Instructions for students

oKeep your mobile on silent mode if it is kept near

your laptop/tab.
oSwitch off your camera and mute your microphone
oListen to the teacher’s instruction carefully.
oRaise your hand in case of any query.
oKindly hang up once the session finishes. Any act
of mischief during the session will be taken
seriously.
 CHAPTER-2

THE THIEF’S STORY

By- Ruskin Bond

Class - X
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author of British

descent. He lives with his adopted family in  Mussoorie, India.
The Indian Council for Child Education has recognized his role
in the growth of children's literature in India. He was awarded
the Sahitya Academy Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in
Dehra, his novel in English. He was awarded the Padma Shri in
1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Discuss the different ways in which criminals can be reformed.
Do you think that education can play a role there?
 THEME OF THE CHAPTER
‘The Thief’s Story’ deals with various themes interwoven into
a narrative about a 15 year old boy named Hari. The most
important themes being:
 Juvenile delinquency can destroy a person’s character and
career.
 Role of benevolence, forgiveness, love and large heartedness
in dealing with young people showing tendencies of going
astray.
 Temptation to do evil and the means of self redemption.
 Role of education
 Values are to be caught, not taught.
 CHARACTERS

Anil- A tall and young man of 25.

 Easy going, kind hearted and simple
 Helpful
 Freelancer writer and earns money by ‘fits
and starts’.
 Credulous and trusting
HARI SINGH-
 A 15 year old boy- experienced and a
successful thief.
 Lot of knowledge about human behaviour
through sharp observation.
 Robs his benefactor-Anil
 Feels guilty and pledges to learn reading and
writing in order to lead an honourable life.
 LESSON AT A GLANCE

• A thief, aged 15, makes friends with Anil, 25 , a struggling writer, whom he meets,
while watching a wrestling match.
• Though he does not know how to cook but he offers to cook for Anil, in return for
meals and learning how to read and write.
• Anil being a trusting person gives Hari Singh a key to his room and money to buy
supplies from which Hari Made a profit of a rupee a day.
• One evening Hari Singh sees Anil tucking a bundle of notes under his mattress and
cannot resist the temptation to steal them.
• While Anil is asleep, Hari deftly removes the bundle of notes from under Anil’s
mattress and dashes for the railway station.
• As Hari Singh is about to board the train, he hesitates and misses the train.
• While walking through the bazaar he gets drenched in the rain. His conscience begins
to prick him.
• He thought of Anil’s trust and love and also of the deprived opportunity of getting
educated and lead a respectable life.
• He returns back and places the bundle of notes back under the mattress.
• In the morning Anil hands him a 50 rupee note which was still wet. Hari panics
thinking that he was caught but Anil tells him that he would teach him how to read and
write and also pay him regularly.
• He forgives Hari Singh when he needed it the most which lead to a transformation in
Hari Singh.
 RTC-1
“You look a bit of a wrestler yourself”, I said. A little flattery helps in making
friends.
1. What was Anil doing when the boy met him?
a) Cooking b) watching a match
c) Playing d) writing an article
 2. How did the narrator attempt at being friends with Anil?
flattering him b) teasing him
c) introducing himself d) none of the above
3. What did the boy ask Anil for?
a) to give him food b) to employ him
c) to give him money d) to teach him
 4. How often did he change his name?
a) every day b) every week
c) every month d) every year
 5. He changed his name in order to stay ahead of _____
a) Police b) employers
c) none of them d) both of them
RTC-2
When the train had gone, I found myself standing alone on the deserted platform. I had no
idea where to spend the night. I had no friends….
1. Did he get away on the Lucknow Express?
a) Yes b) no
c) Maybe d) none of the above
 2. How much money did he steal?
a) 500 b) 600
c) 700 d) 800
 3. What takes all the pleasure out of work?
a) robbing a careless man
b) robbing a greedy man
c) when someone doesn't notice they've been robbed
d) both a and c
 4.  How, according to the narrator, would Anil feel upon finding out?
a) Angry b) fear
c) Acceptance d) sad
 5. Who does "I" refer to in the story?
a) Hari b) Anil
c) a greedy man d) none of the above
 
Answers
RTC-1
1. b) watching a match 
2. a) flattering him
3. b) to employ him
4. c) every month
5. d) both of them

RTC-2
1. b) no
2. b) 600
3. d) both a and c
4. d) sad
5. a) Hari
 Short Answer Questions (20-30 words)

Q1. Which two lies did Hari Singh tell Anil. Why?
Hints: about his name and his ability to cook-
Q2. “He knew”. What does Hari Singh imply by this
observation? 
Hints: the theft had been discovered since the notes were still
wet- a chance given to Hari Singh to reform himself.
 
 Short Answer Questions (40-50 words)
1. How do you think Anil may have come to know about the theft?
Ans. 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.

2. Had Anil really forgiven Hari Singh? Support your answer with evidence. 
Ans. 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 Question
Q. Love is a powerful force that can transform a criminal into
a responsible citizen. Justify the statement from your study
of ‘The Thief’s Story’.
Value Points
 The balm of love can make even the most venomous elements,
ineffective.
 Hari Singh knew only unethical and anti social ways of surviving.
 He successfully and efficiently robs Anil.
 He is unable to decamp with the loot because the love and care
shown to him by Anil earlier chains him and forces him to return
to his compassionate employer.
 Even after discovering the theft Anil gives Hari Singh a chance
which transforms him into an honest, sincere and a loyal person.
 Note Book Work
(Uploaded on Amitranet)

1.On a new page, please write the chapter heading and

today’s date.
2.Note down the word meanings. Also, use a dictionary, look
up and note down any other difficult words from the
chapter.
3.Write down the ‘Lesson at a Glance’
4. Attempt the given questions in the handout.