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The Thief's Story

NCERT Class 10 · English Based on NCERT Class 10 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter, written by Ruskin Bond, is a story about a 15-year-old thief named Hari Singh who meets a trusting and kind young writer named Anil. The narrative explores themes of trust, transformation, and the value of education over material gain. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that trust and the opportunity for personal growth can reform even a hardened thief, and that the loss of trust is more painful than the loss of money.
Key Concepts (12)
Thief
A person who steals, especially secretly or without violence. In this story, the narrator, Hari Singh, is a thief who steals for a living.
e.g. Hari Singh steals Anil's 600 rupees from under the mattress while Anil is asleep.
Trust
Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Anil trusts Hari Singh completely, giving him a key to the door and leaving money under the mattress.
e.g. Anil trusts Hari so much that he does not even check if the money is missing after the theft.
Flattery
Insincere praise, used to win favour or make friends. Hari uses flattery to approach Anil by saying, 'You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.'
e.g. Hari flatters Anil to gain his confidence and get into his employment.
Modestly
Without boasting; in a humble way. Hari responds modestly to Anil's comment about wrestling.
e.g. 'Well,' I said modestly, 'I do wrestle a bit.'
Appealing
Attractive or charming, often used to gain sympathy or favour. Hari uses his 'most appealing smile' to win Anil over.
e.g. Hari gives Anil his most appealing smile when asking for work.
Unlined
Showing no sign of worry or anxiety; smooth and peaceful. Anil's face is described as 'clear and unlined' while he sleeps.
e.g. Anil's unlined face contrasts with Hari's scarred face, showing Anil's peaceful nature.
Grunting
Making low guttural sounds, as wrestlers do during a match.
e.g. The wrestlers in the story are described as 'grunting, lifting and throwing each other about.'
By fits and starts
Irregularly; in short, unpredictable bursts. Anil makes money by fits and starts from his writing.
e.g. Anil would borrow one week, lend the next, and celebrate when his cheque arrived.
Education
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school. In this story, education represents a path to becoming a 'big man' and a 'respected man.'
e.g. Anil teaches Hari to write his name and promises to teach him whole sentences and arithmetic.
Transformation
A marked change in form, nature, or appearance. Hari Singh transforms from a thief to a person who values trust and education.
e.g. Hari returns the stolen money and decides to stay with Anil to learn to read and write.
Conscience
A person's moral sense of right and wrong. Hari's conscience makes him hesitate at the station and eventually return the money.
e.g. Hari cannot explain why he hesitated to jump onto the train, but it is his conscience at work.
Loss of trust
The damage caused when someone's confidence in another person is broken. Hari knows Anil will feel sadness for the loss of trust, not the loss of money.
e.g. Hari thinks, 'Anil's face, when he discovered the theft, would show only a touch of sadness. Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust.'
How It Works
How Hari Singh gains Anil's confidence
  1. Hari approaches Anil at a wrestling match and uses flattery by saying, 'You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.'
  2. Hari lies about his name, saying he is 'Hari Singh,' and follows Anil casually after their first meeting.
  3. Hari uses his 'most appealing smile' to ask for work, even though Anil says he cannot pay.
  4. Hari lies about being able to cook, and after a failed meal, he hangs around until Anil laughs and agrees to keep him.
  5. Anil teaches Hari to cook and to write his name, and gives him a key to the door, showing complete trust.
💡 Students often forget that Hari's initial approach is calculated and manipulative — he is not genuinely friendly at first. The flattery is a deliberate tactic.
The theft and its aftermath
  1. Anil brings home 600 rupees from selling a book and tucks it under the mattress.
  2. Hari, after a month of working for Anil, decides to steal the money, rationalizing that Anil will waste it on friends.
  3. Hari waits until Anil is asleep, slides his hand under the mattress, and draws out the notes silently.
  4. Hari runs to the station but hesitates to jump onto the moving Lucknow Express, losing the chance to escape.
  5. Hari wanders through the bazaar, sits in the rain, and reflects on the loss of education and trust.
  6. Hari returns to Anil's room, nervously places the money back under the mattress, and goes to sleep.
💡 The hesitation at the station is a critical moment — students must understand it is not explained by Hari, but it shows his internal conflict and growing conscience.
Anil's reaction to the theft
  1. Anil wakes up the next morning and makes tea as usual.
  2. Anil hands Hari a fifty-rupee note, saying he made some money and will now pay Hari regularly.
  3. Hari notices the note is still wet from the night's rain, indicating Anil knows about the theft.
  4. Anil says, 'Today we'll start writing sentences,' showing he forgives Hari and continues to trust him.
  5. Anil's face shows nothing — neither his lips nor his eyes reveal that he knows about the theft.
💡 Anil does not confront Hari or call the police. His silent forgiveness is the key to Hari's transformation. Students often miss that the wet note is proof Anil knows.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing Hari's real name with his alias
✗ The narrator's real name is Hari Singh.
→ Hari Singh is a false name he uses to stay ahead of the police and former employers. His real name is never revealed in the story.
✓ The narrator uses the alias 'Hari Singh' and changes his name every month to avoid detection by the police and former employers.
⚠ Thinking Anil did not know about the theft
✗ Anil never found out that Hari stole the money.
→ The wet fifty-rupee note that Anil gives to Hari the next morning is proof that Anil knows the money was taken and returned. The story says, 'I saw it was still wet from the night's rain.'
✓ Anil knew about the theft because the note he gave Hari was still wet from the rain, but he chose to forgive Hari and not mention it.
⚠ Misinterpreting why Hari returns the money
✗ Hari returns the money because he feels guilty and sorry for Anil.
→ While guilt plays a part, the primary reason Hari returns is his desire to learn to read and write. He thinks, 'Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees.' He values education over the immediate gain.
✓ Hari returns the money because he realizes that education (learning to write whole sentences) will bring him long-term success and respect, which is more valuable than the stolen 600 rupees.
⚠ Confusing the reactions of different people to robbery
✗ All people react the same way when robbed.
→ Hari specifically states that different people react differently: 'The greedy man showed fear; the rich man showed anger; the poor man showed acceptance.'
✓ According to Hari, the greedy man shows fear, the rich man shows anger, and the poor man shows acceptance when robbed.
⚠ Thinking Anil pays Hari regularly from the start
✗ Anil paid Hari a salary from the beginning.
→ Anil initially says, 'I can't pay you,' and only agrees to feed Hari. Hari makes a small profit by cheating on the daily supplies. Anil only starts paying him after the theft incident.
✓ Anil did not pay Hari initially; he only fed him. Hari made about a rupee a day by overcharging on supplies. Anil began paying him regularly only after the theft.
Compare & Contrast
Attitude towards trust
Hari Singh
Anil
Hari initially sees trust as a weakness to exploit, while Anil trusts completely and unconditionally, even after being robbed.
Emotional response to loss of goods
Greedy man's reaction to robbery
Poor man's reaction to robbery
The greedy man shows fear (of losing wealth), while the poor man shows acceptance (having little to lose).
Value of education
Hari's initial view of education
Hari's later view of education
Initially, Hari sees education as a means to unlimited achievement ('no limit to what I could achieve'). Later, he sees it as a path to becoming a 'really big man, a clever and respected man,' more valuable than stealing.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears in board exams as: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer question of 2-3 marks, and 1 Long Answer question of 5 marks. Occasionally, a value-based question of 3 marks is asked.
Most asked: Character sketch of Hari Singh and Anil · Theme of trust and transformation · Reasons for Hari's return of the money · Anil's reaction to the theft and why he does not hand Hari to the police · Significance of the wet fifty-rupee note
Don't skip: Why does Hari Singh return to Anil? (5 marks); How does Anil's reaction to the theft differ from what most people would do? (3 marks); What is the significance of the wet fifty-rupee note at the end of the story? (2 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The narrator of 'The Thief's Story' is a 15-year-old thief who uses the alias Hari Singh.
  2. Hari approaches Anil by flattering him, saying he looks like a wrestler.
  3. Anil is a tall, lean, easy-going, kind, and trusting young writer who makes money by fits and starts.
  4. Hari lies about his name and his ability to cook to gain employment with Anil.
  5. Anil teaches Hari to write his name and promises to teach him whole sentences and arithmetic.
  6. Hari steals 600 rupees from under Anil's mattress while he sleeps.
  7. Hari hesitates to jump onto the Lucknow Express at the station, losing his chance to escape.
  8. Hari returns the money because he values the education Anil can give him more than the stolen money.
  9. Anil knows about the theft because the fifty-rupee note he gives Hari is still wet from the rain.
  10. Anil does not hand Hari to the police; instead, he forgives him and says, 'Today we'll start writing sentences.'
  11. The greedy man shows fear when robbed, the rich man shows anger, and the poor man shows acceptance.
  12. Anil's face would show sadness for the loss of trust, not for the loss of money.
  13. The story is set in a city in India, likely near a railway station and a bazaar, with references to the Jumna Sweet Shop and Lucknow Express.
  14. Hari's transformation is driven by Anil's silent forgiveness and the promise of education.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. What does Hari Singh say about the purpose of flattery when meeting Anil?

  • A. Flattery is dishonest and should never be used
  • B. A little flattery helps in making friends ✓
  • C. Flattery always leads to money and jobs
  • D. Flattery is useful only for wrestlers

Answer: B — Hari Singh explicitly states 'A little flattery helps in making friends' when he compliments Anil on being a wrestler.

Q2. Why does Hari Singh change his name every month?

  • A. He likes having different identities
  • B. To keep ahead of the police and his former employers ✓
  • C. Because people forget his real name easily
  • D. Because Anil asked him to do so

Answer: B — Hari Singh explicitly says 'I took a new name every month. That kept me ahead of the police and my former employers.'

Q3. What is Hari Singh's initial reaction when Anil offers to teach him to cook instead of paying wages?

  • A. He agrees immediately and is very happy
  • B. He thinks for a minute and asks if Anil can feed him ✓
  • C. He refuses and demands payment
  • D. He walks away angry and disappointed

Answer: B — The text states 'I thought that over for a minute. Perhaps I had misjudged my man. I asked, Can you feed me?'

Q4. What does Hari Singh do during his month of work for Anil besides his regular duties?

  • A. He steals from Anil every week
  • B. He makes a small profit of about a rupee a day while buying supplies ✓
  • C. He secretly learns to write complete books
  • D. He visits the cinema every evening

Answer: B — The text explicitly states '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.'

Q5. Which literary device is used in the phrase 'A beam of moonlight stepped over the balcony'?

  • A. Simile — comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
  • B. Metaphor — describing moonlight as if it were a person walking
  • C. Personification — giving human qualities to an object ✓
  • D. Alliteration — repetition of initial consonant sounds

Answer: C — The moonlight is described as 'stepping,' which is a human action, giving the moonlight human qualities—this is personification.

Q6. How does Hari Singh justify his decision to steal from Anil?

  • A. Anil is a rich writer and can afford the loss
  • B. Anil doesn't pay him wages and will waste money on friends anyway ✓
  • C. Anil invited him to steal the money
  • D. He needs the money to buy wrestling equipment

Answer: B — Hari Singh thinks: 'Well, it's time I did some real work... And if I don't take the money, he'll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn't even pay me.'

Q7. What does Hari Singh observe about how different people react to being robbed?

  • A. All people show anger and fear equally
  • B. The greedy man shows fear, the rich man shows anger, the poor man shows acceptance ✓
  • C. Only wealthy people notice they have been robbed
  • D. Poor people never realize they have been robbed

Answer: B — Hari Singh states: 'The greedy man showed fear; the rich man showed anger; the poor man showed acceptance.'

Q8. Why does Hari Singh fail to escape on the Lucknow Express?

  • A. The train was too slow and he couldn't catch it
  • B. He hesitated for reasons he cannot explain and lost the chance to jump ✓
  • C. Anil caught him before he could board
  • D. He didn't have enough money for a ticket

Answer: B — The text says 'I hesitated — for some reason I can't explain — and I lost the chance to get away.'

Q9. What realization causes Hari Singh to return the stolen money?

  • A. He is afraid of being caught by the police
  • B. He decides that learning to read and write could bring him more success than 600 rupees ✓
  • C. Anil threatens him and demands the money back
  • D. He feels guilty about lying to Anil on their first meeting

Answer: B — Hari Singh reflects: 'Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees... I should go back to Anil, if only to learn to read and write.'

Q10. How does Anil respond when Hari Singh returns with the money?

  • A. He angrily punishes Hari Singh and throws him out of the house
  • B. He pretends not to notice the theft and gives Hari Singh fifty rupees as his first payment ✓
  • C. He calls the police to arrest Hari Singh
  • D. He hugs Hari Singh and forgives him loudly

Answer: B — Anil knows about the theft (evidenced by the damp notes), but 'neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything'; he simply pays Hari Singh and continues teaching him.

Flashcards

Who is the narrator of 'The Thief's Story'?

A 15-year-old experienced thief named Hari Singh who is still a thief when he meets Anil.

What does Hari Singh lie about when he first meets Anil?

He lies about his name (calls himself Hari Singh), about being a wrestler, and about being able to cook.

How does Anil initially react to Hari Singh's cooking?

Anil gives the terrible meal to a stray dog and tells him to leave, but then laughs and offers to teach him to cook.

What valuable skills does Anil teach Hari Singh?

Anil teaches him to write his name, write whole sentences, and add numbers—skills that could open doors to success.

How much money does Hari Singh steal from Anil?

He steals 600 rupees in fifty-rupee notes that Anil had hidden under the mattress.

Why does Hari Singh hesitate and fail to board the Lucknow Express?

He hesitates for reasons he cannot explain, loses the chance to jump into the moving train, and stands alone on the platform.

What does Hari Singh realize about stealing from different types of people?

A greedy man can afford to be robbed, but robbing a trusting man removes all pleasure from the work because trust is lost instead.

Why does Hari Singh return the stolen money to Anil?

He realizes that reading and writing skills could bring him more success than a few hundred rupees, and he cannot abandon the chance to be educated.

How does Anil react when Hari Singh returns the money?

Anil knows about the theft but says nothing; he hands Hari Singh a fifty-rupee note (still wet from rain) as his first payment and continues teaching him.

What is the main theme of 'The Thief's Story'?

A thief's transformation through trust and education shows that kindness and belief in someone's potential can change them more than punishment ever could.

Important Board Questions

Read the extract: 'I was still a thief when I met Anil... I thought I might be able to get into the young man's confidence.' What does this reveal about Hari Singh's initial intentions toward Anil? (CBSE 2 marks) [2 marks]

Identify that Hari's plan was purely selfish—he deliberately chose Anil because he appeared 'easy-going, kind and simple' to exploit. He saw Anil as an easy target for theft, not as a person deserving friendship.

Why does Hari Singh hesitate at the railway station and not board the Lucknow Express? Explain how this moment marks a turning point in his decision about the theft. (CBSE 3 marks) [3 marks]

He cannot explain his hesitation—it shows inner conflict and growing conscience. He realizes isolation (having no friends or safe place) and understands that Anil's trust and education matter more than escape money; this conflict makes him reconsider the theft.

Analyze the theme of 'transformation through trust' in 'The Thief's Story.' How does Anil's belief in Hari Singh ultimately change him from a thief into an honest person? Support your answer with textual evidence. (CBSE 5 marks) [5 marks]

Show that Anil's unconditional kindness (feeding, teaching reading/writing), trust (giving key, no suspicion), and belief in his potential activates Hari's conscience more than punishment ever could. Prove with examples: stolen 600 rupees, but returned it because he values education and Anil's continued trust; Anil's silence and wet fifty-rupee note show he knew but chose love over judgment; Hari's genuine smile at the end shows internalized change, not forced reform.

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Thief's Story

Q1. Assertion (A):

The thief's initial approach to Anil at the wrestling match was calculated and strategic.

Reason (R):

The thief used flattery to make friends because he had not had much luck of late and wanted to get into Anil's confidence.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The thief admits 'I hadn't had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man's confidence' and uses flattery as a deliberate strategy. The reason correctly explains why his approach was calculated, making this the correct answer.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Anil was aware that the thief had stolen the money from under the mattress.

Reason (R):

Anil gave the thief a wet fifty-rupee note the next morning, which was the same money that had become wet during the theft night.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. The wet note is clear evidence that Anil discovered the theft because it matches the money that got wet when the thief sat by the clock tower in the rain. The reason correctly explains Anil's knowledge, making this a complete and accurate answer.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The thief returned the money to Anil because he felt guilty about betraying his trust.

Reason (R):

The thief realized that learning to read and write was more valuable than the 600 rupees because it would help him become 'a clever and respected man'.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — While both the assertion and reason are true statements, the reason is NOT the correct explanation for why the thief returned the money. The thief didn't return the money primarily because of guilt, but because he recognized that education and self-improvement offered greater long-term value than theft. His motivation was self-interest, not guilt, so the reason doesn't explain the assertion.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Thief's Story

Case Study:

Raj is a 16-year-old boy from a poor background who has been stealing from small shops and homes. One day, he meets Mr. Sharma, a kind-hearted businessman, who offers him work at his shop without payment, only providing food and shelter. Mr. Sharma promises to teach Raj to read and maintain account books, skills that could change his future. Raj takes the job and works honestly for two weeks. One night, Raj discovers that Mr. Sharma has hidden ₹5,000 from a recent sale in a drawer. Raj realizes he could easily steal this money and run away to another city where no one knows him. However, he remembers how Mr. Sharma trusted him with the keys and treated him with kindness, and he remembers the skill of reading and writing that could open doors in his life.

Q1. How is Raj's situation similar to the thief's situation in 'The Thief's Story'?

  • A. Both have the opportunity to steal from a trusting employer ✓
  • B. Both are forced to steal by their poor background
  • C. Both are caught by the police after stealing
  • D. Both refuse to work for any employer

Answer: A

Q2. What is the key factor that might prevent Raj from stealing, just like it did for the thief?

  • A. Fear of being arrested
  • B. The recognition that education and self-improvement are more valuable than the money ✓
  • C. The unavailability of a train to escape
  • D. Mr. Sharma's physical strength and ability to overpower him

Answer: B

Q3. Based on the thief's character development, what would Raj likely do after considering the theft?

  • A. Steal the money and escape immediately
  • B. Report the money to Mr. Sharma and continue learning ✓
  • C. Steal the money but later return it out of guilt
  • D. Refuse to work for Mr. Sharma any longer

Answer: B

Q4. Which quality of Mr. Sharma's character mirrors Anil's character in the story?

  • A. His wealth and status in society
  • B. His ability to catch thieves and punish them
  • C. His trust, kindness, and belief in the possibility of changing a person's life ✓
  • D. His connections with the police force

Answer: C

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for The Thief's Story

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/2/1 · 3 marks

Why did Hari Singh approach Anil?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

Why does Hari Singh find it pleasant to work for Anil, though he was a thief?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

Anil's love, trust and compassion influenced Hari Singh's inner conflict and played a crucial role in transforming him. Elucidate.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/2/1 · 6 marks

Support with textual evidence, the themes of 'empathy over punishment' in 'The Thief's Story'.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/3/1 · 6 marks

Those who go astray can change for the better when treated with trust and respect. Justify the statement by citing suitable evidences from 'The Thief's Story'.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 1 mark

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 to 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.

What does the following line tell us about the character of Anil? 'I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.'

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/2/1 · 6 marks

Anil's acceptance and forgiveness of the thief demonstrates empathy and generosity. Elaborate.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/2/2 · 6 marks

How and when did Hari Singh meet Anil? Why did Hari Singh lie that he knew how to cook?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/2/3 · 6 marks

How did Anil bring about a change in Hari Singh ?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/3/1 · 3 marks

How do Anil's initial reaction to Hari Singh's cooking and his subsequent actions reflect Anil's evolving relationship with Hari Singh?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/3/1 · 6 marks

Hari's character evolves from being deceitful and opportunistic to remorseful and seeking redemption. In the light of the above information, describe how his decision to return the money signifies a moral awakening in him and a newfound appreciation for Anil's kindness and mentorship.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/3/2 · 6 marks

How did Hari Singh meet Anil? Why did Anil forgive Hari Singh and promise to pay him regularly?

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