Class 10: Chapter -2 The Thief's Story by Ruskin Bond

 The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond

Central Idea: “The Thief’s Story” revolves around a young thief who experiences a moral transformation after being trusted and treated kindly by the man he intends to rob. It shows how love, trust, and compassion can bring out the good in even the most misguided individuals.

Characters

1. Hari Singh – The narrator and a 15-year-old thief who changes names and cities to avoid the law. Smart, observant, but internally conflicted.
2. Anil – A kind, trusting, and simple man who earns a living by writing articles and doing odd jobs. He helps Hari learn to read and write.

Themes

1. Trust and Betrayal – Anil trusts Hari, even knowing he’s not entirely honest. This trust eventually reforms Hari.
2. Transformation and Redemption – Hari’s internal conflict and final decision not to rob Anil highlights the possibility of change in everyone.
3. Kindness and Compassion – Anil’s warmth and generosity play a key role in reforming Hari.
4. Education and Self-Improvement – Anil teaches Hari how to read and write, symbolizing a path to a better life.

Message / Moral: The story conveys that trust, empathy, and kindness have the power to transform even a thief. People change not through punishment but through love, understanding, and an opportunity to grow.

Setting: The story is set in an unnamed Indian city, primarily in Anil’s modest room. The setting is simple and unembellished, reflecting the straightforward nature of Anil’s life and allowing focus to remain on character development.

Title Justification: “The Thief’s Story” is an apt title as it is narrated by a thief himself and reflects his internal journey — from deception to honesty. The story focuses more on his psychological transformation than on the theft itself.

Narrative Perspective: First-person (Hari Singh’s point of view) This helps the reader understand the thief’s thoughts, moral dilemmas, and eventual transformation.

Tone (Author's attitude)

• Reflective – Hari thinks deeply about his actions.
• Conversational – Simple, personal storytelling style.
• Warm & gentle – Non-judgmental; focuses on human goodness.
• Hopeful – Belief in change and redemption.

Mood (Reader’s feelings)

• Empathetic – You feel for Hari’s inner conflict.
• Tense – When Hari steals the money.
• Heartwarming – When he returns and Anil forgives silently.
• Uplifting – Ends positively, showing change is possible.

Literary Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
First-person narration	Told from Hari Singh’s perspective.
Irony	A thief chooses honesty; Anil doesn’t confront him.
Internal conflict	Hari is torn between stealing and doing the right thing.
Symbolism	Money = easy gain; education = honest future.
Imagery	Descriptions like the “cold night” create visual effect.
Foreshadowing	Anil’s calmness hints he knew about the theft.
Characterization	Simple but powerful – Anil as kind, Hari as conflicted.
Colloquial language	Casual, simple words make it relatable.

NCERT
Question 1:  Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?

Answer: Unlike others, Anil does not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mentioned it in front of Hari. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education in life.

Question 2: Do you think it is a significant detail i story that Anil is a struggling writer? this explain his behaviour in any way.

Answer: Yes, it is a significant detail that Anil is a struggling writer. His lifestyle was simple and used to spend according to his pocket at all time His struggle sometimes gave him a lot of income while at other times he used to worry about the next payment. Hari’s observation about the discontinuation in his work justifies his behave regarding money.

HOTS Question: Why do you think Hari Singh returned the stolen money, even though he had the perfect opportunity to escape? What does this decision reveal about the impact of trust and kindness on human behavior?

Hari Singh returned the stolen money because he felt guilty for betraying Anil's trust. Anil had treated him with kindness, taught him to read and write, and never questioned his dishonesty. This compassionate behavior touched Hari and created an internal conflict between his old habits and a new desire to live honestly.

His decision shows that even a thief can be transformed by trust and kindness. It reveals that people are not beyond change, and that emotional connection and belief in someone’s goodness can lead to moral growth.

VBQ (Value-Based Question): How do Anil’s actions reflect values like forgiveness, trust, and compassion? How do these values influence Hari Singh’s decision to change his life?

Anil shows trust by employing Hari Singh despite knowing he might be dishonest. He treats him kindly, shares food, and helps him learn, showing compassion and a willingness to help someone change. Even after Hari steals from him, Anil forgives him silently by not confronting him and allowing him to stay.

These values deeply impact Hari. He realizes that Anil’s belief in him is more valuable than money. This emotional support and silent forgiveness make Hari choose the path of honesty and self-improvement. Anil's values become the reason for Hari’s transformation.