Fair Play — AP Board Class 6 English
'Justice is TRUTH in action. A true friend does what is RIGHT — even when it HURTS.'
1. About the Chapter
'Fair Play' is a story by Premchand (the pen name of Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava), one of the GREATEST writers in Hindi and Urdu literature. Translated from Hindi, it tells the story of two close friends — JUMMAN and ALGU — whose bond is tested when Algu is chosen as a JUDGE in the village panchayat. He must decide a case against Jumman in favour of Jumman's elderly aunt. Justice WINS — but the friendship is BROKEN. Later, Algu himself needs Jumman's help — and Jumman must choose between REVENGE and FORGIVENESS.
Why This Story Matters for AP Board Students
- Premchand is a GIANT of Indian literature — essential reading
- The PANCHAYAT system is still alive in Indian villages — including AP
- 'Justice vs Friendship' is a powerful MORAL dilemma
- Teaches about FAIRNESS and INTEGRITY
- Frequently tested character sketch in AP Board exams
2. About the Author
Premchand (1880-1936)
- Real name: Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava
- Pen name: Premchand, Nawab Rai
- Language: Hindi and Urdu
- Famous works: Godaan, Idgah, Panch Parameshwar, Kafan
- Known as: 'Upanyas Samrat' (Emperor of Novels) in Hindi
- Wrote about RURAL INDIA — farmers, villages, social issues
- His stories teach MORAL lessons through SIMPLE, POWERFUL narratives
Why He Wrote This Story
Premchand believed that JUSTICE is the foundation of society. He wanted to show that TRUE friendship means DOING THE RIGHT THING, even when it is hard.
3. Characters
| Character | Role | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Jumman Sheikh | A villager; Algu's close friend | Initially careless about his aunt; later learns fairness |
| Algu Chowdhry | Jumman's best friend; a respected elder | Honest, principled, fair-minded |
| Jumman's Aunt | An old widow living with Jumman | Dependent, helpless, seeking justice |
| Village Panchayat | The village council of elders | Represents TRADITIONAL JUSTICE |
4. Detailed Summary
Part 1: A Close Friendship
Jumman and Algu are BEST friends. They eat together, work together, and trust each other completely. Their friendship is the TALK of the village.
Part 2: Jumman and His Aunt
Jumman's elderly AUNT lives with his family. She has given him all her property in exchange for FOOD and CARE.
But as time passes, Jumman becomes NEGLECTFUL. He and his wife mistreat her. They give her poor food and make her feel UNWANTED.
Part 3: The Aunt Seeks Justice
The aunt decides to file a CASE. She goes to the village PANCHAYAT.
She says: 'I gave Jumman all my property. In return, he was supposed to FEED and CARE for me. Now he NEGLECTS me. I want JUSTICE.'
Part 4: Algu Becomes the Judge
The panchayat CHOOSES Algu as the SARPANCH (head judge) for this case.
This is a CRUCIAL moment. Algu is Jumman's BEST FRIEND. Everyone watches to see what he will do.
Will he be BIASED towards his friend? Or will he be FAIR?
Part 5: The Verdict
After hearing both sides, Algu gives his VERDICT:
'Jumman must PAY his aunt a monthly allowance. He took her property. He must fulfil his PROMISE.'
The verdict is LEGALLY and MORALLY correct. But Jumman is FURIOUS.
'You were my BEST FRIEND!' he shouts. 'And you RULED AGAINST ME!'
Algu says quietly: 'I was not your friend in that chair. I was a JUDGE. Justice must be BLIND.'
Part 6: The Friendship is Broken
Jumman and Algu stop SPEAKING. The entire village is SAD. The strongest friendship has been destroyed by the demand of JUSTICE.
Part 7: Algu's Turn
Months pass. Algu is driving his BULLOCK CART to another village. A man named Samjhu Sahu hires the cart but REFUSES to pay the agreed fare. He pays only HALF.
Algu takes the case to the panchayat.
Part 8: Jumman is the Judge
This time, it is JUMAN who is chosen as the SARPANCH.
Now the tables have turned. Will Jumman use his POWER to take REVENGE on Algu?
Part 9: Jumman's Fair Verdict
Jumman listens to both sides carefully. Then he gives his JUDGMENT:
'Samjhu Sahu must pay Algu the FULL amount. A contract is a CONTRACT.'
The village is ASTONISHED. Jumman could have taken REVENGE — but he chose JUSTICE instead.
Part 10: Reconciliation
After the verdict, Jumman and Algu EMBRACE. Tears roll down their faces.
Jumman says: 'Now I UNDERSTAND. You did exactly what I just did. Justice is bigger than friendship.'
Algu replies: 'You are a TRUE friend. You put fairness above revenge.'
Their friendship is RESTORED — stronger than EVER.
5. Themes
Justice Above Friendship
'TRUE friendship means holding your friend to a HIGHER standard — not a LOWER one.'
Integrity and Fairness
A good person does what is RIGHT — even when it is UNPOPULAR or PAINFUL.
The Panchayat System
The story celebrates India's TRADITIONAL justice system — where elders resolve disputes FAIRLY.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
After Jumman's fair verdict, the friends RECONCILE. Forgiveness is possible when TRUTH prevails.
6. Literary Devices
Moral Dilemma
Both characters face a CHOICE: friendship or justice? The dilemma drives the plot.
Irony
Jumman is ANGRY when Algu rules against him — but later does THE SAME THING. He realises Algu was RIGHT.
Contrast
Algu's fair verdict vs Jumman's anger — and later, Jumman's fairness vs everyone's expectation of revenge.
Dialogue
Premchand uses DIALOGUE powerfully to show emotion and conflict.
7. Vocabulary / New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Panchayat | A village council of elders that resolves disputes |
| Verdict | The decision in a court case |
| Sarpanch | The head of a village panchayat |
| Contract | A legal agreement between two parties |
| Neglect | To fail to care for someone properly |
| Bias | Unfair preference for one side |
| Reconcile | To restore a relationship after a conflict |
8. Important Quotes
| Quote | Speaker | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 'Justice must be BLIND.' | Algu | Fairness means NO favouritism |
| 'You were my best friend — and you ruled against me!' | Jumman | The ANGER of feeling betrayed |
| 'I was not your friend in that chair.' | Algu | The JUDGE must be impartial |
| 'A contract is a CONTRACT.' | Jumman | His FAIR verdict — he learned from Algu |
| 'Now I understand.' | Jumman | His realisation — Algu was RIGHT |
9. Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)
1. Why did Jumman's aunt go to the panchayat? Because Jumman NEGLECTED her after she gave him her property. He did not feed or care for her properly.
2. Who was chosen as the sarpanch for the aunt's case? ALGU was chosen as the sarpanch for the case.
3. What was Algu's verdict in the aunt's case? Algu ruled that Jumman must pay his aunt a MONTHLY ALLOWANCE for her care.
4. Why was Jumman angry with Algu? Jumman felt BETRAYED because his best friend ruled against him instead of supporting him.
5. What happened when Algu needed justice? Samjhu Sahu hired Algu's bullock cart but paid only HALF the agreed fare.
6. Who was chosen as the sarpanch for Algu's case? JUMMAN was chosen as the sarpanch for Algu's case.
7. What did Jumman decide in Algu's case? Why? Jumman ruled in ALGU'S favour because a contract is a contract. He chose JUSTICE over revenge.
8. How did the story end? Jumman and Algu RECONCILED and their friendship was restored.
10. Long Answer Questions (6-8 marks each)
1. 'A true friend does what is RIGHT — not what is EASY.' Explain with reference to the story. Algu could have EASILY ruled in Jumman's favour. They were best friends. Everyone would have understood. But Algu knew that JUSTICE required him to rule AGAINST Jumman. He chose to LOSE a friendship rather than BETRAY the truth. Jumman later did the SAME — he could have used his power for revenge, but he chose justice. Both men proved they were TRUE friends by being FAIR.
2. What does the story teach us about the Indian PANCHAYAT system? The panchayat system was India's TRADITIONAL justice system — still active in many villages. Elders would listen to BOTH sides and deliver a VERDICT. The system relied on the WISDOM and INTEGRITY of the elders. It was CHEAP (no lawyers needed), FAST (no court delays), and COMMUNITY-BASED. The story shows that the panchayat can deliver justice even in PERSONAL disputes.
3. Describe the character of ALGU. What values does he represent? Algu is an HONEST, PRINCIPLED, and FAIR man. He values TRUTH more than friendship. He is also HUMBLE — he does not enjoy ruling against Jumman. He understands that JUSTICE is bigger than personal relationships. Algu represents INTEGRITY — the quality of doing the RIGHT thing even when no one is watching.
4. 'Fair Play' — why is this title APPROPRIATE? The title 'Fair Play' means playing by the RULES and treating everyone EQUALLY. In the story, both Algu and Jumman eventually demonstrate 'fair play' — they put JUSTICE above personal feelings. The title also REFERS to the panchayat system itself: a FAIR process where both sides are heard.
11. AP Board Context
- Character sketch questions on Algu and Jumman are very COMMON in AP Board exams.
- Telugu connection: Andhra Pradesh has a STRONG panchayat tradition ('gram panchayat').
- Discussion: 'Does the panchayat system still work in today's India?'
- Activity: Role-play a PANCHAYAT in class — decide a 'case' involving a broken friendship.
- Writing task: 'Describe a time when you had to choose between FRIENDSHIP and DOING THE RIGHT THING.'
12. Fun Activity
'Panchayat in Your Class!' Think of a small dispute (someone borrowed a pencil and didn't return it; someone was left out of a game). Divide the class into two sides. Choose a 'sarpanch.' The sarpanch must HEAR both sides and give a FAIR verdict. Discuss: Was the verdict FAIR? Was it HARD to be impartial?
