The Thief’s Story.
The Thief’s Story.
Read and Find Out (Page 1)
1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Ans. ‘I’ refers to the narrator, a 15-year-old thief who calls himself Hari Singh.
2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
Ans. He is “a fairly successful hand” at being a thief.
3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Ans. Initially, Hari Singh does not get paid. In return for his work, he gets food and a place to sleep on the balcony. Anil also teaches him to cook and to write his name, whole sentences, and add numbers. Later, after selling a book, Anil promises to pay him regularly.
Read and Find Out (Page 3)
1. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Ans. The thief, Hari Singh, knew that when Anil discovered the theft, his face would show “only a touch of sadness”.
2. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Ans. Based on his “study of men’s faces,” Hari says:
* The greedy man showed fear.
* The rich man showed anger.
* The poor man showed acceptance.
He felt Anil’s reaction would be different—sadness, not for the loss of money, but for the “loss of trust”.
3. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Ans. Yes, Anil realises he has been robbed. The next morning, he gives Hari a fifty-rupee note, and Hari sees that the note is “still wet from the night’s rain”. However, Anil “knew. But neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything”.
Think about it (Page 6)
1. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? What makes him return to Anil?
Ans. Hari’s initial reaction is gratitude. He realizes that if he “could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve”. He sees education as a tool for increasing the scope of his achievements, possibly even in his criminal work.
Yes, his reaction deepens, especially after the theft. As he sits in the rain with the stolen money, he realizes the limitations of thievery compared to the potential of education. He thinks that “Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees”. He contrasts being a thief, which is a “simple matter to steal,” with becoming “a really big man, a clever and respected man,” which education makes possible.
Hari Singh returns to Anil primarily for the sake of his education (“if only to learn to read and write”). He also feels guilty about robbing Anil, who was so trusting, and he misses the relationship, realizing he can no longer cook meals, run to the bazaar, or learn from him.
2. Why does not Anil 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?
Ans. The text shows Anil is “the most trusting person” Hari had ever met. He is kind, easy-going, and seems more interested in Hari’s welfare (teaching him to cook and write) than in the money itself. He likely chooses forgiveness and a second chance over punishment because he sees Hari’s return as a sign of change. His goal is to reform Hari, not to have him arrested.
Most people probably would have handed a thief over to the police, especially after catching them red-handed (or in this case, “wet-handed”).
Anil is different because he is not vindictive. He is “careless” with his money, making it “by fits and starts”, so the loss of money is less important to him than the “loss of trust”. Unlike other employers Hari had, Anil invests personally in him by offering education, which ultimately saves Hari.
Talk about it (Page 6)
1. 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 both Anil and Hari Singh exist in real life. There are many compassionate, trusting, and forgiving people (like Anil) who are willing to give others a second chance, even at a cost to themselves. There are also people (like Hari) who, due to circumstances (like poverty or lack of guidance), may turn to crime but are still capable of positive change and recognize the value of trust and education.
2. Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?
Ans. Yes, it is very significant.
He “made money by fits and starts” and would “borrow one week, lend the next”. This explains why he couldn’t pay Hari at first and why he was so casual about Hari making “a profit of about a rupee a day” from the shopping.
As a writer, Anil values education, reading, and writing. This is why his first instinct is to teach Hari, offering him a path to a different life. His “queer way to make a living” might also make him more empathetic and less judgmental of someone like Hari.
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?
(This question asks for a personal opinion, but based on the text…)
Ans. A 15-year-old could be turned into a thief by various circumstances, such as extreme poverty, having no family or support system (Hari had “no friends”), a lack of education (Hari couldn’t write), or being exploited by former employers. These factors could make stealing seem like the only option for survival.
4. Where is the story set? … Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English?
Ans. The story is set in a city in North India. Clues include the “Jumna Sweet Shop” (referring to the Yamuna/Jumna river), the “Lucknow Express” train, the use of “rupees”, and the “bazaar”.
The primary language spoken would likely be Hindi or a related regional language.
It is unlikely they spoke to each other in English. While Anil, a writer, might have known English, Hari Singh almost certainly did not, as he needed to be taught how to “write my name”. They would have communicated in a common local language.
Glossary (Grammar & Vocabulary)
Here are the meanings of the vocabulary words provided in the glossary:
* flattery: insincere praise
* modestly: without boasting; in a humble way
* grunting: making low guttural sounds
* appealing: attractive
* unlined: (here) showing no sign of worry or anxiety