Some Stories of Akbar and Birbal The Wicked Barber's Plight - Akbar & Birbal

Some Stories of Akbar and Birbal
The Wicked Barber’s Plight – Akbar & Birbal
As we all know, Birbal was not only Emperor Akbar’s favorite minister but also a minister
dearly loved by most of the commoners, because of his ready wit and wisdom. People used
to come to him from far and wide for advise on personal matters too. However, there was a
group of ministers that were jealous of his growing popularity and disliked him
intensely. They outwardly showered him with praise and compliments, but on the inside they
began to hatch a plot to kill him.
One day they approached the king’s barber with a plan. As the barber was extremely close
to the king, they asked him to help them get rid of Birbal permanently. And of course, they
promised him a huge sum of money in return. The wicked barber readily agreed.
The next time the king required his services, the barber started a conversation about the
emperor’s father who he also used to serve. He sang praises of his fine, silky-smooth hair.
And then as an afterthought he asked the king that as he was enjoying such great
prosperity, had he made an attempt to do anything for the welfare of his ancestors?
The king was furious at such impertinent stupidity and told the barber that it was not
possible to do anything because they were already dead. The barber mentioned that he
knew of a magician who could come of help. The magician could send a person up to
heaven to enquire about his father’s welfare. But of course this person would have to be
chosen carefully; he would have to be intelligent enough to follow the magicians instructions
as well as make on-the-spot decisions. He must be wise, intelligent and responsible. The
barber then suggested the best person for the job – the wisest of all ministers, Birbal.
The king was very excited about hearing from his dead father and asked the barber to go
ahead and make the arrangements immediately. He asked him what was needed to be
done. The barber explained that they would take Birbal in a procession to the burial grounds
and light a pyre. The magician would then chant some ‘mantras’ as Birbal would ascend to
the heavens through the smoke. The chanting would help protect Birbal from the fire.
The king happily informed Birbal of this plan. Birbal said that he thought it a brilliant idea
and wanted to know the brain behind it. When learning that it was the barber’s idea, he
agreed to go to heaven on condition that he be given a large some of money for the long
journey as well as one month’s time to settle his family so that they had no trouble while he
was gone. The king agreed to both conditions.
In the duration of this month, he got a few trustworthy men to build a tunnel from the funeral
grounds to his house. And on the day of the ascension, after the pyre had been lit, Birbal
escaped through the concealed door of the tunnel. He disappeared in to his house where
he hid for a few months while his hair and beard grew long and unruly.
In the meantime his enemies were rejoicing as they thought that they had seen the last of
Birbal. Then one day after many, many months Birbal arrived at the palace with news of the
king’s father. The king was extremely pleased to see him and ready with a barrage of
questions. Birbal told the king that his father was in the best of spirits and had been
provided with all the comforts except one.
The king wanted to know what was lacking because now he thought he had found a way to
send things and people to heaven. Birbal answered that there were no barbers in heaven,
which is why even he was forced to grow his own beard. He said that his father had asked
for a good barber.
So the king decided to send his own barber to serve his father in heaven. He called both the
barber and the magician to prepare to send him to heaven. The barber could say absolutely
nothing in his own defense as he was caught in his own trap. And once the pyre was lit he
died on the spot.
Nobody dared to conspire against Birbal again.

Some Stories of Akbar and Birbal The Wicked Barber's Plight - Akbar & Birbal

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Some Stories of Akbar and Birbal The Wicked Barber's Plight - Akbar & Birbal

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Some Stories of Akbar and Birbal

The Wicked Barber’s Plight – Akbar & Birbal

Nobody dared to conspire against Birbal again.

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