Question

Refer to the story ‘The Boy who Broke the Bank’ by Ruskin Bond. Read it carefully and write a Review of the same, keeping the following points in mind.

1. Name of Story and Writer/Author
2. Type of story
3. Background and setting (Time and Place)
4. Main characters
5. Problem faced
6. Language used
7. What you liked about the story
8. What you did not like about it
9. Your general opinion of the story

Answer 1

The Boy Who Broke the Bank

1. Name of Story and Writer/Author: “The Boy Who Broke the Bank” by Ruskin Bond.
2. Type of story: A humorous and satirical short story about human nature.
3. Background and setting: Set in a small, traditional Indian town named Pipalnagar, focusing on its local marketplace and small businesses.
4. Main characters: Nathu (an underpaid sweeper-boy), Sitaram (the washerman’s son), Seth Govind Ram (the wealthy bank owner), and various town gossips.
5. Problem faced: A simple complaint by Nathu about his delayed salary is accidentally turned into a massive rumour by Sitaram. As it passes through town, the rumour escalates into a panic that the local bank has gone bankrupt. This leads to a massive, chaotic riot at the bank.
6. Language used: Simple, witty, conversational, and highly descriptive.
7. What you liked about the story: The brilliant use of situational irony. It is funny how a tiny misunderstanding snowballs into a major disaster, ending with Nathu sweeping the ruins the next morning, completely clueless that he caused it.
8. What you did not like about it: The townspeople’s quick turn to violence and stone-pelting, causing panic for the innocent bank manager.
9. Your general opinion of the story: It is a wonderful, lighthearted story with a strong moral lesson showing how dangerous and destructive unverified gossip can be.