Oh
to be in India, a land of great diversity and yet with a unique unity
of its own kind. The great mountains with their snow caps sweeping
down to the stark sandy deserts interspersed with tiny gurgling
rivulets, passing thru peaceful valleys showing every shade of green
and rainbow color ever visualized.
The
local costumes can put the greatest designers to shame, the plains
filled with the perennial vibrancy of a thriving life. All this
surrounded on three sides with different hued oceans, green, blue or
a spectacular mixture.
Sounds
and songs that could teach the rhythms of nature. People so
hospitable that every home feels like your own. Today this beloved
land of the Gods is racing ahead of every nation.
Once
upon a time there lived in this land a great king who had the best
and most intelligent men of those times in his court. Now it so
happened that a sculptor brought 3 identical statues to his court and
challenged the king to point out the best one. He asked for half the
kingdom as a reward if it could not be done.
The
king asked his courtiers to have a look and pick out the best. Many
came and inspected each one from top to toe, however none could pick
out one as the best – for each statue looked identical to a “T”
to the other.
A
day passed –then two, still everyone drew a blank. Seeing the
king’s consternation a man, well known for his ready wit, came
forward. He looked at each statue and realized that 2 of them had 2
holes each and the third one had only 1 hole, he declared that not
only was the third the best but that he would also make the best
courtier and friend to the king, if he were alive.
The
king’s court was eager to know the reasoning for this conclusion.
On being questioned he gave his reply as:
1.
The first had 2 holes, 1 in the left ear and the other in the right
ear. He passed a wire thru the 2 holes and said that this type of
person was either a dumb or a lazy person who would not be able to
understand anything/ or would not be interested in the least as to
what was being said, it would be a case of “water over a duck’s
back”/ “in thru one ear and out thru the other” with nothing
and no brains in between.
2.
The 2nd statue too had 2 holes, one like the first in the right ear
but the 2nd in the mouth. He again passed a wire thru them and said
that this person would not only be a bad friend but a potentially
dangerous courtier, if he were alive. He would be a blabber mouth and
a person who would give out secrets without thinking of the
consequences. A case of “yakity yak” or “all air but no
substance”.
3.
The 3rd he pointed had only 1 hole in the ear, when he tried to pass
a wire thru, it went in but did not come out anywhere. He declared
this type of person would be a true friend who would listen and keep
all that he knew to himself like a good courtier should. He also said
that it was also the way to gain knowledge - listen, think,
absorb. This was the best statue among the 3 for those reasons.
The
sculptor was taken aback at this person’s intelligence and
foresight and admitted that he was correct. A little observation and
application of common sense never goes waste. What say?
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