CBSE notes for Class 5 English Chapter 8 The Decision of the Panchayat (Santoor NCERT Textbook)
Here’s the Complete Summary, New Words and Moral Lesson for Class 5 English Chapter 8 : “The Decision of the Panchayat”
Chapter 8 – The Decision of the Panchayat
NCERT Textbook: Santoor English – Class 5
New / Important Words & Their Meanings
| Word | Meaning (English) | Meaning (Hindi) |
|---|---|---|
| Farmer | A person who grows crops | किसान |
| Field | Land used for farming | खेत |
| Prosper | To become successful and wealthy | समृद्ध होना |
| Neighbour | A person living nearby | पड़ोसी |
| Cunning | Clever in a tricky or dishonest way | चालाक / धूर्त |
| Cheat | To deceive or trick someone | धोखा देना |
| Source | A place from which something comes | स्रोत |
| Refuse | To say “no” or deny something | इंकार करना |
| Belong | To be owned by someone | किसी की संपत्ति होना |
| Worried | Feeling anxious or troubled | चिंतित |
| Panchayat | Village council or local governing body | ग्राम पंचायत |
| Summon | To call someone officially | बुलाना |
| Adamant | Not willing to change one’s mind | ज़िद्दी |
| Judgment | A decision made after discussion | निर्णय / फैसला |
| Relieved | Feeling relaxed after worry | राहत महसूस करना |
| Fine | A sum of money charged as punishment | जुर्माना |
| Wisdom | Knowledge with good judgment | बुद्धिमत्ता |
| Justice | Fair and honest treatment | न्याय |
Chapter 8: The Decision of the Panchayat – Santoor English textbook – Paragraph-wise English and Hindi Summary
Here is the Paragraph-wise English and Hindi Explanation summary of Class 5 English Chapter 8 — “The Decision of the Panchayat” (Santoor NCERT Textbook) in a clear and easy-to-understand way for students.
Paragraph 1
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.
English:
Once upon a time, there was a hardworking farmer who lived in a small village. He had two fields and worked day and night. As he prospered, he bought another field, which had a well beside it. Since he needed water for irrigation, he decided to buy the well from his neighbour.
Hindi:
बहुत समय पहले, एक छोटे से गाँव में एक मेहनती किसान रहता था। उसके पास दो खेत थे और वह दिन-रात मेहनत करता था। जब वह सफल हुआ, तो उसने एक और खेत खरीदा। उस खेत के पास एक कुआँ था। खेतों की सिंचाई के लिए उसे पानी की ज़रूरत थी, इसलिए उसने अपने पड़ोसी से वह कुआँ खरीद लिया।
Paragraph 2
The neighbour was a cunning man. He thought of a plan to cheat the farmer.
English:
But the neighbour was a cunning man. He thought of a plan to cheat the farmer. He wanted to take advantage of the farmer’s honesty.
Hindi:
लेकिन पड़ोसी एक चालाक आदमी था। उसने किसान को धोखा देने की योजना बनाई। वह उसकी ईमानदारी का फायदा उठाना चाहता था।
Paragraph 3
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.”
English:
The next day, when the farmer went to the well to take water, the neighbour stopped him. He said, “I sold only the well, not the water. The water still belongs to me. You cannot take it.”
Hindi:
अगले दिन जब किसान कुएँ से पानी लेने पहुँचा, तो पड़ोसी ने उसे रोक दिया। उसने कहा, “मैंने तुम्हें सिर्फ कुआँ बेचा है, पानी नहीं। पानी अब भी मेरा है, तुम इसे नहीं ले सकते।”
Paragraph 4
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.
English:
The farmer became very worried and confused. He didn’t know what to do. So, he went to the village chief and told her about the whole matter. The chief listened carefully and fixed a date for the meeting of the Panchayat.
Hindi:
किसान बहुत चिंतित और परेशान हो गया। उसे समझ नहीं आया कि अब क्या करे। इसलिए वह गाँव की मुखिया (सरपंच) के पास गया और पूरी बात बताई। मुखिया ने ध्यान से सुना और पंचायत की बैठक के लिए एक दिन तय किया।
Paragraph 5
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.
English:
On the decided day, all the Panchayat members and villagers gathered under a big banyan tree in the centre of the village. The farmer and his neighbour were also called there. Everyone wanted to hear the case.
Hindi:
निर्धारित दिन पर गाँव के बीचोंबीच एक बड़े बरगद के पेड़ के नीचे पंचायत की बैठक हुई। पंचायत के सदस्य और गाँववाले सब इकट्ठा हुए। किसान और उसका पड़ोसी दोनों वहाँ बुलाए गए। सभी लोग मामला सुनना चाहते थे।
Paragraph 6
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.”
English:
The farmer explained everything to the Panchayat and villagers. Then the chief asked the neighbour why he was not allowing the farmer to take water. The neighbour repeated his excuse — “I sold the well, not the water. The water still belongs to me.”
Hindi:
किसान ने पंचायत और गाँववालों के सामने पूरी बात समझाई। फिर मुखिया ने पड़ोसी से पूछा कि वह किसान को पानी लेने क्यों नहीं दे रहा है। पड़ोसी ने वही बहाना दोहराया — “मैंने कुआँ बेचा है, पानी नहीं। पानी अभी भी मेरा है।”
Paragraph 7
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.
English:
The members of the Panchayat and villagers tried to explain to him that his argument made no sense. But the cunning neighbour did not agree and remained stubborn. Finally, the Panchayat members discussed the matter among themselves to give a fair judgment.
Hindi:
पंचायत के सदस्यों और गाँववालों ने उसे समझाने की कोशिश की कि उसकी बात का कोई तुक नहीं बनता। लेकिन चालाक पड़ोसी नहीं माना और जिद पर अड़ा रहा। आखिरकार पंचायत के सदस्यों ने आपस में विचार-विमर्श किया ताकि न्यायपूर्ण फैसला दिया जा सके।
Paragraph 8
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.
English:
After some time, the Panchayat chief stood up to announce the decision. The villagers also stood up to listen carefully. The chief said, “It is true that only the well was sold.” The neighbour smiled, thinking he had won.
Hindi:
कुछ समय बाद पंचायत की मुखिया निर्णय सुनाने के लिए खड़ी हुईं। सभी गाँववाले ध्यान से सुनने लगे। मुखिया ने कहा, “यह सही है कि केवल कुआँ बेचा गया था।” यह सुनकर पड़ोसी मुस्कुराने लगा, उसे लगा कि उसने केस जीत लिया।
Paragraph 9
“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.”
English:
The chief then continued, “If the water belongs to you, then you cannot keep your water in someone else’s well. You must remove it at once or it will belong to the owner of the well.” Hearing this, the neighbour was shocked.
Hindi:
मुखिया ने आगे कहा, “अगर पानी तुम्हारा है, तो तुम अपना पानी किसी और के कुएँ में नहीं रख सकते। या तो तुम सारा पानी निकाल लो, नहीं तो यह पानी कुएँ के मालिक का हो जाएगा।” यह सुनकर पड़ोसी हैरान रह गया।
Paragraph 10
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.
English:
The farmer was overjoyed to hear this fair decision. The cunning neighbour realised his mistake and understood that cheating never succeeds. The Panchayat fined him and asked him to apologise to the farmer. Everyone praised the wisdom of the Panchayat.
Hindi:
किसान यह सुनकर बहुत खुश हुआ। चालाक पड़ोसी को अपनी गलती का एहसास हुआ और उसने समझ लिया कि धोखा कभी कामयाब नहीं होता। पंचायत ने उसे जुर्माना भरने और किसान से माफी माँगने का आदेश दिया। सभी गाँववालों ने पंचायत की बुद्धिमत्ता की प्रशंसा की।
Moral / Lesson
| English | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Honesty always wins; cheating leads to shame. | ईमानदारी हमेशा जीतती है; धोखा अंत में शर्म दिलाता है। |
| The Panchayat system ensures justice and fairness. | पंचायत व्यवस्था न्याय और निष्पक्षता का प्रतीक है। |
| Wisdom and truth can solve even the trickiest problems. | समझदारी और सच्चाई से हर कठिन समस्या का हल निकल सकता है। |