To whom did Algu sell his bullock?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The correct answer is Samjhu Sahu. This question refers to the popular short story "The Fair Play" (Panch Parmeshwar) by Munshi Premchand, which explores the complexities of friendship, justice, and responsibility. Algu Chaudhary and Jumman Sheikh are two close friends whose relationship is tested by their respective interactions with the village panchayat (village council or court). In the story, Algu faces a dilemma when one of his prized bullocks dies. To recover some of his financial loss and manage his livestock, Algu sells his remaining bullock to a cart driver named Samjhu Sahu.

The transaction with Samjhu Sahu becomes pivotal to the plot. Sahu was known to be a hard, inconsiderate man who overworked the bullock without providing adequate food or rest. Despite the bullock being perfectly healthy when Algu sold it, the animal soon perished due to Sahu's mistreatment. Algu then demanded payment from Sahu, but Sahu refused, leading to a major dispute. This conflict eventually escalated to the panchayat, where, ironically, Jumman Sheikh—Algu’s former friend and rival—was appointed as the head, or Panch. The central theme here is how Sahu's selfish actions led to the bullock's death and how the subsequent financial dispute necessitated the judgment of the Panch, further testing the characters' commitment to fairness. Samjhu Sahu is clearly the individual who purchased the animal, making this option the factually accurate answer.

The incorrect options are:

The incorrect option is 1:
Jumman Sheikh was Algu's best friend, but he did not purchase the bullock. Their relationship was fraught with tension after Algu had previously delivered a fair judgment against Jumman in an earlier dispute involving Jumman's aunt. Jumman’s primary role in this subsequent event was not as the buyer but as the Panch who eventually had to deliver a verdict on the dispute between Algu and Samjhu Sahu.

The incorrect option is 3:
Jumman’s aunt plays an important role earlier in the story when she transfers her property to Jumman under the condition that he supports her. When Jumman reneged on this promise, Algu, serving as the Panch, ruled in her favor, demanding that Jumman either provide her with a monthly allowance or transfer the property back. She was involved in the first major panchayat decision but was not the purchaser of Algu’s bullock.

The incorrect option is 4:
The option "No one" is factually inaccurate. Algu definitely sold the bullock in an attempt to receive payment for the animal that remained after his other bullock died. Had he not sold the animal, there would have been no subsequent conflict with Samjhu Sahu that led to the second critical judgment by the panchayat.