Coptright@shravancharitymission

    Once in a literary congregation a king and his ministers wanted to know who is a better teacher, man or animal. The scholars who had assembled there agreed that, ‘Man is a better teacher than animals.’

    The king then asked the scholars, ‘What have you taught the animals that you have so much airs about yourselves?

    ‘Well … your Majesty animals are duffers. They refuse to learn anything from we … human beings.’

    ‘So does it mean that animals are duffers, or does it mean that man is a duffer, who is unable to teach them anything? And what have you learnt from the animals?’ The king placed a smart rejoinder.

    One scholar got up and said, ‘Your Majesty we have learnt nothing from animals we are self-made.’

    ‘Then from whom did man learn flying?’ Asked the king. The gathering of scholars went quiet. The king repeated his question. One scholar broke his silence and said. ‘From the birds.’

    ‘Who taught the man to swim?’ Asked, the minister, who was giving the king, company. Another scholar got up and said, ‘Fish.’

    ‘And, who taught man cunningness?’ Asked another minister.

    A young scholar replied, ‘Fox.’

   ‘And what about ferociousness?’ This time it was the king himself.

    Another scholar replied, ‘Tiger.’

    ‘What about Gymnastics?’ It was the king again. ‘Monkey.’ Replied a senior scholar.

    ‘And what about sprinting?’ Enquired the king as he hadn’t given up yet. The scholars pondered for a moment, and then, one scholar said, ‘Cheetah.’ And another one said, ‘Antelope.’

    ‘What about sting?’ Asked the Prime Minister who was quiet till now.

   ‘Obviously the bee and even the scorpion.’ Replied the head of the scholars.

    ‘And who taught man how to cross the desert? It was the Prime Minister again.

    “The Camel.’ Replied another scholar who was hitherto quiet.

    ‘So even after learning so many things from the animals you call yourself self-made, and in return, what have you taught them, or was it that the animals found nothing worth in a man to learn from.’ Retorted the king. There was pin drop silence when the youngest scholar out of the lot got up and said,

    ‘Your Majesty animals aren’t good teachers, it is only the man who is a smart learner.’

    ‘So then, let’s summarize. Man is both a good teacher and a learner, but animals on the contrary, are neither good teachers nor learners.’ Ridiculed the king.

    ‘Yes your Majesty.’ Dared the youngest scholar.

    ‘Then why didn’t you learn the virtues of a cow if you were a smart learner?’ Queried the king.

    ‘Because, the need for that was never felt as man could do without virtues your majesty.’ Replied the eldest scholar.

    Moral of the story: Man has an inflated ego. He doesn’t want to accept that animals are good teachers, nor does he want to accept that animals are good learners, nor does the man want to accept that he is a bad teacher. Man is just man and will remain a man a unique species on earth.  

 Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share it if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India. Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh. Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; Available for reading in Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be the undying characteristics of Lucknow. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K.)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10^th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day to day life. The book is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

Short stories and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; Indica, 15.8.20; The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; Happy Days, November 15, 2020; The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15,2020; Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021;

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

*****