1. Chapter Introduction
“The Thief’s Story” is a touching story written by the famous Indian-British author Ruskin Bond. It narrates the life of a 15-year-old thief, Hari Singh, who targets a kind-hearted man named Anil. The story explores themes of trust, kindness, and the power of education. It shows how a simple and trusting human being can transform a criminal into a better person through unconditional love and belief.
2. Characters Detail
- Hari Singh: A 15-year-old experienced and fairly successful thief. He is clever, manipulative, and changes his name every month to escape the police and his former employers. However, deep down, he seeks respect and education.
- Anil: A 25-year-old tall, lean, and kind-hearted man. He is a struggling writer who earns money by fits and starts (irregularly). He is simple, easy-going, and trusting, which makes him an easy target for Hari.
3. Full Summary
The Encounter
Hari Singh met Anil while Anil was watching a wrestling match. Hari Singh, who was only fifteen, was an experienced thief. He used his “appealing smile” to win Anil’s confidence and asked for work. Anil told him that he couldn’t pay him regularly but if Hari could cook, he would feed him. Although Hari didn’t know how to cook, he lied that he did.
Life at Anil’s House
The first meal Hari cooked was so terrible that Anil gave it to the stray dogs. However, Anil didn’t throw Hari out; instead, he taught him how to cook and also started teaching him how to write his name, promising to teach him to write whole sentences and to add numbers. Hari realized that being educated would make him a much more successful thief and a respected man. Hari’s daily routine was making tea and then buying the day’s supplies, usually making a profit of about a rupee a day, which Anil knew but didn’t mind.
The Temptation and Theft
Anil made money by writing for magazines. One evening, he came home with a small bundle of notes (600 rupees) that he had earned by selling a book to a publisher. He tucked the money under his mattress. Hari saw this and decided it was time to rob him. He justified his action by thinking that Anil would just waste the money on his friends anyway, and since Anil wasn’t paying him, it was okay to take it.
The Escape and Change of Heart
At night, Hari stole the money and ran to the railway station to catch the 10:30 Lucknow Express. The train was moving slowly, and he could have jumped in, but he hesitated. Something inside him held him back. He stood alone on the deserted platform. He thought about Anil’s face when he would discover the theft—not angry, but sad because of the loss of trust. Hari realized that while stealing could give him money, only education could give him respect and a better life.
The Return and Redemption
It started raining, and Hari’s clothes and the stolen money got damp. He walked back to the town and sat in a clock tower. Driven by guilt and the desire to learn, he decided to go back to Anil. He quietly crept into the room and placed the damp notes back under the mattress. The next morning, Anil woke up and gave Hari a fifty-rupee note. The note was still wet. Anil told Hari that he had earned some money and would now pay him regularly. He also said they would start writing sentences that day. Anil knew about the theft, but he showed no anger or suspicion, choosing to forgive Hari and give him a second chance.
4. Multiple Choice Questions (10 MCQs)
Q1. Who is the author of “The Thief’s Story”?
(a) James Herriot | (b) Ruskin Bond | (c) Robert Arthur | (d) Victor Canning
Answer: (b) Ruskin Bond
Q2. What was the age of the thief, Hari Singh?
(a) 12 years | (b) 15 years | (c) 18 years | (d) 20 years
Answer: (b) 15 years
Q3. What was Anil’s age?
(a) 15 | (b) 20 | (c) 25 | (d) 30
Answer: (c) 25
Q4. Why did Hari Singh change his name every month?
(a) He liked new names | (b) To escape from police and former employers | (c) To impress people | (d) He forgot his real name
Answer: (b) To escape from police and former employers
Q5. What did Anil promise to teach Hari Singh?
(a) Only cooking | (b) Wrestling | (c) To write his name, sentences and to add numbers | (d) How to steal better
Answer: (c) To write his name, sentences and to add numbers
Q6. How much money did Anil earn by selling a book?
(a) 500 rupees | (b) 600 rupees | (c) 1000 rupees | (d) 100 rupees
Answer: (b) 600 rupees
Q7. Which train was Hari Singh planning to catch?
(a) Delhi Express | (b) Mumbai Mail | (c) Lucknow Express | (d) Shatabdi Express
Answer: (c) Lucknow Express
Q8. What was Anil’s profession?
(a) Wrestling | (b) Teaching | (c) Writing for magazines | (d) Business
Answer: (c) Writing for magazines
Q9. How did Hari Singh feel when he was standing on the empty platform?
(a) Excited | (b) Scared of police | (c) Guilty and lonely | (d) Angry at Anil
Answer: (c) Guilty and lonely
Q10. Did Anil know that Hari had stolen the money?
(a) No, he never found out | (b) Yes, but he didn’t show it | (c) Yes, and he called the police | (d) Yes, and he kicked Hari out
Answer: (b) Yes, but he didn’t show it
5. Short Answer Questions (35 Words)
Q1. Why did Hari Singh want to work for Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh was a thief who wanted to rob Anil. He saw Anil as an easy-going, simple, and trusting person who would be easy to manipulate and steal from.
Q2. Anil was a struggling writer. How did he earn his living?
Ans. Anil made money by “fits and starts.” He would borrow one week and lend the next. He wrote for magazines and occasionally earned a large sum by selling a book to a publisher.
Q3. Why did Hari Singh hesitate to board the Lucknow Express?
Ans. Hari Singh’s inner conscience and the fear of losing Anil’s trust made him hesitate. He realized that Anil was teaching him how to write, which was more valuable than the stolen money.
Q4. How did the rain affect Hari Singh’s situation?
Ans. The rain made Hari Singh’s clothes wet and cold. More importantly, it dampened the stolen currency notes, which later helped Anil realize that the money had been taken out in the rain.
Q5. What did Anil do when he found out about the theft?
Ans. Anil was a very kind man. Even though he knew about the theft (as the notes were damp), he didn’t call the police or scold Hari. Instead, he gave him 50 rupees and promised to pay him regularly.
6. Long Answer Questions (60-70 Words)
Q1. Give a character sketch of Hari Singh.
Ans. Hari Singh is a 15-year-old boy who is a seasoned thief. He is cunning and knows how to win people’s trust with his “appealing smile.” He changes his name frequently to stay ahead of the law. However, he is not entirely heartless. He values the education Anil provides and has a working conscience. His ultimate return to Anil shows that deep down, he desires respect and a normal life over a life of crime.
Q2. Anil’s kindness and trust transformed a thief. Elaborate.
Ans. Anil was a very simple and trusting man. He knew Hari lied about cooking but still kept him. He taught Hari to read and write whole sentences, which opened a new world for the boy. When Hari stole his money, Anil’s silent forgiveness and continued kindness touched Hari’s heart. By not punishing him, Anil gave Hari the chance to reform, proving that love and trust are more powerful than punishment.
Q3. Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil after stealing the money?
Ans. After stealing the money, Hari Singh realized that he had betrayed the only person who had ever treated him with kindness and taught him valuable skills. He thought about the joy of being able to write whole sentences and being respected in society. He knew that stealing could give him 600 rupees, but education could give him much more. His guilt and desire for a better future forced him to return.
Q4. Describe the theme of the story “The Thief’s Story”.
Ans. The central theme of the story is the transformative power of love, trust, and education. It suggests that even the most hardened criminal can be changed if they are treated with empathy and given a sense of purpose. Anil’s trust in Hari, despite knowing his flaws, serves as the catalyst for Hari’s redemption. The story also emphasizes that education is a tool that can provide respect and a path away from a life of crime.
Q5. Compare the two characters—Anil and Hari Singh.
Ans. Anil and Hari Singh are opposites in many ways. Anil is a 25-year-old, tall, lean man who is simple, trusting, and lives a carefree life as a writer. Hari Singh is a 15-year-old, small-framed boy who is cunning, manipulative, and lives a life of lies and crime. While Anil represents selfless kindness and patience, Hari represents the struggle of a young boy led astray by circumstances. Ultimately, Anil’s goodness triumphs over Hari’s criminal instincts.
