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The Boy who Broke the Bank

ICSE · Class 10 · English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)

Quick revision notes for The Boy who Broke the Bank — ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories). Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.

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A map of the fictional town of Pipalnagar, showing key locations mentioned in the story like Seth Govind Ram's bank, the market, Deep Chand the barber's shop, Kamal Kishore's photography shop, and the
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Key Topics to Revise

1

About the Author – Ruskin Bond

  • Born on 19 May 1934 in Kasauli, India; one of India's most celebrated English-language authors.
  • Has written over 500 short stories, novels, and essays over more than six decades of writing.
  • Grew up in the foothills of the Himalayas; the landscape and small-town characters of northern India dominate his work.
2

Story Overview – At a Glance

  • Genre: Short story — Comedy and Satire.
  • Setting: Pipalnagar, a small fictional Indian town with a busy bazaar and a local bank.
  • Central Theme: The destructive power of rumours and the distortion of information.
3

Plot Summary – Step by Step

  • BEGINNING: Nathu, the sweeper-boy at Seth Govind Ram's bank in Pipalnagar, is sweeping the front steps on the 20th of the month. He is frustrated because he has not yet received his monthly salary. He
  • THE SPARK: Sitaram, the washerman's son, passes by on his delivery round and overhears Nathu's complaint. He misses the context — he hears only that the sweeper is unhappy and thinking of leaving.
  • FIRST DISTORTION: Sitaram tells a customer (Mrs. Srivastava) that the sweeper is leaving because the bank isn't paying him. The innocent complaint is now transformed into a statement about the bank's
4

Character Sketches

  • NATHU (The Sweeper-Boy): Simple, hardworking, and entirely justified in his complaint. He is not malicious, not dishonest, and not a gossip — he is merely a frustrated employee. His tragedy is that he
  • SITARAM (The Washerman's Son): The first link in the chain of distortion. He is not a malicious gossip — he is careless. He hears something out of context and passes it on without thinking. He represe
  • MRS. SRIVASTAVA AND MRS. BHUSHAN: These two women represent domestic gossip circles. Neither intends harm. Mrs. Srivastava repeats what she heard; Mrs. Bhushan adds her own anxious interpretation. Tog

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Key Concepts

The story's central mechanism isBond uses irony as his primaryOnce the rumour reaches the openBond lovingly sketches the gossip infrastructureThe story is a perfect illustration

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in The Boy who Broke the Bank for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)?
Key topics in The Boy who Broke the Bank include The Rumour Chain — From Nathu's Complaint to Bank Collapse, Chapter Overview — The Boy who Broke the Bank, The Rumour Chain — How a Complaint Broke a Bank. These are the concepts ICSE Class 10 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in The Boy who Broke the Bank — ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)?
Start by understanding all key concepts. Practise previous year questions from this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly. Use flashcards for quick revision before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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