Stories From India And Around The World

STORIES FROM INDIA AND AROUND THE WORLD TERROR IN THE AIR T h e

S e c o n d

W o r ld

W a r c a u s e d

th e

d e a th

o f m illio n s

o f y o u n g , b ra v e

p e o p le w ith p r o m is in g fu tu r e s . E v e n th o u g h th e A llie s w o n th e w a r , it c a n b e s a id

th a t th is w a r h a d

m illio n

p e o p le

n o

w in n e r s , o n ly lo s e r s . A lto g e th e r , it is e s tim a te d

lo s t th e ir liv e s . A m o n g

th e s e

fifty

m illio n

p e o p le , tw o

C a p ta in B ill S m ith a n d O b e r s ta d tfu h r e r R o y S m ith s ta n d o u t.

th a t fifty

b ro th e rs ,

T h e fa th e r a n d m o th e r o f th e s e tw o e x c e p tio n a lly g o o d p ilo ts h a d d iv o r c e d

a t th e tim e o f th e G r e a t D e p r e s s io n . T h e m o th e r h a d m ig r a te d to G e r m a n y a n d

h a d

ta k e n

W illia m

th e

S m ith

y o u n g e r s o n , R o y S m ith . T h e fa th e r s ta y e d in

h is

c u s to d y . W illia m

g re w

u p

to

b e

a

o n

in

s tr ik in g

E n g la n d y o u n g

w ith

m a n .

E x c e p tio n a lly in te llig e n t a n d p h y s ic a lly s tr o n g , h e w a s o n e o f a k in d . H is b r o th e r

in G e r m a n y , R o y w a s m a d e u p o f th e s a m e m o u ld a s h is b r o th e r .

W h e n w a r b r o k e o u t, b o th th e s e m e n tu r n e d o u t to b e p r im e e x a m p le s o f

w h a t th e ir r e s p e c tiv e c o u n tr ie s w a n te d to h a v e in th e ir a r m e d fo r c e s . R o y a n d B ill

h a d s ta y e d in c o n ta c t w ith e a c h o th e r fo r s o m e tim e , b u t h a d la te r lo s t c o n ta c t.

B o th o f th e m

W h e n

w e r e d r a fte d to th e a ir fo r c e o f th e ir r e s p e c tiv e c o u n tr ie s . th e

B a ttle

o f B r ita in

s ta rte d

in

1 9 4 1 , b o th

th e s e

fo u g h t v a lia n tly fo r th e ir r e s p e c tiv e c o u n tr ie s . T h e y b o th g r e w

tw o

y o u n g

m e n

u p to b e a c e p ilo ts

a n d r o s e u p th e r a n k s v e r y q u ic k ly . In a fig h t fo r life a n d d e a th , th e w e a k g e t c u t

d o w n q u ic k ly .

In 1 9 4 4 , w h e n th e S e c o n d W o r ld W a r w a s n e a r in g its e n d , th e G e r m a n s

b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e d e s p e r a te . T h e y o fte n s e n t th e ir s o ld ie r s a n d p ilo ts to

s u ic id e m is s io n s h o p in g fo r m ir a c le s th a t ju s t d id n o t h a p p e n . B o th th e s e b r o th e r s

h a d b e c o m e le g e n d a r y b y th a t tim e . A m e r e s ig h tin g o f th e s e tw o y o u th ’s a ir c r a fts

w o u ld r e s u lt in th e o p p o s in g s id e s n o t s e n d in g th e ir p ilo ts o u t.

a n

B ill S m ith h a d b y th a t tim e b e c o m e a G r o u p C a p ta in a n d h is b r o th e r R o y ,

O b e r s ta d tfu h r e r , r o u g h ly e q u iv a le n t to

th e

ra n k o f a

G ro u p

C a p ta in

in

th e

B r itis h A ir fo r c e . T h e G e r m a n s w e r e c u ttin g o ff th e v ita l s u p p lie s n e e d e d b y th e

r a p id ly a d v a n c in g B r itis h A r m y . W ith o u t th e s e s u p p lie s , th e B r itis h tr o o p s w o u ld

b e s tr a n d e d w ith o u t fu e l a n d h a m p e r e d w ith n o fo o d , w a te r a n d o th e r n e c e s s itie s .

T h is w o u ld r e s u lt in th e G e r m a n s h a v in g m o r e tim e to r e g r o u p a n d w o r ld r e s u lt in

th e w a r b e in g p r o lo n g e d w h ic h w o u ld in tu r n r e s u lt in m o r e d e a th s , s o m e th in g

w h ic h th e B r itis h H ig h C o m m a n d w a s a n x io u s to a v o id .

T h e m a n w h o w a s i n c o m m a n d o f t h e G e r m a n f i g h t e r -b o m b e r s q u a d r o n s

a ffe c tin g s u c h d a m a g e o n th e B r itis h w a s R o y S m ith . H e h a d b e c o m e a ta lis m a n

fo r th e G e r m a n s . W ith h im , th e y c o u ld n o t lo s e . T h e

B r itis h

H ig h

C o m m a n d

r e a liz e d

th is . T h e y

s e n t s q u a d ro n s

u p o n

s q u a d r o n s o f p la n e s , b u t th e y a ll w e r e a n n ih ila te d . In th e e n d , th e y e n tr u s te d th is

m is s io n to th e ir b e s t p ilo t, B ill S m ith .

fro m

S o , o n a fa te fu l e v e n in g in th e w in te r o f 1 9 4 4 , C a p ta in B ill S m ith to o k o ff

o n e o f th e d ila p id a te d o ld a ir fie ld s in A ls a c e , in F r a n c e w ith a m is s io n , to k ill

h is o w n b r o th e r . H o w e v e r , h e d id n o t k n o w

th a t h is o p p o n e n t th a t e v e n in g w a s

h is b r o th e r . H e o n ly k n o w s th a t h is a d v e r s a r y th a t d a y w a s c a lle d a s “ T e r r o r in th e

A ir ” .

R o y , o n th e o th e r h a n d h a d n o in k lin g th a t a n y th in g s p e c ia l w a s g o in g to

h a p p e n th a t d a y . “ J u s t a n o th e r d a y k illin g T o m m ie s ” , h e th o u g h t a s h e s a t in s id e

th e c o c k p it.

tw e n ty

T h a t e v e n i n g , f o u r t e e n G e r m a n N i g h t h a w k b o m b e r -f i g h t e r s f o u g h t a g a i n s t L a n c a s te r

f i g h t e r -b o m b e r s

le d

b y

B ill S m ith .

T u r m o il a n d

c a rn a g e

fo llo w e d .

T h e

G e rm a n s

a n d

B r itis h e r s

fo u g h t

w ith

e q u a l e n th u s ia s m

a n d

p a tr io tis m . In th e e n d , o n ly tw o p la n e d w e r e le s t. O n e G e r m a n a n d o n e B r itis h .

R o y a n d B ill.

B ill r e c o g n iz e d h is a d v e r s a r y a n d w a s d e te r m in e d to k ill h im . In a n e p ic

d o g fig h t, th e y c ir c le d a n d tr a d e d s h o ts o n ly to s e e th e ir o p p o n e n t e v a d e th e m .

T h e ir r e s p e c t fo r th e ir a d v e r s a r y g r e w . In th e e n d , R o y s a w

B r itis h b o m b e r s a p p r o a c h in g . W h ile

fle e in g , h e

h e a rd

o v e r th e

p la n e

r a d io

th e

a n e w

s q u a d ro n o f

w o r d s , “ W e ll d o n e ,

C a p ta in B ill S m ith ” . H e w a s s o s h o c k e d th a t h e w a s n o t a b le to c o m p le te th e tu r n

p r o p e r ly

a n d

w h ile

H o w e v e r, th e y w e re

h e

s o

w a s

c lo s e

o f f -b a l a n c e , h i s to

e a c h

b ro th e r s h o t th e

o th e r th a t th e

e x p lo s io n

e n g in e

a w a y .

th a t fo llo w e d

a

s p l i t -s e c o n d l a t e r t o o k b o t h o f t h e i r l i v e s . J u s t b e f o r e t h e y d i e d , t h e y w e r e t h i n k i n g

o f e a c h o th e r , o n e w ith s a d ir o n y a n d th e o th e r w ith a n g u is h th a t h e w o u ld n e v e r

s e e h is b r o th e r a g a in .

GOPAL’S FRIENDS G o p a l w a s a y o u n g m a n in k in g K r is h n a d e v a r a y a ’s c o u r t. H e w a s a fr ie n d

o f a m in is te r in th e k in g ’s c o u r t.

H e w a s a p o o r a n d fo o lis h m a n .

fo o lis h , h e w a s p r a c tic a lly a s e r v a n t o f th e m in is te r .

a n d o w n e d lo ts o f la n d .

O n e d a y , th e m in is te r a s k e d h im

A s h e w a s

T h e m in is te r w a s v e r y r ic h

to c u t w e e d s o f o n e o f h is fie ld s . G o p a l

w e n t to th e fie ld a n d a tte m p te d to p u ll o ff th e w e e d s . W h ile h e w a s d o in g s o , h e

w a s s o b u s y th a t h e d id n o t s e e w h e r e h e w a s g o in g a n d s lip p e d o n a b a n a n a

p e e l a n d fe ll d o w n . W h e n h e w a s tr y in g to g e t u p , h e a g a in s te p p e d o n a n o th e r

b a n a n a p e e l a n d a g a in fe ll d o w n .

G o p a l w a s c o n v in c e d th a t th e b a n a n a p e e l

w a s a n g r y w ith h im . S o h e w e n t c r a w lin g fo r w a r d fo r s o m e d is ta n c e a n d g o t u p . H e w a lk e d a fe w m o r e s te p s a n d tr ip p e d o n a g r a p e v in e ; b u t th is tim e , h e fe ll o n a

p a tc h

o f le a v e s a n d

d u e

to

h is w e ig h t, it g a v e

w a y . W h e n

s a g g e d o p e n in a s to n is h m e n t.

It w a s g o ld , lo ts a n d lo ts o f g o ld ! G o p a l to o k a fe w

h e

g o t u p , h is ja w

g o ld p ie c e s a n d w e n t

h o m e . W h e n h e w a s g o in g h o m e , h e b u m p e d s tr a ig h t to th e m in is te r . T h e g o ld

p ie c e s fe ll o u t o f h is h a n d . T h e m in is te r a s k e d G o p a l fr o m G o p a l b la b b e r e d

o n

a b o u t h o w

h e

h a d

g o t th e

g o ld .

w h e r e h e g o t th e g o ld .

T h e

m in is te r w a s v e r y

h a p p y , a s a ll th e g o ld in th e fie ld w a s h is a s th e fie ld b e lo n g e d to h im .

H e , a s h a p p y a s h e w a s , g a v e G o p a l lo ts o f m o n e y a n d a ls o s o m e la n d .

G o p a l w a s v e r y h a p p y . W h e n th e k in g h e a r d o f th is , h e h o n o u r e d b o th G o p a l a s

w e ll a s th e m in is te r a n d g a v e to G o p a l a ll th e g o ld G o p a l h a d fo u n d in th e fie ld . T h e m in is te r b e c a m e r e d w ith a n g e r ; b u t h is a n g e r s o o n c o o le d d o w n .

b e c a m e o n e o f th e r ic h e s t m e n in th e k in g d o m

w ith a ll th e g ifts o f th e m in is te r a n d

th e g o ld h e h a d fo u n d .

S o o n , h o w e v e r, G o p a l m a d e

in tr o d u c e d

h im

to

a

k in d

w o r th le s s

o f a lc o h o lic

d r in k

G o p a l

fr ie n d s .

c a lle d

a s

T h e s e

u s e le s s

fr ie n d s

m a d h u p a n a . T h e y

a ls o

in tr o d u c e d G o p a l to g a m b lin g a n d o th e r v ic e s . G o p a l, n o w u s e d to g o e a r ly in th e

m o r n in g to th e c ity ’s m a r k e t p la c e , a n d g o to a p u b a n d d r in k a n d g a m b le . s ta r te d lo s in g th e w e a lth h e h a d g a in e d b y lu c k .

d is s u a d e h im

fro m

m a n y o th e r r ic h

H is w ife a n d m o th e r tr ie d to

g o in g to th e p u b ; b u t h a b its d o n o t w e a r o ff e a s ily . S o o n , lik e

p e o p le

fa lle n

to

b a d

w a y s , G o p a l b e c a m e

a n d

h e

in e v ita b ly

a p o o r p e r s o n . H is

fr ie n d , th e m in is te r , tr ie d to h e lp th e fa m ily ; b u t a ll th e m o n e y h e g a v e th e m

c a m e

to

G o p a l’s

b e v e ra g e s . c h a n g e .

H e

h a n d s

u s e d

it o n

T h e fa m ily ’s c o n d itio n w a s d e te r io r a tin g .

Felicitas multos h ab et amicos. G o p a l h a d

O n ly o n e fr ie n d r e m a in e d w ith h im .

g a m b lin g

a n d

fin a lly

a lc o h o lic

H o w e v e r , it w a s s o o n to

lo s t a lm o s t a ll o f h is fr ie n d s .

H e w a s a m a n c a lle d R a j. R a j h a d b e e n a

s o ld ie r in th e a r m y o f k in g K r is h n a d e v a r a y a ; b u t h e h a d lo s t h is h a n d s in o n e o f

th e n u m e r o u s b a ttle s fo u g h t b y k in g K r is h n a d e v a r a y a .

a rm y

a fte r b e in g

s q u a n d e re d

a w a rd e d

h is m o n e y lik e

w a s in , a s h e

to o h a d

b e e n

a

h u g e

b o o ty

a s

G o p a l o n v ic e s . H e in

d r in k in g ; b u t it fe ll o n d e a f e a r s .

th e s a m e

s ta te .

H e h a d r e tir e d fr o m

re w a rd . H o w e v e r, h e

u n d e r s to o d th e p o s itio n H e

a d v is e d G o p a l to

to o

th e

h a d

G o p a l

g iv e u p

G o p a l e v e n th o u g h lo s t a lo t o f w e a lth , h e h a d n o t s h e d h is s tu p id ity . H e

w a s a v e r y s tu p id p e r s o n a n d e v e r y o n e h e m e t to o k a d v a n ta g e o f th is fa c t. H is

m o th e r tr ie d to g r in d s o m e s e n s e to G o p a l’s h e a d , b u t a lw a y s fa ile d . S o o n th e ir

c o n d itio n w a s a s it w a s b e fo r e G o p a l g o t th e g o ld . T h e y b e c a m e v e r y p o o r . H is

m o th e r a n d w ife s o o n s ta r te d b e g g in g o n th e r o a d s id e . B u t, a ll th e m o n e y th e y

g o t w a s s p e n t b y G o p a l o n m a d h u p a n a . S o o n , G o p a l’s m o th e r d ie d . G o p a l h a d

lo v e d h is m o th e r a lo t a n d th e lo s s o f h is m o th e r s tr u c k h im

h a r d . H e r e s o lv e d to

g iv e u p h is v ic e s a n d s ta r t to w o r k to e a r n s o m e m o n e y . H o w e v e r , o ld h a b its d ie h a r d . H e g o t a jo b o f c u ttin g w o o d . T h e jo b e a r n e d h im

a n a m o u n t o f te n b ro n z e

c o in s e v e r y d a y . H o w e v e r , h e s p e n t th e c o in s o n a lc o h o l a s s o o n a s h e g o t it.

H e tr ie d h is le v e l b e s t to tr y a n d s to p d r in k in g . H e s ta r te d u s in g d iffe r e n t

r o u te fo r g o in g h o m e , s o th a t h e c o u ld n o t s m e ll a lc o h o l fr o m S o o n , h e s to p p e d g o in g to p u b d a ily .

a n d

th e n

s u c c e e d e d

n o t g o

to

th e

th e r o a d s id e p u b .

H e th e n s ta r te d g o in g to p u b o n ly w e e k ly

p u b

a t a ll.

H is w ife , w h o

w a s a

s e n s ib le

w o m a n , h a d ta k e n o v e r th e c h a r g e o f th e fin a n c e o f th e h o u s e a n d h a d d o n e h e r

w o r k s u p e r b ly . G o p a l a ls o h a d g o t a n e w

fro m

jo b in th e k in g ’s a r m y w ith a little h e lp

R a j a n d h a d r is e n to a h ig h r a n k b e c a u s e o f h is h a r d w o r k .

E v e n th o u g h

G o p a l w a s a b r a v e a n d fo r e g o in g w a r r io r , h e w a s o n ly fo o lis h ly s o . H is w ife , w h o

w a s th e d a u g h te r o f a r ic h m a n , h a d s o m e e d u c a tio n w h ile y o u n g a n d s ta r te d

te a c h in g

G o p a l s o m e

o f th e

th in g s

s h e

h a d

le a r n t. T h e r e

lite r a c y p r o g r a m m e a n d G o p a l b e c a m e a s tu d e n t th e r e .

w a s

a ls o

a n

a d u lt

S o , G o p a l b e c a m e a

le a r n e d m a n . H e , s o o n , w ith th e h e lp o f h is w ife , b e c a m e a r ic h m a n . G o p a l h a d

le a r n t h is le s s o n . H e le a r n t n o t to e n te r ta in w o r th le s s fr ie n d s w h o s q u a n d e r e d h is

m a n y .

G o p a l s o o n b e c a m e k n o w n in h is s o c ie ty a s a m a n w h o w a s s c h o la r ly ,

g e n e ro u s

a n d

g o o d

to

p e o p le .

H o w e v e r, G o p a l h a d

o n e

th in g

to

te ll a ll th e

p e o p le h e m e t a n d t h a t w a s to b e w a r y o f o n e ’s f r ie n d s a n d t h a t o n e s h o u ld s tu d y

p e o p le fo r a lo n g tim e b e fo r e m a k in g fr ie n d s , w h o if g o o d , c a n b e c o m e b le s s in g s

w h e r e a s w r o n g p e o p le a s fr ie n d s a r e a lw a y s c u r s e s a n d r u in o n e ’s life . Fr ien d sh ip is th e b eg in n in g of man y a r elation sh ip ,

T h at n ev er f ails in th e tur b ulen ce of j er k s an d slip s;

Fr ien d sh ip is a sw eet commitmen t, a tr ue f air y lan d ,

W h er e p eop le meet an d p lay w ith sw eet mag ic w an d .

DINNER IN A FOREST T h e r e w a s a d e n s e fo r e s t. S in g h a , a lio n w a s its K in g . A n e le p h a n t, G a ja

w a s h is b e s t fr ie n d . S in g h a liv e d in a c a v e in th e m id d le o f th e fo r e s t. G a ja liv e d

o n th e b a n k o f a r iv e r in th e fo r e s t. T h e fr ie n d s m e t e a c h o th e r e v e r y d a y e v e n in g w h e n th e lio n w e n t to th e r iv e r to d r in k w a te r .

O n e d a y , S in g h a in v ite d G a ja fo r a d in n e r a t h is c a v e . It s a id to h is fr ie n d ,

" M y d e a r fr ie n d , y o u m u s t a tte n d th e g r a n d d in n e r in y o u r h o n o u r ” . G a ja h a p p ily

a c c e p te d th e in v ita tio n .

T h e d i n n e r w a s o n a f u l l -m o o n n i g h t . A l l t h e a n i m a l s a n d b i r d s o f t h e f o r e s t

w e r e in v ite d fo r th e d in n e r . S in g h a b e a u tifu lly d e c o r a te d h is c a v e w ith flo w e r s a n d

c o lo u r s . A

A

h u g e

d in in g

ta b le

w a s

s e t in

th e

m id d le

o f th e

d in in g

ta b le

c a v e . F re s h

fr u its ,

d e lic io u s ly c o o k e d v e g e ta b le s a n d o th e r ta s ty fo o d s w e r e la id o n th e d in in g ta b le . h u g e

c h a ir w a s p la c e d

a t th e

h e a d

0 1

th e

S in g h a w a ite d o u ts id e th e c a v e fo r h is fr ie n d .

fo r th e

c h ie f g u e s t.

fr ie n d

G a ja w o r e its b e s t s u it a n d s e t o u t in tim e fo r th e d in n e r . S in g h a s a w c o m in g . It r a n

to

r e c e iv e

h is

fr ie n d

a n d

s a id , " W e lc o m e

m y

h is

fr ie n d .

E v e r y th in g is r e a d y . P le a s e , c o m e in s id e " . T h e e le p h a n t w a s v e r y p le a s e d b y th e

w e lc o m e o f its fr ie n d . It m a je s tic a lly w a lk e d to w a r d s th e c a v e . It fo llo w e d th e lio n

to

e n te r th e

c a v e . B u t, a la s , th e

c a v e

w a s to o

e le p h a n t. G a ja c o u ld n o t e n te r th e c a v e . S in g h a

b e c o m e

a

w a s te r r ib ly u p s e t. H is

w a s te . A ll fo o d s

w e re

g ra n d

c a r r ie d

s m a ll fo r th e

g ia n t b o d y o f th e

d in n e r fo r h is b e s t fr ie n d

o u ts id e

fro m

e le p h a n t. G a ja a te th e m . B u t, it w a s n o t lik e a g r a n d d in n e r .

th e

c a v e

h a d

fo r th e

L a te r in th e n ig h t, th e k in g S in g h a c a lle d a n a s s e m b ly o f its m in is te r s .

T h e a s s e m b ly c o n s titu te d a c o m m itte e o f a ja c k a l a n d a n o w l to fin d o u t w h y

th e g r a n d d in n e r o f th e ir k in g w e n t w r o n g . T h e c o m m itte e s u b m itte d a b r ie f

r e p o r t o f its fin d in g

in

a d a y . T h e

re p o rt s ta te d

th a t th e

g r a n d d in n e r w e n t

w r o n g b e c a u s e th e k in g fa ile d to " th in k b e fo r e a c t" .

THE FISHERMAN It is

a

s to ry

fr o m

a

E u ro p e a n

fo lk lo r e

a b o u t a

fis h e r m a n

w h o s e

g re e d

d e s tr o y e d h im . T h e r e w a s a n o ld fis h e r m a n . H e w a s s o o ld a n d s ic k th a t h e c o u ld

n o t g o to s e a fo r fis h in g . H e c a u g h t a fe w

it in m a r k e t fo r a liv in g . H e w a s v e r y p o o r . O n e

d a y h e

s a w

a

h u g e

d iv in e

fis h in n e a r b y r iv e r s e v e r y d a y a n d s o ld

b ir d

w ith

s ilv e r y fe a th e r s c a lle d

"K a h a "

a lig h t n e a r h is h u t. T h e b ir d fe lt k in d to th e o ld fis h e r m a n a n d s a id th a t it w o u ld

b r in g

a

b ig

fis h

e v e ry d a y . T ru e

to

e v e ry

e v e n in g

its w o r d s , th e

s o

th a t th e

b ir d

fis h e r m a n

b ro u g h t a

b ig

fis h

n e e d

n o t g o

to

e v e r y e v e n in g

fis h in g to

th e

fis h e r m a n . T h e fis h e r m a n s o ld th e fis h in m a r k e t fo r h u g e m o n e y a n d b e c a m e

v e r y r ic h in a s h o r t tim e w ith h is o w n c o tta g e a n d m a n y s e r v a n ts .

T h e

" K a h a " to

k in g d o m

T h e

k in g

w a s h

o f th e h is

c o u n tr y

e y e s

to

lo s t h is

g e t h is

e y e s

h e a rd

th is a n d

w a n te d

s ig h t b a c k . T h e

a n d tr e a s u r e s fo r th o s e w h o h e lp h im fis h e r m a n

a n d

d e c id e d

a b o u t K a h a a n d a s k e d fo r s o ld ie r s to h e lp h im

k in g

b lo o d

o f d iv in e

o ffe re d

b ir d

h a lf o f h is

to c a tc h th e d iv in e b ir d " K a h a " .

to

b e c o m e

r ic h e r . H e

to ld

th e

k in g

to c a tc h th e b ir d . T h e s o ld ie r s h id

in th e c o tta g e o f th e fis h e r m a n . W h e n K a h a a r r iv e d w ith a b ig fis h n e x t e v e n in g ,

t h e f is h e r m a n c a u g h t it s o n e le g , c a lle d t h e h id d e n s o ld ie r s t o h e lp h im . B u t K a h a

w a s

to o

fis h e r m a n

la te r .

s m a r t fo r th e c lu tc h in g

to

fis h e r m a n

a n d

it fle w

to

its le g . N o b o d y k n e w

th e

s k y

w ith

w h a t h a p p e n e d

to

th e

th e

u n g r a te fu l fis h e r m a n

T h e r e a r e tw o m o r a ls in th is s to r y . 1 ) G r eed b r eed s g r eed , an d lead s to r uin ous d eed s.

2 ) B ad comp an y mak es lif e a sad sy mp h on y .

KING SHIBI O n e u p o n a tim e , th e r e liv e d a k in g in N o r th e r n In d ia . H is n a m e w a s K in g

S h ib i. H e w a s a v e r y p io u s m a n a n d lo o k e d a fte r h is p e o p le w e ll. H e w a s th e b e s t

m a n in th e w h o le w o r ld . In d r a , th e G o d o f th e D e v a ta s b e g a n to fe e l je a lo u s o f

h im . H e d e c id e d to te s t K in g S h ib i w ith th e h e lp o f A g n i, th e G o d o f F ir e . In d r a

tr a n s fo r m e d in to a d o v e a n d A g n i, th e G o d o f fir e tr a n s fo r m e d in to a n e a g le . T h e

d o v e , In d r a , w e n t to S h ib i’s p a la c e a n d a s k e d h im

th a t p u r s u e d th e d o v e w h e r e v e r th e d o v e fle w .

to p r o te c t h im

fro m

th e e a g le

K in g S h ib i a s k e d th e e a g le w h a t it w a n te d to le a v e o ff th e d o v e . T h e e a g le

to ld th e k in g th a t th e k in g m u s t g iv e it h is o w n fle s h in e q u a l m e a s u r e to th e fle s h

o f th e

d o v e

to

le a v e

th e

d o v e

a lo n e . K in g

S h ib i s m ile d

a n d

to ld

o n e

o f h is

a tte n d a n ts to b r in g a p a ir o f s c a le s . H e th e n c u t o ff m o r e a n d m o r e fle s h fr o m

h is

b o d y a n d p la c e d it o n o n e o f th e s c a le s a fte r k e e p in g th e d o v e o n th e o th e r . B u t,

th e s c a le s d id n o t b a la n c e a n d it w e n t o n fo r a lo n g tim e . A g n i a n d In d r a p le a s e d

w ith th e s a c r ific e o f K in g S h ib i b le s s e d h im

a n d w e n t to th e ir a b o d e s s a tis fie d

w ith h is d e v o tio n fo r h is s u b je c ts .

STORY OF KIRTISENA T h e r e liv e d a v e r y r ic h m e r c h a n t. H e h a d a d a u g h te r c a lle d a s K ir tis e n a .

S h e w a s a v e r y n ic e w o m a n a n d h e r fa th e r lo v e d h e r m o r e th a n a n y b o d y e ls e . A ll

lo v e d

h e r. S h e

m a r r ie d

a

p e rs o n

fro m

a n o th e r c o u n try . H e

w a s

c a lle d

a s

D e v a s e n a . H e w a s a ls o a v e r y n ic e p e r s o n a n d h e lo v e d h is w ife . H e w a s a ls o a

m e r c h a n t. H e u s e d to g o fr e q u e n tly o n b u s in e s s tr ip s . H is s te p m o th e r d id n o t lik e

th e c h o ic e o f h e r s o n a n d d id n o t lik e K ir tis e n a . S h e u s e d to p u ll a b r a v e fa c e w h e n h e r s o n w a s h o m e fo r h is s a k e b u t w h e n h e w e n t o n b u s in e s s tr ip s , s h e

u s e d to g iv e K ir tis e n a a lo t o f tr o u b le . K ir tis e n a c o m p la in e d to h e r h u s b a n d a b o u t

it. E v e n th o u g h lo v e d h is w ife , h e k e p t q u ie t. In

th e

n e x t tr ip

th a t th e

s o n

w e n t o n , th e

s te p m o th e r b e t K ir tis e n a

a n d

im p r is o n e d h e r . S h e w a s g iv e n v e r y little fo o d . K ir tis e n a e s c a p e d th e c lu tc h e s o f

h e r s te p m o th e r a n d

th ro u g h

a

jo in e d

ju n g le , th e y

h id in g in th e h o llo w

w e re

a

g ro u p

ro b b e d

o f tr a v e lle r s . T h e a n d

tr a v e lle r s w h ile

k ille d . L u c k ily , K ir tis e n a

p a s s in g

e s c a p e d

b y

o f a tr e e th e r e . S h e w a n d e r e d fo r s o m e tim e th e r e u n til s h e

m e t a s a d h u a n d th e n b e c a m e h is d is c ip le .

K ir tis e n a u s e d to g e t u p e a r ly in th e m o r n in g a n d th e n u s e d to g o to th e

r iv e r to ta k e b a th . O n e d a y , a s s h e s to o d o n a c liff, s h e s a w

it w a s

v e ry

g ra n d . S h e

c h ild r e n . K ir tis e n a

ra n

th e n

s a w

a w a y fro m

a

th e

th e S u n a n d s a w

r a k s h a s i ( d e m o n ) c o m in g p la c e

a n d

c lim b e d

a

a lo n g

tre e . T h e

w ith

h e r

d e m o n ,

u n a w a r e o f K ir tis e n a ’s p r e s e n c e , w a s ta lk in g to h e r c h ild r e n . S h e to ld th e m

s h e h a d g o n e to g e t th e m

th a t

th a t

fo o d b u t h a d n o t fo u n d a n y fo o d . S h e d e s c r ib e d h o w

s h e h a d g o n e to L o r d S h iv a a n d a s k e d h im

S h iv a

h a d

a s k e d

s u ffe r in g fr o m

th e k in g .

h e r to g o

to a

to a s s is t h e r to g e t fo o d a n d th a t

p a r tic u la r c ity , w h e r e

th e

k in g

o f th e

c ity w a s

a d is e a s e a n d w o u ld d ie s o o n a n d th e n th e y c o u ld e a t th e b o d y o f

T h e c h ild r e n a s k e d h e r w h e th e r th e r e w a s a n y w a y in w h ic h th e k in g c o u ld

b e c u r e d . T h e r a k s h a s i to ld th e m

to

a

b a m b o o

s tic k w ith

o n e

e n d

th a t th e k in g c o u ld b e c u r e d if h is e a r s w e r e tie d o f th e

b a m b o o

s tic k tie d

to

a

b o w l. K ir tis e n a

h e a r d th is a n d w e n t to th e c ity w ith a s h e p h e r d a fte r th e r a k s h a s i le ft th e p la c e .

K ir tis e n a r e a c h e d th e c ity a n d w a s v e r y tir e d b e c a u s e o f th e lo n g jo u r n e y .

S h e a s k e d th e p a la c e g u a r d to le t h e r th r o u g h a s s h e h a d c o m e to c u r e th e k in g .

S h e w a s le t in th r o u g h . T h e K in g w r ith in g in p a in in fo r m e d K ir tis e n a th a t if s h e s u c c e e d e d in c u r in g h im , h e w o u ld g iv e h e r h a lf th e K in g d o m

th e n d id w h a t s h e h a d h e a r d fr o m

a s r e w a r d . K ir tis e n a

th e ra k s h a s i a t th e fo o t o f a tre e .

T h e K in g w a s h e a le d . A s p r o m is e d , K ir tis e n a w a s g iv e n h a lf th e K in g d o m ,

h e a p s o f g o ld

c o in s a n d

m a n y e le p h a n ts a n d

h o r s e s . H o w e v e r , K ir tis e n a

w a itin g o n ly fo r h e r h u s b a n d a n d to ld th e k in g to k e e p th e m

tim e b e in g .

w a s

w ith h im s e lf fo r th e

O n e d a y , K ir tis e n a g o t th e in fo r m a tio n th a t h e r h u s b a n d , D e v a s e n a w a s

p a s s in g th r o u g h th e K in g d o m . S h e w a s v e r y h a p p y a n d m e t h im . D e v a s e n a w a s

s u r p r is e d

a n d

im m e n s e ly

h a p p y

to

s e e

h e r th e re . It w a s

a

h a p p y

r e u n io n .

K ir tis e n a to ld h e r h u s b a n d th a t s h e w a s th r o w n o u t o f th e h o u s e a n d a s k e d th e

K in g to g iv e h a lf th e K in g d o m

e v e r th e re a fte r.

a n d th e w e a lth to h e r h u s b a n d . T h e y liv e d h a p p ily

THE JACKAL AND THE WAR DRUM

O n c e u p o n a tim e , th e r e liv e d a ja c k a l in a fo r e s t. It h a d b e c o m e v e r y o ld .

It h a d to c a tc h fo o d fo r liv in g b u t th is w a s im p o s s ib le n o w

d a y , w h ile

s e a r c h in g

s e a r c h in g

fo r fo o d

fo r s o m e

w h e n

fo o d , it c a m e

it s u d d e n ly h e a r d

s o u r c e o f th e lo u d n o is e a n d s a w

th o u g h t th a t th e d ru m d ru m

a

lo u d

n o is e . It tr ie d

to

it w a s

lo c a te

th e

n e a r b y . It w a s q u ite a fo o lis h ja c k a l a n d

a n d b a n g e d it. A

w a s v e ry to u g h

a n d

th e

lo u d n o is e c a m e . It tr ie d to s la s h it ja c k a l fo u n d

o p e n . H e tr ie d fo r s o m e tim e . A fte r s o m e tim e , th e d r u m

s a w

b a ttle fie ld . T h e r e

w a s s tr o n g a n d p r o v id e s fo o d m a tc h in g its lo u d n e s s a n d

s iz e . It w e n t n e a r th e d r u m

o p e n . B u t th e

a d ru m

a

to

b e c a u s e o f its a g e . O n e

it d iffic u lt to

o p e n e d .

s la s h

T h e ja c k a l w a s v e r y h a p p y a t th is fe a t. It th e n p e e r e d in s id e th e d r u m

it

a n d

n o th in g th e r e e x c e p t s o m e le a th e r th a t h e c e r ta in ly c o u ld n o t e a t. It c o u ld n o t

b e lie v e

its

fo o lis h n e s s .

o w n

fo o lis h n e s s

a n d

w a lk e d

a w a y

fro m

th e

s c e n e

c u r s in g

its

THE CRAB THAT KILLED THE STORK O n c e

u p o n

a tim e , th e r e

liv e d

a s to r k in

a p o n d . It w a s a

v e r y c u n n in g

s to r k . It k ille d th e fis h e s th a t w e r e a b u n d a n t in th e p o n d a n d a te th e m . H o w e v e r ,

a s tim e

p a s s e d , th e

s to rk b e c a m e

o ld

a n d

c o u ld

n o t c a tc h

a n y m o re

fo o d . It

th o u g h t h a r d fo r a w a y to c a tc h th e fis h e s p r e s e n t in th e p o n d . A fte r s o m e tim e , it

s tr u c k u p o n a n id e a . It w a lk e d a lo n g th e b a n k o f th e p o n d a n d lo o k e d v e r y s a d . It

to ld

th e

fis h e s th a t it w a s v e r y u n h a p p y th a t s o m e

fis h e r m e n

h a d

s e e n

th e m

a p le n ty th e r e a n d w e r e p la n n in g to c o m e th e r e to c a tc h th e m . It th e n to ld th e m

th a t it k n e w

a p o n d w h e r e th e y c o u ld g o to liv e s a fe ly . T h e s to r k to o k th e fis h e s

o n e o n e a c h d a y , to o k it to a r o c k th a t w a s fa r a w a y a n d k ille d it to e a t in r e lis h . O n e d a y , its v ic tim

w a s a y o u n g a n d s tro n g c ra b . W h e n th e c ra b w a s p u t

o n th e r o c k , it tw is te d th e n e c k o f th e s to r k a n d k ille d it. It th e n r e tu r n e d to th e

p o n d a n d to ld th e o th e r fis h e s o f th is e v e n t. T h e y a ll th a n k e d th e c r a b a n d th e

G o d fo r s a v in g th e m

fr o m

th e e v il d e s ig n s o f th e s to r k .

THE HARE WHICH TRICKED THE LION O n c e u p o n a tim e in a ju n g le , th e r e liv e d a lio n . It w a s a v e r y b a d lio n a n d

it u s e d to k ill lo ts o f a n im a ls e v e r y d a y . T o s u r v iv e th e o n s la u g h t o f th e lio n , th e

o th e r a n im a ls to ld th e lio n th a t th e y w o u ld s e n d o n e a n im a l e v e r y d a y to th e lio n .

T h e lio n w a s v e r y h a p p y w ith th is a r r a n g e m e n t, a s it w o u ld n o t h a v e to h u n t fo r its

fo o d e v e r y d a y . It a g r e e d to th is a r r a n g e m e n t. T h e a n im a ls u s e d to c h o o s e th e d a y ’s a n im a l b y d r a w in g lo ts .

O n e d a y , it w a s th e tu r n o f a c le v e r r a b b it. T h e r a b b it w a s b r o o d in g n e a r a

w e ll o n th is b a d tu r n o f e v e n t. It s a w

its r e fle c tio n o n th e w a te r o f th e w e ll a n d th is

g a v e it a n id e a . It w e n t to th e lio n la te a n d to ld it th a t it w a s la te o n ly b e c a u s e

a n o th e r lio n h a d c h a s e d it a n d c la im e d to b e th e k in g o f th e fo r e s t a n d n o t h im

a n d c h a lle n g e d it to a b a ttle . T h is m a d e th e lio n v e r y a n g r y a n d it to ld th e r a b b it

n o t to

fe e l a fr a id

a n d

a s k e d

to

le a d

it to

th e

p la c e

w h e re

th e

o th e r lio n

w a s

p r e s e n t. T h e lio n o n s e e in g its r e fle c tio n o n th e w a te r o f th e w e ll r o a r e d lo u d ly th r e e tim e s a n d ju m p e d to th e w e ll to a tta c k th e o th e r lio n a n d m e t a w a te r y e n d

th e re .

THE MISTAKE OF THE BEDBUG O n c e u p o n a tim e , th e r e liv e d a k in g . In th e b e d o f th e k in g liv e d a b e d b u g .

T h e b e d b u g w a s th e h e a d o f a v e r y b ig fa m ily a n d w a s v e r y p r o u d o f it. It u s e d to

w a it e v e r y d a y till th e k in g c a m e to s le e p a n d w a s fu lly a s le e p a n d o n ly th e n u s e d

to a tta c k h im , a n d a ll its fa m ily u s e d to fo llo w

th e b lo o d . O n e d a y , th e h e a d s a w

o n ly a fte r th e h e a d fin is h e d s u c k in g

a n in s e c t. T h e in s e c t w a s a ls o a b lo o d s u c k in g

in s e c t. T h e in s e c t to ld th e b e d b u g its v e r y s a d s to r y .

T h e in s e c t it s e e m e d w a s liv in g in a s e r v a n t ’s c a m p . T h e r e , it c o u ld o n ly

s u c k th e b lo o d o f th e s e r v a n ts a n d th e ir b lo o d w a s v e r y s a lty . It d id n o t lik e th e

b lo o d b u t it h a d to b e c o n te n te d w ith th e b lo o d to s u r v iv e a n d s o it d id s o . O n e

d a y , it h e a r d th e c o m m e n ts o f th e s e r v a n ts o n th e k in g th a t h e a te d e lic io u s fo o d .

It w a s th e n fille d w ith a s e n s e o f lo n g in g fo r th e k in g ’s b lo o d a n d h a d th u s c o m e

th e r e to s u c k th e b lo o d o f th e k in g . T h e b e d b u g fe lt v e r y s a d o n h e a r in g th is s to r y

a n d g a v e p e r m is s io n to th e in s e c t to s u c k th e b lo o d o f th e k in g . H o w e v e r , th e

in s e c t s u c k e d to o e a r ly a n d th e k in g a w a k e n e d b e c a m e v e r y a n g r y . T h e in s e c t

w a s a b le to e s c a p e b u t th e fu r io u s k in g k ille d th e b e d b u g w ith its fa m ily .

THE FLUTE OF ENGTA “ T h e F lu te o f E n g ta ” is a s to r y w r itte n b y a w r ite r c a lle d P o o r n a c h a n d r a

T e ja s w i. P o o r n a c h a n d r a T e ja s w i liv e d in th e s ta te o f K a r n a ta k a in In d ia a n d s o n

o f K u v e n p u , re n o w n e d

s to ry

a b o u t a

s n a k e s a n d

c h a rm

p e rs o n

e a rn e d

p o e t a n d

c a lle d

K a n n a d a

E n g ta , a

h is liv e lih o o d . F lu te

s c h o la r o f th e

s n a k e

w a s a

2 0 th

c h a rm e r, w h o

c e n tu ry .

liv e d

b y

m u s ic a l in s tr u m e n t h e

It is a

c h a r m in g u s e d

to

a n d c a tc h s n a k e s . T h e s to r y is in fir s t p e r s o n a s th e in te r a c tio n s o f th e

w r ite r w ith

th e

s n a k e

c h a rm e r. E n g ta

P o o r n a c h a n d r a T e ja s w i s a w

h im

w a s a lw a y s a fte r m o n e y . T h e

fir s t tim e

w a s w h ile E n g ta w a s ly in g c lo s e to th e d e a d

b o d y o f h is w ife . H e

c la im e d th a t s o m e b o d y h a d k ille d

h is w ife . N o b o d y th e r e

h o u s e

k ille d

k ille d

b e lie v e d

h im . T h e y th o u g h t th a t s c o r e s o f s n a k e s

s h o u ld

h a v e

h is

w ife

u n k n o w n . T h e y h o w e v e r g a v e h im

P o o r n a c h a n d r a T e ja s w i a ls o g a v e h im A fte r a fe w

a n d to ld h im

o r h e

w o u ld

E n g ta

h a v e

h a d

c o lle c te d

in

h is

h e r fo r re a s o n s

m o n e y to b u r y th e d e a d b o d y a ll th e s a m e . s o m e m o n e y .

d a y s o f th e in c id e n t, E n g ta g a m e to th e h o u s e o f th e a u th o r

th a t h e w o u ld c a tc h s n a k e s in a n d a r o u n d th e a u th o r ’s h o u s e . T h e

a u th o r w a s s c e p tic a l a b o u t th is a n d th o u g h t th a t E n g ta w a s a fa k e a s s e e d s o f

d o u b t h a d c r e p t to th e m in d o f th e a u th o r a fte r h e h a d s e e n E n g ta ly in g b y th e

s id e o f h is d e a d w ife . H o w e v e r , th e a u th o r w a s w r o n g a n d E n g ta c a u g h t m a n y

s n a k e s

th a t d a y . T h e

a s to n is h e d

a u th o r to ld

th is

in c id e n t to

h is

fr ie n d s . T h e

a u th o r th o u g h t o f v a r io u s w a y s b y w h ic h E n g ta m ig h t h a v e fa k e d th e c a p tu r e o f

t h e s n a k e s . H e d e c id e d t h a t h e a lo n g w it h h is s e r v a n t s , M a r a a n d P y a r a w o u ld

w a tc h E n g ta w h ile h e w a s c a tc h in g s n a k e s n e x t tim e a n d s e e w h e th e r h e w a s p la y in g a n y tr ic k s . T h e a u th o r fo u n d n o s u c h tr ic k s p la y e d b y E n g ta a n d p a id h im

fiv e r u p e e s fo r h is s e r v ic e s . A fte r a fe w

d a y s , th e a u th o r m e t E n g ta a g a in . T h e

a u th o r h a d s till n o t le a r n t b y h is m is ta k e s a n d to ld E n g ta to c a tc h s n a k e s w h ile h e

w o u ld b e ta k in g p ic tu r e s . E n g ta r e fu s e d th e o ffe r a n d to ld th e a u th o r a s to r y o f

h o w

h e

h a d

n e a r ly

d ie d

w h ile

s o m e o n e

h a d

ta k e n

a

p ic tu r e

o f h im

c a tc h in g

s n a k e s . A c tu a lly , E n g ta fe a r e d th a t h is tr ic k s w o u ld b e o u t if h e c a tc h e s s n a k e s

w h ile th e a u th o r w a s ta k in g p h o to s a n d e v a d e d th e o ffe r .

MANITOR T h is is a s m a ll s to r y p r o v id in g a s e r e n e s lic e o f th e r u r a l life o f In d ia . O n e

d a y , a n a u th o r w a s r e s tin g in h is e s ta te . T h e s k y w a s d a r k a n d th e a u th o r w a s

r e a d in g a b o o k in th e lig h t o f a la m p . S o m e w h e r e d e e p in h is e s ta te , h is d o g , K iw i

w a s b a r k in g . H e

k n o w

d id

n o t k n o w

w h y K iw i w a s b a r k in g . H o w e v e r , h e

w h y K iw i w a s b a r k in g , a s b y e x p e r ie n c e , h e

h a d

w a n te d

le a r n t n e v e r to

to

ig n o r e

d o g s . H e w e n t to th e e d g e o f h is e s ta te . H e q u ic k ly w e ig h e d h is o p tio n s . H is to r c h

w a s n o t w o r k in g w e ll a n d h e h a d to h it it o n s o m e th in g e v e r y tim e it w e n t o u t s o

th a t th e lig h t w o u ld c o m e a g a in . H is w ife c a m e o u t o f th e h o u s e a n d a s k e d h im

w h a t h e w a s d o in g . H e to ld h e r th a t h e w a n te d to s e e w h y K iw i w a s b a r k in g a n d

tie it in s id e th e h o u s e . H e to o k a s tic k w ith h im

s o th a t h e c o u ld h it K iw i fo r b e in g

a b a d d o g . H e w e n t to th e fo r e s t w ith h is to r c h a n d s tic k . H e a ls o fo llo w e d K iw i’s

b a r k in g s o th a t h e m ig h t fin d it. F in a lly , h e c a m e n e a r to th e n o is e . S u d d e n ly , h e

h e a r d a lo u d h is s . H e w a s v e r y s c a r e d a s h e th o u g h t th a t K iw i w a s fig h tin g w ith a

s n a k e . H e w is h e d th a t h e h a d b r o u g h t h is g u n . H e h o w e v e r , w e n t b r a v e ly n e a r b y

a n d s a w

K iw i d r a g g in g s o m e th in g . H e fo u n d o u t th a t it w a s a liz a r d . H e s a w

th e

b a ttle b e tw e e n th e d o g a n d th e liz a r d fo r s o m e tim e . T h e d o g w a s tr y in g to p u ll

th e liz a r d w ith its te e th . T h e liz a r d w a s lo o k in g b a c k a n d w a s h is s in g . T h e a u th o r

th in k in g

h o u s e

th a t th e

w h e re

h e

liz a r d tie d

c a n

it w ith

b e a

u s e f u l f o r h im

ro p e

in

b e c a m e h is g o o d fr ie n d in c o u r s e o f tim e .

c a p tu re d

h is h o u s e , a n d

it a n d

n a m e d

b r o u g h t is to

h is

it a s M a n ito r . It