The Boy who broke the Bank is story written by Famous Anglo-Indian author, Ruskin Bond. The story of novel centers around a life Sweeper boy named Nathu, who works at a Bank of his village.
The Boy who Broke the Bank By Ruskin Bond
Summary of The Boy who Broke the Bank By Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond’s “The Boy who Broke the Bank” story begins character, Nathu, a sweeper boy who works in Pipalnagar Bank. Nathu is in bad mood, he is complaining to himself while cleaning a staircase of Pipalnagar Bank.
There comes new character, Seth Govind Ram, an owner of Pipalnagar Bank. Nathu is cleaning staircase carelessly, when Nathu was throwing dust with dustbin pan he met Sitaram, a son of washerman. As Sitaram is a son of Washer man, he was going to deliver washed clothes and saw Nathu cleaning staircase carelessly.
He ask Nathu to clean staircase properly as he was spreading dust everywhere. Sitaram ask Nathu, are you still sad as people are not ready to give you 2 extra rupees. Nathu says I don’t want to talk anything about this, you are talking about 2 rupees, I haven’t even received my salary yet. Today is 20 date of month but I haven’t received my salary yet. I will quit this job as soon as I will receive my salary.
Nathu was constantly hitting his dustbin pan with dustbin while talking to Sitaram. Sitaram respond good luck to Nathu and tells him, If there would be any job opportunity for you I will let you know. Afterwards, Sitaram move forward without sleepers.
Sitaram had so much clothes on his head that his head and shoulders were completely hide in clothes. When Sitaram goes in fourth house to give clothes, he heard landlady saying that she is looking for sweeper, Sitaram tells them he knows one sweeper who is looking for job and can start working in their home from next month.
As of now, that boy is working in Bank but bank is not giving him his salary. Therefore, he wants to quit his job from Bank. The Landlady’s name is Mrs. Srivastava, who ask Sitaram to send sweeper boy at her home.
As Mrs. Srivastava wants to go in market for shopping, she tells her maid to look after her children. She also tells her cook to cook food on time without any delay. Afterwards, Mrs Srivastava goes at Pipalnagar Market Place for shopping, she met her friend, Mrs. Bhushan under a shadow of tamarind tree. Mrs. Bhushan was frustrated with sunlight so she was taking some rest under a shadow of tree.
Mrs. Bhusan started complaining about summer season to Mrs Srivasta and according to her this season would be very hot. Thereafter, she shows one sample of cloth to Mrs Srivastava, and for five minutes they both talks about shopping only. Mrs Srivasta tells Mrs Bhushan, do you know that Seth Govind Ram’s Bank is not able to give salary to its employees. Today only I heard about sweeper boy who haven’t receive his salary since one month. Mrs Bhushan shockingly replies if they can’t even give salary to a sweeper boy then it’s means Bank has no money and they would be bankrupt.
Thereafter, Mrs Bhushan leaves Mrs Srivastava at tamarind tree and started looking for her husband. Her husband was sitting at Kamal Kishore’s photography shop and talking with shop owner. Mrs Bhusan goes to her husband, Mr. Bhusan and ask him what is he doing here. Why you left me behind ? I’m looking for you for hours. Mr Bhushan tells her that he was not able to find her because she was going through all the shops of market.
Mrs. Bhushan replies, please stop complaining as I’m already sick of this sunny weather. The sun is so hot that Bank are also going Bankrupt. Kamal Kishore is shocked to listen that, what did you say, which bank is going bankrupt, Kishore ask to Mrs Bhushan. Mrs Bhushan tells him that Pipalnagar bank is going bankrupt as they have stopped giving salary to its employee. is your account also opened in Pipalnagar Bank ? Kishore tells her his account isn’t open there but his neighbor do.
Kishore’s neighbour is Barber whose shop is next to Kishore’s shop. The story now features new character named, Deep Chand, a barber who is a neighbor of Kishore. Kishore calls Deep Chand & says, have you heard the latest news that Pipalnagar bank is going to bankrupt soon. So it would be better for you to take out all your money from that bank as soon as possible.
Deep Chand was cutting hair of old man and when he heard the shocking news, he cut his customer ear by mistake. The old customer started yelling but he was worrying more about the Bank. He immediately goes at merchant shop and started calling Seth Govind Ram, an owner of Pipalnagar Bank.
When old man calls him, he learns that Seth Govind is not at his home. Through the call, old man get to know that Seth Govind is in Kashmir enjoying his vacation. The old man returns to Deep Chand’s shop and tell him that Seth Govind has run away with their money.
The news of Pipalnagar Bank Bankruptcy spread all over the market, from merchants to customer everyone was just talking about the bankruptcy of Pipalnagar Bank. The news even spread to beggars as well. There comes new character, Ganpat, an old beggar man who doesn’t have one leg. He sits at a side of highway road for begging.
No one had seen Ganpat walking. When Ganpat learns about the news of Pipalnagar Bankruptcy, he started jumping which shocked everyone. Ganpat runs fast towards bank, soon people get to know that Ganpat has saved one thousand rupees in bank. The Pipalnagar’s people are not used to of facing any kind of challenging problem, when people heard about bank bankruptcy they got scared. Everyone in Pipalnagar was talking about one thing and that is Bank bankruptcy.
Few people were worrying about their money while few were thanking god as they have not deposited their money in Bank. The people started guessing why is bank going bankrupt. Few people guesses, bank is going bankrupt because of its owner Seth Govind Ram. He wasted money like water so that is why it is happening.
Someone from the crowd tells everyone that Seth Govind has ran away from the city. Everyone was telling different story about Seth Govind, few were saying that he killed himself by hanging on tree, few say he ran out of the country and few say he is still in Pipalnagar.
Everyone gathered at bank to take their money out. The bank manager is worrying because they have no cash left to give because any bank doesn’t keep much money in cash. Thereafter, Bank manager ask people to come tomorrow for money.
On the other side, people were not ready to go back because they want their money back from bank anyhow. The people started yelling in front of Bank for their money. The Bank manager tries to calm people, he told everyone that the bank have enough money but suddenly they can’t provide money to everyone because it will take some time. He ask all of them to come tomorrow for their money. Someone from the crowd, break the glass of Bank.
Next day, Nathu came to work and saw lots of dust and pieces of glass at Bank’s front. Nathu raises his hands and say “Hooligans! Sons of Donkey”, why are you spreading dust. There comes Sitaram who greet Nathu and tells him to be ready for new job.
You should find new job because as your bank is going bankrupt. Nathu is shocked to learn about the Bank’s bankruptcy. He sits on top staircase of bank and wait for bank manger. The story of novel ends with Nathu, who is thinking how Pipalnagar bank is bankrupt.
RECOMMENDED READING
THE NIGHT TRAIN AT DEOLI BY RUSKIN BOND