other people because he was very understanding. Hari’s return gave him the hope of a change in the thief. Anil wished to reform the young thief through love and sympathy.

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 would add to his abilities and he could achieve unlimited material success.

Yes, Hari’s reactions changed overtime. 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.

The realisation to receive education and earn respect compelled him to return the money to Anil.

Ans. A Young Teenager Thief The narra or of The Thief’s Story’ is 15 years old young thief. He is just fi teen but an experienced and successful thief. He used to change his name every month to avoid being arrested by the police. He worked for many employers. He used to run away after obbing them.

His New Victim Anil Hari met Anil when he was watching a wrestling match. He introduced himself as Hari Singh. Hari Singh was a clever thief. He was an expert in telling lies. He lied that he knew how to cook. The food cooked by Hari was terrible. Apart from cooking Anil, taught Hari to write his name and promised him how to write whole sentences and to add numbers.

Self-realisation One night Hari dec ded to rob Anil. In the excitement of robbery he forget that apart from giving money Anil also educated him. He knew that if he were educated, he could earn respect, name and money. Soon, he realised that he had no friends and well wishers. The only person who knew and could help him was Anil whom he had robbed a few hours ago. Anil’s large-heartedness and his love for education transformed him in the end. He came back to Anil and put the stolen money back in the place from where it was stolen. Anil knew everything but he rewarded Hai Singh. He gave him a fifty-rupee note and promised to pay him regularly.

Ans. A man is essentially a product of the circumstances and the environment that he lives in. Hari Singh was a boy of just fifteen but was an experienced thief who had a fairly successful hand in his profession. It was his circumstances that led him into such a profession which he retai ned even while he lived with Anil. He went to live with Aril with the purpose of robbing him and was even successful in doing so.

However, Anil was not a fool. He knew about Hari’s act of theft but did not hand over Hari to the police. It was his care, love and sympathy that affected Hari so much so that he could not away after robbing Anil. Anil’s compassion and kind-heartedness brought about a Hari. change in Furthermore Anil taught Hari how to read and write. The prospect of education created a dee) impression on Hari’s mind. He realised that with education he would not only be able to earn money but also become a respected man. run sympathy can

Hence, it is true that education, love and transform even a thief like Hari Singh.