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By Ruskin Bond
1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
‘I’ refers to the protagonist in the story.
2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
He was fairly successful hand at stealing money.
3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
He works for Anil who is a freelance writer. He gets a place to sleep and also food to eat . Anil also taught him to read and write. In the beginning Anil did not have money to pay him but by the end of the story Anil offered a salary of Rs.50 per month.
4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
The thief thought that after discovering the theft Anil will feel sad. Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust.
5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
He says that through his experience he realised that a greedy man showed fear, a rich man showed anger and a poor man showed acceptance.
6. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Anil realises that he has been robbed. He had felt the dampness of the notes. But he chooses to be quiet as Hari Singh came back to him on realizing his mistake and kept the money back. Anil decides that Hari Singh should be given a second chance to live.
7. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time?
Anil taught Hari Singh to write his name and said he would soon teach him to write whole sentences and to add numbers. Hari Singh was grateful. He knew that once he could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what he could achieve. But there was a sudden change in the state of mind of Hari Singh as he thought of going back to his usual way of living by stealing.
8. 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?
Anil did not handover the thief to the police because he felt that Hari Singh has realized his mistakes and he has reformed himself. Most people will not do this. People these days do not trust a stranger. Anil was a totally different person he accommodated Hari Singh on humanitarian grounds and even pardoned him and accepted him.
9. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
Yes, the characters of both Anil and Hari Singh are very rare in a society. Anil gives shelter to Hari Singh a boy unknown to him even though he himself is struggling to survive. Hari Singh even though a thief transforms himself after his acquaintance with Anil.
10. Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?
Yes Hari Singh says that Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived he would go out and celebrate. Anil wrote for magazines as a freelancer.
11. Where is the story set?
The story is set in Uttar Pradesh a major town somewhere near Lucknow. The town is having an important railway station as express trains have stoppage over there. The presence of sweet shop indicates towards presence of a decent market. The description of hotels near railway station indicates that it is an important centre where people come from far off places in search of job and livelihood.
‘I’ refers to the protagonist in the story.
2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
He was fairly successful hand at stealing money.
3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
He works for Anil who is a freelance writer. He gets a place to sleep and also food to eat . Anil also taught him to read and write. In the beginning Anil did not have money to pay him but by the end of the story Anil offered a salary of Rs.50 per month.
4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
The thief thought that after discovering the theft Anil will feel sad. Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust.
5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
He says that through his experience he realised that a greedy man showed fear, a rich man showed anger and a poor man showed acceptance.
6. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Anil realises that he has been robbed. He had felt the dampness of the notes. But he chooses to be quiet as Hari Singh came back to him on realizing his mistake and kept the money back. Anil decides that Hari Singh should be given a second chance to live.
7. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time?
Anil taught Hari Singh to write his name and said he would soon teach him to write whole sentences and to add numbers. Hari Singh was grateful. He knew that once he could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what he could achieve. But there was a sudden change in the state of mind of Hari Singh as he thought of going back to his usual way of living by stealing.
8. 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?
Anil did not handover the thief to the police because he felt that Hari Singh has realized his mistakes and he has reformed himself. Most people will not do this. People these days do not trust a stranger. Anil was a totally different person he accommodated Hari Singh on humanitarian grounds and even pardoned him and accepted him.
9. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
Yes, the characters of both Anil and Hari Singh are very rare in a society. Anil gives shelter to Hari Singh a boy unknown to him even though he himself is struggling to survive. Hari Singh even though a thief transforms himself after his acquaintance with Anil.
10. Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?
Yes Hari Singh says that Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived he would go out and celebrate. Anil wrote for magazines as a freelancer.
11. Where is the story set?
The story is set in Uttar Pradesh a major town somewhere near Lucknow. The town is having an important railway station as express trains have stoppage over there. The presence of sweet shop indicates towards presence of a decent market. The description of hotels near railway station indicates that it is an important centre where people come from far off places in search of job and livelihood.
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