JKBOSE 9th Class English Solutions chapter – 7 HOW A CLIENT WAS SAVED

Here Gandhiji describes an incident that related to one of his friends and coworkers named Rustomji. He was a large importer of goods from Bombay and Calcutta (now Mumbai and Kolkata). Many a time he indulged in smuggling also, but he never talked of this to Gandhiji. The customs officials never suspected him because he was on the best terms with them. But one day his guilt was found out. Now he was in big trouble. He was sure to be sent to jail.

Rustomji came running to Gandhiji with tears in his eyes. He confessed that he had been smuggling but wanted Gandhiji to save him from being sent to jail.

Gandhiji told Rustomji he would have to make a confession of his guilt to the government. He was not in favour of taking the case to court. He said, “It rests with the Customs Officer to prosecute you or to let you go, and he in turn will have to be guided by the Attorney General. I am prepared to meet both. I propose that you should offer to pay the penalty they fix. But if they don’t, you must be prepared to go to jail. The deed of shame has already been done. Imprisonment you should regard as a penance. The real penance lies in resolving never to smuggle again.”

Rustomji took all this quite well. He was a brave man. He left himself entirely in Gandhiji’s hands. Now Gandhiji met the Customs Officer and explained to him the whole affair. He also promised to place all the books before him and told him how penitent Rustomji was feeling.

The Customs Officer agreed not to take the case to court. Gandhiji was able to convince the Attorney General also and at last the case was settled by a compromise. Rustomji was asked to pay a penalty equal to twice the amount he had confessed to having smuggled.

Rustomji wrote down the facts of the whole case, got the paper framed and hung it up in his office to serve as a constant reminder to his heirs and fellow merchants.

यहां गांधीजी एक घटना का वर्णन करते हैं जो उनके एक मित्र और सहकर्मी से सम्बन्धित थी जिसका नाम रुस्तमजी था। वह बंबई और कलकता (अब मुंबई और कोलकाता) के माल का एक बड़ा आयातक था। कई बार वह तस्करी का काम भी करता था किन्तु उसने गांधीजी से इसके बारे में कभी बात नहीं की थी। सीमा शुल्क विभाग के अधिकारी उस पर कभी सन्देह नहीं करते थे क्योंकि उनके सम्बन्ध उससे बहुत अच्छे थे। किन्तु एक दिन उसका अपराध जाहिर हो गया। अब वह एक बड़ी मुसीबत में था। यह निश्चित था कि उसे जेल भेज दिया जाएगा।

रुस्तमजी अपनी आँखों में आंसू लिए हुए भागा-भागा गांधीजी के पास आया। उसने स्वीकार कर लिया कि वह तस्करी करता रहा था परन्तु वह गांधीजी से चाहता था कि वह उसे जेल जाने से बचा लें । गांधीजी ने रुस्तमजी से कहा कि उसे अपने अपराध की स्वीकारोक्ति सरकार के सामने करनी होगी। वह इस मामले को कचहरी में ले जाने के पक्ष में नहीं थे। उन्होंने कहा, “यह सीमा शुल्क अधिकारी पर है कि वह तुम पर मुकदमा चलाए या न चलाए और उसे भी एटार्नी जनरल के निर्देशों के अनुसार चलना होगा। मैं उन दोनों से मिलने के लिए तैयार हूँ। मेरी यह सलाह है कि तुम उस जुर्माने को चुका दो जो वे तय करें। किन्तु यदि वे ऐसा न करें तो तुम्हें अवश्य ही जेल जाने के लिए तैयार रहना चाहिए । वह शर्मनाक काम तो किया ही जा चुका है । कैद को तुम एक पश्चाताप के रूप में लेना । सच्चा पश्चाताप तो यह होगा कि तुम फिर कभी तस्करी न करने की दृढ़ प्रतिज्ञा कर लो।”

रुस्तमजी ने इस सब को सही अर्थों में लिया । वह एक वीर पुरुष था । उसने स्वयं को पूरी तरह से गांधीजी के हाथों में छोड़ दिया। अब गांधीजी सीमा शुल्क अधिकारी से मिले और उसे पूरा मामला समझाया। उन्होंने उसके सामने सारा हिसाब किताब भी रखने का वादा किया और उसे यह भी बताया कि रुस्तमजी अपने किए पर कितना पछता रहा था।

सीमा शुल्क अधिकारी इस मामले को कचहरी में न ले जाने पर सहमत हो गया। गांधीजी एटार्नी जनरल को मनाने में भी सफल हो गए और अंत में मामले का निपटारा आपसी समझौते से हो गया । रुस्तमजी से कहा गया कि वह उस मूल्य से दोगुने जुर्माने का भुगतान कर दे जितने मूल्य की तस्करी की स्वीकारोक्ति उसने की थी। रुस्तमजी ने पूरे मामले के तथ्यों को लिखा, उस कागज़ को फ्रेम में जड़वा लिया और उस फ्रेम को अपने कार्यालय में लटका दिया ताकि वह उसके उत्तराधिकारियों और साथी व्यापारियों के लिए सदा रहने वाली यादगार बना रहे।

(Page 49) The good friend ran posthaste to me, the tears rolling down his cheeks as he said, ‘Bhai, I have deceived you. My guilt has been discovered today. I have smuggled and I am doomed. I must go to jail and be ruined. You alone may be able to save me from this predicament. I have kept back nothing else from you, but I thought I ought not to bother you with such tricks of the trade, and so I never told you about this smuggling. But now, how much I repent it!’

1. Name the lesson and the writer.

2. Who is the good friend’ referred to here ?

3. Why was he in tears ?

4. What did he want the writer to do for him ?

5. What was he repentant about ?

6. Which word in the passage means ‘a difficult or unpleasant situation’ ?

1. The name of the lesson is ‘How a Client Was Saved’. The name of the writer is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

2. He was Parsi Rustomji.

3. He was in tears because he was certain that he would be sent to jail and

4. He wanted the writer to save him from being sent to jail.

5. He was repentant about his smuggling activities.

6. predicament = a difficult or unpleasant situation.

(Page 49) ‘Of course I will do just as you advise, but will you not consult with my old counsel Mr…… ? He is a friend too,’ said Parsi Rustomji. Inquiry revealed that the smuggling had been going on for a long time, but the actual offence detected involved a trifling sum. We went to his counsel. He perused the papers, and said, “The case will be tried by a jury, and a Natal jury will be the – last to acquit an Indian. But I will not give up hope.’

(A) (i) What did Rustomji promise to do?

(ii) Who did he want Gandhiji to consult ?

(iii) What fact did the inquiry reveal ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) The term ‘of course’ means ………… .

(a) of the textbooks (b) about the horse races (c) of the particular route (d) doubtlessly.

(ii) The word ‘trifling’ as used here is……… .

(a) a participle (b) an adjective (c) in present continuous tense (d) an adverb of quality.

(iii) Rustomji was associated with

(a) smuggling activities (b) law courts (c) jury in the court (d) detective work.

(C) What has been said about the sum involved in the case ?

(A) (i) He promised to do just as Gandhiji advised.

(ii) He wanted Gandhiji to consult his old counsel who was his friend, too.

(iii) The inquiry revealed that Rustomji’s smuggling activities had been going on for a long time, but the actual offence detected involved only a small sum.

(B) (i) (d) doubtlessly (ii) (b) an adjective (iii) (a) smuggling activities.

(C) It has been told that the sum in question was very small.

(Page 49) And now explaining my view I said to him, ‘I don’t think this case should be taken to court at all. It rests with the Customs Officer to prosecute you or to let you go, and he in turn will have to be guided by the Attorney General. I am prepared to meet both. I propose that you should offer to pay the penalty they fix, and the odds are that they will be agreeable. But if they are not, you must be prepared to go to jail. I am of opinion that the shame lies not so much in going to jail as in committing the offence. The deed of shame has already been done. Imprisonment you should regard as a penance. The real penance lies in resolving never to smuggle again.’

1. What did the writer think about taking the case to court ?

2. Who was to decide the course of the case ?

3. What was the writer’s suggestion to the guilty person ?

4. Did the writer think going to jail a matter of shame ?

5. What did the writer say about penance ?

6. Which word in the passage means ‘to officially charge somebody with a crime in court’ ?

1. He thought that the case shouldn’t be taken to court.

2. The Customs Officer was to decide it, but under the guidance of the Attorney General.

3. He suggested that Rustomji should offer to pay the penalty they fixed, and if they didn’t agree to that, he should also be prepared to go to jail.

4. No, he thought the committing of offence, not going to jail, to be a matter of shame.

5. He said that real penance lay in resolving never to commit the offence again.

6. prosecute = to officially charge somebody with a crime in court.

(Page 50) The case against Parsi Rustomji was settled by a compromise. He was to pay a penalty equal to twice the amount he had confessed to having smuggled. These friends of Rustomji warned me not to be taken in by this transitory contrition. When I told Rustomji about this warning he said: ‘What would be my fate if I deceived you?”

(A) (i) How was the case against Rustomji settled ?

(ii) What penalty was fixed on Rustomji ?

(iii) What did Rustomji say when Gandhiji told him about the warning he had received ?

(B) Choose the most appropriate options:

(i) The case against Rustomji was settled ………. .

(a) very amicably   (b) without delay (c) by a compromise (d) after a long time.

(ii) Rustomji said that he could never ………. .

(a) deceive Gandhiji (b) trust Gandhiji (c) forget his punishment (d) believe law court.

(iii) The word ‘transitory’ in the passage means ………. .

(a) permanent (b) done honestly (c) temporary  (d) made while travelling.

(C) What had Rustomji hung in his office ?

(A) (i) The case was settled by a compromise.

(ii) He was asked to pay a penalty equal to twice the amount he had confessed to having smuggled.

(iii) He said he could never think of deceiving Gandhiji.

(B) (i) (c) by a compromise (ii) (a) deceive Gandhiji (iii) (c) temporary.

(C) Rustomji collected all the facts about the case against him and wrote it on a sheet of paper. He got it framed and hung it in his office.

Ans.— Rustomji was on the best terms with the customs officials. No one suspected him. Perhaps some even connived at his smuggling. That was why his offences had not been discovered earlier.

Ans.—  Going to jail was to him the greatest cause for shame.

Ans.— Gandhiji considered the committing of offence a greater cause for shame.

Ans.— He called his smuggling activities merely ‘tricks of the trade’. It shows that he did not consider it a moral offence.

Ans.— According to him, it was the Customs Officer who was to decide this. And the Customs Officer was in turn to be guided by the Attorney General.

Ans.— Gandhiji wanted Rustomji to make a confession of his offence and be prepared to suffer the punishment. The other counsel said that they should take the case to court. He said that he hoped to win it.

Ans.— The one penance was to undergo imprisonment. The other was to resolve never to smuggle again. Rustomji did not have to go to prison.

Ans.— He wanted to convince them that Rustomji was really repentant and that they should not prosecute him. They could, however, impose suitable penalty on him.

Ans.— It was Gandhiji’s frankness and his persuasiveness.

Ans.— He lost only a little amount of money. He partly saved his honour because he did not have to go to jail.

exception    smuggle    compromise    prosecute reveal         client          intimate

1. Rustomji was accused of importing goods secretly and illegally. Rustomji was accused of smuggling.

2. Gandhi knew Rustomji not only as a person who gets help from a lawyer but also as a co-worker.

3. Official inquiries showed that the actual offence detected involved a very

small sum.

4. Gandhi did not know the other counsel closely.

5. Gandhi succeeded in settling Rustomji’s case by a mutual agreement involving some concession on either side.

6. The law does not recognize any case as something different or demanding special treatment.

7. Gandhi succeeded in making the Customs Officer promise not to start legal proceedings against Rustomji.

2. Gandhi knew Rustomji not only as a client, but also as a co-worker.

3. Official inquiries revealed that the actual offence detected involved a a very small sum.

4. Gandhi did not know the other counsel intimately.

5. Gandhi succeeded in settling Rustomji’s case by a compromise.

6. The law does not recognize any case as exception.

7. Gandhi succeeded in making the Customs Officer promise not to prosecute Rustomji.

1. Rustomji made a resolution never to smuggle again.

Rustomji resolved never to smuggle again.

2. Gandhi began correspondence with the Attorney General.

3. Rustomji had so much confidence in Gandhi that he had no hesitation in accepting his quack treatment.

4. As Rustomji was on very good terms with the Customs Officials, no one had any suspicions about him.

5. Is not my confession before you enough? (Begin: ‘Is it not enough ….)

6. Rustomji told his counsel that he would like to take Gandhi’s guidance.

2. Gandhi corresponded with the Attorney General.

3. Rustomji had so much confidence in Gandhi that he did not hesitate to accept his quack treatment.

4. As Rustomji was on very good terms with the Customs Officials, no one suspected him.

5. Is it not enough that I have confessed before you ?

6. Rustomji told his counsel that he would like to be guided by Gandhi.

1. Wrong (n) — They have done us a great wrong.

                 (v) — He felt deeply wronged by the allegations.

2. Rest (n) — Try to get some rest now.

             (v) — He will never rest until he knows the truth.

3. Shame (n) — To my shame, I never thanked him for his kindness.

                 (v) — You’ve shamed your family.

4. Promise (n) — He failed to fulfil his promise.

                   (v) — He promised to help me.

5. Compromise (n) — They worked out a compromise agreement.

                           (v) — She never compromises on her principles.

6. Fate (n) — We planned to marry in June, but fate had decided otherwise.

            (v) — Everyone is fated to die.

7. Light (n) — Far below us, we could see the lights of the city.

              (v) — The wood is so damp that it won’t light.

8. Hand (n) — He was holding a book in his hand.

              (v) — He was handed over to the police. –

9. Pay (n) — He doesn’t like the job, but the pay is good.

           (v) — I have paid my fees.

10. End (n) —The meeting came to an end at six.

              (v) — They ended the play with a song.

Ans.— 1. effect (n); affect (v) ; 2. sea (n); see (v); 3. meat (n); meet (v); 4. steel (n); steal (v); 5. heel (n); heal (v).

Such words are called homophones.

Colume — A	Colume — B
1. tricks of the trade	feel a wish to
2. on trust	without proof; without checking
3. put off	take no notice of (something that is wrong); suggesting consent or approval is given
4. be inclined to	ways of attracting customers, gaining advantage over merchants in the a business, etc.
5. insist on	take advice (from)
6. to connive at	postpone
7. to rest with	be left in the hands of or charge of
8. at stake	win or lose, depending upon the result of something
9. at one’s disposal	direct, apply, or use (something) upon

10. to bring to bear upon	to be used as one wishes
11. consult with	ask something with determination
12. enter into correspondence with	begin exchanging letters with
13. transitory contrition	write down
14. reduce to writing	sorrow (for wrongdoing) that does not last long

Answers 

1. tricks of the trade — ways of attracting customers, gaining advantage over merchants in the business, etc. ; 2. on trust — without proof; without checking; 3. put off — postpone; 4. be inclined to — feel a wish to; 5. insist on — ask something with determination; 6. to connive at — take no notice of (something that is wrong), suggesting consent or approval is given ; 7. to rest with — be left in the hands of or a charge of; 8. at stake – win or lose, depending upon the result of something; 9. at one’s disposal – to be used as one wishes; 10. to bring to bear upon – direct, apply, or use (something) upon; 11. consult with — take advice (from); 12. enter into correspondence with – begin exchanging letters with; 13. transitory contrition – (for wrongdoing) that does not last long; 14. reduce to writing – sorrow – write down.

bring to bear      confide in      on good terms with       on trust     inclined to        at stake        at once deal with            resort to        connive at                      explain

Rustomji smuggling quite often. But for a long time, this fact did not come to light because nobody was …… suspect the good Parsi. He was Some of the customs officers and they took his invoices them might even have …………. the smuggling. .

At last when the crime was discovered, Rustomji’s reputation was He ….. …… went to Gandhi and ………….. him, begging him to save his the whole matter in a straightforward name. Gandhi decided to ……. manner. He asked Rustomji to confess to the crime and resolve never to repeat it. He then met the Attorney General and …………. the full details of the case. He …………… on it all his force of persuasion to have the case settled by means of a compromise.

Hints : resorted to; inclined to; on good terms with; on trust; connived at; at stake; at once ; confided in; deal with; explained; brought to bear.

Ans.— Honesty, truthfulness and frankness are the things we learn from this lesson. We must remember that an offence is an offence whether it is hidden or known. It is a matter of shame to commit an offence. And if ever, some offence has been committed by us, we should have the moral courage to confess it. And we should be prepared to suffer the consequences also. There is no shame in going to jail for an offence. The shame lies in committing the offence. Going to jail and suffering imprisonment should be taken as penance. Real penance lies in resolving never to commit the offence again.

Even if an offender escapes material or physical punishment, he can’t escape from the punishment of his inner spirit. It will always keep him restless in his heart. God is above and he sees everything we do even if no one else is watching. To save us or not to save us is in the hands of God alone.

Then there is a hint for the lawyers also. They should give their clients sincere advice. They should not give them false hopes. And they should base their case on nothing but true facts. Reaching a compromise is always better than taking a case to court.