One of our readers, Mrs Chandrakanta Chandra, has sent us two delightful stories from her book 'Folktales from India'. She was reminded of these after reading 'Dooma's Story'. We present them here with her permission. Thank you, Mrs Chandra!
Tale 1: AN OBSTINATE GUEST (from Punjab)
There lived a man called Guruditta in rural Punjab. He was very lazy and did nothing to earn a living. He would go to neighbouring villages and introduce himself to a villager as the friend of a relative’s, and stay there as long as possible.
Once he knocked at the door of a villager named Parmeet. When the door opened, he told Parmeet that he was coming from Moga village, and was a friend of his brother-in-law. He also said, “I have some work here. If you don’t mind, may I stay with you for some days?”
He was more than welcome and was looked after well because he was Parmeet’s sister’s husband’s friend. Day after day, he would have his meals, go out and come back in the evenings.
Parmeet realized that Guruditta had no intention of leaving. He and his wife thought of a plan to oust him. The next day, early in the morning, the wife started wailing and crying, “My mother! You left us alone! I will never be able to see you again.” She said to her husband, “We must reach my parents place and attend Mother’s funeral.” As they were going away, they told the guest also to leave. Seeing no other choice, the guest took his bag and left.
After some hours when they thought Gurudutta had left the village, Parmeet praised his wife for her superb acting. She had a good laugh and boasted,
“How clever I have been,
Cried but not a tear was seen
In my eyes, as I was keen
To oust the man so mean.”
Hearing this the guest appeared before them and said,
“Guruditta is my name,
I guessed your game,
In your backyard I slept,
And a watch I had kept,
I have not left as yet.
The poor hosts had to bear with him for a very long time.
Tale 2: RAMU AND THE MANGO TREE (from Uttar Pradesh)
There lived a rich farmer in a village. He had three sons. Two of them were very clever and cunning. Ramu, the third one, was a simpleton and his brothers often used to tease him. After some time, their father died. The clever sons shared all the property between them and gave Ramu only a thin cow. Ramu decided to sell the cow. His brothers teased him. “Make sure you don’t sell yourself instead of your cow.”
Ramu said nothing and walked towards the market. He passed through a mango grove. A storm was coming, so he stood under a mango tree. The leaves made a sound: Sarrr, sarr.
Ramu said, “Oh, you want to buy my cow? How much will you pay me for it?”
The leaves moved again: Sarrr, sarr. Ramu tried to listen and said, “Fifty rupees. Very good! I will be a rich man too. Take the cow and give me fifty rupees.
He tied his cow to the tree and the leaves said, “Sarrr, sarr.”
Ramu said, “You say you will pay me tomorrow? O.K. I will come tomorrow and you must pay me the money.”
He went home and told his brothers about the deal. They had a good laugh at it.
The next day he went to the tree to get his money. The cow was not there. When he asked for his payment, the tree again went sarrr-sarr. Ramu said, ”I cannot help it if someone stole the cow. I want my money.” The tree said nothing but sarrr, sarr.
Ramu was very annoyed. He brought an axe and started cutting the trunk of the tree. As he hit it, he found it was hollow. He put his hand inside and found a bag full of money. He asked, “Whose bag is it?”
The tree leaves moved again - Sarrr,sarr. Ramu said, “Thank you for giving it to me as the price of my cow.”
He took the money home, bought land with it and became a rich farmer. His brothers never made fun of him again.
Standard instructions have implied meanings and are often not straight forward. And this they call as intelligence exhibited by intellectuals. In Dooma's case, he followed it in the literal sense. Was he wrong? Successful he was, in the end! Great story and wonderful illustrations!
Dooma should become a superhero series. There’s a happy end for everyone if Dooma’s luck is to be believed. The storytelling was next level because of the peacock and the birds... Brilliant idea, which in the beginning seemed unclear but it totally elevated the story and made it so much fun. Layers and wheels within wheels at times become as important as the protagonist. Lucky peacock... Great stuff
One of our readers, Mrs Chandrakanta Chandra, has sent us two delightful stories from her book 'Folktales from India'. She was reminded of these after reading 'Dooma's Story'. We present them here with her permission. Thank you, Mrs Chandra!
Tale 1: AN OBSTINATE GUEST (from Punjab)
There lived a man called Guruditta in rural Punjab. He was very lazy and did nothing to earn a living. He would go to neighbouring villages and introduce himself to a villager as the friend of a relative’s, and stay there as long as possible.
Once he knocked at the door of a villager named Parmeet. When the door opened, he told Parmeet that he was coming from Moga village, and was a friend of his brother-in-law. He also said, “I have some work here. If you don’t mind, may I stay with you for some days?”
He was more than welcome and was looked after well because he was Parmeet’s sister’s husband’s friend. Day after day, he would have his meals, go out and come back in the evenings.
Parmeet realized that Guruditta had no intention of leaving. He and his wife thought of a plan to oust him. The next day, early in the morning, the wife started wailing and crying, “My mother! You left us alone! I will never be able to see you again.” She said to her husband, “We must reach my parents place and attend Mother’s funeral.” As they were going away, they told the guest also to leave. Seeing no other choice, the guest took his bag and left.
After some hours when they thought Gurudutta had left the village, Parmeet praised his wife for her superb acting. She had a good laugh and boasted,
“How clever I have been,
Cried but not a tear was seen
In my eyes, as I was keen
To oust the man so mean.”
Hearing this the guest appeared before them and said,
“Guruditta is my name,
I guessed your game,
In your backyard I slept,
And a watch I had kept,
I have not left as yet.
The poor hosts had to bear with him for a very long time.
Tale 2: RAMU AND THE MANGO TREE (from Uttar Pradesh)
There lived a rich farmer in a village. He had three sons. Two of them were very clever and cunning. Ramu, the third one, was a simpleton and his brothers often used to tease him. After some time, their father died. The clever sons shared all the property between them and gave Ramu only a thin cow. Ramu decided to sell the cow. His brothers teased him. “Make sure you don’t sell yourself instead of your cow.”
Ramu said nothing and walked towards the market. He passed through a mango grove. A storm was coming, so he stood under a mango tree. The leaves made a sound: Sarrr, sarr.
Ramu said, “Oh, you want to buy my cow? How much will you pay me for it?”
The leaves moved again: Sarrr, sarr. Ramu tried to listen and said, “Fifty rupees. Very good! I will be a rich man too. Take the cow and give me fifty rupees.
He tied his cow to the tree and the leaves said, “Sarrr, sarr.”
Ramu said, “You say you will pay me tomorrow? O.K. I will come tomorrow and you must pay me the money.”
He went home and told his brothers about the deal. They had a good laugh at it.
The next day he went to the tree to get his money. The cow was not there. When he asked for his payment, the tree again went sarrr-sarr. Ramu said, ”I cannot help it if someone stole the cow. I want my money.” The tree said nothing but sarrr, sarr.
Ramu was very annoyed. He brought an axe and started cutting the trunk of the tree. As he hit it, he found it was hollow. He put his hand inside and found a bag full of money. He asked, “Whose bag is it?”
The tree leaves moved again - Sarrr,sarr. Ramu said, “Thank you for giving it to me as the price of my cow.”
He took the money home, bought land with it and became a rich farmer. His brothers never made fun of him again.
Standard instructions have implied meanings and are often not straight forward. And this they call as intelligence exhibited by intellectuals. In Dooma's case, he followed it in the literal sense. Was he wrong? Successful he was, in the end! Great story and wonderful illustrations!
Dooma should become a superhero series. There’s a happy end for everyone if Dooma’s luck is to be believed. The storytelling was next level because of the peacock and the birds... Brilliant idea, which in the beginning seemed unclear but it totally elevated the story and made it so much fun. Layers and wheels within wheels at times become as important as the protagonist. Lucky peacock... Great stuff
Eventually good things happen to good people, even if they are simpletons!