Indian Fairy Tales – All is Well, The Friends Test

by with No Comment Folklore

All is Always Well

Once upon a time, there lived a King Sivarama Pandiyan. He was famous for his rule in the kingdom, supported by his able and intelligent ministers. One day, the King cut his fingers while eating fruits. On seeing this, his minister Veeraramaiah told that” All is well “. The King got angry and ordered to put him in prison.

On that day, the King went to forest for hunting. He was caught by forest bush men and was about to be killed. But suddenly one man saw that King’s finger had an injury. They left the King free, since they had a belief that the person who was offered for their God should be free from any injuries or marks in their body. So the King escaped luckily.

Then he returned to the palace and went to the prison. The King told this to Veeraramaiah. He again said,” All is well “. The King was curious this time and asked his explanation. He told that the King escaped due to the wound and he himself escaped since he was prison. Otherwise he would be with King and would be killed by the forest bush men. Now the King appreciated him for his positive attitude.

Moral: “All is well – Everything happens for the good!”

The Friends Test

 

Ramu and Somu were friends. One day they were travelling through a forest. At that time, Somu saw a bear coming towards them. Suddenly he climbed over a tree nearby. Ramu was totally confused and could not understand Somu. The bear was coming very near.

Ramu did not know climbing. He was much worried. Suddenly he got an idea and lay down on the ground. He also controlled his breath and acted like dead. The bear came near him and thought he was dead. So it went away.

After some time, Somu came down from the tree and asked Ramu ‘What did the bear told him in his ears?’ Ramu said that it asked me to avoid friends like you. Somu felt ashamed and asked sorry to him.

Moral: “Good friends are those who help during difficult times”.

Illustrated by Shruti Prabhu. Compiled by Vasantha Vivek

Indian Historical Stories – Chetak The Immortal Blue Horse

by Folklore

Chetak : The Immortal Blue Horse

 

Battles are won and lost. Leaving behind stories of heroes. Often times in war, it is not only the men fighting but the animals who fight for them that make for tales of glory.

Chetak was the horse of Maharana Pratap, whose role in the battle of Haldighati is worth repeating. Folklore has it that Chetak coat had a blue tinge to it. That is why Maharana Pratap is  often referred  to as the “Rider of the Blue Horse”.

Mahrana Pratap SIngh, King of Mewar found his biggest rival in the then Emperor of India Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar. Akbar was the one because of whom Pratap’s father had to flee from Chittorgarh and establish a new empire in Udaipur. Many Rajput Chiefs had expressed their loyalty towards Akbar but not Maharana Pratap.

The animosity brought the troops of Akbar and Maharana face to face in the battle of Haldighati. Pratap’s forces were decisively outnumbered but Maharana Pratap stood strong riding his royal, fearless horse Chetak. WhenMaharana Pratap realized that the battle was slipping away from his hands, he charged the elephant of the appointed captain of Akbar’s troops, Raja Man Singh. Pratap made a frontal charge and his fearless horse Chetak reared high in the air and planted his hooves on the forehead of the elephant. Pratap threw his lance towards Man Singh but missed.

During this hustle one of the tusks of the elephant tore Chetak’s rear leg, crippling him. This was a pivotal moment in the battle. Maharana Pratap had to retreat .

Inspite of his fatal would, Chetak  ran for miles and miles, even jumping high and through a river to get his master to safety.  Once assured that his master was out of danger ,Chetak collapsed and let out his last breath.

Chetak’s heroic act of bravery and loyalty towards his master made everyone forget the defeat Maharana Pratap had to face during the battle. Instead, it is his  his death that  has been immortalized in the ballads of Rajasthan.

Moral : Bravery displayed in the face of challenges becomes immortalized.

Illustrated by Shruti Prabhu. Retold by Vinni Mishra