The Decision of the Panchayat ( Class V English Santoor)

 THE DECISION OF THE PANCHAYAT

Once upon a time, there lived a farmer in a small village. He had two fields. He used to work very hard. When he prospered, he bought another field. There was a well next to it. Since the farmer needed a source of water for his fields, he bought the well from his neighbour.

The neighbour was a cunning man.He thought of a plan to cheat the farmer.

The next day, when the farmer reached the well, he found the neighbour standing there. He refused to let the farmer take water from the well. On asking why, he replied, “I sold only the well to you, not the water. The water still belongs to me. You cannot take it.”

The worried farmer didn’t know what to do. So, he went to the village chief and told her about his case, and said, “He is not letting me take the water.”

The village chief fixed a day for a meeting of the Panchayat. The day came, and the members of the Panchayat gathered under the banyan tree in the centre of the village. Both the farmer and his neighbour were summoned. Most of the villagers were present.

The farmer explained the situation to the gathering. The chief asked the neighbour why he was not letting the farmer draw water from the well. The cunning man said the same thing again, “I sold only the well to him, not the water in it. The water still belongs to me. So, he cannot take my water.”

The members of the Panchayat, as well as the villagers, tried to reason with him, but he was adamant. Finally, the Panchayat members discussed the matter among themselves. Then they stood up to give the judgment. The villagers also stood up.

The village chief began, “After hearing both sides, we agree that it is correct to say that only the well was sold.” The neighbour gave a satisfied smile. “However,” continued the village chief, “if you have NOT sold the water and the water is yours, then you have no business keeping your water in his well. Remove the water or use it all up immediately. If not, the water will belong to the owner of the well.”

The farmer was relieved and gave a shout of joy. The cunning neighbour realised that cheating will not lead anywhere. He had to pay a fine as well as apologise to the farmer. The villagers praised the wisdom of the Panchayat.

The Mysterious Cave

One summer afternoon, Rohan and his friends were exploring the forest near their village. The tall trees whispered in the wind, and the chirping of birds made the forest lively. Suddenly, Rohan noticed a narrow path hidden behind thick bushes. Curious, the children followed it and reached the entrance of a dark cave.

The cave looked mysterious. Its walls were damp, and drops of water fell from the ceiling, making a soft echo. At first, the children were frightened, but their curiosity was stronger than their fear. They lit a small lantern and stepped inside.

As they walked deeper, they saw strange drawings on the walls—figures of animals, hunters, and stars. “These must be very old,” whispered Meena. The children realized that the cave was not ordinary; it was a place where ancient people had once lived or recorded their stories.

Suddenly, they heard a fluttering sound. A group of bats flew out, startling everyone. Rohan laughed nervously, “Looks like the cave still has its guardians!” After a while, the children decided to return. They promised to tell their teacher, who could explain the meaning of the drawings.

The adventure taught them that history is hidden in unexpected places, waiting to be discovered by those who are curious and brave.

📝 Questions

1. Where were Rohan and his friends exploring?
2. What did Rohan notice behind the bushes?
3. How did the cave look from inside?
4. What made the children frightened at first?
5. What did they use to see inside the cave?
6. What kind of drawings did they find on the walls?
7. What did Meena whisper about the drawings?
8. What startled the children suddenly?
9. What did Rohan say about the bats?
10. What lesson did the adventure teach the children?

📚 Vocabulary Questions

1. Find the meaning of the word “mysterious” from the passage and use it in your own sentence.
2. Write the synonym of “curious” and frame a sentence with it.

 

The Hidden Garden

Riya loved exploring new places. One summer afternoon, while walking near her grandmother’s house, she noticed a small wooden gate covered with vines. Curious, she pushed it open and stepped inside. To her surprise, she found a hidden garden filled with colorful flowers, buzzing bees, and tall trees that seemed to whisper in the wind.

In the center of the garden stood a stone bench. Riya sat down and felt a strange calmness. She realized that this garden was not just beautiful but magical. The flowers seemed brighter, and the air smelled sweeter than anywhere else. She even saw a butterfly with golden wings, something she had never seen before.

Every day after that, Riya visited the garden. She watered the plants, cleared the weeds, and talked to the trees as if they were her friends. Slowly, the garden became healthier and more vibrant. Riya felt proud that she was helping nature grow.

One evening, her grandmother told her that the garden had been abandoned for years. “It was waiting for someone like you,” she said with a smile. Riya understood that caring for nature was not just a duty but a gift. The hidden garden had taught her that when we nurture the world around us, it nurtures us back with peace and joy.

📝 Questions

Comprehension (10)

1. Where did Riya find the hidden garden?
2. What covered the wooden gate?
3. How did Riya feel when she sat on the stone bench?
4. What was unusual about the butterfly?
5. What activities did Riya do in the garden?
6. How did the garden change after Riya cared for it?
7. Who told Riya about the garden’s past?
8. What had happened to the garden before Riya found it?
9. What lesson did Riya learn from the garden?
10. Why did Riya feel proud?

Vocabulary (2)

1. Find the meaning of the word “curious” from the passage and use it in a sentence.
2. Find the meaning of the word “nurture” from the passage and use it in a sentence.

 

 1. Why did the farmer buy the well? 

Ans:- The farmer bought the well because he had purchased a new field and needed a reliable source of water for it.

2. Why did the farmer become upset?

Ans:- The farmer became upset because after buying the well, his neighbour unfairly claimed that although the well was sold, the water inside still belonged to him.

3. How did the Panchayat solve the problem?

Ans:- The Panchayat solved the problem with wisdom and fairness.

4.What was the final judgment given by the Panchayat?

Ans:- The final judgment of the Panchayat was very clever and fair:

• Since the neighbour claimed that the water in the well was his, the Panchayat told him that he must remove all the water from the well if he wanted to keep it.
• Otherwise, the farmer had the full right to use both the well and the water because he had bought the well.

1. Do you think the decision of the Panchayat was correct?

Ans:- Yes, the decision of the Panchayat was correct because it was both fair and practical.

🌾 Reasons

• Justice for the farmer: The farmer had bought the well, so naturally he should have the right to use the water in it.
• Exposed dishonesty: The neighbour’s claim that the water was still his was unfair. The Panchayat’s clever judgment showed the flaw in his argument.
• Practical solution: By asking the neighbour to remove all the water if he wanted to keep it, the Panchayat gave a decision that was logical and impossible to carry out—forcing the neighbour to accept the truth.
• Moral lesson: The judgment teaches that dishonesty never wins, and fairness always prevails.

2. You have an extra painting box which you wish to share with your friends in the class to complete an activity. Two of your best friends, Radha and Sita, fight for the box. How would you deal with the situation so that you are fair to both of them?

Ans:- I would deal with the situation calmly and fairly so that both Radha and Sita feel respected.

🌈 Fair Solution

• Stop the fight gently: First, I would ask both of them to calm down and remind them that the painting box is meant to help with the activity, not to create conflict.
• Share equally: Since it’s one box, I would suggest that they use it turn by turn or work together on the same painting.
• Encourage teamwork: I would explain that sharing the box will make their artwork more creative and fun, and it will also show that they can cooperate as good friends.
• Be neutral: I would not give the box to only one of them, because that would be unfair. Instead, I’d make sure both get equal chance.

👉 In this way, the situation is solved with fairness, friendship, and cooperation. 

3. Who said to whom:

a. “I sold only the well, not the water.”        Neighbour to the Farmer.

b. “Remove the water or use it all up immediately.”     Panchayat to the neighbour

c. “He is not letting me take the water.”        Farmer to Panchayat