5

FAIR PLA
Y
PLAY

(Justice1 knows neither friendship nor enmity. Jumman Sheikh and Algu
Chowdhary act as head men on two occasions. How do they maintain the
dignity2 of their role as judges? Read and find out.)
Jumman Sheikh and Algu Chowdhary were good friends. So strong was their bond3
of friendship that when either of them went away from the village, the other looked after his
family. Both were greatly respected in the village.
Jumman had an old aunt who had some property. This she transferred to him on
the understanding that she would stay with him and he would look after her. The
arrangement worked well for a couple of years. Then the situation changed. Jumman and
his family were tired of the old relative. Jumman became as indifferent4 to her as his wife,
who grudged5 even the little food that the old lady wanted every day. She swallowed6
these insults along with her food for a few months. But patience has its limits.
One day she spoke to Jumman. My son, it is now obvious7 that I am not wanted in
your house. Kindly give me a monthly allowance8 so that I can set up a separate kitchen.
My wife knows best how to run the house. Be patient, said Jumman shamelessly.
This made his aunt very angry and she decided to take her case to the village panchayat.
For many days, the old lady was seen talking to the villagers, explaining her case
and seeking9 their support. At last, she came to Algu Chowdhary and spoke to him You
know, Chachi, Jumman is my best friend. How can I go against him? Algu said. But is it
right, my son, to keep mum10 and not say what you consider just and fair?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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justice - /'dZVstIs / (n) - the fair treatment

dignity - /'dIgnJti/(n) - a calm and serious manner that deserves respect.
bond - /bQnd/(n) - strong connection
indifferent-/In'dIfrJnt/ (adj) - having or showing no interest in somebody or something
grudge /grVdZ/ - (v) to do or give something unwillingly
swallow/'swQlJU/ - (v)to accept (insults)
obvious/'QbviJs/(adj) easy to see or understand
allowance/J'laUJns/- (n) an amount of money that is given to somebody regularly
seek /si;k/(v) - to look for something
keep mum /ki;p mVm/ (idm) - to stay silent
Text Book for General English

pleaded1 the old lady. Come to the panchayat and speak the truth, she said. Algu didnt
reply, but her words kept ringing in his ears.
The panchayat was held the same evening under an old banyan tree. Jumman
stood up and said, The voice of the panch is the voice of God. Let my aunt nominate2 the
3
head-Panch. I will abide by her decision.
The Panch knows neither friend nor enemy. What do you say to Algu Chowdhary?
the old lady announced.
Fine, replied Jumman, hiding his joy over this unexpected piece of luck.
Chachi, you are aware of my friendship with Jumman, said Algu.
I know that, replied the aunt, but I also know that God lives in the heart of the
Panch, and his voice is the voice of God. And the old lady explained her case.
Jumman, said Algu, you and I are old friends. Now I am a Panch. You and your
aunt are equal before me. What do you have to say in your defence?

1. plead / pli;d/ (v) - to ask / somebody for something in a very strong way
2. nominate /'nQmIneIt/ (v) - to ask suggest that somebody whould be chosen for an important role
3. abide / J'baId / (v) - to accept and act according to a law
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25

Three years ago, began Jumman, my aunt transferred her property to me. I
promised to support her as long as she lived. I have done all I could. There have been a
couple of quarrels between my wife and her but I cant stop it. Now my aunt is claiming a
monthly allowance from me. This is not possible. Thats all I have to say.
Jumman was cross-examined by Algu and others. Then Algu announced, We
have gone into the matter carefully. In our opinion, Jumman must pay his aunt a monthly
allowance, or else the property goes back to her.
Now, the two friends were seldom1 seen together. The bond of friendship between
them was broken. In fact, Jumman was Algus emeny and wanted his revenge.
Days passed and, as ill luck would have it, Algu Chowdhary found himself in a tight
spot . One of his fine pair of bullocks died, and he sold the other to Samjhu Sahu, a cart
driver of the village. The understanding was that Sahu would pay the price of the bullock in
a months time. It so happened that the bullock died within a month.
2

Several months after the bullocks death, Algu reminded Sahu of the money he
hadnt yet paid. Sahu got very annoyed3" I cant pay you a penny for the wretched4 beast
you sold me. He brought us nothing but ruin. I have a bullock. Use it for a month and then
return it to me. No money for the dead bullock, he said angrily.
Algu decided to refer the case to the panchayat. The panchayat was held under
the old banyan tree. Algu stood up and said, The voice of the Panch is the voice of God.
Let Sahu nominate the head Panch. I will abide by his decision.
Sahu saw his chance and proposed the name of Jumman. Algus heart sank and
5
he turned pale . But what could he do?
The moment Jumman became head Panch, he realised his responsibility as judge
and the dignity of his office. He thought and thought. He must not allow his personal feelings
to come in the way of speaking the truth and doing justice.
Both Algu and Sahu stated their cases. They were cross-examined and the case
was considered deeply. Then Jumman stood up and announced, It is our opinion that
Sahu should pay Algu the price of the bullock. When Sahu bought the bullock, it suffered

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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seldom - / 'seldJm / (adv) - not often

a tight spot - /(idm) - in a difficult situation
annoy -/ J'nOI /(v) - to make somebody uncomfortable
wretched - /'retSId/ (adj) - (here) not of any worth
pale - /peIl / (adj) - having skin that is whiter than usual because of illness, a strong emotion.
Text Book for General English

from no disability or disease. The death of the bullock was unfortunate but Algu cannot be
blamed for it. Algu could not contain his feelings. He stood up and said loudly over and
over again. Victory to the pancayat. This is justice. God lives in the voice of the Panch.
Soon after, Jumman came to Algu, embraced1 him and said Since the last
panchayat, I had become your enemy. Today I realised what it meant to be a panch. A
panch has no friend nor enemy. He knows only justice. Let no one deviate2 from the path
of justice and truth for friendship or enmity.
Algu embraced his friend and wept. And his tears washed away all the dirt of
misunderstanding between them.
Premchand
(retold)

1. embrace - /Im'breIs/ (v) - to put your arms around somebody as a sign of love or friendship.
2. deviate - /di;vieIt/(v) - to move away from what is normal or acceptable.
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27

EXERCISES
Word Power
(a)

Choose the correct meanings of the following words :

1.

wretched
i) separate

2.

iii) having no interest

ii) particular

iii) similar

ii) fair treatment

iii) decision

ii) sad

iii) indifferent.

annoyed
i) slightly angry

b)

ii) alike

justice
i) proper

5.

insane

obvious
i) easy to see

4.

iii)

indifferent
i) separate

3.

ii) worthless

Consult a dictionary. Write the meanings of these pharses and words and
use them in your own sentences :
kept ringing,
piece of luck,
keep mum,
become indifferent,
grudged,
nominate,
abide by,
deviate,
tight spot,
embraced.

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Text Book for General English

How Much Have I Understood ?

a)

b)

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences :

1)

Who was nominated as the head Panch by the aunt ?

2)

Who nominated Jumman as the head Panch ?

3)

Where was the village panchayat held ?

4)

What was the demand of Jummans aunt ?

Answer the following questions in three or four sentences :

1)

What was the understanding between Jumman and his aunt?

2)

Why was Jumman happy when Algu was nominated as the head Panch?

3)

What did Algu think when he started his proceedings as the head Panch?

4)

What was Algus judgement? How did Jumman take it ?

5)

Which incident took Algu to a tight spot ?

6)

Why did Samjhu Sahu nominate Jumman as the head Panch?

7)

What was the decision of Jumman? How did Algu take it?

8)

Victory to the panchayat. This is justice. God lives in the voice of the Panch".
Who said all this and why? Explain.

Language Practice
Read the following sentences carefully :
Ta b le A
1.

Jumman Sheikh and Algu Choudhary was good friends.

2.

My wife know best how to run the house.

3.

I has done all I could.

4.

Now my aunt is claim a monthly allowance from me.

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29

Do you find any thing wrong with any of the sentences? Now read the
same sentences given in table B
Ta b le B
1.

Jumman Sheikh and Algu Choudhary were good friends.

2.

My wife knows best how to run the house.

3.

I have done all I could.

4.

Now my aunt is claiming a monthly allowance from me.

The sentences written in table B have a proper subject-verb concord (agreement)

While speaking or writing we should be aware of the subject - verb
agreement. The verb must agree with the subject in the sentence.
No
w, rread
ead these sentences car
efull
y, mar
k the mistak
es
Now
carefull
efully
mark
mistakes
and rre
e write the sentencess cor
y.
corrr ectl
ectly

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1.

There are a pair of scissors in my drawer.

2.

Many of the flowers has no smell.

3.

Working women leads a life of dual responsibilities.

4.

Either John or Gaurav are to be selected as the team captain.

5.

Clouds is very dark, perhaps it is going to rain soon.

6.

My mother and I am preparing for my birthday.

7.

In India, tea mostly grow in the north.

8.

Sameer like to play football.

9.

Rosy and Pratham wants to go abroad and settle down in some other country.

10.

If it rain heavily I won't be able to go for a morning walk.

Text Book for General English

Listening Time
(a)

Listen carefully to your teacher and tick ( ) the correct option given in the
paragraph:
(Teacher will read this paragraph with correct pronunciation.)
There was a certain/curtain house in the town of Kyoto (Japan) which pupil/people
avoided to live in. The season/reason for their fear/fair was that two of the farmer/
former owners/honours of the house/mouse had crowned/drowned.. themselves in
the well/bell that was in the courtyard.

(b)

Read each pair of words twice with correct pronunciation (take the help of
your teacher).
vine, fine

van, fan

tail, tell

fairy, ferry

vent, went

vain, wane

vary, very

vile, file

vie, why

vest, west

real, reel

Now listen to your teacher/friend and complete the following passage with
appropriate words:
All of us felt that it was a ________ (vary/very) ________ (vine/fine) day for journey.
We________ (went/vent) across the river on a________ (fairy/ferry) where a
________ (vain/wane/van) was waiting on the western bank of the vast river. We
all climbed into the van and ________ (of/off) we went leaving behind us the wide
river valley.
Note: consult a standard dictionary to know the correct pronunciation of the
words.

Speaking Time
Sometimes we find ourselves in a difficult situaion and we have to ask people for
favours. Some situations are given, work with your partner and complete therm.
Also practice them in your day-to-day life. One has been done for you.
Situation - 1:

You want to take a lift because your bicycle has a puncture and you have
to reach your school on time.

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31

Answer

Would you mind if I asked you to give me a lift ? I'll be late if I don't reach
my school soon.

Situation - 2:

You are not feeling well. You want someone to call a doctor for you.

Situation - 3:

You are alone at home and the fuse has blown out. You ask your neighbour
to fix it.

Situation - 4:

You want someone to carry your bag because you have hurt your hand.

Situation - 5:

You have lost your pocket and you have to purchase some important
things from the market. Your home is far away from the market. You want
to borrow some money from an acquintance you meet there.

Writing Time
Punctuate the following sentences :
1.

shahjahan built the taj mahal

2.

you can get this book from the royal book centre kanpur

3.

the traveller was old and hungry

4.

run away shouted my brother

5.

my library has many kinds of books plays poems novels etc

T hings to do
1.

Go to the library and read the stories written by 'Munshi Premchand'.

2.

Make a list of the matters that can be solved in village panchayats.

3.

If you get an opportunity, to observe the hearing of a case by the gram panchayat,
note down the process of hearing.

4.

Know about the working of panchayats, their rights and duties.

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Text Book for General English