The Folk Tales From Kannauj, page 1
The Folk Tales From
Kannauj
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Folk Tales From Kannauj
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C Ram
PublishedBy:
BOOKRIVERS
Website: www.bookrivers.com Email:publish@bookrivers.com Place: Lucknow
Year: 2023
MRP: 190/-INR
ISBN:978-93-5842-188-0
Copyright©:CRAM
AllRightsReserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by anymeans, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.
[PRINTEDININDIA]
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DEDICATION
Thisbookisdedicated,firstly,tomyRespected father, Late Shri G Prasad. In fact, these stories are his precious gift to me. Had he not told me these stories in my childhood, this story book could have never come into existence.
Secondly, the book is dedicated to my loving wife, Late ShrimatiKamla who always used to pressurize me to write thesestoriesinabookformasandwhenshesawmeidleor being busy with the idiot box.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The contributions and the joint efforts obviously generate new things in a better way. My close relatives and friends havemade valuable contributions in bringing out this book. Without their help and support, writing of this book, could havenotbeenpossible.So, Igivemyheartfeltthankstomy beloved wife late ShrimatiKamla and daughter Dr. Savita Biswaswho used to motivate and persuade me times and againtopendown these stories. Ithank mygranddaughter, RuchikaAhirwar, who being a graduate in Animation and Multimedia has provided the cover pictures of this book.I thank my senior University fellow ShriNatha Ram, aretiredDirectorfrom NCDC, whogavehis precioustimeto read the draft of the stories and suggested some minor changesin the climax offirst two stories. These changes have improved the themes. However, the main themes of the stories remained unchanged. I also thank my Golfing Friend Shri Rajiv Kumar Suri for rendering the help in finding out a suitable title for this book.
In the end, Ithank mypublisher who has been kind enough to publish this book.
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PREFACE
The stories in this book were told by my father in my child hood in the local Hindi dialect. He used to put me to sleep by telling these stories. As I grew up, I used to tell these stories to myfriends, relatives and later on to children, thus Ibecameagoodstoryteller.Thestoriesweresofascinating and absorbing that most of them used to press me to write and compile into a storybook. In pursuant to their pressing demand, I had to start writing and compiling this book. But due to huge gap of time, many links of the stories were missing. Hence Ihad to work hard to restore or recreate the links through my creative thoughts to complete the stories.
I found a better opportunity during the lockdown period of Covid-19 and made it’s best use in writing these stories. This is how this story book came into existence. The book is very interesting. These are simple but amazing stories. If one starts reading the stories, would never like to leave any portion unread till their ends. The contents of this book will give a lot of satisfaction and amusement to the readers. I am sure that people and children will thoroughly enjoy reading this book.
I am not a regular writer. I have written this book as a freelancer on persuasion by my close relations and friends asbrought out above.Thoughall possibleefforts havebeen made to depict the correct English, still a few grammatical/ spelling mistakes cannot be overruled. The readers are requested to kindly bear with the Author.
THE STORIES
The Ist story, Thug of Thugs is about the wits of battle between the four seasoned cheats and a debutant young man who is crazy to become a cheater. The young man being smarter, wins the battle in cheating. However, he mended his ways and became gentleman under the sustained coxing efforts of his mother. In turn, he also reformed the four cheats, who left the cheating forever and became the honest persons.
The second story is about a long fight between a good man and a bad man. As usual, the good man defeated the bad man through his strong ethical will of honest character. In the last, the bad man had to change himself also duly impressed by the decent and honest deeds of good man.
The third story is about the mentally retarded seven brothers who left their village for better avenues but had to come back to their village under forced circumstances. The village teacher and the village Dr worked hard for months together to bring them back as normal persons. The villagers were very happy to see them improved as gentlemen.
CONTENTS
S.No.
Title
Page No.
Dedication........................................
iii
Acknowledgements.............................
v
Preface............................................
vii
The stories.......................................
ix
1.
The Thug of Thugs.............................
1-34
2.
Gentle Man V/S Wicked Man— Nek Chand V/S Badi Chand.................
35-54
3.
The Seven Bothers.............................
55-73
Kannauj..........................................
74
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TheThugofThugs
hereliveda widow Shantiinavillagewithher only son Shambhu. Her husband had died long back. He wastheonlyearningmemberofthefamily.The
mother and the son were passing their days in poverty.They did not have their own land to cultivate. So, perforce, they had to work as village labourers that too on the availability of work. In addition, sometimes, they used to earn paltry extra money by the sale of self-made baskets of Bamboo and Dates leaves, but still, it was not sufficient for theirsmooth living. The motherand the son used to discuss with each other to find out the ways and means to enhance earnings for their comfortable living.
One day, they were conversing on the same issue, when Shambhu asked his mother, “O ! Mother! Tell me how my father was earning our livelihood? I still,remember those days of ourcomforts when father was alive. You may recall my childhood mother ! I used to get everything I wanted.” Shanti replied softly, “Forget your father’s way of earning. His mode of earning was very tuff and prone to many risks which is not easily feasible these days due to much improved law and order situation. You are still a child for that profession. You may not be able to operateitatparwithyourfather’sperfection.Furthermore,
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I won’t recommend you this mode of earning as it is riskier.” “O ! Mother! Why do you under estimate my ability? Please tell me what he was doing and how he used to get a good earning?" asked Shambhu again. Seeing no positive response from his mother, he threatened her, “Mother! I will go without food if you don’t tell me the truth about father’s way of earning.” Shambhu’s trick worked well to scare Shanti.
She easily yielded to Shambhu’s demand and said, “Son ! If you insist so much, now listen, your father was a great cheat of his time but it was never known to anyone except me and it remained a secret.” The mother continued saying, “Your father was having good earning in cash and kind by cheating (Thugai). He was doing it very cleverly with all his competence. It is abad wayofearning and very unsafe for your life. Being an old woman, I don’t want to see you in any bad situation. This is such a profession that may land you into trouble anytime. Therefore, I would like you to go for some betterway of earning which should be safetoavoidunforeseenmiseriesin yourlife.“Oh!Mother! I have made up my mind. I want to earn in my father’s way whichmaybeforalimitedperiod. Lateron, Imightthink to leave it,” said Shambhu. He further spoke, “I will be cheating with better skills. The law and order will not be able to touch me.” Shanti said, “Oh God! How the time has changed. The younger generation does not listen to thegood guidance of their elders. She hesitatingly said with anger, “Do whatever you like. But I will still advise you to choose a better way.” However, Shambhu had made up his mind and decided to choose the path of cheating.
A few days passed in makingnecessaryarrangements of fresh/unperishable food stuff, needy clothing and funds of Rs 500/-. The day came when Shambhu was to leave his house. He touched his mother's feet to seek her blessings. Shanti blessedhersonwith aheavyheart.SoonerShambhu left the house, she got worried and got emotional as her the only son was going away from her to an unknown destination for the first time to begin with his new life inthe uncertain world ofcheating. Shekept on looking at him till he disappeared completely from the sight.
Shambhu walked on zigzag, narrow and rough paths of the rural areas for quite some time and then entered the jungle. As he went into the scattered jungle, it had become noon. Shambhu saw a few men sitting on a well under a dense Banayan tree. Actually, they were wicked professional Thugs. Malkhan and Sulkhan were realbothers and so were Tika and Bhikam. They all were cousins too and were on a hunt of an easy prey for cheating. As soon as Shambhu reached the well, one of them asked, “Hello friend ! Why are you walking so fast in this hot afternoon? Come here, have some rest and refreshments, let it get cooler by late noon and then begin your further journey.” Shambhu was also feeling tired sohe agreed to jointhem.
Sooner the refreshment was over, Malkhan asked
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further, “Now, we are five friends together.” (During the introductory conversation, they could make out that Shambhu was carrying Rs 500/-. Shambhu also came to know that Malkhan and Sulkhan had a sister named Gomti and Tika and Bhikam had a sister named Sheela. Theyboth were of marriageable age.) All four cheats decided to cheat Shambhu’s Rs 500/- through their marked hints.
Then Malkhan came on to the real business. He said hello friends, “It is very hot afternoon, let us pass these hot hours in gossipingand tellingstories. Everyonehas to tell a story. I am taking the lead in telling the story first.” He continued, “Before I begin telling the story. You all must know the terms and conditions. After I finish telling the story, you will all have to accept its trueness. If any one of youdoesnotacceptittrue,he hastopay a fine ofRs 500/-.” Since the cousins knew the plan to cheat Shambhu, they agreed with the condition and began listening to their brother's story. But Shambhu took some time in replying. He thought, “If Isaythestory is wrong then I have to pay him Rs 500/- which I require for my future, so Icannot afford to lose that money even if his story is wrong.” Thus he decided to save his money at all costs. After deep thinking, Shambhu replied, “Iaccept the condition.” He also decided to remain calm, cool and careful before saying anything. He determinedto saythat thestorywas trueeven if it was false. He kept the word true, true and true in his mind.
Malkhan started telling the story, “My father had abig sized goat and she was very heavily fed with green fodderandarationofherlikingswithsufficientfreshand
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clean water bymyfather. She used to produce milk in such largequantities that it could easilymeet everyone's demand for milk, curd, butter and ghee of all his villagers. Myfather was very famous and widely known as the Lord of Miraculous Milk Goat. Here ends my story.All of you have to agree to the trueness of my story whosoever does not agree, will have to paymeRs 500/-right now.”At veryoutsetallthe three Thugs agreedtothe correctnessof Malkhan’s story and started looking at Shambhu with curiosityhoping that he would denyits trueness and sayit's a big lie,thus he will have to pay the fine of Rs 500/-. But to their utter surprise, Shambhu also accepted the trueness of the story. The four cousinsgot adeep shock as they had never expected such an answer from him. Their first attempt of cheating out rightly failed.
After some silence, Sulkhan started speaking, “This story has two parts, the first part has just got over. The second part is to be told and Ibeing Malkhan's real brother, have to complete the story. The terms and conditions for accepting its trueness or otherwise will remain the same. However, it is reiterated that non- accepter of trueness of the story will have to pay me a fine of Rs 500/-, kindly confirm accordingly.” Everyone even Shambhu agreed on his terms. By now, Shambhu fully understood that the brothers were cheaters and wanted to take away his Rs500/- by hook or crook.
Sulkhanstartedthestoryfurther,“Asthetimepassed, the Goat became older and one day she died after a prolongedillness.Myfathercutoutherudderwithboththe teatsandgotthemfixedinthecentreofthelowersurface
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of the house roof. Immediately, the milk started pouring heavily from the roof. We started collecting the heavy downpourofmilk in our largest availablecontainers. When the continuous down pour of milk did not stop and became outofcontrol,we called ourneighboursto fillup theirmilk containers to their fullest capacityor as much as they could manage to take. But to our dismay, the nonstop down pour of milk really looked like a miracle. So we had to call people from the surrounding villages to also collect milk as much as they could carry. Many people from the surrounding villages came to collect the milk. But the downpour of milk did not stop at all.”
He continued, “Our relatives got worried due to the endless downpour of the milk which started flooding our houses.Themilkcamedownsomuchthatmyvillageand a few surrounding villages were washed away in the milk flood.Myparents and villagershad to run awayto safetyto save their lives. This is the end of my story. If you all find ittrue, it’s alright but if any oneof you does not accept this as a true story,should pay me Rs 500/-.” The cousins accepted thetrueness of the story immediately. Since Shambhu had understood their tricky plan to cheat him, he easilyaccepted the trueness of this storytoo. His acceptance of its trueness blew off their minds badly. By now, they allclearly understood that it was not easy to cheat Shambhu. Their worry to cheat Shambhu was clearly seen on their faces when they conversed through their hints with each other.
Now it was Tika's turn to tell his story, so he said, “I alsohaveaninterestingstorytotellyouall.It'sabouta
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miraculous Gram plant. The terms and conditions will remain the same. The person who disagrees with the trueness of my story has to pay me Rs 500/-. Do you all agree?" All three brothers agreed, and so Shambhu also agreed.
Tika started telling the story, “My father had sowed Gram pulse in one acre of land fullyprepared with required manures and sufficient moisture for suitable germination of the seeds. But not a single seedling germinated. This was very strange as it had never happened before. Taking the crop failure as granted, my father started re-ploughing the field for re-sowing. While re-ploughing, he saw a very healthy Gram plant, well built and fast growing with an extraordinary paceofgrowthinthemiddleofhisfield. The plant was growing miraculously faster which madehim stop ploughing further. He left the field on God'smercy and waited to see the gram plant grow. The Gram plant kept on growing taller and bushier and became a tiny forest of Gram plants within a month. It did not only cover his area of one acre but also the surrounding fields of other villagers. The villagers were quite unhappy as their fields were covered by the huge Gram Trees. My father assured the affected field owners that they all will be well compensated with the Gram produce as a bumper crop is likelyto be harvested this season. Hereends mystory.”He further told “You all have to say yes to the trueness of my story otherwise pay me Rs 500/.” The three cousins asusual agreed to the trueness of the story. Shambhu also agreed.Bynow,allthefourbrotherswerefeelingfrustrated and worried as Shambhu was not falling into their trap.
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Nowitwas Bhikam'sturntotellthestory.Sohe said, “This story is still incomplete. It also has two parts. You just heard the first part. I being Tika's real brother, has to complete this story by telling you the second part.
Thetermsandconditions willremainthesameas that ofmyelderbrother.”Herestartedtellingthestory, “Since Gram Trees had spread overtoo manyacres of land, my father had to employ many labourers with saws and axesto cut and fall down the heavy Gram trees. It took many days for cuttingand felling down the Gram tree as it contained huge trunks-logs branches, leaves and podswhich were full of Gram. Its collected dry material itself covered more than one acre of land for thrashing and winnowing.”
Hecontinuedsaying, “Duetohugebumperharvestof Gram crop, my father had to arrange perforce six pairs of Camels on hire for thrashing. (breaking Gram leaves and pods etc) While the thrashing was going on in a normal way, suddenly one of the camels disappeared from the scene right in front of our eyes. The loss of a camel was quite surprising and unbecoming of an event as we had neverheardofsuchanincidentbefore.Weallwereamazed and shocked. We tried our best to search for it wherever possible. But we could not trace it out. Thus we all were quite disturbed with this strange heavy loss. Any how the winnowingpartoftheprocesswascompletedandtheGram grains were separated. The huge bumper crop of Gram grains obtained this year was like never before in thehistory of farming. The farmers of our surrounding whose fieldswerecoveredbytheGramplantwereappropriately
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compensated with the Gram produce. The Grams dulyfilled in bags were stacked properlyin the grain go down of our house and out houses. We all had lost the hope of getting the camel back. One day, while in the fields, we desired to eat the Fritters (Pakaudas). So our mother was making the fritters from the flour of the same Grams (Besan) in a KADHAI under a tree. When she had made half the fritters, the vanished Camel (at the time of thrashing) came out crying from the boiling oil of Kadhai, creating a very dreadful scene. He wanted to run away but we caught hold of it then and there. The re appearance of the camel from the Kadhai was more astonishing than its disappearance. It was really an astounding and sensational wonder.”
