THE KABULIWALLAH
What is this story about?
The Kabuliwallah is a touching story about the friendship between a little girl, Mini, and a Kabuliwallah named Rehman.
Their friendship shows that love and affection can exist across differences of age, place and background.
The ending shows the common bond between parents and children and the kindness of Mini’s father.
कहानी को समझें
“The Kabuliwallah” एक छोटी बच्ची मिनी और रहमान नाम के एक काबुलीवाले के बीच स्नेहपूर्ण संबंध की मार्मिक कहानी है।
यह कहानी बताती है कि उम्र, स्थान और पृष्ठभूमि के अंतर के बावजूद लोगों के बीच प्रेम और अपनापन हो सकता है।
कहानी का अंत माता-पिता और बच्चों के बीच के गहरे संबंध तथा मिनी के पिता की संवेदनशीलता को दर्शाता है।
Read the original story carefully. Maximum practical vocabulary has been made clickable. Tap a coloured word to learn its pronunciation, meaning and use.
Little Mini was five years old and a great chatterbox. She simply could not live without chatting all the time. Her mother was often worried about this non stop talking of Mini, and tried to silence her. Her conversation with her father was always very lively.
One day, Mini burst into her father’s study room. She put her arm around him and said, “What do you think, Father? Bhola says there is an elephant in the clouds who blows water out of its trunk and that is why it rains!” Before her father could reply she ran to the window, “Ae Kabuliwallah! Ae Kabuliwallah!”
Mini called out to the Kabuliwallah but when he looked at her, she was in terror and ran to her father. She had heard that Kabuliwallahs caught children, put them in their sacks and took them away. The Kabuliwallah came to Mini’s house and her father made sure that Mini would come out and meet him. Soon Mini lost her fear of him and it was a joy to watch the big bearded Pathan talking tenderly to the little five-year-old.
The Kabuliwallah was now a daily visitor to Mini’s house. They would sit and chat for hours and crack jokes with each other.
Once a year, Rehman, for that was the Kabuliwallah’s name, would go back to his own country. He would first collect all the money that people owed him before he left. Although Rehman was busy, he always found time to visit little Mini.
One day there was a lot of noise in the street. Rehman had stabbed a man who owed him money. For this crime he was sent to prison.
Time passed and Mini soon forgot her old friend, the Kabuliwallah. She grew up into a very pretty woman. Her father made arrangements for Mini’s wedding.
Mini was getting married that night. As the father was busy in the preparations, a man came upto him and saluted respectfully. At first he did not recognise him. Soon he realised, it was old Rehman, the Kabuliwallah. Mini’s father told him that the marriage ceremonies are going on and he should come on another day. He was about to leave when he turned around and said, “May I see the little one, sir?”
He still thought of Mini as a little girl who came running to him and calling, “Kabuliwallah, O! Kabuliwallah.” He thought they would talk and laugh as they used to do long ago.
Mini’s father told him again that the marriage ceremonies were going on. The Kabuliwallah then gave him a small packet of dried raisins, nuts and almonds for Mini and said, “Give these to the little one. I too have a little one like her and I think of her and bring you these dry fruits.”
Mini’s father could not control his tears. He realised that the poor Kabuliwallah was also a father. He called Mini, who came out dressed as a bride. The Kabuliwallah was shocked to see that Mini, the little girl he had known had grown into a beautiful woman. He suddenly realised that his own daughter would have grown up too and broke into tears. Mini’s father took out some money and gave it to Rehman and said, " Go and see your daughter and may you have all the happiness!"
Mini's father had to cut down the expenses of the wedding. He could not afford the military band and the electric lights but he was happy that his money had helped a long-lost father meet his only child once again.
The following textbook New Words are preserved. Click a word to open the common vocabulary popup.
| Word | Textbook Pronunciation | Textbook Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| chatterbox | /'tʃætəbɒks/ | बातूनी |
| conversation | -/ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃn/ | बातचीत |
| bursting | -/ˈbɜːstɪŋ/ | अचानक घुसना |
| terror | -/ˈterə(r)/ | डर |
| sack | -/sæk/ | बोरा |
| bearded | -/ˈbɪədɪd/ | दाढ़ीवाला |
| stabbed | -/stæbd/ | छुरा घोंपा |
| owed | -/əʊd/ | बकाया था |
| prison | -/ˈprɪzn/ | जेल |
| ceremonies | -/ˈserəməniz/ | रस्में |
| raisins | -/ˈreɪznz/ | किशमिश |
| almonds | -/ˈɑːməndz/ | बादाम |
🌟 Extra Useful Words from the Lesson
2. Tick (✓) for the correct statements and cross (x) for the wrong statements:
1. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box:
2. Choose a suitable word from the given box for each of the following sentences:
Answer: literate
1. Read and understand:
* Conjunctions are words used to join two words or sentences together.
* Some of the common conjunctions are- and, because, but, or and so.
* 'and' is used to mean also or in addition to.
* 'because' is used to express the reason of an action.
* 'but' is used to suggest and contrast.
* 'or' is used to suggest that only one possibility can be realized.
* 'so' is used to show the reason for something.
Conjunctions वे शब्द हैं जो दो शब्दों या वाक्यों को जोड़ते हैं।
and — और / इसके अलावा
because — क्योंकि
but — लेकिन / परंतु
or — या
so — इसलिए
Now choose the correct conjunction given in the brackets and fill in the blanks:
2. Put a suitable word in each blank to match the part of speech indicated in the bracket:
Conjunctions in the Story
The story gives us many natural examples of conjunctions. Conjunctions help us connect ideas clearly.
Mini talked and laughed.
but shows contrast.
Mini was afraid, but she soon lost her fear.
because gives a reason.
Mini was afraid because she had heard a frightening story.
so can show a result.
Rehman had helped Mini's family, so Mini's father helped him.
but — विपरीत विचार दिखाता है।
because — कारण बताता है।
so — परिणाम बताता है।
Arrange the major events of the story in the correct order.
About the Story
The lesson is adapted from the story 'Kabuliwallah' by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
The story focuses on the emotional bond between Mini and Rehman and especially on the way Rehman thinks of his own daughter while talking to Mini.
The story encourages us to understand the feelings of other people.
Speak for One Minute
Topic: A Friend I Remember
- Who is the person?
- How did you meet?
- What did you enjoy doing together?
- What quality do you remember most?
- Why is the person special to you?
Write a Paragraph: Kindness and Friendship
Write 8–10 sentences about why kindness and friendship are important.
Kindness makes relationships stronger. A kind person understands the feelings of others. Good friends help each other in difficult situations. Friendship grows through trust and care. We should listen to our friends and respect their feelings. We should help others without expecting a reward. A small act of kindness can make someone happy. We should always value true friendship.
Creative Writing: If I Met the Kabuliwallah
If I met the Kabuliwallah, I would speak to him politely. I would ask him about his country and his family. I would listen to his memories of his daughter. I would tell him that family love is very precious. I would wish him happiness when he returned home.
» Talk to your family members about their likes and dislikes related to food, clothing, animal, place etc., and write them in your notebook.
Choose the word closest in meaning to the highlighted idea.
Choose the best answer. Your score will appear after you answer all questions.
Mini was a five-year-old chatterbox who loved talking.
Rehman was the Kabuliwallah who became Mini's friend.
Mini and Rehman developed a warm and affectionate friendship.
Rehman was sent to prison after stabbing a man who owed him money.
Years later, Mini was getting married.
Rehman remembered his own daughter when he saw Mini.
Mini's father gave Rehman money so that he could visit his daughter.
The story highlights love, sympathy, kindness and empathy.