Page 1 :
(Footprints without Feet) (Chapter - 2) (The Thief's Story), (Class - 10), Read and Find Out - I, Question 1:, Who does I' refer to in this story?, Answer 1:, In this story, 'I' refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story., Question 2:, What is he "a fairly successful hand" at?, . Answer 2:, He was "a fairly successful hand" at stealing and robbing people., Question 3:, What does he get from Anil in return for his work?, Answer 3:, When Hari said that he wanted to work for Anil but Anil said that he could not pay him. They finally, came to an agreement that if he would cook, then Anil would feed him. However, Hari lied to Anil, that he could cook and he soon found out that he did not know how to cook. Therefore, he taught, him how to cook and later, how to write his name. He promised to teach him how to write whole, sentences and how to add numbers. Apart from this, when Hari went out to buy the day's supplies,, he would make a profit of a rupee a day., Read and Find Out - II, %3D, Question 1:, How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?, Answer 1:, The thief took the notes and went to the station to catch the train but could not leave due to some, reason. In his short career as a thief he knew how people reacted on knowing that they have been, robbed. He knew that Anil's face would show a touch of sadness. The sadness would not be for the, loss of money, but for the loss of trust., Question 2:, What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?, Answer 2:, Hari had robbed Anil but could not go due to some reason. He said that in his short career as a thief,, he had made a study of men's faces when they lost their goods. He said that the greedy men showed, fear; the rich men showed anger and the poor men showed acceptance. And he knew Anil's face, would show a touch of sadness for the loss of trust., Question 3:, Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?, . Answer 3:, Yes, Anil had realized that he had been robbed. He knew this probably because all the notes were, wet and damp from the rain. However, he did not say anything to the thief and behaved normally., 1

Page 2 :
(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 2) (The Thief's Story), (Class - 10), Think about it, Question 1:, 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, could 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?, Answer 1:, Hari Singh's reactions to the prospect of receiving an education change over time. When he started, living with Anil he wanted to be literate so that he could become a more cunning cheat. Later he had, a change of heart. He wants to earn respect in life. Probably he is influenced by the calm in Anil's, life. Although, both of them depend on irregular sources of income, but Anil seems to be more, satisfied. Hari Singh develops a desire to be part of the civilized society., Question 2:, Why does not Anil 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 2:, Anil does react on it. He probably knew about the theft but did not hand the thief over to the police, because he had put the money back at its place. It shows that he had realized his fault. Anil gave him, one more chance and therefore forgave him., No, in today's world most people would not have done so. Although it must be done but such sort of, patience and compassion are rarely found now a days in this human world., Talk about it, Question 1:, Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in, real life?, E Answer 1:, No, I don't think that people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. We find such people, in everyday life or real life also. Such people are hardly ever found in today's society who are, actually good. If one is caught stealing, people punish him on their own or he will be handed over, to the police. It should be understood that to err is human. One chance for changing oneself must, be given to everyone. This is the only way, is not a solution but hardship. Too much strictness can make them complete criminals., f bringing anyone to the right path. Punishing brutally, Question 2:, Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his, behaviour in any way?, Answer 2:, Hari Singh's observation about Anil getting irregular income and Anil's statement about his sale of, a book to a publisher indicates that he is a struggling writer. He lives life according to the flow of, money he gets at a given time. When he gets the money he enjoys eating out with his friends. When, he is having less money than he even doesn't accept paying salary to Hari Singh., 2

Page 3 :
(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 2) (The Thief's Story), (Class - 10), Question 3:, Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a, fifteen-year-old boy into a thief?, Ee Answer 3:, Yes, once I was travelling by train with my one of the best friend. In my compartment some school, students were sitting. Meanwhile I realised that my purse is missing. I got worried as my money as, well as train ticket were in the purse. Being calm, I just told them a story of a thief who had been, transformed into a good human being. I don't know what made the culprit speak the truth. The boy, who had stolen my purse started crying and told me that he had done that for the treatment of his, father. Taking under consideration his situation, I promised to do something for him., Hari Singh was an uneducated fellow belonging to poor background. He also did not have much of, talent. It was thus the circumstances which compelled him to steal. Since he started stealing, he had, always been successful. He changed his name also continuously. So his situation turned him into a, thief., Question 4:, Where is the story set? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in, it.) Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the, story spoke to each other in English?, Answer 4:, This story seems to have been set in the rural background of Uttar Pradesh. The name of the sweet, shop as JAMUNA SWEET SHOP sounds an impression of the setting in rural background. Mention, of Lucknow Express gives an indication of being somewhere in U.P. As boarding of Lucknow Express, must be nearest be nearest destination., In these places Hindi is the spoken language. If Hari Singh knew how to speak English then, got a job. We also co, So, we cannot imagine the characters speaking in English to each other., he could have, to know that Anil starts teaching him small sentences., 3