Global Folk Tales

Global Folk Tales 

## Preface: A Tapestry of Tales

*Global Folk Tales* invites you on a journey through the heart of humanity, a voyage across cultures and continents, guided by the timeless power of storytelling. This collection is a testament to the universality of the human experience, as reflected in the tales we weave and share.

From the ancient myths of the Greeks to the modern folktales of Africa, these stories offer a glimpse into the diverse ways in which people have understood the world around them. They explore themes of love, loss, courage, and wisdom, providing valuable lessons that resonate with audiences of all ages.

Whether you are a seasoned folklorist or simply a curious reader, *Global Folk Tales* offers a rich and rewarding experience. Join us as we delve into the enchanting world of storytelling and discover the common threads that bind us all together. 

[A] How the Rainbow was made  

Once upon a time there lived a hermit whose Hut was far away from the village and from anybody. He lived so far away that nobody visited him except a young girl, his niece.She was called Doli.

It was Doli who brought him some food now and then. She used to go where he lived all by herself, trudging the many miles on her bare feet. Sometimes she stayed in the hermit's hut but overnight but nobody noticed it or worried when she did not return.

Since the hermit hardly saw anybody else and because Doli was such a lovely girl, the hermit, her uncle, eventually fell in love with her. He forced Doli , his niece , to be his wife. 

According to customs , such a relationship was most improper. The gods became very angry about it. To punish both the hermit and Doli , the gods sent the country a severe drought. It dragged on and on for three unrelieving years . The soil became hard as rock and nothing would grow on it.

The whole population was starving to death. 

The people cried: " Why have the gods punished us ? What have we done? 

They held a meeting and discussed what they should do about the drought. " According to  our old people ", they said, such punishment is given only to people if one of them has broken the customs. Let us look for this person who has misbehaved ." 

So they combed the whole village searching for the culprit. They could find no one who had broken the codes.

Finally they reached the far distant hill where the hermit lived. Doli was sitting on the front  steps enjoying the afternoon sun when she saw the  people approaching. People too , when they  saw the girl of their village sitting there, remembered then that they had not seen Doli for a long time. They knew at once she must be the reason for the curse of the gods. They rushed at her angrily.

Seeing so many people coming towards the hut in an angry mood, she fled inside . She realized why they were coming. She begged the hermit, her uncle,  " Oh , please don't leave me alone." She was trembling all over in panic . 

The people reached the steps of the hermit's little hut on the  top of the steep hill. They shouted loudly: " Deliver Doli to us. Doli is the reason for the disaster in the country. Doli has to be   punished according to her deeds." 

There was no reply from within the hut.

Once more the people shouted with rage.

There was only silence for reply.

A third time they shouted, their fury rising . Still they had only silence from within the hut.

" Open the door!" the people commanded . " We have had a three year drought because of Doli's shameful behavior. If you don't open the door we will break it open ." 

This , of course, could easily be done. It. was such a little hut. Doli was quaking inside with fright  but the hermit was calm.

The crowd , Madden now, began pounding the walls of the hut with axes and iron batons. The walls crumbled at once.

Suddenly they stopped. They saw, out of the rooftop of hut , a cloud , slowly rise into the air with a brightly coloured tail. It was Doli and the hermit clinging to each other as they rose into the sky enveloped in a wonderful,  colorful, tail shaped cloud. The gods had pitied them  and had given this couple the chance to escape.

You can still, always see this colorful rainbow every time it drizzles . It is a memorial to Doli. And a constant warning to the rest not to do what Doli did and break with custom . Whether it is true or not only God knows. God has forgiven them  this once but may not do so again.

            [A] How the Rainbow was made       

  

  [B] Stomach Problems

[C] Simpleton vs Landlord

In the vibrant land of Burma, a *wealthy* and *proud* landlord decided to build a *grand* rest house for *wandering* monks. To accomplish this, he invited the *strong* men of the village to help with the project, but *greedily* offered no payment. The *fearful* villagers, not wanting to offend him, all gathered to assist—except for one man, the *village simpleton*. The *simpleton, with his **carefree* attitude, sat on a *worn-out* log, observing the others. He marveled at their *tireless* effort but knew he couldn't work on an *empty* stomach. The *impatient* landlord noticed the simpleton sitting idly and, in a *rage*, shouted, "Why aren’t you working?" With a *calm* voice, the simpleton replied, "I would love to work, but I am *hungry. Who can work on an **empty* stomach?" Seeing the simpleton’s *sturdy* frame, the landlord decided he could be useful and ordered his servants to feed him. The simpleton ate with *great* enthusiasm until his *massive* appetite was satisfied. Once full, he returned to work. The landlord, initially *pleased* with the simpleton’s *steady* labor, remained *suspicious*. Later in the day, he returned to check on him, only to find the simpleton sitting on the same log again. Infuriated, the landlord demanded, "Why aren’t you working?" With the same *innocent* tone, the simpleton responded, "I would love to work, but I am now *full. Who can work on a **full* stomach?" This time, the landlord was so *furious* that he chased the simpleton away. The simpleton went home, but he never forgot the lesson he had learned: it's better to work on an *empty* stomach than to be *full* of excuses.

[C] THE ROYAL SERVANT

 The king of Kamera in Africa was a proud and Stern man, feared by all his subjects.

One day while sitting in his mud palace, surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched by a multitude of people who had come to see him ,he was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur and loudly declared that he was master of the world and that all men were his servants.

         You are mistaken," said a frail voice . "All men are servants of one another."

A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there . Then the king exploded in anger.

      "Who said that!" he demanded, rising from the royal stool." Who dares suggest that I am a servant!!"

         I do "said a voice in the crowd ,and ,and the people parted to reveal a white -haired old man, leaning heavily on a stout stick.

"Who are you? Asked the king.

"I am Boubakar" said the man. "We have no water in our Village .I have come to ask for a well to be dug there ." 

"So you are a beggar!" roared the king, striding down to where the man stood. "Yet you have the temerity to call me a servant! " 

             "We all serve one another " said Boubakar , showing no fear , " and I will prove it to you before nightfall." 

" Do that " said the monarch. "Force me to wait on you .If you can do that I will have not one but three Wells dug in your Village. But if you fail ,you will lose your head 

"In our Village" said the old man " When we accept a challenge, we touch the person's feet . Let me touch your feet. ,  Hold my stick." 

The king took the stick and the old man bent down and touched the monarch 's feet .

"Now you may give it back to me." he said, straightening up  .The king gave him back his stick .

"Do you want any more proof? asked Boubaker.

Proof? asked the king , bewildered.

"You held my stick when I asked you to and gave it back to me, when I asked you for it," said the old man, all good men are servants of one another." 

The king was so pleased with Boubaker's wit and daring that he not only had wells dug in his village but also retained as an adviser.

       

"Smiling Woman"

 [D] Smiling Woman

 In a quaint village nestled amongst rolling hills, lived an old woman perpetually draped in a cloak of sorrow. Her eyes, the color of twilight skies, forever glistened with unshed tears. One crisp morning, a serene monk, his saffron robes catching the first rays of dawn, chanced upon her melancholic form. Drawn by an invisible thread of empathy, he inquired about the source of her constant grief.

The woman, her voice laced with despair, unveiled her peculiar predicament. "One of my daughters," she sighed, "is married to a kind umbrella seller. But alas, on sunny days, when the sky is a canvas of cerulean blue, his stock remains untouched, his livelihood withering under the unrelenting sun. My heart aches for him."

A pause, heavy with unspoken worry, followed. "My other daughter," she continued, her voice trembling, "found love with a dedicated noodle maker. Yet, on cloudy days, when rain threatens to descend, his noodles, spread out for drying, become a soggy mess. His business suffers, and my soul weeps with him."

The monk listened patiently, his gaze reflecting an inner wisdom. "But dear woman," he spoke gently, "you reside in a land where sunshine and clouds dance a perpetual waltz. Is there no room for happiness in this constant ebb and flow?"

The woman's brow furrowed in confusion. "How can I be happy," she lamented, "when one daughter's joy comes at the cost of the other's?"

The monk smiled serenely. "You, my dear," he explained, "are blessed with a unique opportunity to find joy in every season. When the rain falls, let your thoughts turn to your daughter, the umbrella seller's wife. Imagine the delight in her eyes as she sees her husband's wares find eager buyers. Bask in their shared happiness, let it warm your heart like the sun after a downpour."

He continued, his voice a soothing balm, "And when the sun reigns supreme, picture your daughter, the noodle maker's wife. See the joy etched on her face as her husband prepares his noodles under the warm embrace of the sun. Revel in their prosperity, let it fill you with the same warmth as the golden rays."

The woman, touched by the monk's wisdom, took his advice to heart. From that day forward, her tears dried up, replaced by a radiant smile that rivaled the sun. The villagers, once used to her sorrow, marveled at her transformation. She became known as the "Smiling Woman," a testament to the transformative power of a shifted perspective.

          

         [E] "The Farmer And The Well"

Once upon a time,in a for off Village ,there lived a farmer named Raju. He had recently purchased a small form in the village.

During a particularly dry year, the land suffered from a severe lack of rainfall. There was no canal nearby to provide water either, leaving a worried farmer pacing restlessly, deep in thought about how he would save his crops.

"Oh no, if I can’t find water soon, my crops will wither, and I won’t be able to feed my family. O Lord, please guide me," he muttered desperately. 

Just then, something caught his eye—a well brimming with water on a neighboring farm. That farm belonged to an acquaintance, Raghu. The farmer, determined to find a solution, decided to ask Raghu for help.

"Hello, Raghu! May I have a word with you? I noticed your well, and I’m in need of water for my crops. There’s no nearby canal. Would you be interested in selling the well to me?"

Raghu, a man known for his greed, quickly hatched a plan. "Well," Raghu smirked, "I’m not using the well, so I suppose I can sell it to you. But let me be clear—once you buy it, I won’t take it back. It’s of no use to me anymore."

"That sounds fair," the farmer replied gratefully and handed over the money.

The next day, the farmer returned to the well, eager to draw water. However, Raghu blocked his path with a sly grin.

"Wait, Raju. I only sold you the well, not the water inside it. If you want the water, you’ll have to pay extra."

The farmer was stunned. "But that’s not what we agreed upon! You said you wouldn’t take the well back!"

"Indeed, I sold the well, but the water is still mine," Raghu retorted smugly.

Feeling cheated, Raju decided to take his grievance to the king. Emperor Akbar, known for his fair rulings, handed the case to Birbal, his sharp-witted advisor.

Birbal reassured the troubled farmer, "Don’t worry, Raju. Justice will be served."

The next day, Birbal and Raju went to the well, where Raghu once again claimed, "I only sold the well, not the water."

Birbal, with a calm yet clever tone, responded, "Raghu, if the water truly belongs to you, then you must remove it from Raju’s well immediately. Since the well is his, he wants it without your water. You have three days to clear it out. If you fail to do so, you’ll face a hefty penalty and a jail sentence."

Raghu, realizing the absurdity and impossibility of his position, conceded defeat. He apologized, knowing full well he had been outsmarted by Birbal’s wisdom.

"You’ve been trapped by your own greed, Raghu," Birbal remarked.

Raghu, thoroughly humbled, vowed never to deceive anyone again.

[F] Whatever Happens, Happens For The Best"

The Jewish rabbi , Akiba was traveling to a distant land , beyond a desert .One evening, he arrived at a small village, and decided to spend the night there.But to his astonishment and dismay, he found that the villagers were extremely suspicious of travellers.No one would give him shelter .

        It is hard to believe that any people can be so inhospitable " thought the rabbi."But after all , God is just, and whatever happens, happens for the best "  He had only four possessions besides the clothes on his back:a book , a lamp,

a cock that used to wake him at dawn with its crowing, and an ass on which he rode.On being refused shelter by the villagers, he went some distance ahead,and settled himself under a tree.

He lit his lamp and opened his book so that he might read a few pages before going to sleep.He had read only a page when a gust of wind blew out the light .

"What !" Exclaimed the rabbi." "Am I not permitted even to read? But God is just , and whatever happens, happens for the best." 

He stretched himself on the cold, bare earth to try to get a few hours' sleep.Just as he was dozing off,there was a cry of alarm from his cock followed by a loud flapping of wings.A wolf had caught the bird.

"My faithful companion gone!" thought the rabbi, " and in such a ghastly manner. But God is just , and whatever happens, happens for the best."

Still later that night, a lion pounced on the ass and carried it away . Once again the Rabbi told himself that whatever had happened, had happened for the best.

After a sleepless night, he went back to the village to see if he could obtain a horse to carry him the rest of the way, but to his horror he found that all the houses had been plundered and their inhabitants slaughtered by robbers , during the night.

"Had these people not turned me away,I would have perished with them." thought the Rabbi , " and had the wind not blown out my light,the robbers would have detected my presence, and had wild beasts not carried away my animals , the noises they made would have betrayed my presence to those marauders , and I too would have lost my life.God is just ,and whatever happens, happens for the best 

[G] Tug Of War

There was a Rabbit who enjoyed playing tricks on other animals . One day as he was walking in the wood near the sea, he came across a huge elephant pulling out and eating leaves from a tree. 

"How are you Mr. Elephant ?" he called out ' " my, how much you eat!"

"This is because I am so big" Replied the elephant". "Small animals like you don't need much Food, but large and powerful animals like me need a lot ! 

"Large you certainly are !" said the rabbit, But powerful....?

" You don't think I' am powerful  ? asked the elephant, sounding surprised , and also a little annoyed . 

"I' am sure you are" said the rabbit ." But are you more powerful than me ?   

The elephant thought he had not heard right . 

"Powerful? You ? " 

Yes , me ." 

The elephant doubled up with laughter. 

" You are laughing because you don't know how strong I am" said the rabbit . " If you let me tie a rope around your middle , I will drag you into sea."      

"Drag me into the sea? !":laughed the elephant" Hoo-Hoo-hoooo!! We'll go ahead! Tie a rope around me and let me see how for you can pull me!" 

The rabbit tied a thick rope around the elephant's body.

"When you feel a tug on the rope ,be ready to pull , he said.  " Or you will be dragged into the sea before you know what's happening.! 

"Please don't pull too hard " mocked the elephant.

The rabbit ran to the seashore with the other end of the rope .

He saw a whale swimming some distance away, and called out to it. When the whale drew near he said, " Mr Whale you are so big but are you strong.?

"I am the strongest animal on Earth!" bellowed the whale .

I will show you how wrong you are,;". Said the rabbit."Let me tie this rope around your middle," 

" And then?"

I will drag you ashore " 

The whale doubled up with laughter." 

"All right, go ahead." he giggled .Tie your rope around me and pull me out!" 

The rabit tied the rope securely around the whale's middle.Then he ran ashore and rushing   into the woods,hid behind a tree and shouted,"PULL.".

The elephant,intending to throw,the rabbit High into the sky to frighten him, wrapped his trunk around the rope and gave a mighty heave upwards .The whale counterd with a tug that almost brought the elephant to his knees .

The two animals, hidden from each other's sight  by the trees in between, marvelled at the strength of the rabbit.

They pulled and heaved and exerted their strength to the utmost, but neither could get the better of the other.Finnally the rope broke and the two animals fled in opposite directions.

From then on whenever the elephant saw the rabbit he would quickly hide himself or run away,to the great amusement of the rabit                                                                     Story 7

        [H]      Fair Division 

A wealthy pilgrim three a purse full of money towards three beggars sitting outside a temple.One of the beggars had only one eye, the second hand only one arm and the third had only one leg .Each of them felt that it was his particular disability that had drawn the sympathy of the alms giver and so each man claimed the lion's share of the money in the purse . They finally took their dispute to Tenali Raman ,As Raman was pondering over the case the beggars broke in upon his thoughts to urge him to be impartial.

"The money was given in the name of God," said the one eyed beggar.So distribute it as God would." 

"Yes,  Yes" echoed the other two.

"Distribute it as God would." 

"That is easily done," said Raman .

He threw a single coin to one of them, dropped a handful in the hands of the second man and gave the remaining to the third beggar.

"Is this a joke? Shouted the man who had been given only one coin.

"Do you call this a fair distribution? Whimmed his companion.

"You said I should distribute it as God

Would," said Raman ."And you should know better than anybody else that God never distributes anything equally among men."

(I)Unreasoning Fear 

There was a lion who feared nothing except the crowing of Cocks.A chill would go down his spine whenever he heard a cock crowing.

One day he confessed his fear to the elephant,who was greatly amosed.

"How can the crowing of a cock hurt you? He asked the lion."Think about it."

Just then a mosquito began circuling the elephant 's head , frightening him out of his wits.

"If it gets into my ear I 'm doomed! he shrieked ,failing at the insect with his trunk.

Now it was the lion's turn to feel amused.

#Moral , :If we could see our fears as others see them we would realise that most of our fears make no sense!

                      

       (J)Neighbours

A mouse living in a farmhouse peeped out from his hole, one day, and got the shock of his life.The farmer was displaying a mousetrap he had bought, to his wife.

Panic -sticken he ran out to consult his neighbours.But they were not at all helpful.

"Poor You," said the dog ."But Master knows best, We have to bow to his decisions."

"Bad luck" clucked the hen and rushed to catch a worm.

"Obviously Master does not want you around! guffawed the goat.

The mouse cowered in his hole that night,not daring to go out.

When the lights went out, a loud sound was heard.Some animal had sprung the trap.

The farmer's wife came out of the bedroom and picked up the trap.In the darkness she did not see the snake dangling from it .The snake bit her and she fell unconscious.

The farmer rendered first aid and then seething with anger shot the dog for letting the snake come in. 

His wife developed fever the next day and became very weak.Somebody told the farmer that chicken soup would restore her strength.So he killed the hen and made soup.

But the woman died a few days later, Many relatives came for the funeral and stayed on.

The farmer slaughtered the goat to feed them.

Thus the trap destroyed all the animals except the one it had been intended for!

Moral : Our lives are interwinwd so don't be indifferent to other's plight.

              

(K)The Fairest of Them all 

An eagle once promised an owl in return for a favour,that he would never ever harm the owl's chicks.

"But do you know what my chicks look like? asked the mother owl  doubtfully."How can I be sure that you won't mistake them for some other bird's? 

"Well " said the eagle."Describe them to me ,,so that I can recognise them." 

Actually,they cannot be mistaken for any other birds," said the owl,her chest puffing up the pride.".They are soft , fluffy,and by far the prettiest young ones you could ever see.

             One evening,the eagle came upon a nest filled with screeching fledglings,their red mouths agape.He paused , then thought,"Surely these are not the owl's chicks .She said they are very beautiful,but these chicks look hideous" And he swooped down without a second thought and ate them all.

Returning to her nest ,the mother owl found it empty save for a few bloodied feathers . 

"How could the eagle have forgotten his promise? She wailed " I told him my chicks were the most beautiful in the world." 

Moral: Every Mother thinks that her own children are the best."

                 

(L)The Monkeys go a Fasting

A group of monkeys decided to go on a fast one day."

"Before we begin,I think we should keep the food with which we will break the fast ready, counselled the old monkey chief.

The monkeys nodded their heads in agreement.The youngsters were sent in search of food.They returned with huge hands of delicious -looking bananas.

"I Think each of us should keep our share of bananas with us before we begin our fast, so that we don't spend time distributing them after we break our past .You can imagine how hungry we all will be by then! Said the chief'swife.

The moneys liked the idea and they collected their share of bananas.

"Why don't we peel one anana and keep it ready to eat." said one of the youngsters.

"Yes let's do that " shouted a fat monkey in agreement.Just looking at the bananas was making him hungry.

All right," said the money chief."We shall peel the bananas but under no condition should we eat them."

So the monkeys peeled their bananas and carefully kept them ready for eating in the evening.

"Can I keep the banana in my mouth? I Promise not to eat it till  evening .please!" a little money asked his father.

"Why don't we all put a banana in our mouth? That we can chew it immediately when we break the fast," said the father,who had agreed to on the fast only because his wife had not given him a choice. As long as we don't eat it,it should be fine"he added.

So ,the monkeys put the bananas in their mouth.One by one they eyed each other uncomfortably as they began their fast -and as you can imagine, within no time at all , the bananas disappeared down their gullets.And that was the end of their fast 

(A FOLKTALE ) 

                  

(M)The Colourless Horse 

One day,Some of Krishnadeva Raya's courtiers ,in a moment of intense loyalty,told him they would do anything for him.

"Is that so?" asked the emperor, a mischievous look comming into his eyes. "Then get me a colourless horse,not white or black or brown or of any intermediate shade,It should be colourless !"

Thereafter,every time he met the courtier, he would enquire about the horse and enjoy their discomfiture .The courtiers finally asked Tenali Raman to help them.

The next day, Raman accompanied the courtiers to the place and when the emperor,as usual, asked them if they had found the horse,Raman replied that they had ,and that it was at his house.

"I will send someone to fetch it " said the emperor.

"Not today,your Majesty," said Raman."Please don't send him on a Monday or a Tuesday or a Tuesday or a Wednesday."

"On Thursday? " Asked the emperor.

"Not on a Thursday or a Friday either," said Raman.

"And please don't send him on a Saturday or Sunday.Send him on any other day.

The emperor laughed in acknowledge of defeat and never asked about a colourless horse again.

(N) The Monster In the Cave."

A Female hare passing by a cave heard 

loud sounds coming from it.

"There's some fearful creature hidding there! She thought and hurried away.She told everyone there  was a monster holed up in the cave.

Soon a large number of animals,big and small gathered outside it.

Let us demand that it come out! Said the fox .

Is that a good idea ? asked the lion , doubtfully."Oh, all right, go ahead."

The fox went close to the mouth of the cave and shouted: hu

"King Lion demands that you show yourself.!

The lion cringed he had not expected the fox to name him.

Little did he suspect that the creature inside ,far from being a hideous monster was one of his tiniest subjects,a frog.Though small it had an extraordinarily loud voice.

The frog thought fast .He shouted back.

"Who dares talk so rudely to me! See, I am throwing out one of my slippers.

It will turn into a frog and swallow your king!

And with that ,the frog leapt out of the cave with a loud croak.

Seized with terror ,the lion turned and bounded away,and his subjects following his example fled pell-mell in all directions.The frog hopped placidly to his home in a nearby pond, vowing never to go exploring again.

     

 

   ( O) "The Man who wanted Nothing"

WALI DAD was a carpenter who lived alone and worked hard the whole day long. long.His tastes were simple and his wants few,so he spent very little of the money he earned.One day he found that the jar in which he kept his money was full to the brim.

"I must empty it," he thought, "Or I will have no container for my money."

He took the jar to the local jweller, emptied it's contents on the floor and asked the jweller to give him a bracelet worth the sum.The jweller gave a pretty little bracelet made of gold.

Wali Dad wondered what he should do with the bracelet.He saw a merchant at the head of a line of camels laden with goods,and asked him where he was going.

"To the palace" said the merchant, importantly." The princes has ordered some clothes." 

"Will you give her this bracelet too." Said the carpenter, handling over the bracelet he had bought to him ""Tell her it is gift from Wali Dad."

The princes liked the bracelet and sent him a camel -load of the finest silks in return.

"What will I do with these silks? groaned

Wali Dad when the merchant brought the heavily laden camel to him."

"Give them to someone else,suggested the merchant.

Who?" 

"Perhaps the Sultan of Kesh."

So Wali Dad sent the silk to the Sultan who , delighted with the gift,sent him six of his finest horses.

Wali dad sent them on to the princes.

"Who is this wali Dad ?And why is he sending me gifts? She asked her advisor.

"Probably somebody who wants to impress you with his wealth." Said

the advisor." " Send him a gift that he can not match.That will humble his pride.

The princes sent him 20 mules laden with silver.Not wishing to be burdened by so much wealth.Wali Dad sent the silver to the Sultan.The Sultan was perplexed.

" Who is this Wali Dad ?And why is he sending me gifts"? he asked his advisor.

"Probably somebody who wants to impress you with his wealth,said the advisor.Send him a gift that he cannot match.That should humble him."

The Sultan sent Wali Dad 20 cartloads of precious stones which Wali Dad promptly rerouted to the princess .The princess,her curiosity piqued, decided to pay him a visit.She set out secretly,taking only her maid with her.Their enquiries led them to the humble dwelling of the carpenter.As they were looking around in bewilderment, a handsome man of regal bearing came riding towards them.It was the Sultan of Kesh .He too had decided to make the acquaintance of the mysterious Wali Dad .The Sultan and the princess fell in love with each other,at first sight.After a short courtship,they announced their marriage.

Wali Dad was now a famous man.As he refused to go to either of their palaces ,the prices and the sultan sent him a chest full of gold.But it was never delivered.When Wali Dad saw the Sultan's men bringing the gold,he fled the village and was never seen again.

                      

 

(P)The Best Artist" 

A despotic Sultan who was blind in one eye invited three artists to paint his picture .

"If you do a bad portrait,I will punish you,he warned," but if you do a good one I will reward you.Now start !"

The first artist produced a picture that

Showed the sultan as he was , blind in one eye.

The sultan had him executed for showing disrespect to his monarch.

The second artist showed him both eyes intact.

The sultan had him flogged for trying to flatter him .

The third artist drew him in profile, showing only his good eye.

The sultan, pleased , rewarded him with gold and honors.

                   

(Q)The Peacemakers

There was a danger of war breaking out between the different groups of animals in a forest,so the animals appointed three peacemakers, a tortoise, a boar,and a tiger.

The peacemakers met to decide how to go about their work.

Let us get to know each other,t5 said the tiger ." Let us each tell the others what we hate most so that we don't offend each other unintentionally."

I hate it when anybody talks about me in my absence,"confessed the tortoise.

" I hate it when anyone steps on my tail." Said the boar.

"I hate it when anybody looks at me with hostility in his eyes,said the tiger.

Soon after, the tortoise excused himself to go to the bathroom.

"I wonder why he doesn't like being talked like being talked about" laughed the tiger.

"He knows that if anybody talks about him at all it is only to comment on his ciumsiness ,and to mock that ridiculous shell on his back,said the boar , giggling.

The tortoise had not really left.He had hidden himself to listen to their conversation,Now seething with anger,he came back to confront them

The tiger was roused to fury when he saw the hostility in the tortoise 's eye.

Growling,he took a step forward,and in doing so stepped on the boar's tail.This angered the boat.He turned around and gored the tiger with his tusk.

With the peace shattered by the peacemakers themselves,a great war broke out in the forest.

Historians say the war could have averted if the tortoise had not been so sensitive and ....oh, well,let's not talk about him behind his back.

                     

(R)Whinning And Dinning

Mosquito spotted Iguana basking near the pond.She flew up to him and said",Hey , Iguana, I just saw a farmer digging up potatoes that were as big as me!

Iguana was annoyed at being disturbed and snapped, "What's  a mosquito compared to a potato? I would rather be deaf than hear such nonsense! And he stuck twigs in his ears and stomped off.

When Python saw laguna pass by ,he said a friendly "Hello" . Iguana seemed not to hear.

"Iguana is angry " thought Python."I better hide ." and quickly slitherd into a Rabbit hole.

Rabbit was so startled she jumped out of her burrow and hared away .Crow saw her and cawed loudly in alarm. Monkey heard Crow and leaped from branch to branch,shrieking disaster.

Crack! A branch broke under Monkey's weight.It fell into Owl's nest , crushing one of her babies.When Owl returned,she was overcome by sorrow and stopped hooting .The Sun did not rise the next day as he depends on Owl,'s wake up call.

Lion summoned all the animals.He asked Owl why she hadn't woken the sun.

"Monkey killed my owlet," she said sadly.

" I am in no mood to awaken the sun.

When Money was questioned, the entire chain of events was revealed.IT was Iguana who had caused all the trouble! 

Iguana,of course, didn't hear a thing because he still had twigs in his ears .

Lion pulled them out chuckling.

"Now  ,Iguana ,What all this ? Python says you snubbed him this morning."

"What I never ...I never even heard him!" Stuttered Iguana." It was mosquito! She narrated a tall tale that spoiled my whole morning."

When Owl heard they 'd found the culprit,

She let out a loud hoot The Sun rose and the animals cheered.

That's better!"said Lion." But where is Mosquito? She must be punished!" 

All  animals looked around eagerly.But Mosquito was nowhere to be found.She had been eavesdropping all the while and felt so wretched,she dared not show her face.To this day , she suffers a guilty conscience.She buzzes and whines in people's ears ,even as she dines on their blood:" Zeeee, Zeeee ....Is everyone still angry with me?

And an irritated slap is all she gets for an answer!

                     

(S)The king Of Fruits

Gopal Bhand had a large appetite and was known to eat enormous quantities of food especially when invited to feasts.One day a zamidar decided to test his capacity and invited him to lunch.

Gopal ate as much as three men would have done and then emitted a loud belch.

"Enough?" asked his host .

"No place for even a grain of rice more," said Gopal.

Just then a servant came in with a plate of mango slices.

"Mango!" Exclaimed Gopal,his mouth watering.He took the plate from the servant and ate all the slices.

"Amazing," said the zamindar." You said you did not have place for even a single grain of rice yet you devoured almost three mangoes.How do you explain that.?" 

"Very simple" said Gopal ."What happens when you walk into a crowded room? Everybody steps aside to let your royal person pass.Something similar happened here .The mango being the king of fruits,all the food in my stomach made way for it.

                         

(T) OWL'S NIght Out

A long time ago, Everything -Maker was busy creating plants, animals and the other things that you now find on earth.

He gave Owl a body , a loud voice, strong wings  and two eyes and then turned to attend to Rabit.

"Give me a long neck like the swan's ," hooted Owl, " and a beak like the hawk's !

"Okay ,I will give you everything as soon as I finish with Rabit."replied Everything -Maker."And now,I want you to turn around and close your eyes.You know that I don't like anyone watch me work.!"

Everything maker noticed that Rabbit was trembling and so he asked him gently," Do you want something, little one?

"Yes" said Rabbit timidly." Long legs and ears...a fang   .  .and a few claws, please!

"Why do you want a fang ?" asked everything -maker inn surprise."

"Silly Rabbit!" said Owl ." Ask for something useful,like wisdom!

"Be quiet, Owl !" Said Everything -Maker sternly.

"You have to give us what we ask for,"shouted Owl turning around to look at Everything -Maker." And I demand wisdom."

"I had enough of you! said Everything -Maker angrily.And he went to Owl and pressed his head down into his body until the neck disappeared.He gave the bird such a shake that his eyes became wide in fright and then he pulled his ears until they stuck out from his head.

Then snapping his fingers, Everything -Maker told Owl," I have made your ears big, the better to listen.I have made your eyes big,the better to see.I have made your neck short,the better to hold up your head.And I have packed your head with Wisdom,as you have asked.Now ,use your wisdom and fly away before you lose it.!

Everything -Maker then turned to Rabbit to give him his fangs and claws but the little creatures was not to be seen anywhere .

Meanwhile,Owl flew away fast ,knowing well that if he made Everything -Maker  angry again,he would lose all that he had been given.

And since then ,Owl has been coming out only at night, After Everything Maker has gone to sleep.

(U)The Miser

A miser bundled up all the things he possessed and sold them at the market.With the money he got, he bought a huge bar of gold.Fearning for its safety,the miser dug a hole in his backyard and buried it.

Everyday, before anyone could wake up,the miser would go to the spot where he had burried the gold bar ,dig it out and gaze at it.

Days passed,One day,one of his workers arrived for work early and was surpri7sed to see the miser in the garden with a spade in his hand.He hid behind a bush and watched the miser diging out the bar of gold.

"Wow!" Thought the worker ,his eyes popping out in wonder."If I could get hold of that gold,I wouldn't have to work for the rest of my life.

He waited for Sunday as that was the day when the miser went to Church,and stealthily dug out the gold.

The next morning when the miser went as usual to look at his gold,he got the shock of his life when he didn't find it there.

"Wow is  me! he lamented loudly, overcome with grief ."I have lost everything.!"

A neighbour hearing the miser moan,up to him and said "I have a suggestion."

"Suggestion?asked the man.

"Will it help me get back the gold?"

"No" said the neighbour.

"But it will bring you the same pleasure you derived from the gold,"

The miser was puzzled,"How is that possible?

"Quite simple," said the neighbour."Take a stone of the same size as the gold and bury it at the spot where you would burried the gold."

"And pray how will that help ? asked the miser, even more bewildered.

"When you had the gold ,you were happy just to look at it.You did not want to use it," replied the neighbour. "You can drive the same happiness now by looking at the stone everyday."

A Bunch of Fools

Once two senior police officials took time off to exchange notes,One asked the other how his new assistant worked.At this the official broke into smile."I haven't seen a greater fool. Once I gave him a ten rupee note and asked him to buy an Alto.He ran out immediately in search of one."

Both of them started laughing.

He seems to be be better than my assistant," said the other.

"Once I asked my constable to go home and find out if I was there.And he did !" " He did so? the other remarked and both of them burst out laughing.

They had no idea that their assistants were having a great time too at their expense.One constable was telling the other.

" I haven't seen a greater fool than my boss," said one."  He sent me to buy an Alto on a Monday.He doesn't know it is a holiday for all the shops in the area.

They both had a good belly laugh .The other constable stopped laughing and said," I must tell you what my boss did...

He asked me to find out if he was at home.Couldn't he check it on the phone?

"Oh ,these bosses .......I tell you...." both said in unison amidst peals of laughter.

(W)The Equal Share

The Two cats found a large puranpoli(Bread) " and agreed to share it equally.But when they tore the puranpoli into two,the pieces turned out tobe of different sizes .

The cats began to fight over who should get the bigger piece.Finally they sought the help of a monkey who reassured them that he would divide the piece equally.

The monkey bit off a sizeable portion from the larger piece.He then picked up the two pieces and examined them critically.

"The Piece that was smaller has become bigger now," said the monkey,shaking his head gravely."But , don't worry I. Have solution."

And the money dug his teeth into the now larger piece.But ,as as he had bitten more than what was necessary ,the larger piece became the smaller of the two,and he was compelled to bite into the other piece to make them both of the same size.After all ,it was in the interest of justice.

Ultimately,the monkey got it right and the two pieces were of exactly the same size .But alas ,they were so small that they got blown away!

The cats gasped .

"Don't bother to thank me" said the monkey,grandly .I am glad I could dispense justice without favouring either of you."

(X)War Of Words

A king sent a message to the ruler of a neighbouring country.The message read " Send me a blue diamond as large as a pigeon's egg or else...."

The king on getting the message wrote back; 

"We don't have such a diamond and if we had...."

The first king got very angry and declared war on his neighbour.The fighting went on for several months till a third king arranged a meeting between the two warring rulers.So they met and the first king said to the other:

"What did you mean when you said"Send me a blue diamond as large as a pigeon's egg or else...?"

"Why" he replied,"I meant a blue diamond as large as a pigeon 's egg or else....some other diamond.I love diamonds.But what did you mean when you said,"We don't have such a diamond and if we had ..."?" 

"It is easy to guess my meaning," said the other man ,"What I wanted to say was ,if we had such a diamond we would have gladly sent it to you."

The kings pledged to write more clearly in future communications and embraced and made peace.

"

(Y) Hodja Learns Arabic 

Mulla Nasruddin once visited Arabia.On his return three months later, people asked him if he had learnt Arabic.

""YES,OF COURSE," Replied Hodja.

"What's a camel called in "Arabic?asked a man.

"Ugh! Camel ! Such an ugly creature ! I didn't even think of asking! Said Hodja, making a face 

"Tell us what the Arab call an ant," said another.

"An intelligent creature! What is the use of knowing that?

"All right,then tell us what they call a lamb.? Said another man.

" My good man, the sheep had not delivered any lambs while I was there.But I am sure they must have given the lambs some names once they were born !" Replied Hodja , and then with a broad smile added, "I will find out when I go there next."

(Z)The Fox and the Hen

A Fox crept into a hen - house and saw a fat hen perched on a high ledge .Are you feeling unwell,sister? asked the fox,pretending great concern," Yes" said the hen." Come down and let me stroke your feathers," said the sly fox. " It will help you recover ." 

No , thank you." Said the hen , politely. "My chances of recovery are far better if I stay up here."

The fox realised that the hen could not be tricked into coming down and went away.

Moral: Insincerity breeds 🤨

(A1)Seeds Of Joy

Sirur Village wore a festive look.It was the harvest season and the farmers looked forward to the results of the contest which the village administration ran every year.Who would get the award for the best quality crop? The Farmers had assembled under the Banyan tree and the headman announced the name: Chandu! 

The result came as no surprise though it did cause a flutter.It was Chandu who bagged attractive prizes every year without fail.

Chandu was hardworking and had a through knowledge of farming.He wasad very popular, particularly because of the excellent quality of maize that he grew in his farm.

The village headman was curious to know how Chandu's produce was consistently good.

He spoke to a few farmers in the village and to his surprise,he learnt that Chandu shared his seeds with them.

He then called Chandu and asked him why he shared his seeds with the other farmers who were also his competitors .

Chandu said " Haven't you heard about cross -pollination ,sir? The wind scatters seeds from crops in the nearby farms.If those crops are of Poor quality,they will affect the quality of my crops.That is why I share my seed with others."

The headman was surprised and enlightened by Chandu's reasoning:If you want to live happily,keep others happy.

(A2) A Little Round Bun

A long time ago,there lived a poor old woman.One day, when she opened the tin of flour to bake buns for breakfast,she found it was empty.

"How will I make buns now?She said to her husband.

"Scrape out whatever is stuck to the tin and make a small bun!" replied her husband.

The old woman did as she was told,and in no time at all,she had a tiny bun baking in the oven.When it was ready ,the old woman left it to cool on the windowsill.

The little I round bun had others plan.

"Smart and round but little I am,yet,none will I let to eat me with jam! Sang the bun and jumped out of the wondow, straight onto the road.

A rabbit saw the bun and picked it up but the bun cried out,You can't eat me! I was scraped from the flour tin ,baked in an oven and left to cool on the window sill,from where I jumped down, I escaped from grandma and grandpa,and I plan to escape from you.

"A talking bun! said the surprised rabbit, dropping the bun down in horror.The little round bun rolled away.

A wolf saw the bun,Smacking his lips in anticipation,he went to pick it up, but was shocked when the bun began to tell it's story.

" I ran away from grandma and grandpa! I didn't let rabbit catch me! I shall not let you catch me either! Shouted the bun,and before the wolf could get over his shock,it rolled away.

A wolf saw the bun Smacking his lips in anticipation,he went to pick it up,but was shocked when the bun began to tell it's story.

"I ran away from grandma and grandpa!

I didn't let rabbit catch me! I shall not let you catch me either!" Shouted the bun,and before the wolf could get over his shock ,it rolled away .

The bun hadn't gone far when it saw a bear.The bear's mouth watered as he saw the bun.Just as he was about to pick it up,the bun began to tell it's story,and like the rabbit and the wolf, the bear too was stunned and stood rooted to the ground while the bun rolled away.

By and by ,came a cunning fox, "A little round bun! Yummy! he cried out aloud and picked it up .

Wait! begged the bun , please listen to my story before you eat me.!

"Sure" replied the fox, not one to get easily perturbed. " I suggested that youk hop onto my tongue so I can hear you better! 

The bun hopped on to the fox's tongue and as the bun began to tell it's story,the 

greedy fox curled his tongue,and into his mouth went the bun.! And that was the end of the little round bun that was made from the flour scraped out from the flour tin,baked in an oven  and kept to cool on the window.And though it had escaped from grandma and grandpa, rabbit,wolf and the bear,It could not escape from the clutches of Cunning Fox.

(A3) The Disobedient Girl 

In the tiny island of Roti there are only Kampungs (Villages) . In one of these kampungs there once lived an old woman and  her grand daughter. There home was only a small square room. Behind this modest house they grew a few vegetables, some peanuts and kassava. 

The produce was hardly sufficient for them both. So the old woman went daily to catch some fish in the sea.

The small girl stayed home to do the cooking. By noon the old woman return with a basket full of fish which they grilled. They had lunch and dinner together everyday. 

One day before the old woman went out to fish she told the girl:" Today it would be enough to cook only one grain of rice for both of us." 

After the old woman left, the small girl began to think. She could not quite understand. What  was  the use of cooking only one grain? It was difficult to do and surely not enough for both of them. 

She took two hands full of rice. She made the fire and put the rice on the boil. After an hour she  opened the cover of the rice pot. To her surprise the rice was like a puree and it flowed out of the pot. It flowed and flowed without stopping.

The little girl was shocked and frightened. She wept: " What am I  to do? How can I stop this? 

She ran to and fro in the tiny room, quite bewildered.

The soft porridge of rice was still pouring out of the pot . The room  was soon covered with the stuff and then began to flow out of the room into the yard outside.

The small girl ran for her grandmother and the sticky porridge followed her. She cried out to the grandmother what had happened and pointed to the river of porridge  behind her.

The grandmother got furious. She picked up a piece of wood from the ground and struck the girl with it . The little girl screamed in pain and fell. Suddenly....the girl vanished.

Where the girl had fallen the grandmother beheld a little monkey.

The monkey laughed , jumping up and down on his feet and then   ran up a tree nearby.

" Grandmother, I am no more. Now you are alone. Nobody to help you. There is nobody to cook for you. And nobody will make you coffee." Then even the monkey disappeared . 

The old woman was exceedingly sorry that she had hit her - grandchild. True , now she was all alone. She would have nobody to talk with .There would be no one to look after her .

People on the island of Roti still never hit their children or anyone else's child . They are afraid the child will turn into a monkey.

(A4) Not far From A Donkey  

The Hodja called on Timur Leng (  Timur the Lame) . The conqueror's lame leg was paining him. The leg in pain was stretched in front of him. So he could not get up to receive the Hodja as was the custom. He asked the Hodja to sit on the carpet near him.

The Hodja was angry, thinking that Timur had slighted him. He did not know that Timur's lame leg was hurting him. Sitting down he too stuck out a leg, in front of Timur. 

Timur was angry.  " Hodja" he said insultingly, " You are not far removed from a donkey."

"No' replied the Hodja, " I am Only a couple of yards  from him. 

Pig and Leopard

A pig and a leopard were very good friends. The pig had seven children and the leopard had two. The leopard's children were big and the pig's were small.

Both the pig and the leopard had gone to the jungle in search of food. The children of both were playing in the house. While playing, they had a fight. The leopard's children threatened the pig's children - "Don't play with us or else we will drink your blood." The pig's children would get scared and become quiet. When the sow came home in the evening, the children told their mother - "Mother, the leopard's children said, we will drink your blood." The sow laughed and avoided it. She thought "It's a fight between children."

The next day morning the sow and the leopard again went to the jungle. Seeing the opportunity, the leopard's cub attacked the pig's cub. The pig's cub was dripping blood and the leopard's cub was drinking it. The pig's cub started crying "Keer Keer". When the sow returned in the evening, she got very angry seeing this. The leopard's cub left her and ran away.

The sow was angry.  She started to leave from there with her children. The leopard started to persuade her. He said, "Come back, come back! Oh my friend! Does anyone get so upset when children fight?"

The sow said angrily, "I will not return now." And she went away with her children making sounds like 'Doh Dooh'!

It is a long story. If you understand it, it is yours, if you don't understand it, it is ours.

The Sultan And The Pious Baker 

There once was a Sultan of Iran who was quite unconventional in his behaviour. He was particular to know at first hand what was happening in his country. Sometimes he would disguise himself as a beggar, and at other times as a dervish , and then he would wander in the city, after sunset. He would thus meet the people, mingle in the crowds and talk to his subjects, nobody recognising him. 

One such evening, on his usual jaunt through the bazaar , He passed by a baker's Shop. Inside the shop he heard sounds of prayer. He stopped and peeped into the bakery. He found a man weighing flour and reciting aloud the verses from the Holy  Quran: " Allah's will be done! What Allah has willed, so be it!" 

The Sultan stopped for a while and thought to himself:" Either the baker is a pious and honest man or he is a wolf in a sheep's garb. I must find out the truth. I must test his integrity! " 

The Sultan said to the baker: "Good man! I need a loaf of bread but don't have a tuman on me to pay its cost.  I have this ring which you can keep as a pledge and you just give me a loaf. By the bye ,  the ring costs two thousand tumans ."  So saying the Sultan took his ring off, gave it to the baker and took his loaf of bread. The baker put the ring  in the money counter rather casually, along with other coins.

The Sultan returned to the palace at night . He told his Vizier the whole episode. After that he ordered the Vizier : Get the ring back from the baker without him knowing that I had been there, and return it to me." 

The following day the Vizier went to the bazaar accompanied by a couple of servants. An announcement was made in the bazaar immediately: "I am from the Government. My job is to check all traders " weights and scales to make sure that people are not cheated in shopping." The men went from shop to shop  inspecting weights , scales and prices. At last they arrived at the bakers shop. The gentle and pious baker welcomed the government officials, took them inside and asked them to do what they had come for. The Vizier said : Good man , your business dealings. Could we also  check the floor weighing scale?"

" By all means " said the baker . " I will fetch them from inside the store," and went in. When the baker was getting the scales the storehouse, the Vizier opened the money counter drawers , searched for the Sultan's ring, found it and quickly put it in his pocket. Meanwhile, the baker returned with the scales , and showed them to the inspectors.

As an honest soul , the baker hardly suspected any fraud. After the Vizier-  delighted at his easy success in retrieving the Sultan's ring - left, the baker went on calmly with his chores.

The Sultan, receiving the  ring , put it on his finger. The matter wasn't going to end there. The Sultan dispatched a servant to fetch the baker. 

The baker was brought before the Sultan. " Good man , last evening I bought a loaf of bread from your shop and pawned a ring with you because I didn't have money on me. Now I'll give you the price of the loaf and let me have my ring back." The ruler added , " Of course, I was dressed as a dervish , that time." 

"Your Majesty "  said the baker , I am sorry to tell you that the ring has disappeared from my chest." 

" Disappeared " shouted the Sultan, why should my ring , of all  your things, disappear? Return my ring or pay me it's cost of two thousand tumans ." 

Bewildered, the baker begged in distress that he be given a few days to search for the ring and find out what had happened to it.

"You shall be given ten days to produce the ring or it's worth in tumans " Said the Sultan. " And if you fail to produce either, you will  be executed." 

It was a sad baker  who returned to his home . Praying, he said , as usual : Allah 's will be done! What Allah has willed , so be it "! He repeated the lines over and over again, as was his wont.

Eight days passed thus . The poor baker couldn't find the ring, nor was he able to put it together two thousand tumans. It so happened that the Sultan had gone on a hunt. He rested his steed by the stream and himself went to refresh himself with the cool stream water. While he dipped his hands in the water , the ring slipped out of his finger, and was swept off by the current.  Further down a fisherman was catching fish. When he got a good catch he left for the bazaar to self his wares.

By now the helpless baker was convinced that he would be beheaded in two days hence. He heard the  fishermen Hawking his fish. "Wife" he said , "let me have good grub, for I have to die soon at the order of the Sultan. Do buy this fresh fish, cook it deftly, for it may well be your husband's last meal! Let us enjoy ourselves while we are able."

She brought two large fish and placed them on the board in the kitchen to open their stomachs for cleaning. Lo and behold; there was a beautiful ring in the stomach of one fish! The woman  cried in joy, " Husband  , there is a beautiful ring which I found in the  stomach of one fish." The baker took a look at the ring. It was the very ring which the sultan had given to him. " Allah 's will be done ! What Allah has willed , so be it! he said his favourite lines as usual,

The following day , he went to the palace and humbly handed the ring over to the Sultan. 

The Sultan examined the ring carefully. He was surprised to see that it was the same ring- the  ring in dispute -the very ring that had slipped off his finger into the stream. He was awed at this miraculous coincidence, in which  he saw the hand of Allah. He realized in good time that he had asked the baker to do the impossible (For the ring was with him)  and yet Allah's intervention had saved the baker. 

The baker stood motionless. The Sultan got up graciously and patted the baker's shoulder. " God has taken care of you, my pious friends, the Sultan said to him. The baker was richly rewarded, and clothed in a robe of honor. In course of time, he became one of the court favorites.

ABOUT THE COLLECTOR OF FOLK TALES 

Lalit Mohan Shukla is a distinguished author and visionary, celebrated for his exceptional ability to craft literature that resonates with the masses. Having penned numerous e-books and books across a wide range of subjects, his writings reflect a profound understanding of societal needs, combined with a compassionate desire to make knowledge accessible to all. His works are not merely informative; they are meticulously researched, deeply insightful, and crafted in a language that invites readers from all walks of life. His unique writing style, blending clarity with eloquence, ensures that his books serve as both educational tools and sources of inspiration.

In his latest literary endeavor, Lalit Mohan Shukla delves into the realm of folklore, collecting and translating folk tales that have been passed down through generations. These stories, rich in cultural heritage, contain invaluable lessons, and Shukla’s masterful translations bring these hidden gems to light. His delicate yet powerful narrative style captures the essence of these age-old tales, preserving their authenticity while making them accessible to contemporary readers. His writing radiates a deep respect for tradition and history, while simultaneously drawing attention to the timeless wisdom and moral underpinnings embedded in these folk narratives.

What sets Shukla apart as a writer is his unwavering commitment to using literature as a tool for empowerment. His translations of folk tales are not just stories; they are treasures of human experience, meant to enrich, educate, and inspire the masses. Shukla's literary prowess is evident in his ability to convey complex ideas with simplicity, making his books a delightful experience for both the casual reader and the avid scholar. His contributions to literature reflect an enduring dedication to preserving cultural heritage, while his captivating storytelling continues to touch hearts and minds across generations.