Get notes, workbook solutions, 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.
About the author
Ruskin Bond, a celebrated Indian author, was born on 19 May 1934 in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, within a military hospital, a testament to his father’s service in the Royal Air Force from 1939 to 1944. The turbulence of his early life was marked by his parents’ separation when he was just eight. Following this, his mother remarried a Punjabi Hindu named Hari.
Bond’s formative years were painted with the diverse landscapes of Jamnagar in Gujarat and the hill station of Shimla. However, a personal tragedy, the death of his father due to jaundice, led a ten-year-old Bond to move to his grandmother’s residence in Dehradun.
Growing up under the care of his mother and stepfather, Bond’s education blossomed at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. His penchant for writing was evident early on, as he clinched numerous accolades like the Irwin Divinity Prize and the Hailey Literature Prize. At the tender age of sixteen, in 1951, he penned one of his initial short stories titled “Untouchable”.
The serene hill stations nestled in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas served as a muse for most of Bond’s works. His debut novel, ‘The Room on the Roof’, was a reflection of his adolescent years, written when he was merely 17 and published by the time he was 21. This semi-autobiographical work drew inspiration from his experiences in Dehradun, especially his quaint rented rooftop room and the friendships he forged there.
Interestingly, Bond did not initially target a specific audience for his writings. It was only when he authored his first children’s book, ‘The Angry River’ in the 1970s, followed by ‘The Blue Umbrella’, that he modified his narrative style upon a publisher’s suggestion to cater to a younger audience. Reflecting on his own solitary childhood, Bond once remarked, “I had a pretty lonely childhood and it helps me to understand a child better.”
Throughout his works, Bond intricately weaves his Anglo-Indian experiences against the backdrop of India’s evolving socio-political and cultural milieu.
Workbook answers/solutions
Text-Based 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.
Additional Questions and Answers
1. Who is the author of the story ‘The Boy Who Broke the Bank’?
Answer: The author of the story ‘The Boy Who Broke the Bank’ is Ruskin Bond.
2. Where does the story take place?
Answer: The story takes place in the fictional town of Pipalnagar.
3. Who is Nathu? What is his job?
Answer: Nathu is a sweeper boy who works at the Pipalnagar bank, cleaning and sweeping the steps and premises.
4. Why was Nathu grumbling at the beginning of the story?
Answer: Nathu was grumbling at the beginning because even though it was the 20th of the month, he still had not received his regular salary from the bank.
5. Who passed by while Nathu was working?
Answer: Sitaram, the washerman’s son, passed by while Nathu was sweeping the bank steps.
6. What job did Sitaram have?
Answer: Sitaram worked as a washerman. He washed and pressed clothes for customers and delivered the laundered clothes to their homes.
7. What offer did Sitaram make to Nathu?
Answer: When he heard Nathu complain about irregular salary, Sitaram offered to help look for alternate job options suitable for him.
8. Whose house did Sitaram visit during his delivery round?
Answer: During his delivery rounds, Sitaram visited the house of Mrs. Srivastava, who seemed to be a regular customer for his laundry services.
9. What did Sitaram overhear Mrs. Srivastava say?
Answer: At Mrs. Srivastava’s house, Sitaram happened to overhear her mention that she needed to hire a new sweeper for household work.
10. How did the rumor about the bank start spreading in the town?
Answer: The rumor started when Sitaram innocently told Mrs. Srivastava about Nathu’s salary grievance. She in turn told her friend Mrs. Bhushan, who assumed the bank must be in financial trouble. This gossip then spread rapidly in the town.
11. What were some of the rumors about Seth Govind Ram?
Answer: There were many wild rumors circulating about Seth Govind Ram. Some said he had fled the state or country. Others claimed he was hiding in Pipalnagar. One rumor even said he had committed suicide.
12. How did the people waiting outside the bank demand their money?
Answer: The anxious people gathered outside the bank shouted threats like “Give us our money or we’ll break in!” They were demanding immediate access to their money.
13. Who were the mischief makers who made the situation worse?
Answer: Mischief makers who didn’t even have accounts in the bank joined the crowd and aggravated the situation by throwing bricks, breaking the bank’s windows.
14. How did the crowd finally break into the bank?
Answer: The impatient crowd threw bricks and stones, breaking the glass windows and forcing their way inside the bank.
15. What did Nathu see that upset him the next morning?
Answer: The next morning, Nathu saw the broken glass, stones, and mess scattered outside the bank and got very upset that people had destroyed property and increased his cleanup workload.
16. What is the theme or moral of this story?
Answer: The moral of the story is that rumors and gossip can spread wildly and cause serious damage, so we should be responsible and verify information before believing or spreading it.
17. How does the title relate to the story?
Answer: The title relates to how Sitaram’s innocent gossip indirectly triggered a bank run rumor that ultimately broke the bank, causing it to collapse. So he can be seen as “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, though unintentionally.
18. Which character unknowingly triggered the bank’s downfall?
Answer: Sitaram the washerman’s boy unknowingly triggered the downfall of the Pipalnagar Bank. His casual gossip about Nathu’s unpaid salary was misinterpreted as the bank being in financial trouble, eventually leading to mass withdrawals and the bank’s collapse.
19. Do you think the bank failure could have been avoided? How?
Answer: Yes, the bank failure could likely have been avoided if people had verified facts instead of spreading unsubstantiated rumors. Also, the bank manager reassuring depositors and restoring public trust could have prevented the run.
20. Did you find the story entertaining or serious? Why?
Answer: I found the story more entertaining than serious, because of the humorous way the gossip and rumors spread wildly, leading to comical misunderstandings and panic. The exaggerated reactions show the entertaining absurdity of human nature.
21. How does Ruskin Bond depict the repercussions of gossip and rumor-mongering in the story?
Answer: Through the bank run episode triggered by gossip, Ruskin Bond shows how rumors can rapidly spiral out of control, leading to panic and havoc. He vividly depicts the dangers of false information spreading in the absence of verification.
22. What does the final confusion of Nathu symbolize in the context of the plot?
Answer: Nathu’s final confusion and innocence symbolizes how the damage caused was unintentional, like his own triggering gossip. It shows he was unaware of the power of words and result of misinterpretations.
23. How does the comical tone serve to underline the story’s message?
Answer: The comical, humorous tone underscores how herd mentality can make people act in bizarre, foolish ways on flimsy evidence. The comedy highlights the absurdity of irrational public behavior due to rumors.
Additional MCQs
(1) What was Nathu’s job at the bank?
(a) Manager (b) Cashier (c) Sweeper (d) Security guard
Answer: (c) Sweeper
(2) Why was Nathu upset in the beginning?
(a) He was not allowed leave (b) He was made to overwork (c) He was not paid his salary (d) He was denied an increment
Answer: (c) He was not paid his salary
(3) Who informed Mrs. Srivastava about Nathu?
(a) Mr. Srivastava (b) Mrs. Bhushan (c) Sitaram (d) Nathu
Answer: (c) Sitaram
(4) How did the rumor about the bank start spreading?
(a) Through newspapers (b) Through town criers (c) Through word of mouth (d) Through social media
Answer: (c) Through word of mouth
(5) Who was Seth Govind Ram?
(a) Manager (b) Owner (c) Cashier (d) Accountant
Answer: (b) Owner
(6) Where was Seth Govind Ram actually while the chaos ensued?
(a) At home (b) In his office (c) In another town (d) On a holiday
Answer: (d) On a holiday
(7) What was Sitaram’s profession?
(a) Barber (b) Tailor (c) Washerman (d) Cobbler
Answer: (c) Washerman
(8) How did the public demand their money from the bank? (a) Through emails (b) Through legal notice (c) Through RTI application (d) Through threats
Answer: (d) Through threats
(9) Who joined the protesters despite not having an account?
(a) Women (b) Shopkeepers (c) Mischief makers (d) Children
Answer: (c) Mischief makers
(10) What did Nathu find outside the bank next morning?
(a) Party decorations (b) Broken glass (c) Garbage (d) Sweets
Answer: (b) Broken glass
(11) What is the main theme of the story?
(a) Corruption (b) Exploitation (c) Rumors (d) Recession
Answer: (c) Rumors
(12) The story depicts the dangers of _______.
(a) addiction (b) deforestation (c) gossip (d) technology
Answer: (c) gossip
Additional Fill in the Blanks
(1) The story is set in the fictional town of _______.
Answer: Pipalnagar
(2) _______ worked as a sweeper at the Pipalnagar bank.
Answer: Nathu
(3) Nathu was upset because he was not paid his _______.
Answer: salary
(4) While working, Nathu spoke to _______ about his problems.
Answer: Sitaram
(5) Sitaram worked as a _______ and delivered clothes.
Answer: washerman
(6) During his rounds, Sitaram visited _______’s house.
Answer: Mrs. Srivastava
(7) At Mrs. Srivastava’s house, Sitaram overheard that she needed a new _______.
Answer: sweeper
(8) Sitaram told Mrs. Srivastava about _______, the sweeper boy.
Answer: Nathu
(9) Rumors spread that Seth Govind Ram had _______ the town.
Answer: fled
(10) Deep Chand worked as a _______ in the town.
Answer: barber
(11) The main theme of the story is the danger of spreading _______.
Answer: rumors
(12) In the end, _______ was confused about the bank breaking.
Answer: Nathu
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