Summary of In the Kingdom of Fools
This is a Kannada folktale retold by A.K. Ramanujan. The story revolves around a kingdom where both the king and the minister are foolish. They turn the day into night and the night into day, and everything costs the same. A guru and his disciple arrive in the kingdom and experience these strange customs. The guru leaves, but the disciple stays and gets into trouble. The guru saves him with his wisdom, and they end up ruling the kingdom after the foolish king and minister meet their end.
In the Kingdom of Fools in Hindi
यह एक कन्नड़ लोककथा है जिसे ए.के. रामानुजन द्वारा पुनः प्रस्तुत किया गया है। कहानी एक ऐसे राज्य के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है जहाँ राजा और मंत्री दोनों मूर्ख होते हैं। वे दिन को रात और रात को दिन में बदल देते हैं, और हर चीज़ की कीमत समान होती है। एक गुरु और उनका शिष्य राज्य में आते हैं और इन विचित्र प्रथाओं का अनुभव करते हैं। गुरु चले जाते हैं, लेकिन शिष्य रुकता है और मुसीबत में फंस जाता है। गुरु अपनी बुद्धिमानी से उसे बचाते हैं और अंततः वे दोनों राज्य पर शासन करते हैं जब मूर्ख राजा और मंत्री का अंत हो जाता है।
THINK ABOUT IT
1. What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
The first strange thing they find is that night and day are reversed in the kingdom. People sleep during the day and work at night. The second strange thing is that everything in the kingdom, whether it's food or goods, costs the same price – a single duddu, regardless of the item’s actual value.
2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
The disciple decides to stay because of the cheap food. He enjoys eating and is thrilled that everything costs only a duddu. However, this is not a good idea, as the guru wisely points out that the kingdom is run by fools, and anything could happen at any time. Staying in such a place is risky.
3. Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial.
The following people are tried in the king’s court:
- The merchant, because a wall from his house fell on a thief and killed him.
- The bricklayer, because he built the weak wall that fell.
- The dancing girl, because she distracted the bricklayer while he was building the wall.
- The goldsmith, because he delayed the dancing girl, causing her to walk up and down the street, distracting the bricklayer.
4. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?
According to the king, the real culprit is the merchant's dead father, who ordered the goldsmith to make jewelry, which caused the chain of events leading to the weak wall being built. Since the father is already dead, the merchant is to be punished in his place. However, the merchant escapes punishment because he is too thin to fit on the stake meant for execution.
5. What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
The Guru warns that the kingdom of fools is unpredictable and dangerous, and it’s best to leave. The disciple remembers these words when he is about to be executed by the king for being the only person fat enough to fit the stake.
6. How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life?
The guru saves his disciple by cleverly tricking the king. He tells the king that whoever is executed on the stake will become the king in the next life, and the next person will become the minister. Eager to maintain their positions, the king and his minister switch places with the guru and disciple, and are executed in their place.
TALK ABOUT IT
In Shakespeare’s plays the fool is not really foolish. If you have read or seen Shakespeare’s plays such as King Lear, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, you may talk about the role of the fool.
In Shakespeare’s plays, the fool often plays a wise and insightful role, using humor and wit to speak the truth, even when others don’t. For instance, in 'King Lear,' the fool is one of the few characters who is loyal to the king and provides honest counsel, often masked in jokes or riddles. Discuss how the fool in these plays provides wisdom disguised as folly.
Do you know any stories in your language about wise fools, such as Tenali Rama or Gopal Bhar? You can also read about them in Ramanujan’s collection of folk tales.
Wise fools like Tenali Rama and Gopal Bhar are popular in Indian folklore. They are known for their quick thinking and clever solutions to tricky situations, often outwitting those in power or teaching important lessons through their actions. Share stories from your language and discuss their significance.
About the Author
A.K. Ramanujan was an Indian poet and folklorist, known for translating and retelling Indian folktales in English. His works reflect the rich oral traditions of India, and 'In the Kingdom of Fools' is one such humorous folktale that highlights the absurdity of foolishness in positions of power.
