Character Sketch from JKBOSE Class 9 English Chapter 6 – How a Client was Saved of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator), Parsi Rustomji, the Customs Officer, the Attorney General and the Other Counsel
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator), Parsi Rustomji, the Customs Officer, the Attorney General and the Other Counsel from JKBOSE Class 9 English Tulip Book Lesson 6 How a Client was Saved.
- Character Sketch of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator)
- Questions related to the Character of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator)
- Character Sketch of Parsi Rustomji
- Questions related to the Character of Parsi Rustomji
- Character Sketch of the Customs Officer
- Questions related to the Character of the Customs Officer
- Character Sketch of the Attorney General
- Questions related to the Character of the Attorney General
- Character Sketch of the Other Counsel
- Questions related to the Character of the Other Counsel
Related:
Character Sketch of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator)
Gandhi emerges as a man of unwavering moral principles combined with practical wisdom and deep compassion. His absolute commitment to truth is evident when he tells Rustomji that confession to him is insufficient, the wronged party (the government) must be confessed to. Gandhi possesses remarkable moral courage, fearlessly meeting officials to reveal all facts without concealment. His statement “I brought to bear on this case all my powers of persuasion” shows determination, while his promise to “place all the books at his disposal” demonstrates complete transparency.
Gandhi is deeply compassionate. When Rustomji comes in tears, Gandhi doesn’t condemn but calmly says, “To save or not to save you is in His hands,” combining humility with spiritual faith. He is practical and strategic, carefully navigating the legal system and understanding how to approach authorities effectively. His persistence impresses the Attorney General, who remarks, “I see you will never take a no for an answer.”
Despite “much difference between our ways of living,” Gandhi and Rustomji trust each other completely. Gandhi even accepts the role of medical advisor, though he acknowledges his “quack treatment,” showing humility. His profound moral teaching, “The shame lies not so much in going to jail as in committing the offence”, reverses conventional values, showing revolutionary moral thinking.
Questions related to the Character of Mahatma Gandhi (The Narrator)
Q1. How does the narrator know Rustomji?
Q2. Describe the narrator’s character.
Character Sketch of Parsi Rustomji
Rustomji is a complex character, a successful merchant who is generous, trusting, and ultimately capable of genuine repentance, but who compromised his integrity through smuggling. He makes Gandhi both client and co-worker, seeks advice in “private domestic matters,” and accepts his medical treatment, showing openness and trust across cultural boundaries.
However, Rustomji “studiously kept back” his smuggling from Gandhi, showing deliberate concealment. His justification, “I thought I ought not to bother you with such tricks of the trade”, reveals he viewed smuggling as merely a business practice rather than a moral offense, showing ethical blindness.
When caught, Rustomji shows genuine emotion: tears rolling down his cheeks, he confesses, “I have deceived you,” expressing deep regret. Yet there’s self-interest, he worries about jail and being “ruined. ” His question, “But is not my confession before you enough?” shows he initially doesn’t grasp that confession must be to the wronged party.
Rustomji demonstrates bravery in accepting Gandhi’s advice: “I am entirely in your hands.” His courage momentarily fails when worrying about his “name and fame” and the “edifice he had reared,” showing human vulnerability. However, his final actions prove genuine repentance, paying double the amount, framing the facts, and hanging them in his office as a “perpetual reminder” demonstrates sincere desire to reform.
Questions related to the Character of Parsi Rustomji
Q1. What crime does Rustomji do?
Q2. How does Rustomji pay for his wrong doings?
Character Sketch of the Customs Officer
The Customs Officer represents the sympathetic but duty-bound official. His statement, “I like the Old Parsi. I am sorry he has made a fool of himself,” shows personal sympathy while “You know where my duty lies” demonstrates professional integrity. He is reasonable, promising not to insist on “dragging him into court,” showing that officials can be moved by honesty.
Questions related to the Character of the Customs Officer
Q1. How does the Customs officer show sympathy?
Q2. How does the Customs officer maintain a perfect balance of fulfilling his duty and being human? Discuss.
Character Sketch of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is a fair-minded official who appreciates honesty. His remark to Gandhi, “I see you will never take a no for an answer”, shows respect for Gandhi’s persistence and frankness. He is convinced Gandhi “had kept back nothing,” demonstrating that complete transparency wins respect. His agreement to settle by compromise shows flexibility and fairness in applying justice.
Questions related to the Character of the Attorney General
Q1. Which quality in Gandhi is appreciated by the Attorney General?
Q2. Why does the Attorney General agree to settle by a compromise?
Character Sketch of the Other Counsel
The traditional lawyer represents conventional legal thinking. He immediately focuses on the jury: “a Natal jury will be the last to acquit an Indian.” His approach relies on exploiting prejudices or finding technical loopholes rather than addressing moral issues. His relegation to the background shows the contrast between conventional legal practice and Gandhi’s moral approach.
Questions related to the Character of the Other Counsel
Q1. What approach does the counsel represent?
Q2. Differentiate between the counsel approach and Gandhi’s outlook.