2.2. The Boy Who Broke The Bank - Std X - Mah Board - My English Coursebook - Semi English and Marathi Medium

SECTION 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ परीक्षेत Reading Skills Textual विभागात येतो — एकूण 20 गुण.

SECTION 2 — About the Author / लेखक परिचय

Ruskin Bond (1934) is a celebrated Indian author of British descent, known for his simple yet profoundly observant stories often set in the Indian hills. He currently lives with his adopted family in Landour, Mussoorie. The Indian Council for Child Education has highly recognized his crucial role in the growth of children's literature in India. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, the Padmashri in 1999, and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. In this humorous story, Bond uses a small-town setting to cleverly illustrate human psychology, particularly how quickly idle gossip can escalate into a destructive rumour.  

मराठी टीप: रस्किन बाँड हे भारतात राहणारे एक प्रसिद्ध ब्रिटिश वंशाचे लेखक आहेत. त्यांनी लहान मुलांसाठी अनेक सुंदर कथा लिहिल्या आहेत. या पाठात त्यांनी 'एखादी अफवा (rumour) किती वेगाने पसरते आणि तिचे काय परिणाम होतात' हे अतिशय विनोदी पद्धतीने मांडले आहे.

SECTION 4 — Summary / सारांश

The story revolves around a baseless rumour that causes the collapse of the Pipalnagar Bank. It begins with Nathu, a sweeper boy, grumbling about his unpaid wages while sweeping the bank's steps. He complains to his friend Sitaram, the washerman's son, who then mentions to a customer, Mrs. Srivastava, that the bank isn't paying its sweeper. Mrs. Srivastava passes this on to Mrs. Bhushan, exaggerating that the bank hasn't paid its employees.  

The gossip spreads like a forest fire through the bazaar. From Mr. Bhushan to Kamal Kishore, then to Deep Chand the barber, and finally to an elderly gentleman, the story distorts further. Soon, the entire town believes Seth Govind Ram has fled and the bank is bankrupt. A panicked mob gathers, demanding their money, and eventually breaks the bank's window. Ironically, the next morning, Nathu returns to sweep the broken glass, unaware that his simple complaint was the spark that "broke the bank".  

मराठी सारांश:

पीपळनगर बँकेत झाडू मारणारा नथू आपला पगार वेळेवर न मिळाल्याने चिडलेला असतो. तो ही गोष्ट त्याचा मित्र सीताराम (धोबी) याला सांगतो. सीताराम हीच गोष्ट मिसेस श्रीवास्तव यांना सांगतो. तिथून ही बातमी पूर्ण गावात अफवेसारखी पसरते की बँक बुडणार आहे आणि बँकेचे मालक सेठ गोविंद राम पळून गेले आहेत. लोक घाबरून आपले पैसे काढण्यासाठी बँकेवर गर्दी करतात आणि दगडफेक करून बँकेची काच फोडतात. गंमत म्हणजे, ज्या नथूमुळे ही अफवा पसरली, त्याला दुसऱ्या दिवशी सकाळी या प्रकाराबद्दल काहीच माहिती नसते.

SECTION 5 — Characters / पात्रे

Nathu (The Sweeper Boy) Nathu is a poor, hardworking sweeper boy employed at the Pipalnagar Bank. He is frustrated and annoyed because the bank has delayed his regular pay of an extra two rupees a month. He sweeps hurriedly and carelessly out of anger, banging his pan against the dustbin to emphasize his point. Ironically, he is completely innocent of the chaos he unintentionally triggers. मराठी टीप: नथू हा बँकेत झाडू मारणारा एक गरीब मुलगा आहे. पगार न मिळाल्याने तो चिडला आहे, पण त्याच्या एका साध्या तक्रारीमुळे एवढा मोठा गोंधळ उडेल याची त्याला कल्पनाही नसते.  

Sitaram (The Washerman's Son) Sitaram is a helpful and cheerful boy who delivers freshly pressed clothes. He listens to Nathu's complaint and genuinely wants to help him find a new job. However, his casual remark to Mrs. Srivastava acts as the primary catalyst that sets the rumour in motion. मराठी टीप: सीताराम हा धोब्याचा मुलगा असून तो नथूला नवीन काम शोधण्यात मदत करू इच्छितो, पण तोच नकळतपणे अफवेची सुरुवात करतो.  

Seth Govind Ram Seth Govind Ram is the wealthy owner of the Pipalnagar Bank. He is entirely absent from the town, holidaying peacefully in Kashmir on a houseboat. His absence fuels the wild rumours, with townspeople speculating that he has fled the state, hid in a locker, or even hanged himself. मराठी टीप: सेठ गोविंद राम हे बँकेचे मालक आहेत. ते काश्मीरमध्ये सुट्टी घालवत असतात, पण त्यांच्या अनुपस्थितीमुळे लोकांचा असा समज होतो की ते बँक बुडवून पळून गेले आहेत.  

SECTION 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

6B. Values / मूल्ये

• Truthfulness (सत्यनिष्ठा) — The story highlights the necessity of verifying facts before spreading unconfirmed news.  

• Responsibility (जबाबदारी) — Characters like Mrs. Srivastava and Mrs. Bhushan show a lack of responsibility by exaggerating idle gossip.  

• Patience (संयम) — The townspeople completely lose their patience, refusing to wait for the manager to arrange emergency funds.  

6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

The central message is that "A lie can run round the world before truth has got its boots on". One must always verify information, as blind belief in rumours can lead to unnecessary panic and destruction. मराठी टीप: कोणतीही बातमी खात्री केल्याशिवाय पुढे पसरवू नये, कारण एका छोट्याशा अफवेमुळे किती मोठे नुकसान होऊ शकते, हा या पाठाचा मुख्य संदेश आहे.  

SECTION 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

SECTION 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न

Extract 1:

Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)

1. Sitaram was the owner of the Pipalnagar Bank. — False  

2. Nathu used his small broom very carefully. — False  

3. Sitaram had a bundle of clothes balanced on his head. — True  

4. Nathu decided to leave the bank as soon as he got his money. — True मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.  

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. Nathu was grumbling because... (a) the dustbin was full (b) he had not received his regular pay (c) Sitaram teased him (d) the broom was broken Answer: (b)  

2. Who passed by while Nathu was sweeping? (a) Seth Govind Ram (b) Mrs. Srivastava (c) Sitaram, the washerman's son (d) Deep Chand Answer: (c)  

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Which actions of Nathu show his extreme annoyance?

Answer: Nathu's extreme annoyance is clearly shown by the fact that he used his small broom hurriedly and carelessly to sweep the steps. Furthermore, to emphasize his anger, he aggressively banged his pan against the dustbin several times. मराठी टीप: नथू खूप रागात होता हे यातून दिसते की त्याने घाईघाईने आणि निष्काळजीपणे झाडू मारला आणि कचऱ्याचे भांडे (pan) डस्टबिनवर जोरात आपटले.  

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why was Nathu planning to leave his job at the bank?

Answer: Nathu was planning to leave his job because the bank had not even paid him his regular salary, and it was already the twentieth of the month. Additionally, they were refusing to pay him an extra two rupees a month. He felt it was unfair for a bank to hold up a poor man's salary, declaring he wouldn't work there another week once paid. मराठी टीप: बँकेने नथूला महिन्याची २० तारीख उलटूनही त्याचा नियमित पगार दिला नव्हता, आणि दोन रुपये वाढवून देण्यासही नकार दिला होता. त्यामुळे पगार मिळताच काम सोडण्याचा त्याचा विचार होता.  

Extract 2:

Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)

1. Deep Chand nicked his customer's left ear. — False  

2. The elderly gentleman had his neck fully shaven. — False  

3. Seth Govind Ram was holidaying in Kashmir. — True  

4. The elderly gentleman believed the news about the holiday. — False मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यात उजवा कान (right ear) कापला गेला असे दिले आहे. तसेच, म्हाताऱ्या गृहस्थाचा विश्वास बसला नाही (did not believe it).  

Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)

1. Who was Deep Chand? (a) The bank manager (b) A general merchant (c) A barber (d) A tailor Answer: (c)  

2. The elderly gentleman made a beeline for his... (a) house and keys (b) office and chequebook (c) bank locker (d) friend's shop Answer: (b)  

Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Why did the elderly gentleman yelp with pain and distress?

Answer: The elderly gentleman yelped with pain because the startled barber, Deep Chand, accidentally nicked his right ear with the scissors. Simultaneously, he yelped with profound distress because he had just heard the awful news that the Pipalnagar Bank was about to collapse. मराठी टीप: म्हाताऱ्या गृहस्थाला वेदना झाल्या कारण न्हाव्याने त्याचा कान चुकून कापला, आणि बँकेच्या दिवाळखोरीची (collapse) भयंकर बातमी ऐकून त्याला मानसिक धक्का (distress) बसला.  

Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Whom did the elderly gentleman call "a bird" and why? Answer: The elderly gentleman referred to the bank owner, Seth Govind Ram, as a "bird" when he exclaimed, "The bird has flown!". He used this metaphor because he discovered the Seth was out of town, supposedly holidaying in Kashmir. Refusing to believe it was a simple holiday, the gentleman assumed the Seth had cowardly fled the town with everyone's money like a bird escaping a cage. मराठी टीप: म्हाताऱ्या गृहस्थाने बँकेचे मालक सेठ गोविंद राम यांना 'पक्षी' (bird) म्हटले. कारण ते काश्मीरला गेले होते, पण गृहस्थाला वाटले की ते बँक बुडवून पक्ष्यासारखे पळून गेले आहेत.  

SECTION 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे

Q1. To whom did Sitaram talk about Nathu's problem?

Answer: While on his delivery round, Sitaram visited the home of Mrs. Srivastava. Hearing that she was in need of a sweeper, Sitaram gladly mentioned that Nathu, the bank's sweeper boy, was looking for work because the bank was not giving him his pay. मराठी टीप: सीतारामने मिसेस श्रीवास्तव यांना सांगितले की नथूला बँक पगार देत नाहीये, त्यामुळे तो नवीन काम शोधत आहे.  

Q2. Why was Mrs. Bhushan uncomfortable?

Answer: Mrs. Bhushan was highly uncomfortable because of the intense summer heat. She was sheltering under a large shady tamarind tree in the bazaar, aggressively fanning herself with a large handkerchief, and complaining that it was definitely the hottest summer in Pipalnagar's history. मराठी टीप: मिसेस भूषण उन्हाळ्याच्या तीव्र उकाड्यामुळे खूप अस्वस्थ होत्या आणि एका चिंचेच्या झाडाखाली रुमालाने हवा घेत उभ्या होत्या.  

Q3. How did old Ganpat, the beggar, surprise everyone?

Answer: Old Ganpat had a crooked leg, had been squatting on the pavement for years, and had never been known to walk. However, upon learning that the bank was about to collapse, he astonished everyone by instantly leaping to his feet and running at top speed towards the bank to save his thousand rupees. मराठी टीप: गणपत नावाचा भिकारी ज्याला चालता येत नव्हते, तो बँक बुडणार हे ऐकताच आपल्या हजार रुपयांसाठी चक्क दोन पायांवर वेगाने धावू लागला, हे पाहून सर्वांना आश्चर्य वाटले.  

Q4. What were the four wild rumours circulating about Seth Govind Ram?

Answer: As the frenzy grew, people speculated wildly about Seth Govind Ram's whereabouts. The four main rumours were: first, that he had fled the State; second, that he had fled the country; third, that he was secretly hiding in Pipalnagar; and fourth, that he had hanged himself from the tamarind tree. मराठी टीप: लोकांमध्ये चार अफवा पसरल्या: १) सेठ राज्य सोडून पळाले, २) ते देश सोडून पळाले, ३) ते पीपळनगरमध्येच लपून बसले आहेत, ४) त्यांनी चिंचेच्या झाडाला गळफास लावून घेतला आहे.  

SECTION 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे

Q1. Describe the chain of events that led to the spreading of the rumour about the Pipalnagar Bank.

Answer: The destructive rumour started with a simple, innocent fact: Nathu, the sweeper, complained to Sitaram that his regular pay was delayed by the bank. Sitaram, trying to help, mentioned to Mrs. Srivastava that the bank wasn't paying its sweeper. Mrs. Srivastava then met Mrs. Bhushan and exaggerated the statement, claiming the bank couldn't even pay its employees. Mrs. Bhushan rushed to tell her husband, who was talking to Kamal Kishore, that the bank was going bankrupt. Kamal Kishore shouted this news to Deep Chand, the barber, who accidentally nicked a customer's ear in shock. The injured customer rushed to call Seth Govind Ram, found him absent, and concluded the Seth had fled. This final distortion spread like a forest fire through the bazaar, setting everyone in a frenzy and causing a massive run on the bank. मराठी टीप:  

1. सुरुवात: नथूची पगार न मिळण्याची साधी तक्रार सीतारामने मिसेस श्रीवास्तव यांना सांगितली.

2. मध्य (अफवेचा प्रवास): मिसेस श्रीवास्तव -> मिसेस भूषण -> मिस्टर भूषण -> कमल किशोर -> दीपचंद (न्हावी) -> म्हातारा गृहस्थ.

3. शेवट: मालक काश्मीरला गेल्याचे कळताच बँकेने दिवाळखोरी (bankrupt) जाहीर केली अशी अफवा पूर्ण बाजारात आगीसारखी पसरली.

Q2. How did the crowd react when they were told to return the following day? What does this show about mob mentality?

Answer: By noon, the small bank had completely run out of ready cash, putting the harassed manager in a dilemma. When he told the gathered crowd to return the following day while he arranged emergency funds, they reacted with extreme anger and distrust. They gathered on the steps, shouting threats like "Give us our money or we'll break in!" and chanting "Now, now, now!". Mischief-makers who didn't even have accounts joined in to aggravate the mood. Eventually, the mindless mob turned violent, and a brick crashed through the bank's plate glass window. This incident perfectly illustrates the dangerous nature of mob mentality. It shows how a crowd loses all logic, patience, and individual reasoning, blindly believing a baseless rumour and resorting to destructive hooliganism instead of listening to the manager's sensible explanation. मराठी टीप:  

1. सुरुवात: बँकेतील रोकड (cash) संपल्यामुळे मॅनेजरने लोकांना दुसऱ्या दिवशी येण्यास सांगितले.

2. गर्दीची प्रतिक्रिया: लोक भडकले आणि त्यांनी "आत्ताच पैसे द्या" असा गोंधळ घातला. काहींनी बँकेची काच फोडली.

3. मानसिकता (Mob Mentality): यातून हे दिसून येते की गर्दीत लोक विचार करण्याची क्षमता गमावतात (patience संपतो). ते कोणत्याही पुराव्याशिवाय अफवेवर विश्वास ठेवतात आणि हिंसेवर उतरतात.

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