A courageous little boy

This is a true story which I was told, a long, long time ago, by one who had been in Hyderabad and had heard or read about this incident in a newspaper.

Hyderabad is a State in India. Before India got independence from Britain in 1947, there were independent states. They were not under British rule. The rulers of these states were called Raja, but the ruler of Hyderabad was called Nizams.

The Nizams of Hyderabad were very rich, but this particular Nizam, His Highness Nawab Mur Mahbob Ali Khan was very much richer than the Nizams who ruled Hyderabad before him. He had more money than he himself knew; not only money but also diamonds and pearls, rubies and sapphires, gold and silver.

This Nizam was known to be the richest in the whole world, at that time.The Nizam of Hyderabad, liked going for a ride on his favourite horse in the evening when the sun's rays were soft. Whenever the Nizam came out, it was the practice of his men to go before him and clear the road of loiterers and the curious crowd.

It was not that the Nizam was afraid that someone might fling a dagger at him and attempt to kill him because he was liked by all his people. He had no reason to be afraid. It was done more as a mark of respect to a beloved ruler.

One day when the Nizam's men went to clear the road, about an hour before the Nizam came riding on his favourite horse, they saw a small boy high up on a branch of a small banyan tree, at a street corner. They asked the boy to come down.

“Why should I come down?” asked the boy.
“Because the Nizam will soon be passing this way on horseback.”

“I am not obstructing his way; am I,?” said the boy and continued his frolics. He was gayer than a monkey who had escaped from the zoo.

“Come down at once,” commanded the Nizam's guards.

“I won't,” said the boy. “I am high up here and the Nizam will be riding down below on the road. Why can't I continue my game.”

“You can't, because it is disrespectful to be so high up when the Nizam is passing.”

“I don't think so,” said the boy and griping some aerial roots that hung down, he swung himself onto another branch. He couldn't care less about the Nizam.The Nizam's guards summoned the local constables. They threatened the boy, argued with him and pleaded with him to come down. The boy only climbed up higher.

Already a small crowd had gathered round the tree. They did what they could to make the boy come down. The boy's only answer was, “Why should I?” and he continued to swing holding on to the aerial roots.

The Nizam would be coming soon. Suddenly someone had a bright idea. “Get the fire brigade. Let them turn their hoses on the boy and he'll be forced to come down.” “Wonderful, wonderful. Get the fire brigade,” said the Nizam's men and they were about to send a man to get the fire brigade when they heard the sound of horns. Soon the Nizam and his guards were seen approaching this street corner. As he came nearer the Nizam saw the crowd near the banyan tree. The guards near the tree looked guilty as if they had done something wrong.

The Nizam got off his horse and came to inquire why a crowd had gathered. He looked at the crowd and then up at the tree. What did he see? Two bare legs swinging and two bright eyes looking defiantly at him.Calling in a gentle voice, the Nizam asked the boy to come down. Nahin Ayengo the boy shouted back, ‘I am not coming.’

Yah! One loud gasp from the crowd. Never before had anyone dared to disobey the Nizam.Then the Nizam grabbed a guard's rifle, pointed it at the boy and in a gruff voice said “come down or I shoot you.”The Nizam didn't really mean it. He was only trying to frighten the boy.

The crowd held its breath and watched in fear. They expected the Nizam to shoot if the boy disobeyed.The boy only tossed his head and like a brave soldier shouted, “Maro lehim, nahim Ayenga.” - You can shoot but I am not coming down. This tree is my kingdom,” he said.

The crowd stood still, dumbfounded. Then there was a horrified stir and a shout, “Come down at once.” It was the boy's father, who was the army commander-in-chief. He drew his sword and tried to climb the tree. The crowd gasped. They expected the commander-in-chief to kill his son for this disobedience and insult to his Lord and King.The Nizam stopped him. He was all smiles.

He turned to the crowd and said, “This is not an insult to me. I am proud that in my kingdom there are children with so much courage. I admire such qualities. I wish that more of my people would have such courage and independence of mind. This boy was not obstructing my ride; he had every right to be up on this tree.”

So pleased was the Nizam that then and there he proclaimed that the boy from that day, would receive from the treasury a gift of Rs. 1,000 every month.

-Sumana Saparamadu