Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen-year-old boy into a thief?
No, I have not met anyone exactly like Hari Singh. However, people with such conflicted morals—those who steal out of necessity but possess a conscience—do exist in real life, not just in fiction.
Circumstances like poverty, lack of education, and absence of guidance can turn a fifteen-year-old boy into a thief. Hari Singh mentions he "hadn't had much luck of late," suggesting financial desperation. Without guidance, a boy might view stealing as an easy survival tool, noting "It was a simple matter to steal." It is only when he understands the value of education and trust that he realizes stealing is not the path to becoming "a clever and respected man."
Explanation
The question asks for a personal reflection combined with an analysis of the character's motivations based on the text. Part (i) addresses the reality of such characters, while part (ii) uses direct quotes from the text like 'hadn't had much luck of late' and 'It was a simple matter to steal' to explain the socio-economic circumstances that lead to theft, contrasting it with the eventual realization of the value of education.