Get notes, workbook solutions (Evergreen and Morning Star), summary, questions and answers, extras, MCQs, and pdf of the story The Boy Who Broke the Bank by Ruskin Bond which is part of ICSE Class 9 English (Treasure Chest) syllabus. However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
Summary
Nathu, the sweeper-boy of the Pipalnagar Bank, is disgruntled because he hasn’t received his salary even by the twentieth of the month. He vents his frustration while sweeping the bank’s steps, raising a cloud of dust. Sitaram, the washerman’s son, passes by and comments on Nathu’s apparent annoyance. Nathu shares his grievances about the delayed payment and his intention to quit the job soon. As Sitaram continues his delivery round, he learns of a household in need of a sweeper. He suggests Nathu for the position, citing the bank’s delay in paying him.
Mrs. Srivastava, a resident of Pipalnagar, learns from Sitaram about Nathu’s payment issues. She later meets her friend, Mrs. Bhushan, under a tamarind tree in the market. They discuss the bank’s inability to pay even its sweeper, speculating about its financial health. The news spreads like wildfire. Kamal Kishore, a shop owner, learns about it and shares the information with his neighbor, Deep Chand, the barber. The news causes panic, with Deep Chand accidentally nicking a customer’s ear upon hearing it.
The rumor intensifies as it spreads throughout the bazaar. People discuss the bank’s potential collapse, and some even believe that the bank’s owner, Seth Govind Ram, has fled the town. The most astonishing reaction comes from old Ganpat, a beggar with a crooked leg who had been immobile for years. Upon hearing about the bank’s situation, he suddenly stands up and runs towards the bank, revealing that he has savings of a thousand rupees.
By noon, the bank runs out of ready cash. The manager is in a tight spot, as emergency funds can only be obtained from a distant bank. With no way to contact Seth Govind Ram, who is believed to be on a houseboat in Kashmir, the bank’s staff asks the customers to return the next day. This doesn’t sit well with the crowd, who demand their money immediately. The situation escalates as people gather outside the bank, shouting and demanding their money. Some even threaten to break in, while others believe Seth Govind Ram is hiding inside the bank.
The next morning, Nathu arrives to sweep the bank’s steps and finds the aftermath of the previous day’s chaos: broken glass, stones, and refuse. He expresses his disdain for the mess and the increased workload. A boy informs him about the bank’s situation, suggesting Nathu might need to find a new job soon. Nathu sits on the bank’s steps, waiting for the manager, determined to get his pay. He reflects on the unexpected turn of events, wondering how the bank could have collapsed.
The story highlights the power of rumors and the chaos they can cause in a community. Through the lens of a small town and its bank, Bond explores human reactions to uncertainty and the domino effect of a single piece of unverified information.
Video tutorial
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
(i) While sweeping the steps of the bank Nathu grumbled because …………
(a) he was abused by the manager (b) he was made to work very hard (c) he had not been given his salary (d) all of the above
Answer: (c) he had not been given his salary
(ii) 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
(iii) Nathu banged the pan against the dustbin several times to
(a) register his protest (b) emphasize his point (c) warn the bank employees (d) none of the above
Answer: (b) emphasize his point
(iv) Mrs Bhushan concluded that if the bank could not pay the sweeper they must be
(a) running at loss (b) in a good way (c) in a bad way (d) going to dismiss the boy
Answer: (c) in a bad way
(v) Who ran out of the barbar’s shop with one side of the face still unshaven?
(a) Deep Chand (b) Seth Govind Ram (c) an elderly gentleman (d) Mr Bhushan
Answer: (c) an elderly gentleman
(vi) Who astonished everyone by leaping to his feet and running in the direction of the bank?
(a) Deep Chand (b) Seth Govind Ram (c) old Ganpat, the beggar (d) Kamal Kishore
Answer: (c) old Ganpat, the beggar
(vii) Rumour spreads that Seth Govind Ram had
(a) fled the state (b) committed suicide (c) been hiding in Pipalnagar (d) all of the above
Answer: (d) all of the above
(viii) The bank had gone through all its cash and the harassed manager
(a) was in dilemma (b) tried to contact Seth Govind Ram (c) had gone on leave (d) Was threatened by people.
Answer: (a) was in dilemma
(ix) Mischief makers who didn’t have a paisa in the bank also
(a) raised the slogans (b) joined the crowd (c) entered the bank (d) all of the above
Answer: (b) joined the crowd
(x) The general tone of the story The Boy Who Broke the Bank’ is
(a) sentimental (b) humorous (c) didactic (d) none of the above
Answer: (b) humorous
Comprehension Passages
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow each.
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.
‘Don’t raise such dust’ he called out to Nathu. ‘Are you annoyed because they are still refusing to pay you an extra two rupees a month?’
(i) Who is Nathu? Why was he grumbling?
Answer: Nathu is a sweeper who works at the Pipalnagar Bank owned by Seth Govind Ram. He was grumbling because he had not been given his salary even though it was the 20th of the month.
(ii) Using a small broom he raised the dust. Did the dust disappear?
Answer: Yes, the dust Nathu raised with his small broom settled down again on the steps after rising above his head.
(iii) Who happened to pass by while Nathu was working? Where was that person going?
Answer: Sitaram, the washerman’s son, happened to pass by while Nathu was working. He was going on his delivery round, carrying a bundle of freshly pressed clothes.
(iv) What did the passer, by ask Nathu? What was his tone?
Answer: Sitaram asked Nathu if he was annoyed because they were refusing to pay him an extra two rupees per month. His tone was casual and friendly.
(v) What light does this extract throw on Nathu’s state of mind?
Answer: This extract shows that Nathu was in a frustrated state of mind as he had not received his regular salary on time. He was grumbling and doing his work carelessly.
Passage 2
‘Well, I wish you luck, said Sitaram. ‘I’ll keep a 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; ‘I 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.’
‘Is that so?’ said Mrs Srivastava. ‘Well, tell him to come and see me tomorrow.’
(i) What had Nathu told Sitaram earlier?
Answer: Earlier, Nathu had told Sitaram that he had not received his regular salary from the bank even though it was the 20th of the month.
(ii) What assurance did Sitaram give to Nathu before leaving?
Answer: Sitaram gave Nathu the assurance that he would keep a lookout for any suitable jobs for him.
(iii) Who is referred to as the lady of the house What did Sitaram hear accidentally?
Answer: ‘The lady of the house’ refers to Mrs. Srivastava. At her house, Sitaram overheard her mention that she needed a sweeper.
(iv) What did Sitaram tell Mrs Srivastava about the sweeper boy?
Answer: Sitaram told Mrs. Srivastava about a sweeper boy (Nathu) looking for work, who was currently working at the bank but not getting paid, so wants to leave.
(v) How did Mrs Srivastava react on receiving the information from Sitaram? What did she ask him to do?
Answer: On hearing this, Mrs. Srivastava asked Sitaram to tell the sweeper boy to come and meet her the next day.
Passage 3
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!’
‘Shocking!’ remarked Mrs Bhushan. ‘If they can’t pay the sweeper they must be in bad way. None of the others could be getting paid either.’
(i) Who is she referred to in the first line? What did she show to Mrs Srivastava?
Answer: ‘She’ refers to Mrs. Bhushan. She showed Mrs. Srivastava a sample of the cloth she was going to buy.
(ii) What piece of information did she share with her?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan shared with Mrs. Srivastava that the bank’s sweeper had complained of not receiving his wages for over a month.
(iii) Who is the sweeper referred to in the extract? What was his complaint?
Answer: The sweeper being referred to is Nathu. His complaint was that he had not been paid his wages for over a month.
(iv) How did Mrs Bhushan react to the piece of information she received? What did she conclude from this?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan reacted with shock. She concluded that if the bank couldn’t even pay the sweeper, it must be in a bad financial state, unable to pay any of its employees.
(v) What impression do you form of Mrs Bhushan?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan comes across as someone who jumps to conclusions easily based on limited information. She assumes the bank must be in trouble just because the sweeper complained of delayed wages.
Passage 4
‘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.’
‘Don’t start grumbling. The heat is trying enough. I don’t know what’s happening to Pipalnagar. Even the bank’s about to go bankrupt.’
‘What’s that?’ said Kamal Kishore, sitting up suddenly. ‘Which bank?’
‘Why the Pipalnagar bank of course. I hear they have stopped paying employees. Don’t tell me you have an account there, Mr Kishore?’
(i) Where did Mrs Bhushan find her husband finally? What was he doing?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan found her husband in front of Kamal Kishore’s shop. He was sitting and talking with the shop owner.
(ii) Why had Mr Bhushan not been able to find his wife in the market?
Answer: Mr. Bhushan had not been able to find his wife earlier because she kept moving from one shop to another in the market.
(iii) What did Mrs Bhushan tell her husband? When did she get her information?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan casually mentioned to her husband that she had heard the Pipalnagar bank was about to go bankrupt. She had got this information from Mrs. Srivastava earlier that day.
(iv) How did Kamal Kishore react on the information given by Mrs Bhushan? Why?
Answer: On hearing Mrs. Bhushan’s information, Kamal Kishore sat up suddenly in surprise and asked “Which bank?” This shows he was worried his bank may be affected.
(v) Did Kamal Kishore have an account in the Pipalnagar bank? To whom did he immediately pass on this information?
Answer: No, it is not mentioned if Kamal Kishore had an account in the Pipalnagar bank. He immediately passed on the bankruptcy news to his neighbour Deep Chand.
Passage 5
‘No, but my neighbour has!’ he exclaimed; and he called out over the low partition to the keeper of the barber shop next door. ‘Deep Chand, have you heard the latest? The Pipalnagar Bank is about to collapse. You’d better get your money out as soon as you can!’
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.
(i) Who is Kamal Kishore’s neighbour referred to here? What is his profession?
Answer: Kamal Kishore’s neighbor is Deep Chand, who runs the barber shop next door.
(ii) What was Deep Chand’s reaction on receiving the latest news?
Answer: On hearing the news about the bank collapse, Deep Chand got very startled. His hand shook and he accidentally nicked/cut his customer’s ear while shaving him.
(iii) How did the elderly person react when his ear was nipped?
Answer: The elderly gentleman yelped in pain because of the cut ear. He was also distressed having heard the awful news about the bank.
(iv) What did the elderly gentleman do in the general merchant’s shop?
Answer: The elderly gentleman hurried to the general merchant’s shop and used the telephone there.
(v) Where was Seth Govind Ram actually at that time?
Answer: At that time, Seth Govind Ram was actually holidaying in Kashmir.
Passage 6
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.
(i) What shows that life is Pipalnagar had mostly been smooth?
Answer: Life in Pipalnagar had been smooth as the town seldom faced any crises like floods, earthquakes, droughts etc.
(ii) How did some boast of their farsightedness?
Answer: Some people boasted that they had already wisely withdrawn their money from the bank or never put money in it to begin with.
(iii) What according to the people was the reason of the collapse of the bank?
Answer: People speculated that the reason for the bank’s collapse was excessive indulgence and wrongdoings by Seth Govind Ram.
(iv) What impression do you form of the people of Pipalnagar?
Answer: The people of Pipalnagar come across as idle gossips who spread rumors without verifying facts.
(v) Who, according to you, were feeling happy at the collapse of the bank?
Answer: Those who did not have any accounts/investment in the bank would have been feeling happy at its downfall.
Passage 7
‘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.
(i) Some of the crowd chanted, “We want it now.” What does ‘it’ stand for in this context?
Answer: ‘It’ refers to the people’s money deposited in the bank. The crowd was demanding the bank give them their money immediately.
(ii) Who, do you think, would have thrown the brick?
Answer: Mischief makers in the crowd, who did not have any money in the bank themselves, likely threw bricks to break the bank’s windows.
(iii) How did Nathu react on seeing the refuse and the broken glass?
Answer: Seeing the broken glass and stones on the bank steps, Nathu reacted with disgust, blaming hooligans for increasing his cleanup work.
(iv) Why is Nathu feeling so upset?
Answer: Nathu is very upset as not only was his salary delayed, but now he had to do extra work cleaning up the mess left behind by the crowd.
(v) Soon after this who came on the scene and talked to Nathu? What did he say?
Answer: Soon after, Sitaram, the washerman’s boy, came cycling and joked if Nathu was ready to take up a new job since the bank was closing.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions II
1. How did Nathu emphasise his annoyance?
(a) By rousing dust while brooming
(b) By breaking the pan by hitting it
(c) By plodding barefoot on the road outside the bank
(d) By sitting on the steps of the bank instead of brooming.
Answer: (a) By rousing dust while brooming
2. Who was the person whom Sitaram met at the fourth home he visited?
(a) Mrs Bhushan
(b) Mrs Srivastava
(c) Deep Chand
(d) Ganpat
Answer: (b) Mrs Srivastava
3. In whose employment did Sitaram try to look for a job for Nathu?
(a) Mrs Bhushan
(b) Mrs Srivastava
(c) Deep Chand
(d) Ganpat
Answer: (b) Mrs Srivastava
4. Why was Sitaram glad in the beginning of the story?
(a) He was able to help both his friend and his customer
(b) He did not have an account in the bank
(c) He had completed his rounds of delivering clothes
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
5. Mrs Srivastava misunderstood Sitaram’s statement and started believing that the Pipalnagar bank was on the verge of
(a) insolvency.
(b) debt.
(c) loss.
(d) bankruptcy.
Answer: (d) bankruptcy
6. What did Mrs Bhushan say about the bank?
(a) The bank was not paying its sweeper
(b) The bank was about to go bankrupt
(c) The bank was going to close down
(d) The bank was sound and in safe hands
Answer: (b) The bank was about to go bankrupt
7. What was Deep Chand’s profession?
(a) A sweeper
(b) A shopkeeper
(c) A barber
(d) A merchant
Answer: (c) A barber
8. What did Deep Chand’s customer do when he heard the news?
(a) Scolded Deep Chand for injuring him while shaving
(b) Talked to Mrs Srivastava
(c) Broke the bank’s glass panels
(d) Rushed to contact Govind Ram on telephone.
Answer: (d) Rushed to contact Govind Ram on telephone
9. In the story, Seth Govind Ram
(a) was holidaying in Kashmir.
(b) harassed the Bank’s Manager.
(c) decided to rush back to the bank.
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (c) decided to rush back to the bank.
10. Which of the following is NOT true about Ganpat, the beggar?
(a) He was not lame
(b) He had a thousand rupees in the bank
(c) He was miraculously cured
(d) None of the above
Answer: (d) None of the above.
11. According to the rumours, what had Seth Govind Ram done?
(a) Indulged in luxuries
(b) Had run away from the country
(c) Had committed suicide
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above.
12. What did the account holders demand from the bank?
(a) Justice
(b) Their locker keys
(c) Immediate release of their money
(d) Information about the bank.
Answer: (c) Immediate release of their money.
13. What is the moral of the story, ‘A Boy Who Broke The Bank?
(a) Banks are risky for saving money
(b) Rumours are destructive
(c) Rumours connect people
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Rumours are destructive.
Comprehension Passages II
Extract 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. ‘Don’t raise such dust,’ he called out to Nathu. ‘Are you annoyed because they are still refusing to pay you an extra two rupees a month?”
(i) Who was Nathu? Briefly describe what he was doing.
Answer: Nathu was the sweeper of the Pipalnagar Bank. He was sweeping the steps of the bank hurriedly and carelessly, causing the dust to rise and settle back again.
(ii) Why was he doing his duty hurriedly and carelessly?
Answer: Nathu was annoyed because he hadn’t received his salary yet, which made him perform his duty hurriedly and carelessly.
(iii) Why did Nathu bang his pan against the dustbin? What does this action tell us about Nathu’s state of mind?
Answer: Nathu banged his pan against the dustbin out of frustration. This action reflects his anger and dissatisfaction, likely caused by the delay in receiving his salary.
(iv) Who was Sitaram? What did he ask Nathu? How did he try to help Nathu?
Answer: Sitaram was the washerman’s son. He asked Nathu if he was upset because the bank still refused to pay him an extra two rupees a month. Sitaram tried to help by mentioning that he would look out for other job opportunities for Nathu.
(v) Why was the incident of not paying the salary introduced in the beginning of the story? What were its consequences?
Answer: The incident of not paying the salary was introduced to set the stage for the growing discontent in the town. This seemingly small issue sparked rumours that eventually led to the chaos surrounding the bank.
Extract 2
Mrs. Srivastava had to do some shopping. She gave instructions to the ayah about looking after the baby, and told the cook not to be late with the mid-day meal. Then she set out for the Pipalnagar market place, to make her customary tour of the cloth shops. 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.
(i) Who was Mrs Srivastava? How can you say that she cares for her family?
Answer: Mrs. Srivastava was a housewife. She gave instructions to her ayah to look after the baby and told the cook not to delay the midday meal before heading to the market, showing she was attentive to her household’s needs.
(ii) What did she do at the market? Do you think it was a regular practice? Why?
Answer: Mrs. Srivastava went to the market to browse cloth shops. It seems to be a regular practice, as it is mentioned that she made a customary tour of the shops.
(iii) What did Mrs. Bhushan and Mrs. Srivastava talk about?
Answer: They initially discussed the heat and the cloth Mrs. Bhushan was buying. Later, Mrs. Srivastava mentioned that the bank was unable to pay its employees, which they both found shocking.
(iv) What apparently had happened to the Pipalnagar Bank? How did the news spread?
Answer: A rumour began that the bank couldn’t pay its employees, suggesting it was in financial trouble. This news spread rapidly from one person to another, amplifying as it went.
(v) Briefly describe the conversation between Mrs Bhushan and her husband. What does this say about them?
Answer: Mrs. Bhushan told her husband about the bank’s financial trouble, which he found concerning. The conversation shows they were worried about the implications of the rumour, despite not having direct involvement with the bank.
Extract 3
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.
(i) Who was Deep Chand? Who gave him the news? Why?
Answer: Deep Chand was a barber. He was informed about the bank’s collapse by Kamal Kishore, the shop owner, who heard the rumour from his customers.
(ii) How did he react to the rumour? Do you think he followed the advice given to him?
Answer: Deep Chand was startled, leading him to nick his customer’s ear. It seems he believed the rumour, but there’s no indication that he took any specific action based on the advice.
(iii) How did his customer react? Was his reaction followed by other people in the town?
Answer: The customer panicked, rushing to find out more about the bank. His panic mirrored the town’s general reaction, as others quickly followed suit in their frenzy.
(iv) What was it that concerned the customer more than his injury? What does this reflect about the general tendency of the customers of the bank?
Answer: The customer was more concerned about the rumour of the bank’s collapse than his injury, showing how quickly fear spread among the bank’s clients, overriding rational thinking.
(v) Name two people who spread the rumour. How did each get the news and how he/she spread it?
Answer: Sitaram, the washerman’s son, mentioned Nathu’s unpaid wages, and Mrs. Srivastava spread this further to her friend Mrs. Bhushan, who then shared it with her husband.
Extract 4
‘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 chequebook.
(i) “The bird has flown!”. What did Deep Chand meant by this?
Answer: Deep Chand meant that Seth Govind Ram, the bank’s owner, had left town, leading people to believe the bank had collapsed.
(ii) How did Deep Chand’s action contribute to the possible collapse of the bank?
Answer: Deep Chand’s belief in the rumour and his reaction helped spread panic, contributing to the growing distrust that worsened the bank’s situation.
(iii) How did Deep Chand conclude that the bank had collapsed?
Answer: Deep Chand assumed that Seth Govind Ram’s absence from town indicated the bank had collapsed.
(iv) Who was responsible for the apparent collapse of the bank? Why do you think so?
Answer: The townspeople were responsible for the apparent collapse, as they fueled the rumour without verifying the facts, leading to unnecessary panic.
(v) How does the story show that the people trusted one another without finding out the real cause behind the rumour?
Answer: The story demonstrates how people spread and acted on rumours without questioning their validity, showing a blind trust in the gossip circulating in the town.
Extract 5
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.
(i) What were the men who stood in groups talking about?
Answer: The men were discussing the imminent collapse of the Pipalnagar Bank. They were speculating about what could have caused the bank to crash.
(ii) How did the people react? What made them think that Seth Govind Ram had fled with their money?
Answer: The people panicked and started speculating about Seth Govind Ram’s whereabouts. They believed that his absence, combined with the rumours of unpaid wages, meant he had fled with their money.
(iii) What were the rumours about Seth Govind Ram?
Answer: There were various rumours: some said Seth had fled the state, others claimed he had fled the country, while others even speculated that he had hanged himself from the tamarind tree and been found by the sweeper-boy.
(iv) Why was the tamarind tree important?
Answer: The tamarind tree was mentioned in the rumours as the place where Seth Govind Ram allegedly hanged himself, adding to the drama and speculation surrounding his disappearance.
(v) Do you think that the way Seth Govind Ram behaved made the rumours easier to believe? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: Yes, because Seth Govind Ram’s absence during a time of financial crisis fueled people’s imaginations and fears, making it easier for them to believe that he had fled or committed suicide, even without any real evidence.
Extract 6
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. The manager stood at the door and tried to placate them.
(i) Who were the people at the counters? Why were they asked to return the next day?
Answer: The people at the counters were the bank’s customers who had come to withdraw their money. They were asked to return the next day because the bank had run out of ready cash and needed time to collect funds.
(ii) What was their reaction? Why was anyone not able to ‘Fetch’ the Seth? Why?
Answer: The customers were angry and frustrated. They shouted threats to break into the bank. They couldn’t ‘Fetch’ Seth Govind Ram because he was on holiday in Kashmir, although many believed he was hiding somewhere.
(iii) Why did the mischief makers, who didn’t even have a paisa in the bank join the crowd? How did the crowd mentality of the masses add to the confusion?
Answer: The mischief-makers joined the crowd to stir up trouble and aggravate the situation, despite having no personal stake in the bank. The crowd mentality escalated the confusion and panic, leading to irrational behavior.
(iv) What, do you think, would have happened outside the bank after the brick was hurled through the air?
Answer: After the brick was thrown, the situation likely would have turned violent, with the crowd becoming even more aggressive and potentially forcing their way into the bank.
(v) According to you, which incident reflected the madness of the town?
Answer: The incident of the beggar, Ganpat, who had never been seen walking, suddenly leaping to his feet and running to the bank when he heard the rumours, reflects the sheer madness and panic that had overtaken the town.
Extract 7
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.
(i) How did the manager try to pacify the crowd?
Answer: The manager tried to pacify the crowd by assuring them that the bank had plenty of money, but it would take time to collect it. He urged them to return the next day.
(ii) Was he speaking the truth? What did the crowd do when they were asked to come the next day?
Answer: The manager was telling the truth, but the crowd didn’t believe him. Instead of calming down, they chanted, demanding their money immediately, and someone threw a brick through the bank’s window.
(iii) Why did people want their money as soon as possible? Why didn’t anyone believe the manager? Why did the townsfolk merely rely on the rumours?
Answer: People wanted their money quickly because they feared the bank would collapse and they would lose everything. The manager’s words were overshadowed by the panic and rumours that spread, which made the townsfolk distrust official reassurances.
(iv) What is the irony in the situation mentioned in the extract?
Answer: The irony lies in the fact that the bank wasn’t actually in danger of collapsing, but the townspeople’s irrational behavior, based on false rumours, might have caused it to collapse.
(v) The tongue is mightier than the sword. How does this story support this statement?
Answer: This story shows how a simple comment about unpaid wages spiraled into a full-blown crisis, illustrating the immense power of words to influence and create havoc, sometimes more destructively than physical force.
Extract 8
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.‘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’?
(i) What made Nathu angry enough to swear? What does this say about his status?
Answer: Nathu was angry because he hadn’t been paid on time, and now, after the chaos at the bank, his workload had increased due to the mess. This reflects his frustration with his low status and the poor treatment he faced as a low-wage worker.
(ii) What new job is the washerman’s boy talking about? How frequently does he meet Nathu?
Answer: The washerman’s boy was talking about a new job as a sweeper that Nathu could start from the first of next month. He seems to meet Nathu regularly during his rounds.
(iii) What had happened? Why would Nathu have to take up a new job?
Answer: The chaos surrounding the bank and the rumour of its collapse might lead to Nathu losing his current job, forcing him to take up a new one.
(iv) What was supposed to happen later in the morning?
Answer: Later in the morning, the customers of the bank were expected to arrive, demanding their money and potentially causing further chaos.
(v) The boy who broke the bank was the last to know it. Comment.
Answer: Nathu, whose complaint about unpaid wages indirectly sparked the rumours that led to the bank’s downfall, was ironically the last person to find out about the chaos he had unknowingly caused.
Extras
Questions and Answers
Extract 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.
‘Don’t raise such dust,’ he called out to Nathu. ‘Are you annoyed because they are still refusing to pay you an extra two rupees a month?’
(i) Why was Nathu grumbling while sweeping the steps?
Answer: Nathu was frustrated because the bank had not paid him his regular salary, and he was still waiting for a raise of two rupees a month.
(ii) What did Sitaram ask Nathu?
Answer: Sitaram asked Nathu if he was upset because the bank had refused to give him an additional two rupees per month.
(iii) How did Nathu express his frustration?
Answer: Nathu banged his pan against the dustbin multiple times to emphasize his frustration about not receiving his salary.
(iv) What did Sitaram promise Nathu?
Answer: Sitaram promised Nathu that he would keep a lookout for any job opportunities that might suit him.
(v) How did Nathu’s actions reflect his emotional state?
Answer: Nathu’s hurried and careless sweeping, combined with his banging of the pan, revealed his deep frustration and dissatisfaction with his unpaid wages.
Extract 8
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!’
(i) What did Nathu find when he arrived at the bank the next morning?
Answer: Nathu found the bank in disarray, with broken glass, stones, and refuse littering the steps, the result of a mob’s anger from the previous day.
(ii) How did Nathu react to the state of the bank?
Answer: Nathu was horrified and disgusted, lamenting that not only was his salary delayed, but now his work was increased due to the mess caused by the mob.
(iii) What does Nathu’s reaction reveal about his knowledge of the previous day’s events?
Answer: Nathu’s reaction suggests he was unaware of the full extent of the chaos caused by the rumours about the bank’s collapse, as he blamed the disorder on hooligans without understanding the context.
(iv) How does Nathu’s comment about not being paid reflect the broader theme of the story?
Answer: Nathu’s comment about not being paid ties into the broader theme of how small grievances and rumours can snowball into larger problems, in this case leading to the perceived collapse of the bank.
(v) What does this passage suggest about Nathu’s role in the story?
Answer: Nathu’s role, though seemingly minor, serves as the catalyst for the entire crisis, as his complaint about unpaid wages sparks the rumour that leads to the bank’s near-collapse.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
(1) What was Nathu’s job at the bank?
(a) Manager (b) Cashier (c) Sweeper (d) Security guard
Answer: (c) Sweeper
(12) The story depicts the dangers of _______.
(a) addiction (b) deforestation (c) gossip (d) technology
Answer: (c) gossip
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects
class 9 . ICSE. pre examination 2023 what was he carrying on his head where was he going
the question is from the story The boy who broke the bank…….
He was carrying a bundle of clothes on his head
As he was a son of washerman,He was going to deliver the washed clothes