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Question
Write a character sketch of ‘Hari Singh’ with the help of the following points, using the paragraph format.
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Hari Singh’s background His dishonesty His aspirations His courage to change himself |
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Solution
Hari Singh was fifteen years old, but already an experienced and fairly successful thief. He used to change his name frequently so as not to get caught by his former employers, whom he must have cheated, or by the police. He even cheated Anil when he went to buy the daily supply of groceries. However, he wished to receive an education so that he could become a big, respected man who could achieve a lot.
He stole a large sum of money from Anil, but regretted it when he realised that in doing so, he had lost his only chance of getting an education. He is courageous enough to return the money, even though he knows that he may be caught in the process. However, his desire to change himself is so great that it motivates him and gives him the courage to return to Anil
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Does Anil realize that he has been robbed?
What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (Hint: compare, for example, the thought: “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts: ‘Whole sentences, I knew, cloud one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal − and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”) What makes him return to Anil?
Complete the web diagram.
Read the story carefully and complete the table:
| Total no. of characters | Names | Age | Physical appearance | Earned money by | Qualities |
Hari continued making money ______
The moral of the story is ______.
Do you feel Anil’s way of handling a thief like Hari was effective? Justify your answer.
What tact had Anil used to change Hari’s dishonest ways?
Read the following passage and do the activities.
A1. Relate the following qualities with the two characters of the story:
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Narrator | Anil | |
| (1) | ||
| (2) |
| He took to his room over the Jumna Sweet shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be off. But I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn't help laughing. Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he'd teach me to cook. He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve. It was quite pleasant working for Anil. I made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the day's supplies, usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, and lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines a queer way to make a living! One evening he came home with a small bundle of notes, saying he had just sold a book to a publisher. At night, I saw him tuck the money under the mattress. |
A2. State whether true or false:
- Anil liked what the narrator cooked.
- Anil taught the narrator to write his name.
- Anil was a wealthy person.
- Anil made money by fits and starts.
A3. Match the words to their meanings.
| (1) Pleasant | Strange |
| (2) Fits and starts | Satisfactory |
| (3) Queer | Give |
| (4) Lend | Irregular bursts of activities |
A4. Do as directed:
Frame 'Wh' questions with reference to the phrases underlined below. (Change the first person pronouns to second person)
- He taught me to write my name.
- I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.
A5. Give a brief description of Anil and the narrator's characters.
