Tag Archives: monkey

SHORT STORY: ARE ANIMALS BETTER TEACHERS?

April 27, 2021Uncategorizedantelope, are animals better teachers, birds, cheetah, fish, human beings, kamlesh tripathi, king, monkey, scholar, shravan charity missionshravancharitymission

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)

*****

SHORT STORY: POWER VERSUS INFLUENCE: Kamlesh Tripathi

December 5, 2020short story, story, storytelling, Uncategorizedinfluencer, kamlesh tripathi, king, kingdom, leader, minister, monkey, moral, parable, power vs influence, shravan charity mission, spy, warshravancharitymission

Once there was a young monkey who was sitting on top of a tree from where, he was keenly watching a person, atop a rostrum, addressing some thousand people, who were standing there.

The young monkey was amazed at this unusual sight. He couldn’t understand, as to why, so many people had gathered around to listen to just one man. So he got very curious, and wanted to know what was happening. But he was clueless.

So he asked the aged monkey who was relaxing on the abutting tree.

‘Who is this man, and why have, so many people gathered around him?’

‘The aged monkey smirked at the novice and said. ‘A person who addresses a gathering of a thousand people in one go is obviously a very influential man. And, in human parlance, he is called a leader.’

‘But I had heard that the most powerful person in a kingdom is the king, who is also, the head of the state.’

‘You are cent percent right. The king indeed is the most powerful person in the kingdom. But then, there is a great difference between power and influence.’ The aged monkey made a point.

‘And what is that?’ Asked the young monkey.

‘See, the king is all too powerful, to lock you up in a cage. But a leader is influential enough, to influence the king, to get you released from the cage.’

‘So then, who is more powerful the king or the leader?’ Asked the young monkey.

‘Well, they both are equally powerful, in their own ways. The king is the divine head of the kingdom, but a leader, or say, all leaders, put together, can make or break the kingdom with a lot of ease.’ Said the aged monkey.

‘In other words you mean to say that the king is, as powerful, or, as weak, as its, treasure of leaders.’ Insinuated the young monkey.

‘Most certainly. A king might think he is the ultimate power in the kingdom, but in reality, he is not, and the same law, also applies, to our kingdom too.’ Replied the aged monkey.

Meanwhile, there was a king’s spy, who was standing below the tree, listening to the conversation of the two monkeys. He soon came and told the king, whatever, the monkeys were discussing.

Upon hearing the spy, the arrogant king was alarmed, at what the monkeys were discussing, so he got them caged separately, as he felt, they were into, some unnecessary gossip, that would have resulted in a canard, both, about his own reputation and his governance. The king then told the monkeys in sheer hubris. ‘Now let me see which influencer, or leader, can get you out of this cage.’

But after a few months only, the neighbouring kingdom, that was perceived, as more powerful, than the king’s own kingdom, threatened to attack. The king got paranoid, even when, he considered himself to be a brainiac. He didn’t know what to do. So he called for all his leaders, ministers and advisors to formulate an immediate strategy to save the country from war. Immediately, some of his advisors said, the king should avoid a battle at any cost, because, the neighbouring kingdom is too powerful, whereas, some said, we should take the enemy head on, come what may.

Finally, after a great amount of deliberation, the king realised, that in his kingdom, there were, more of optimists than pessimists and naysayers, so he decided to launch an offensive against the neighbouring country, which he won.

Thereafter, he rewarded all those leaders, who had advised him to take the enemy head on, and even got the two monkeys released from the cage. But he did not arrest or incarcerate the pessimists and naysayers, realising, they had a mental block towards positive thinking. These events made the king realise about the fruitful connection, between ‘power’ and ‘influence,’ and his inability, to differentiate between them, earlier. He asked the aged monkey, where from, he got this, reservoir of wisdom. The monkey replied he got it from the king’s garden. The king was surprised at this. He asked, ‘how and when?’ The monkey replied.

‘Majesty! Your garden has the best of fruits and vegetables. I often used to hide and feast over there, in my heydays, where, I often heard, your arrogant monologues, and the spite that you had for the leaders and influencers in your kingdom, who were actually intellectuals, in their own right. At that time I had little doubt about you being the supreme power. But when I heard the leaders addressing the common public I released they indeed were the supreme brains. Huzoor, a country can only be run efficiently, by a good blend of the two, and you proved my point when you asked the leaders to formulate a strategy for the kingdom, as you couldn’t do it alone, post which you won the war.’

After hearing out the monkey, the king waited for some moments and then ordered, that the aged monkey be arrested again, for stealing fruits and vegetables from his garden. The younger monkey was sent to the king’s remand home to reform.

Moral of the story: One, power is a royal asset, influence is a wise man’s defense. Two, at times even an honest confession can land you in prison, just like the aged monkey, even years later. Three, even seen with someone can be misconstrued as keeping company, like the young monkey’s short conversation, because of which he had to serve the king’s remand home. Four: Beware, old habits die hard. The king, even after listening to all the grand wisdom of the aged monkey, still returned, to his old habit, and got him re-arrested and sent the younger one to the remand home.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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. It is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

(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)

*****

SHORT STORY: CORONA ANIMAL CONFERENCE

April 7, 2020Uncategorizedcat, corona, cow, dog, donkey, government, horse, india, india gate, kamlesh tripathi, lockdown, monkey, moral, parable, shravancharitymission, tigershravancharitymission

Sit and enjoy the conference during these rare days of the lockdown. Here we go:

Pained by human atrocities some likeminded animals who even happened to be old friends, prominent among them, being a cat, cow, dog, donkey, horse and monkey decided to meet somewhere, to discuss the burning issue, and chalk out a way forward, as human lunacy was troubling them big time. But, tiger the king of the jungle excused himself, as his species, was already under threat, from human beings and he didn’t want to take an adverse position against them any further.

The scheming cat who happened to be a relative of, the king of the jungle opened the conversation by saying, ‘Friends! To us, all human beings look the same but they are divided by something called the religion, and unlike us, who don’t follow any religion but only follow our heart, human beings are guided by their religion. And if we could only exploit their religion, we could divert their attention from us to save ourselves.’

‘But what is religion? Asked, the donkey.

‘Arrey yaar! You don’t know religion? No wonder you’re called a donkey. You must have often seen human beings walking into differently looking buildings to pray. That is called religion.’ Clarified the cat.

‘But what is religion supposed to do?’ Enquired, the donkey again, exposing his ignorance further.

‘Well, it is supposed to divide human beings. And it is doing that quite effectively. For you might have noticed, human beings fight tooth and nail for anything and everything. And since I keep gallivanting most of the times. I see that with my own eyes. They might be our enemies but they are the biggest enemies of themselves’ Said the relaxing horse.

Thereafter, the animals decided to go for a long walk just to graze and relax since they were old friends and had met after a long-long time, to have a heart-to-heart conversation with each other. And they all were leisurely walking side by side, along the river, while the monkey was happily sitting atop the donkey’s back is when the donkey asked the horse,

‘Arrey boss, the government is planning a lot, for the employment of human beings but what about us? In the present scenario I neither have a job nor a peaceful place to stand, nor even an assured morsel of food. Every day, I need to walk quite a distance and that too across the road to feed myself where, you only get some dry grass and pesticides laden dry leaves to munch. A few years back I used to get the same food, in fact much better in quality, right here, where we are walking, but today because of these multi-storeyed buildings there is nothing left for us. The horse felt sad for the donkey, and while maintaining his pace he softly said,

‘I know, it’s very sad, but yaar, you’re a donkey, at least you know the art of survival and no one expects wonders from you. But look at my plight. A bright talented horse that used to participate in derbies and equestrian shows. But with age catching up I was thrown out of my job. I was then bought by a tangewalla and he used me mercilessly in Chandini Chowk for some time, but when tongas went out of circulation, he kept me for a month thinking he’ll be able to sell me off, but when he couldn’t he just left me here one day and never came back. And today a skilled guy like me is not only unemployed but even harassed on the roads by moving vehicles and the traffic police.

‘My dear horse, that’s indeed sad. Such a skilled personality like you, meeting up with such a fate.’ Donkey consoled the horse.

‘My dear dog, how are things with you?’ asked the cow.

‘Not too good. These Indians could never get out of their colonial mindset. They still keep foreign breeds as their pets, and that leaves we—the Indian mongrels on the lurch, and it really takes a humongous effort to fend for ourselves. And how about you?’ the dog asked the cat. The cat beamed and stretched itself while lazing atop the horse’s back.

‘Well … well, surviving somehow, only because we cats are of no use to a man. Neither, they require our skin, nor bones, nor our flesh. And that makes things somewhat easier for us; otherwise you can see how they have massacred the tigers of our family. But I guess in today’s time cows are the real VIPs’

‘But why do you say so?’ asked the cow meekly.

‘Boss because, you are hitting the headlines practically every day.’ Replied the cat.

‘But for political reasons,’ was the doleful moo of the cow.

‘So then, what should we do to survive, and improve our lives? Let’s ask the monkey who is very quiet.’ Suggested the dog.

Monkey, who was sitting merrily, on the donkey’s back, with his eyes closed, enjoying the spring sun and the sprawling boulevard of India Gate on account of Covid lockdown was a bit amused at the melancholic conversation that was going around. He preferred to remain quiet even when the dog had asked a pertinent question. After a few moments when the monkey didn’t answer, the cow repeated the question and coaxed the monkey for an answer.

Clever monkey kept quiet for a while and then blinked his eyes and said,

‘Well … Man might change. Let’s wait for the Corona Virus to get over.’

But … will man ever change? Well I would like to believe the monkey.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

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 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

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)

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 its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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. It is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

(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)

*****

SHORT STORY: THE STORK AND THE CRAB

September 29, 2018ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, book corner, book launch, book review, Book review and excerpts, book review, book synopsis, book synopsis, book talk, book talk,, casual causerie, causerie, column, fiction, moral lesson, novel, parables, quote, short article, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, storytelling, Uncategorizedcrab, crocodile, fable, fish, frog, geese, kamlesh tripathi, lake, monkey, panchatantra, parable, pond, shravancharitymission, stork, tortoise, vishnu sharmashravancharitymission

The Stork and The Crab

Once upon a time, there lived a stork beside a pond, who used to catch fish from the pond and eat them. This carried on for a long time and he was having a merry time. But soon he started realising that he is growing old and it was becoming a little difficult for him to catch even a single fish. This started worrying him. Soon, he thought of a plan. He told the fish, frogs, and the crabs in the pond that some men were planning to fill the pond with soil to grow crops and soon there won’t be any fish left in the pond. He also told them how sad he felt about this and that he will miss them all. Upon hearing this the fish too were saddened and requested the stork to help them. The stork promised to take all of them to a bigger pond. However, he said, ‘since I am old, I can take only a few of you at a time.’ But the stork had devious designs. Every time he was hungry he would take a few fish to a rock nearby, kill them and eat them up.

In the same pond there also lived a crab, He also wanted to go to the bigger pond. So one day he requested the stork. The stork thought of eating the crab for a change and agreed to help him out. On the way, the crab asked the stork, “Where is the big pond?” The stork laughed and pointed at the rock, which was scattered with fish bones. The crab suddenly realised that the stork would kill him too. He quickly thought of a plan to save himself and he caught the stork’s neck and did not let it go until the stork died.

Moral of The Story: Always have a presence of mind and act quickly when in danger.

***

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. 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

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)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(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)

*****

SHORT STORY: The Monkey and the Crocodile

September 24, 2018ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, beautiful lines, book launch, book review, Book review and excerpts, book review, book synopsis, book synopsis, book talk, casual causerie, causerie, column, fiction, moral lesson, novel, parables, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, storytelling, Uncategorizedbirds, children's book, children's stories, crocodile, fables, fruits, kamlesh tripathi, monkey, panchatantra, parables, rabbit, river, shravancharitymission, tortoise, tree, vishnu sharmashravancharitymission

Khidki (Window)

–Read India Initiative—

This is only an attempt to create interest in reading. We may not get the time to read all the books in our lifetime. But such reviews, talk and synopsis will at least convey what the book is all about

The Monkey and The Crocodile

By Vishnu Sharma

Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a monkey who resided on a jamoon (berry) tree, which was on the banks of a river. In the same forest, there lived a crocodile and his wife. One day the crocodile came to the banks of the river and rested under the tree. The kind-hearted monkey offered him some fruits. The crocodile came back the next day for more fruits as he loved them. As days passed by, the crocodile and the monkey became good friends.

One day the monkey sent some fruits for the crocodile’s wife. She ate the fruits and liked them. But became jealous as she didn’t like her husband spending time with the monkey. She told her husband, “If the fruits are so juicy, I wonder how sweet the monkey’s heart would be. Get me the heart of the monkey.” The crocodile was not willing to kill his friend but had no choice.

He invited the monkey to his house for dinner and said that his wife would like to meet him. The monkey was happy but couldn’t swim, so the crocodile took him on his back. The crocodile was happy that he had tricked the monkey, however, while talking he blurted out the real reason for taking the monkey home. The clever monkey said, “You should have told me earlier, I left my heart on the tree. We must go back and get it.” The crocodile believed and took him back to the tree. The clever monkey saved his life.

Moral of The Story: Choose your company wisely and always have a presence of mind.

Synopsis 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. We maintain this blog for the pleasure of our readers. 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

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)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(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)

*****

BOOK TALK: PANCHANTRA by Vishnu Sharma

September 23, 2018article, articles, book launch, book review, book synopsis, book talk, causerie, column, fiction, novel, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, storytelling, Uncategorizedamarashakti, animals, birds, crocodile, fables, farmer, kamlesh tripathi, king, mongoose, monkey, moral, panchtantra, parables, shravancharitymission, snake, tortoise, vishnu sharmashravancharitymission

Khidki (Window)

–Read India Initiative—

PANCHTANTRA

By Vishnu Sharma

Panchatantra moral stories are one of the most popular collections of animal-based fables. Originally written in Sanskrit, where, each of these fables have a concomitant moral. These stories are simple to understand. They are colourful and appropriate even for tiny tots and provide valuable lessons that stay in the mind … forever.

The legend about the origin of Panchatantra goes back to times of King Amarashakti. Who had appointed a scholar by the name of Vishnu Sharma to educate his three sons. Vishnu Sharma soon realized that conventional tools and techniques of teaching will not work well with these princes, so he decided to teach them through stories instead. He, therefore, wrote a collection of stories under the following five volumes, and so it was named as Panchatantra (‘pancha’ – five and ‘tantra’ – systems).

Mitra labha (gaining friends)– Collection of stories relating to winning of friends.
Mitra bheda (losing friends)– Collection of stories relating to losing friends.
Aparïksitakárakam (acting without thinking) – Collection of stories relating to how imprudence leads to losing what is important.
Labdhapranásam (Loss of gains)– Collection of stories that mention how to come out of difficult situations without losing things.
Kákolùkïyam (Crows and owls)– Collection of stories about rules and strategies of war and peace.

The Panchatantra was translated into many languages, including English, Indian vernacular languages, Persian and Arabic.

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. 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

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)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(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)

*****

SHORT STORY: MONKEY’S ADVICE

April 8, 2016short story, story, Uncategorizedanimal, cat, chandni chowk, cow, dog, donkey, horse, human atrocities, human beings, karma, kindness, monkey, short story, spiritual, storyshravancharitymission

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Pained by human atrocities, some like minded animals who even happened to be old friends, prominent among them being cat, cow, dog, donkey, horse and monkey decided to meet somewhere, to discuss the burning issue and chalk out a way forward. As human lunacy was troubling animals big time. The king of the jungle however excused himself as his species was already under threat from human beings and he didn’t want to take an adverse position against them any further.

Scheming cat who happened to be a relative of the king of the jungle started the conversation by saying, ‘to us, all human beings look the same but they are divided by something called the religion, and unlike us, who don’t follow any religion but only follow our heart, human beings are guided by their religion. And if we could only exploit their religion we could divert their attention from us to save ourselves.’

‘But what is religion? Asked, the donkey.

‘Arrey yaar! You don’t know religion? No wonder you’re called a donkey. You must have often seen human beings going to differently looking buildings to pray. That is called religion.’ Clarified the cat.

‘But what is religion suppose to do?’ Enquired donkey again, exposing his ignorance further.

‘Well, it is supposed to divide human beings. And it is doing that quite efficiently. For human beings fight tooth and nail for anything and everything. And since I keep gallivanting most of the times. I see that with my own eyes. They might be our enemies but they are the biggest enemies of themselves’ Said the relaxing horse.

Thereafter, they decided to go for a long walk just to graze and relax since they were old friends and had met after a long-long time, to have a heart-to-heart conversation with each other. And they all were leisurely walking side by side, along the river, while the monkey was happily sitting atop on the donkey’s back is when the donkey asked the horse,

‘Boss the government is planning a lot for the employment of human beings but what about us? In the present scenario I neither have a job nor a peaceful place to stand nor even for an assured morsel of food. Every day I need to walk quite a distance and that too across the road to feed myself where you only get some dry grass and pesticides laden dry leaves to munch. About two years back I used to get the same food, in fact better, here only, where we are walking, but today because of these multi-storeyed buildings there is nothing left for us. The horse felt sad for the donkey, and while maintaining his pace he softly said,

‘I know it’s very sad, but yaar, you’re a donkey, at least you know the art of survival and no one expects wonders from you. But look at my plight. A bright talented horse that used to participate in derbies and equestrian shows. But with age catching up I was thrown out of my job. I was then bought by a tangewalla and he used me mercilessly in Chandini Chowk for some time, but as and when tongas went out of circulation, he kept me for a month thinking he’ll be able to sell me off, but when he couldn’t he just left me here one day and never came back. And today a skilled guy like me is not only unemployed but even harassed on the roads by moving vehicles and the traffic police.

‘My dear horse, that’s indeed sad. Such a skilled personality like you; meeting up with such a fate.’ Donkey consoled the horse.

‘My dear dog, how are things with you?’ asked the cow.

‘Not too good. These Indians could never get out of their colonial mindset. They still keep foreign breeds as their pets, and that leaves we—the Indian mongrels on the lurch, and it really takes some humongous efforts to fend for ourselves. And how about you?’ the dog asked the cat. The cat stretched itself while walking and said,

‘Well … well, somehow surviving, only because we cats are of no use to a man. Neither, they require our skin, nor bones, nor our flesh. And that makes things somewhat easier for us; otherwise you can see how they have massacred the tigers from our family. But I guess in today’s time cows are the real VIPs’

‘But why do you say so?’ asked the cow meekly.

‘Boss because, you are hitting the headlines every day.’ Replied the cat.

‘But for religious reasons,’ was the doleful moo of the cow.

‘So then, what should we do to survive, and improve our lives? Let’s ask the monkey who is very quiet.’ Suggested the dog.

Monkey, who was sitting merrily on donkey’s back, with his eyes closed, enjoying the winter sun was a bit amused at the melancholic conversation that was going around. He preferred to remain quiet even when the dog had asked a pertinent question. After a few moments when the monkey didn’t answer, cow repeated the question and requested monkey for an answer.

Clever monkey kept quiet for a while and then blinked his eyes and said,

‘Stop being useful to the man like cat and me.’

*****

SHORT STORY- THE GREEDY FARMER

May 30, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, causerie, column, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, storyattitude, desire, farmer, forest, greedy, habit, jungle, mantra, message, mind, monkey, puran, short story, spiritual, upanishad, upnashidshravancharitymission

Long time ago there lived a lazy farmer in the countryside who wanted to become rich without any efforts. One day he learnt of a Mahatma (noble and learned person) who lived in the jungles and about whom it was famous that by visiting and praying to him one could fulfill his desires. So, he decided to visit him.

The Mahatma after peacefully listening to the farmer agreed to fulfill his wishes. He assured, ‘I will give you a mantra that will make you rich.’ And soon he passed it on to the farmer.

Who was now exuberant about the comforting thought, that without any efforts he will now become rich. But as he was about to leave, the Mahatma called him back and said, ‘Arrey, I forgot to tell you something important. The moment you start getting weary of monkeys this mantra will become ineffective, and then you will not get the fruits of it.’

Upon hearing this, the farmer started laughing and said, ‘Mahatma ji, you just don’t worry, monkeys have never troubled me, neither in the fields nor in my thoughts. And, for a long time I have not even dreamt of a monkey.’ And, after replying to the Mahatma, the farmer quickly rushed to his house and started preparing for a ritualistic recital of the sacred mantra.

But the moment he uttered the mantra he got terrified, because he thought of ‘monkey.’ Thereon, whenever, he uttered the mantra, he thought of monkey. And soon, every moment, the thought of monkey started troubling him. So much so that monkey even started coming in his dreams. And sadly by now, the thought of monkey had truly disturbed him, both while he was awake and also while he was asleep.

After some days the farmer was quite terrified and saddened as the thought of monkey had almost plagued his mind. And, when he was unable to bear this he went running to the Mahatma and fell on his feet and started sobbing, ‘Mahatma ji, I am extremely distressed as I have lost my peace of mind. I have no desire of becoming rich and you please take your mantra back and save me from the thought of monkey.’

This story is from an Indian Upanishad and reveals our mindset which like a monkey is never in our control. This story also conveys, goals are important but equally important is the means to get to your goal.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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