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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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In search of a chief advisor Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra "I want to appoint our court jester to the post of the chief advisor," said the King to the Queen, while they were partaking of the royal meal. "What makes you decide that?" I asked the Queen "I am sure he will do a brilliant job." "But can't you think of another suitable person?" "Whom do you think is suited?" "What about my own brother?" "No. I don't think your brother can be a good advisor." "How do you know?" "I have observed his behaviour." "But you should try him." The King kept silent. The following day the King wanted to appoint the royal jester as the chief advisor. But the Queen was the stumbling block, for she insisted that her brother be given that post. "After all, he is my own brother. He should hold a good royal position," she remarked. "Alright, I must test his calibre. Will you ask him to see me tomorrow," asked the King trying to console the Queen. While the Queen sent a message to her brother requesting him to pay a visit to the royal palace, the King sat pondering on the type of test he should hold to appoint his brother-in-law. Meanwhile the court jester was also summoned. He came as soon as the message reached him. "Yes My Majesty, what can I do for you?" asked the court jester in a light tone. "I want you to take two or three days leave from the royal palace," said the King. "As you please My Majesty. But may I know why I should take leave?" "I have seen that you are a good jester. I feel that in order to function better you should take leave for a couple of days and return only on my command to the royal palace. But I insist on one thing!" "May I know that oh Great Majesty?" "You should never reveal the fact that you are my royal court jester." The court jester smiled sensing that there is something fishy about the royal functions. "Keep this bag of gold coins with you and see that you live happily until I ask you to return," requested the King. The court jester did not show any change in his face though he was puzzled over the behaviour of the King. "May all powers of the universe protect you Great Majesty," said the court jester leaving the royal court premises. Then came the brother of the Queen well dressed in order to accept the new royal position of the advisor. "I want to test your intelligence," said the King and handed over a gold coin. "I want you to make one hundred gold coins within one day with this single gold coin." While the Queen was observing the event, her brother nodded his head in agreement and went out, wondering, how he can make one hundred gold coins out of just one gold coin. He went on thinking but he could not arrive at an answer. The following day the brother of the Queen came to the palace in a sad mood. "Did you succeed in making hundred gold coins out of one gold coin?" asked the King in the presence of the Queen. He replied in the negative. "There you are! You have failed the test and I cannot appoint you as my chief advisor," the King said. More than the brother, it was his sister the Queen who was dismayed. But this time she didn't argue and asked, "So do you think that your court jester can do it?" "Let's test him," said the King and sent a message to the court jester. "Did you enjoy your vacation?" the King asked the court jester. "Certainly my Great Majesty." "Are you relaxed?" "Certainly Great Majesty." "I want you to accept this gold coin and make hundred gold coins within a day. Can you do it?" "Certainly Great Majesty." Having accepted the gold coin, the court jester went out to the town, where jewellers, goldsmiths and pawn brokers lived with their exorbitant earnings. He obtained a spool of thread and got the help of a servant to hold one end of the thread in his hand, and measure the extent of land occupied by the jewellers, the goldsmiths, and the pawn brokers. This queer act was brought to the notice of the occupants of the land. They came one by one to see him and asked, "What are you doing with this spool of thread?" "I am measuring your land." "For what reason?" "I have been entrusted this duty by the King," he claimed. "What sort of a job is that?" they asked. "This land occupied by you all will soon be a royal complex for farmers, for we need more food than jewels and gold!" "Oh dear great jester save us from this calamity. We will do anything for you," they all cried out in unison. "Then all you should do is raise a fund of gold coins, and hand that over to me immediately," he told them. The jewellers and goldsmiths, discussed among themselves and raised a fund amounting to more than hundred gold coins. They met the court jester and handed over the bag of gold coins to him. "Alright now go on doing your work, I will inform our King to stop his new plan of action," the jester said and the jewellers, goldsmiths and pawn brokers went off happily. The court jester then met the King and handed over the bag of gold coins, but did not say how he obtained it. "That's a top secret," he said. "You are my chief advisor with immediate effect," said the King. |
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