The Thief’s Story"Introduction: The Thief’s Story – Ruskin Bond (Class 10 English)Short/Long Answer Type Questions

📚 Introduction: The Thief’s Story – Ruskin Bond (Class 10 English)

👨‍🏫 About the Author: Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is a renowned Indian author of British descent, born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. He is one of India’s most beloved storytellers, famous for his simple yet touching stories. His writing often reflects themes like nature, childhood, and human relationships. Bond received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his contribution to literature. He mostly writes short stories, essays, and novels, often set in the hills of India.

📖 About the Lesson: The Thief’s Story

"The Thief’s Story" is a simple yet impactful short story written by Ruskin Bond. It focuses on themes of trust, transformation, and human values. The story shows how kindness and trust can reform even a thief. It teaches that everyone has the potential for change if given a chance.

📝 Summary of the Lesson

The story is narrated by a young boy who introduces himself as a thief. He changes his name frequently to hide his identity. One day, he meets a simple and kind-hearted man named Anil, a writer by profession. The thief befriends Anil and starts living with him, pretending to be interested in learning how to cook and read.

Anil trusts the boy completely and even starts teaching him to read and write. The boy sees this as a unique opportunity. One day, he steals Anil’s money, but something inside him changes. He realizes the value of trust and knowledge, and decides to return the money. Anil never questions him and continues treating him with kindness, showing that forgiveness and love can change even a criminal.

Short Answer Type Questions (30–40 words)

1. Hari Singh had few friends. What was the reason?
   Ans- Hari Singh was a thief. He often changed his name and place. He did not want anyone to know about him. That is why he had few friends.

2. What kind of thief (Hari Singh) was?
   Ans-Hari Singh was a young and clever thief. He used to cheat kind and simple people. He looked innocent, but he was not honest.

3. Why did Hari Singh return to Anil?
   Ans-Hari Singh felt bad after stealing. He knew Anil was good to him. He wanted to live an honest life. So, he returned to Anil.

4. Why it was not an easy task to rob Anil for an experienced thief like Hari Singh?
   Ans-Anil was a kind and simple man. He trusted Hari Singh. Because of this, Hari Singh felt guilty. So, it was not easy for him to rob Anil.

5. Why was Anil chosen by Hari Singh as his new victim?
   Ans-Hari Singh thought Anil was an easy target. He was kind, simple, and rich. So, Hari Singh chose him as his new victim.

6. Describe Anil’s way of living.
   Ans-Anil lived a simple life. He earned money by writing and teaching. He was kind, honest, and helpful.

7. Why Hari Singh felt regretted?
   Ans-Hari Singh felt bad after stealing Anil’s money. Anil trusted him and was teaching him. He felt guilty and wanted to change.

8. Why did Anil employ Hari Singh?
   Ans-Anil thought Hari Singh was poor and needed help. He wanted to teach him and give him work.

9. How Hari Singh came to know that Anil knew that the notes had been stolen?
   Ans-Anil gave him food and didn’t say anything. He smiled at Hari Singh. From this, Hari Singh knew that Anil had found out.

10. What was his thinking towards education?
    Ans-Hari Singh believed that education could change his life. He wanted to read and write to become a better person.

11. Who is the narrator of the story ‘The Thief’s Story’? What was his profession before he came to Anil?
    Ans-Hari Singh is the narrator. He was a thief before meeting Anil.

12. How many rupees did Hari Singh find when he counted the notes?
    Ans-He found 600 rupees when he counted the notes.

13. What does Hari Singh get from Anil in return for his work?
    Ans-Hari Singh got food, a place to live, and love from Anil. He also got a chance to learn.

B. Long Answer Type Questions (not more than 60 words)

1. How Anil plays a vital role for changing views of Hari Singh towards life?
   Ans-Anil was kind and helpful. He did not hand Hari Singh to the police after knowing the truth. He taught him to read and write. His trust and love changed Hari Singh’s heart. Hari Singh decided to live an honest life.

2. Sketch the character of Hari Singh.
   Ans-Hari Singh was a young thief. He was clever and smart. But he was not a bad person. He changed when he met Anil. He realized that being honest was better. He wanted to become a good man.

3. What kind of a person Anil was? Why did he keep Hari Singh again to work for him?
   Ans-Anil was kind, honest, and simple. He believed in helping others. He knew Hari Singh had changed. So, he gave him another chance to live a better life.

4. Hari Singh had stolen the largest amount of his life then why he chose to go back to Anil in the end? Describe in detail.
   Ans-Hari Singh had stolen ₹600 from Anil. But he felt guilty. He knew Anil trusted him. He also wanted to learn and become a good man. So, he returned the money and went back to Anil.

5. Why did the thief make friends with Anil?
   Ans-Hari Singh saw Anil at a wrestling match. He looked kind and simple. He thought Anil would be easy to cheat. So, he made friends with him.

6. Why does Anil not handover the thief to the police?
   Ans-Anil was a good man. He wanted Hari Singh to become honest. He believed that love and trust could change people. So, he did not give him to the police.

7. Why did Hari Singh return to Anil even after stealing Anil’s money?
   Ans-Hari Singh felt guilty after stealing. Anil was helping him learn and live a good life. He realized the value of honesty. So, he returned to Anil.

8. Are people like Anil and Hari Singh found only in fiction or in real life also? Give your opinion.
   Ans-Yes, some people like Anil are found in real life. They help others to change. People like Hari Singh also exist, who do wrong things but change when they meet good people.