The Thief's Story

THE THIEF’S STORY

Question 1.
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Answer:
I refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story who is a 15 year old experienced thief.

Question 2.
What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
Answer:
He is a fairly successful hand at stealing. He is an experienced thief. He is so clean and swift in his work that he robs people without being caught

Question 3.
What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Answer:
In return of Hari Singh’s work, Anil gives him food and a place to live in.

Page 10
Question 4.
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Answer:
According to Hari, Anil would be sad not because of the loss of money but because of the loss of trust he had in Hari.

Question 5.
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Answer:
Hari’s experience at theft had made him aware of differences in reactions of people when they’re robbed. According to him, a greedy man shows fear; the rich, anger and a poor man, acceptance.

Question 6.
Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Answer:
Yes, Anil realised that he had been robbed, as he gave a fifty rupee note to Hari which was still damp due to the night’s rain.

Think About It (Page 13)
Question 1.
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 sometimes 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?
Answer:
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. And so his urge to receive education compelled him to return to Anil.

Question 2.
Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?
Answer:
Unlike others, Anil does not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mentioned it in 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.
He is different from other such employers because he is very understanding. Hari’s return gave him the hope of a change in him.

Talk About It (Page 13)
Question 1.
Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
Answer:
People like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. Though exceptions might be there, these people are rarely found. Anil was a kind and considerate person who was concerned, about Hari’s education and future. And Hari was a thief whose heart changes after realising the importance of education for his future. People like these are imaginary in today’s world.

Question 2.
Do you think it is a significant detail in story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?
Answer:
Yes, it is a significant detail that Anil is a struggling writer. He was in a better position to understand the hard life Hari had. He could empathise with Hari and realise why he was tempted to steal. He could also appreciate the fact that even when he had the chance to escape, Hari came back to Anil because he had turned a new leaf and wanted to become a good person.

Question 3.
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?
Answer:
No, I haven’t met anyone like Hari Singh but the 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 the stomach, to satisfy illegal addiction, to maintain health, to fulfil luxurious demands etc.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
Why did Hari Singh approach Anil?
Answer:
Hari Singh was a thief who had not much luck in his work recently. So he approached Anil with the intention of robbing him, as he seemed to be an easygoing and simple man. According to Hari, winning Anil’s confidence was an easy task.

Question 2.
Anil walked away. I followed casually’. Why do you think the narrator followed Anil?
Answer:
The narrator’s purpose of robbing Anil had not yet been served. He followed Anil to gain his trust and look for an opportunity that may help him give shape to his plans.

Question 3.
Was Hari Singh successful in robbing Anil? Was Anil the only one who was robbed or did Hari also rob himself of something?
Answer:
Yes, Hari Singh was successful in robbing Anil. But Anil was not the only one who was robbed at that time. Hari had robbed himself as well. He had lost the chance of receiving education and being literate. He had robbed Anil monetarily but he had robbed himself of the chance for a better and brighter future, which was much more valuable.

Question 4.
What did Anil and Hari agree upon to be the mode of payment? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
When Anil stated his inability to pay Hari, Anil questioned Hari if he could feed Hari. Hari realised that he had misjudged his target and moulded the situation for his benefit. Anil then agreed to feed him if he knew how to cook.

Question 5.
What made Hari Singh go back to Anil’s house?
Answer:
Hari Singh realised the importance of education he was receiving from Anil. He knew that learning how to read and write and being a literate person would open doors to many opportunities. He was sure that he would then be able to earn more than a few hundred rupees he had in hand at that time. This made him go back to Anil.

Question 6.
Did Hari like working for Anil? Give reasons in support of your answer. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Yes, Hari liked working for Anil. He was happy to carry on the chores for him and was grateful for the education he was receiving. He used to make profit of about a rupee a day as well, which was a decent amount besides being fed.

Question 7.
Why was it difficult for Hari to rob Anil?
Answer:
It was difficult for Hari to rob Anil because Anil was the most trusting person Hari had ever met. He was really simple and kind. Hari knew that loss of money will not affect Anil but the loss of trust will make him sad.

Question 8.
State the events that took place on the night of the theft. [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
The night of robbery vitas quite eventful for Hari Singh. After stealing Anil’s money and leaving Anil’s house, Hari went to the railway station but didn’t board the train to Lucknow. He walked slowly through the bazaar as he did i ot know anyone who would provide him shelter except Anil, for he didn’t have any friends. He was forced to take shelter under the clock tower later when it started raining heavily. That is where he realised the importance of education and decided to go back to Anil.

Question 9.
How was the morning after the night of the theft?
Answer:
The morning after the night of the theft was just like a normal one. Hari woke up late and Anil had made tea by then. Anil gave a fifty rupee note to Hari and told him that he will now be paid regularly. Hari was aware that Anil knew about the theft but he didn’t show anything.

Question 10.
How do you think Anil may have come to know about the theft?
Answer:
Anil may have come to know about the theft because of the dampness of the notes because of rain. He was a kind but wise .man. It wouldn’t haye been difficult for Anil to make out the series of events that would have taken place in the night.

Question 11.
Had Anil really forgiven Hari Singh? Support your answer with evidence. [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Yes, Anil had forgiven Hari Singh. It is evident because Anil handed over to Hari a fifty rupee note as soon as Hari woke up. Though he knew that Hari had robbed the money at first but his subsequent actions gave him hope of change in Hari’s character.

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]

Question 1.
Money can’t make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement. [CBSE 2013]
Answer:
The statement stands true in almost all the aspects of life. Money may buy us all the luxuries and fulfil our needs but it cannot buy us knowledge, civilised thinking, skills and abilities to achieve our dreams. Education lays the platform for all to act upon our goals according to our abilities. Education enables us to keep up with the fast moving world. It opens the door to opportunities we do not know even exist. Money, on the other hand, can assist us to a certain level. It can buy us a plan but education gives us the knowledge of its execution. Just as in the story ‘A Thief s Story’, Hari Singh prioritised the chance of being literate over a few hundred rupees, we must understand that education can help us to achieve whatever we desire.

Question 2.
Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Amil. Why did he return? On what values does this incidence put light on?
Answer:
Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil’s money. After the theft, he realised that he had robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back. He realised that he could not make tea, buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and forced him to return.
Hari’s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a practical and positive attitude towards life. It is the awakening of Hari’s conscience and Anil’s love and care that reformed Hari’s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. Anil’s understanding nature and care changed Hari’s thinking to mend his ways for good.