"The Boy Who Broke the Bank"
1. Why was Nathu, the sweeper-boy, annoyed?
Nathu, the sweeper boy, was annoyed because he had not been paid his salary for almost two months
despite working hard at the bank.
2. How did news about the bank change from Mrs. Prakash’s telling to Mrs. Bhushan’s?
Mrs. Prakash mentioned that the bank was not paying its employees, particularly the sweeper-boy,
who complained about not receiving his salary for two months. Mrs. Bhushan exaggerated the news,
claiming that the bank was going bankrupt and had stopped paying all its employees.
3. How did the barber and his customer react to the news about the bank?
The barber, Faiz Hussain, was so shocked by the news that his hand shook, causing him to nick his
customer’s ear. The customer, in both pain and distress from the news, immediately rushed out of the
barber shop to confirm the bank’s situation.
What words in para 17 tell you that the customer was more worried about his money than his injury?
The fact that the customer rushed out to make a phone call to Seth Govind Ram, even with one side of
his neck unshaven, shows that he was more concerned about his money than the injury he sustained.
4. Seth Govind Ram was known in town as a man of wealth whose haphazard business dealings had
often brought him to the verge of ruin. Answer these questions about him: a. What made the
townspeople think that the Seth had run away because of the bank’s collapse?
When the barber’s customer called Seth Govind Ram’s number, he was told that Seth was on holiday
in Kashmir. This made people believe that the Seth had fled to avoid facing the consequences of the
bank's collapse.
b. What were the absurd rumours that were spreading about Seth Govind?
Rumours spread that Seth Govind had fled not just the estate but possibly the country. Some even
believed that he was hiding somewhere in town.
c. Do you think the Seth’s reputation made the rumours easier to believe? Why?
Yes, Seth Govind’s reputation for extravagance and risky business dealings made it easier for people
to believe these rumours. His history of nearly ruining himself through poor decisions made the idea
of him fleeing seem plausible.
5. “Everyone seems to have gone mad!”
a. Who said these words and why?
A bank clerk said these words to his relative over the phone. He was bewildered by the sudden panic
in town, with everyone trying to withdraw their money from the bank without verifying the truth of the
rumours.
b. According to you, what incident in the story reflected the madness of the town at its peak?
The madness of the town reached its peak when a brick was hurled through the bank’s plate-glass
window, which advertised its assets. This act of violence reflected how the townspeople had
descended into chaos due to baseless rumours.
6. Read paras 24 and 30 again and answer these questions: a. Do you think the town residents show
any concern for workers like Nathu, the sweeper-boy? How do you know this?
No, the town residents did not show any concern for Nathu. They were more focused on saving their
own money and creating panic. Nobody seemed to care about Nathu’s complaint about not receiving
his salary or how this affected his livelihood.
b. Who do you think will be more affected by the collapse of the bank: Businessmen like Seth Govind
Ram or workers like Nathu?
Workers like Nathu would be more severely affected by the bank’s collapse. Wealthy people like Seth
Govind Ram might face losses but could recover through other business ventures. However, workers
like Nathu depend on their jobs for survival and would struggle to find new employment quickly.
7. In your opinion, who was truly responsible for ‘breaking’ the bank? Was it Nathu, Sitaram, the bank
clerk, Seth Govind Ram, or the town? Give reasons for your answer.
In my opinion, the town was responsible for ‘breaking’ the bank. The rumours spread by the
townspeople, especially through exaggerated conversations, led to widespread panic. Although
Nathu’s complaint about his unpaid salary started the conversation, it was the townspeople's
overreaction and gossip that led to the collapse.
