1.2 The Thief’s Story
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade 10 English.
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| Anil's virtues | Hari's vices |
|---|---|
| Kind and simple | Thief / Stealing |
| Easy-going | Deceitful (liar) |
| Trusting | Cheating (making secret profit) |
| Forgiving and generous | Ungrateful (initially) |
- (a) I dashed to the school gate when I heard the school-bell ring.
- (b) After the death of my pet dog, my spirits rose when dad got me a new pup.
- (c) Do not stoop to flattery just to gain something from someone.
- (d) The artist completes his paintings by fits and starts.
- (e) The crime went undetected for 11 years.
- (f) When the baby saw its mother it gave an appealing smile.
- (i) stray dog
- (ii) careless / greedy man
- (iii) ticket office
- (iv) walked slowly
- (v) light drizzle
- (vi) whole sentences
- (vii) spirits rose
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- (i) oil-rich
- (ii) fifty-rupee
- (iii) easy-going
- (iv) clock-tower
- (v) moonlight
Examples of code-mixing from the story:
- bazaar
- maidan
- rupee
- pyjamas
| Total no. of characters | Names | Age | Physical appearance | Earned money by | Qualities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Hari Singh | 15 | Rather thin, marked with scars | Stealing, cheating on shopping | Clever, deceitful, observant, repents later |
| Anil | About 25 | Tall, lean fellow | Writing for magazines, by fits and starts | Kind, simple, easy-going, trusting, forgiving |
- (a) Anil kept Hari as a cook because Hari said he wanted to work for him and lied that he could cook.
- (b) Hari was grateful because Anil taught him to write his name and promised to teach him to write whole sentences and add numbers.
- (c) Hari continued making money by cheating on the daily shopping, making a secret profit of about a rupee a day.
- (d) Anil didn't hand Hari over to the police because he realized Hari had returned the money on his own and wanted to give him a chance to reform.
- (e) The moral of the story is that love, trust, and education can transform even a hardened criminal into a good human being.
(a) Why did Anil employ Hari as a cook, although he could not afford to pay him?
Anil employed Hari because Hari persistently hung around and gave an appealing smile. Anil was kind-hearted and easy-going; he felt bad for the boy and agreed to feed him in exchange for cooking.
(b) What did Hari learn from Anil in the beginning?
In the beginning, Hari learned how to cook properly (after his first terrible meal) and learned how to write his own name.
(c) Why didn't Anil hand over Hari to the police? What effect would it have had on Hari?
Anil realized that Hari had stolen the money but had also returned it, showing genuine repentance. If Anil had handed him to the police, Hari would have become a hardened criminal. By forgiving him, Anil nurtured Hari's desire to become an educated and respectable man.
(d) Do you feel Anil's way of handling a thief like Hari was effective? Justify your answer.
Yes, it was highly effective. Punishment often breeds resentment, but Anil's immense trust and silent forgiveness touched Hari's conscience deeply. It made Hari realize the value of respect and education over petty theft, bringing about a permanent positive change in him.
(e) What tact had Anil used to change Hari's dishonest ways?
Anil used the tact of absolute trust, kindness, and the promise of education. Even after discovering the theft, he did not humiliate or expose Hari. Instead, he treated him normally and gave him a fifty-rupee note, showing that his trust was unbroken.
(f) 'And the smile came by itself without any effort.' Say why. When do people give fake smiles?
The smile came without effort because it was a genuine smile of immense relief, gratitude, and joy. Hari realized he had been forgiven. People give fake smiles when they are trying to hide their true feelings, flatter someone, or manipulate a situation (as Hari did earlier in the story).
Character Sketch of Hari Singh
Hari Singh was a fifteen-year-old boy whose real background remains unknown, as he constantly changed his name every month to evade the police and his former employers. Despite his young age, he was an experienced and successful thief who lived a rough life on the streets. His dishonesty was evident not just in stealing, but also in his daily interactions; he lied to Anil about knowing how to cook and secretly skimmed a rupee a day from the shopping money.
However, beneath the deceitful exterior, Hari had deep aspirations. He recognized the value of education and knew that if he could learn to read and write like a respected man, the possibilities for his future would be limitless. When he finally stole a large sum of money from Anil, he faced a fierce inner conflict. Ultimately, his conscience and his aspiration for a respectable life gave him the courage to change himself. He took the difficult and risky step of returning the stolen money undetected, proving that goodness and a desire for reform lay hidden within him.
- (a) I hurried back to the room.
Q: Where did you hurry back? - (b) I had made a study of men's faces.
Q: What had you made? - (c) I drew them out, without a sound.
Q: How did you draw them out? - (d) The poor man showed acceptance.
Q: What did the poor man show? - (e) I made tea in the morning.
Q: When did you make tea?
Anil: (Waking up suddenly, grabbing Hari's wrist) Hari! What are you doing with my money in the middle of the night?
Hari: (Trembling and dropping the notes) Anil... I... I'm so sorry! Please don't call the police!
Anil: (Looking shocked and deeply hurt) I trusted you, Hari. I gave you a key to my home. I promised to teach you to write. Is this how you repay me?
Hari: (Crying) I know, I know! I was tempted by the bundle of notes. I'm a thief by habit, Anil. But I swear, I feel terrible. Please forgive me!
Anil: (Sighing heavily, releasing his grip) Money can be earned again, Hari, but trust is fragile. Do you really want to spend your life running from the police?
Hari: No! I want to learn. I want to write whole sentences and be a respectable man. Give me one last chance, please.
Anil: (Quietly taking the money) Go back to sleep, Hari. We will start writing sentences tomorrow. Don't break my trust again.