THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK - short story - by Ruskin Bond- Notes - SUMMARY

THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK - Ruskin Bond

 “The boy who broke the bank” is a very interesting story written by Ruskin Bond. The story relates to the murmuring of a sweeper boy Nathu about irregular payment of his salary. It takes the shape of a rumour and results into the collapse of a bank.  In the end of the story, Nathu, who is responsible for the whole episode, wonders innocently about the incident.

  Seth Govind Ram owns a bank at Pipalngar town. The bank is financially very sound and has won the trust of the depositors. Nathu is a sweeper in the bank. One day, while sweeping the steps of the bank, he grumbles about the irregular payment of his salary by the bank authorities. Sitaram, the washer man’s son learns about Nathu’s complaints. In his loose talk with Mrs. Srivastava, Sitaram says that bank could not pay its employees. Mrs. Srivastava misunderstands Sitaram’s statement. She believes that the Piplangar bank is about to collapse. The rumour spreads like a wild fire in the entire town.

     The customers in shock demand their money back. They start stoning the bank building and break the glasses. The next day when Nathu goes to the bank for his duty, he finds a lot of broken glasses and stones. He wonders how it happened. He murmurs angrily that the bank authorities are not paying him regularly on one hand and are also increasing his work.  For him the event is a mystery.

      This story is basically about how rumors and lack of communication can cause many problems and be destructive.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College

Alamuru

Ph: 7981862200