Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Chapter 5 The Boy Who Broke The Bank
The Boy Who Broke The Bank Comprehension Questions Answers
Read the extracts and answer the following questions:
Passage – 1.
Nathu grumbled to himself as he swept the steps of the Pipalnagar Bank, owned by Seth Govind Ram. He used the small broom hurriedly and carelessly, and the dust, after rising in a cloud above his head settled down again on the steps. As Nathu was banging his pan against a dustbin, Sitaram, the washerman’s son, passed by. Sitaram was on his delivery round. He had a bundle of freshly pressed clothes balanced on his head.
1. Who was Nathu?
2. Why did he grumble?
3. Who met Nathu?
4. Where was he going?
5. What did the passer’s by ask Nathu?
Answer:
1. Nathu was a sweeper boy in the Pipalnagar Bank.
2. He grumbled because he did not get his salary till the 20th day of next month.
3. Sitaram the son of a washerman on his delivery round met Nathu when he was working in the bank.
4. Sitaram, the son of a washerman was on his delivery round as he had a freshly pressed clothes bundle balanced on his head.
5. The passer’s by told Nathu not to raise dust in that manner. He also asked Nathu if he was annoyed with the bank authority as they do not pay him an extra two rupees a month.
Passage – 2.
‘Well, I wish you luck’, said Sitaram. ‘I’ll keepa lookout for any jobs that might suit you.’ And he plodded barefoot along the road, the big bundle of clothes hiding most of his head and shoulders. At the fourth home he visited, Sitaram heard the lady of the house mention that she was in need of a sweeper. Tying his bundle together, he said; T know of a sweeper boy who’s looking for work. He can start from next month. He’s with the bank just now but they aren’t giving him his pay, and he wants to leave.’
1. What did Nathu tell Sitaram?
2. What assurance did Sitaram give Nathu before leaving?
3. Who was the lady of the house?
4. What did Sitaram hear?
5. What did Sitaram tel’ Mrs. Srivastava?
Answer:
1. Nathu earlier told Sitaram that he was not paid regularly from the bank and so, he wanted to leave the job to join another service.
2. Sitaram assured Nathu that he would look out a job for Nathu.
3. Sitaram mentioned Mrs. Srivastav, as the lady of the house.
4. Sitaram heard that the lady of the house was in need of a sweeper.
5. Sitaram told Mrs. Srivastava that Nathu, the sweeper is thinking of leaving his job and to join a new position. Mrs. Srivastava told Sitaram to send him the next day.
Passage – 3.
A large shady tamarind tree grew at one end of the bazaar, and it was here that Mrs. Srivastava found her friend Mrs. Bhushan sheltering from the heat. Mrs. Bhushan was fanning herself with a large handkerchief. She complained of the summer, which she affirmed, was definitely the hottest in the history of Pipalnagar.
She then showed Mrs. Srivastava a sample of the cloth she was going to buy, and for five minutes they discussed its shade, texture and design. Having exhausted this topic, Mrs. Srivastava said, ‘Do you know, my dear, that Seth Govind Ram’s bank can’t even pay its employees? Only this morning I heard a complaint from their sweeper who hasn’t received his wages for over a month!’
1. Where did Mrs. Srivastava find her friend Mrs. Bhusan?
2. What was Mrs. Bhusan doing?
3. What did they discuss about?
4. What did Mrs. Srivastava say to Mrs. Bhusan?
5. How did she know the position of Bank?
Answer:
1. Mrs. Srivastava found her friend Mrs Bhusan under the large shady tamarind tree to have a shelter from the summer heat.
2. Mrs. Bhusan was fanning herself with a large handkerchief. She complained about the hottest summer.
3. They were discussing about the cloth that she was going to buy. They discussed about the shade, texture and design of the cloth.
4. Mrs. Srivastava said to Bhusan that Seth Govind Ram’s Bank could not even pay its employees.
5. She knew the position of the bank from the complaint of Nathu, the sweeper who had not received his wages for over a month.
Passage – 4.
‘Shocking!’ remarked Mrs. Bhushan. ‘If they can’t pay the sweeper they must be in a bad way. None of the others could be getting paid either. She left Mrs. Srivastava at the tamarind tree and went in search of her husband, who was sitting in front of Kamal Kishore’s photographic shop, talking with the owner.
‘So there you are!’ cried Mrs. Bhushan, ‘I’ve been looking for you for almost an hour. Where did you disappear?’
‘Nowhere,’ replied Mr. Bhushan. ‘Had you remained stationary in one shop, I might have found you. But you go from one shop to another, like a bee in a flower garden.’
1. Where did Mrs. Srivastava go?
2. Where was her husband?
3. How long Mrs. Bhusan was waiting for his husband?
4. Why she could not find her husband?
5. How was he compared for his position?
Answer:
1. Mrs. Srivastava went in search of her husband leaving Srivastava at the tamarind tree.
2. Her husband was sitting in front of Kamal kishore’s photographic show talking to the owner.
3. Mrs. Bhusan was looking for her husband for almost an hour.
4. She could not find her husband because he was vising shops one after another.
5. He was compared to a bee for his position like a bee in the flower garden.
Passage-5.
Deep Chand who was cutting the hair of an elderly gentleman, was so startled that his hand shook and he nicked his customer’s right ear. The customer yelped with pain and distress: pain, because of the cut, and distress because of the awful news he had just heard. With one side of his neck still unshaven, he sped across the road to the general merchant’s store where there was a telephone.
He dialled Seth Govind Ram’s number. The Seth was not at home. Where was he, then? The Seth was holidaying in Kashmir. Oh, was that so? The elderly gentleman did not believe it. He hurried back to the barber’s shop and told Deep Chand : The bird has flown! Seth Govind Ram has left town. Definitely, it means a collapse.’ And then he dashed out of the shop, making a beeline for his office and cheque book.
1. Who was Deep chand? What was he doing?
2. What had happened to Deep Chand’s customer?
3. Why did the customer yelp?
4. Why did he go to the merchant’s store?
5. The bird has flown What does the sentence mean?
Answer:
1. Deep chand was a barber. He was cutting the hair of an elderly gentleman.
2. Deep chand’s hand shook and he nicked his customer’s right ear.
3. The customer yelped with pain and distres of the cut as the news of the bankrupt spread very rapidly.
4. With one side unshaven he sped across the road to the general merchant’s shop. Where there was a telephone.
5. The quoted sentence meant that Seth Govind Ram, the owner of the bank had left the town and the customers were in great distress.
Passage-8.
Old Ganpat the beggar, had a crooked leg. He had been squatting on the pavement for years, calling for alms. In the evening someone would come with a barrow and take him away. He had never been known to walk. But now, on learning that the bank was about to collapse, Ganpat astonished everyone by leaping to his feet and actually running at top speed in the direction of the bank. It soon became known that he had a thousand rupees in savings!
1. Who was old Ganpat?
2. What is Ganpat’s profession?
3. Who would take Ganapat away and when?
4. Why did he run to the Bank?
5. What is his savings?
Answer:
1. Old Ganapat was a beggar. He had a crooked leg.
2. By profession Ganpat is a beggar. He had been squatting on the pavement for years and is calling for alms.
3. In the evening someone would come with a barrow take his away. He never knew how to walk.
4. When he learnt that the bank was about to collapse Ganapat ran at top speed in the direction of the bank.
5. Ganapat had a thousand rupees savings although know about his savings earlier.
Passage-7.
Men stood in groups at street corners discussing the situation. Pipalnagar seldom had a crisis, seldom or never had floods, earthquakes or drought; and the imminent crash of the Pipalnagar Bank set everyone talking and speculating and rushing about in a frenzy.
Some boasted of their farsightedness, congratulating themselves on having already taken out their money, or on never having put any in; others speculated on the reasons for the crash, putting it all down to excesses indulged in by Seth Govind Ram. The Seth had fled the State, said one. He had fled the country, said another, he was hiding in Pipalnagar, said a third. He had hanged himself from the tamarind tree, said a fourth, and had been found that morning by the sweeper-boy.
1. What were the men discussing?
2. What was the condition of Pipalnagar earlier?
3. What the men were thinking?
4. What were the rumours about Seth?
5. Were the rumours true?
Answer:
1. The men were discussing about the Collapse of Pipalnagar Bank at street corners.
2. Pipalnagar seldom has a crisis earlier. It had never floods, earthquakes or draught.
3. The men were thinking about their farsightedness and congratulated themselves as they have already taken out their money.
4. There were contrasting rumours about Seth. Some said that Seth had fled from the state, some also said that he had left the country. Some said that he was hiding in Papalnagar and said that he had hanged himself from the tamarind tree.
5. No, the rumours were not true as Seth had gone to Kashmir on a family tour.
Passage-8.
By noon the small bank had gone through all its ready cash, and the harassed manager was in a dilemma. Emergency funds could only be obtained from another bank some thirty miles distant, and he wasn’t sure he could persuade the crowd to wait until then. And there was no way of contacting Seth Govind Ram on his houseboat in Kashmir.
People were turned back from the counters and told to return the following day. They did not like the sound of that. And so they gathered outside, on the steps of the bank shouting ‘Give us our money or we’ll break in!’ and ‘Fetch the Seth, we know he’s hiding in a safe deposit locker’ Mischief makers who didn’t have a paisa in the bank, joined the crowd and aggravated their mood.
1. Why the manager was in a dilemma?
2. Where from emergency funds were available?
3. Why Seth Govind Ram could not be contacted?
4. What were told to the people?
5. Who aggravated their mood?
Answer:
1. The manager was in a dilemma because all the ready cash had gone out and the mob was protesting.
2. Emergency funds were available from a bank which was about thirty miles away.
3. Seth Govind Ram could not be contacted because he was in a family tour in Kashmir.
4. People were told to go to home and to come on the following day.
5. Mischief makers who had no accounts in the bank joined the agitating crowd and aggravated their mood.
Passage – 9.
The manager stood at the door and tried to placate them. He declared that the bank had plenty of money but no immediate means of collecting it; he urged them to go home and come back the next day. ‘We want it now!’ chanted some of the crowd. ‘Now, now, now!’ And a brick hurtled through the air and crashed through the plate glass window of the Pipalnagar Bank.
Nathu arrived next morning to sweep the steps of the bank. He saw the refuse and the broken glass and the stones cluttering the steps. Raising his hands in a gesture of horror and disgust he cried: ‘Hooligans! Sons of donkeys! As though it isn’t bad enough to be paid late, it seems my work has also to be increased!’ He smote the steps with his broom scattering the refuse.
1. How did the manager try to Placate the crowd?
2. What was the reaction of the people?
3. Why did Nathu come to the bank the next morning?
4. Why was Nathu disgusted?
5. How did he smote the steps?
Answer:
1. Standing on the door of the Bank the manager tried to placate them. He declared that the bank had plenty of money but there was no way to collect that money. He urged the people to go home and come back the next day.
2. The people did not pay heed to his words. Someone hurled a brick and broke the plate glass windows of the Pipalnagar Bank.
3. The next morning Nathu came to the bank to sweep the steps of the bank.
4. Nathu was disgusted because his work increased to clean the men.
5. Nathu smote the steps with his broom scattering the refuse.
Passage-10.
‘Good morning, Nathu’, said the washerman’s boy, getting down from his bicycle. ‘Are you ready to take up a new job from the first of next month? You’ll have to I suppose, now that the bank is going out of business.’
‘How’s that?’ said Nathu.
‘Haven’t you heard? Well you’d better wait here until half the population of Pipalnagar arrives to claim their money.’ And he waved cheerfully – he did not have a bank account – and sped away on his cycle.
Nathu went back to sweeping the steps, muttering to himself. When he had finished his work, he sat down on the highest step, to await the arrival of the manager. He was determined to get his pay.
1. What did the washerman’s boy say to Nathu?
2. Why did Sitaram speed away?
3. What did Nathu decide?
4. Why did Nathu decide to wait for the manager?
5. Why did Nathu wonder?
Answer:
1. Sitaram asked Nathu if he was ready to take up a new job from the first day of next month.
2. Sitaram sped away from the bank area as he had no account in the bank.
3. Nathu decided for the manager to arrive as he was determined to get his pay. He would wait in the highest step of the bank.
4. Same as above.
5. Nathu wondered because he could not expect such an incident would come for his remark with Sitaram, the washerman’s boy.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank About the Story
In the story Ruskin Bond shows us that carelessly spoken words can wreak an institution. The story is almost allegorical in its narrative. It is a humourous story that deals with the plight of the underpaid or unpaid boys. In The beginning of the story we see a sweeper Nathu talks about irregular payment of his salary in the Pipalnagar Bank. It becomes a remour and creates a panic among the Pipalnagar area.
They start to protest in front of the bank. Their demand is to give them their money or they would break in. Some mischief mongers joined with the protestors and they start to pelt stones and break the glass windows of the bank. Ultimately the rumour results in the collapse of a sound bank. It is astonishing that Nathu and leader of the incident has nothing to do about the breaking of the bank.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank About the Author
Ruskin Bond is an Indian author who writes in English. He has written more than 500 short stories, essays and novels including 64 books on the children. Ruskin Bond was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh on 19.05.1934.
His father worked in the Royal Air Force from 1939-1944. Bond spent his early childhood in Jamnagar, Gujrat and Shimla. He went to live with his grandfather in Dehradun when his father passed away. He was brought up by his mother and stepfather. His school and college life was in Shimla. In 1951 when he was only 16 years old he wrote the short story ‘untouchable’.
He spent his childhood in the foothills of the Himalayas. So, his works were influenced by the hilly region and nature. In 1952, at the age of 17 his first novel The Room on the Roof was written. Bond’s works reflect the Anglo Indian experiences and the changing political, social and cultural aspects of India.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank Brief Summary
In the Pipalnagar Bank Nathu was a poor sweeper. In the start we see Nathu grumbling as he is not paid his salary at the 20th day of the month. Sitaram, the son of washerman passes that way. Talking with Nathu he comes to know the complaints of Nathu and he informs him that Nathu has a plan to leave the job after getting the salary. Sitaram welcomes his decision and assures him to look for a suitable job for him.
Sitaram meets Mrs. Srivastava’s house and comes to know that he needs a sweeper. He informs that Nathu of Pipalnagar Bank is ready to leave his job as he is paid late or unpaid. Srivastava tells Sitaram to tell Nathu to come the next day.
Sometime later Srivastava meets her friend Mrs Bhusan in the market. He informs that Seth Govindram’s Bank is unable to pay the salary to its employees properly as Nathu the sweeper is yet to receive his salary. She tells her husband that the bank is going bankrupt. The news spread rapidly and there is panic and confusion. They say that the bank has gone bankrupt.
The rumour regarding bankrupt spreads very fast. Some say that Govind Ram has fled the state or has fled from the country. Some say that Seth has hanged himself from a tree. But the actual story is that Seth has gone to Kashmir on a holiday.
The panic striken people rush to the bank to withdraw their deposits. They refuse to hear the pleas of the manager. They believe that Seth hides himself inside the bank’s locker. Mischief makers join the agitation. They start to pelt stones and break the glass window of the bank.
The news spread that the sweeper is yet to be paid and the they destory the bank. Through the story the author warns us that we should not be guided by a rumur as it is fatal for the life of the people.
Glossary:
1. Hurriedly — Quickly
2. grumbled — Complained
3. annoyed — angry
4. Plodded — walked with heave steps
5. hoisted — raised/lifted
6. ayah — maid servant
7. tamarind — An african tree
8. Stationary — Static motionless
9. Bankrupt — insolvent
10. Collapse fall down
11. yelped — cried
12. astonished —- amazed/surprised
13. imminent — near
14. frenzy — madness
15. dilemma — predicament
16. parsuade — influence
17. aggravated — exasperated
18. Placate — pacify
19. hurtled — moving in high speed
Plot : The short story The boy who broke the bank by Ruskin Bond has a very simple and well knit plot.
Nathu is a sweeper at Pipalnagar Bank has not received his salary till the 20th of the next month. He is in a mood to leave the job. He tells Sitaram about his problem. Sitaram informs Mrs. Srivastava about Nathu as she is looking for a sweeper as he has not been paid his salary. Mrs Srivastava shares this with Mrs. Bhushan and she talks about it to her husband.
Consequently, the rumour spreads that the bank employees are not getting their salary as the bank is in a bad position. Many people withdraw their money from the bank. Other customers fail to contact With Seth Govind Ram. Seth Govind Ram has gone to kashmir to enjoy holidays. There are contrasting rumours that he has fled to other country or he has committed suicide.
The customers rush to the bank to withdraw their deposits. So, the bank goes out of cash. The public start throwing bricks and stones breaking the window glass. Nathu hears that the bank is out of cash he is amared. Thus, we can say that the plot of the story is well built, and it is an interesting humourous story.
Theme: ‘The Boy who Broke the Bank’ deals with the underpaid or unpaid boys although they are forced to do hard work regularly. Nathu, a sweeper of the bank has not received his salary till the 20th day of the next month. In this way the story is the exploitation of the poor by persons or institutions in authority.
The author also wants to mean about the rumour mongering and mob psychology. Sitaram informs Mrs. Srivastava that Nathu the sweeper wants to leave his job as he does not get his salary regularly. In turn Mrs. Srivastava informs of the matter to Mrs. Bhusan who tells that to his husband.
Thus, the remour spreads that the bank is not in a position to pay his employees regularly and it is short of funds. The depositors rush to the bank to withdraw their money. Eventually the bank is on the verge of collapse. The anthor points out clearly that remours can cause damages and we should aware of it.
Title : Regarding titles of his articles Ruskin Bond is always perfect. His titles are meaningful, significant and appropriate. The story The Boy who broke the Bank’ is not an exception to it.
Sitaram is the son of a washerman. He is on his way to delivery round. He meets Nathu a sweeper boy on the way named Nathu who works in Pipalnagar Bank. Nathu in his depressed mood tells Sitaram that he has not yet received his salary although it is 20th day of next month. His desire to leave bank’s job is informed to Mrs. Sivastava.
He does not know his little information will create rumour in the society. That eventually results in the breaking of the bank. In this way the information of Nathu spreads like a fire fauned by the strong wind. The entire story revolves round the information passed on by Sitaram. Thus, the title is apt and justified.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank Characters
Nathu :
Nathu is a sweeper boy. He works hard in Pipalnagar Bank. He expects increments of Rs. two every month with his salary. But its a pity that he is not paid his salary upto the 20th day of the next month. He feels restless and thinks of leaving the job.
At that time Sitaram, his friend asks him why he is not working. He informs that he has not received his monthly salary yet and so he is very sad. Nathu is a simple innocent boy. He cannot expect that his conversation with Sitaram is misreported. In the end of the story when the bank is broken he wonders.
Sitaram :
Sitaram, the son of a washerman and Nathu’s friend. He is simple and innocent like Nathu. On his meeting with Nathu during delivery time Nathu looks sad. He informs to leave the job as he is ill-paid and not paid regularly. The casual talk of Nathu is carried forward to Mrs. Srivastava who needs a sweeper. She informs her husband that the bank is in a very bad condition and it is unable to pay the regular salary of his employees.
In the innocent remark of Sitaram the rumour grows. Ultimately the rumour brings down the bank due to public agitation and stone and brick pelting. A simple conversation between two simple friends Nathu and Sitaram the bank fails only by rumour. It’s pity that often simple conversations result in a big failure/as is the case of bank failure.
Setting :
The story is in a semi town called Pipalnagar. Almost all the characters belong to the same town. Nathu, a poor sweeper works in Pipalnagar Bank. Although he performs his duty well but he is not paid well regularly. Sitaram, a delivery boy of the washerman is his friend. The people of this area are lazy and rumour mongers. One day when a mob surrounds the bank although they have no connection with the bank. Most of the people know each other but they like fun and that is why they assemble in front of the bank.
Style :
Ruskin Bond the writer writes this story in a traditional manner. He narrates the story in the third person and he does not give his own comments. To make the story interesting the author adds a touch of humour in his story.
The reactions of the different people about the news of bankrupt are elaborately described here. Deep chand, the barber is startled to such an extent that he nicks the customer’s ear. Ganpat with a crooked leg begins to run at top speed. In the entire story the author uses a very easy and simple language which is sutiable for the residents of Pipalnagar.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank Critical Appreciation
‘The Boy who Broke the Bank’ by Ruskin Bond is a highly gripping story that deals with the plight of the underpaid and ill-paid workers. The author clearly indicates the exploitation, innocence of children, role of rumours, anxiety and mob psychology in the story.
In the story there are many humourous situations that provoke laughter and entertain the readers.
The language used by the writer is very simple and it is approprite for the residents of Pipalnagar a semi town. The humourous situations created by the author make the story entertaining to read. The characters of the story are very common in our society and we meet daily.
The Boy Who Broke The Bank Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Read the questions given below and tick the correct answer:
Question 1.
The Bank is owned by …………..
a. Seth Govinda Ram
b. Nathu
c. Sitaram
d. none of the above.
Answer:
a. Seth Govinda Ram.
Question 2.
Nathu grumbled because …………..
a. the manager rubuked him
b. he had to work hard
c. he was not given his salary
d. all of above
Answer:
c. He was not given salary.
Question 3.
Nathu expected to be paid by the bank …………..
a. due respect
b. a chair to sit
c. a new broom every month
d. extra two rupees a month
Answer:
d. extra two rupees a month.
Question 4.
Nathu banged the pan against the dustbin several times to …………..
a. show protest
b. emphasize his point
c. warn to bank employees
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. emphasize his point.
Question 5.
Mrs. Bhusan was farming himself with a …………..
a. fan
b. handkerchief
c. book
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. handkerchief.
Question 6.
Deep chand was a …………..
a. farmer
b. teacher
c. barbar
d. none of the above
Answer:
c. barbar.
Question 7.
Old Ganpat was a-
a. beggar
b. washerman
c. sweeper
d. teacher
Answer:
a. beggar.
Question 8.
Seth Govind Ram went to-
a. Kolkata
b. Benaras
c. Delhi
d. Kashmir
Answer:
d. Kashmir.
Question 9.
Nathu arrived next morning to sweep declares
a. pleasure
b. displeasure
c. disgust
d. none of the above
Answer:
c. disgust.
Question 10.
The general tone of the story is-
a. humorous
b. sentimental
c. didactic
d. all of the above
Answer:
a. humourous.
Question 11.
Finishing his work Nathu sat on the-
a. highest step
b. lowest step
c. corridor
d. at the doorstep.
Answer:
a. highest step.