Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In The Kingdom of Fools
In The Kingdom of Fools
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
Summary:
Our Unique Kingdom
The ministers and kings in the kingdom of fools wanted to do things differently, so they turned
day into night and vice-versa. They ordered everyone to work in the night and sleep all day. The
people complied with their orders. One day, a guru and his disciple arrived in the city. They found
that the village was empty all day and as soon as it was night, everyone went to his work.
When the guru and his disciple wanted to eat something, they came to know that they could buy
everything at a fixed price no matter the quantity. The guru advised his disciple to leave the place
as it seemed to him it was the kingdom of fools, but the disciple wanted to stay there as
everything was very cheap. The guru left, and the disciple decided to stay there. He ate and
became fat like a bull.
The guru told the king that this stake of justice and whosoever died here would be the next king
and second to die would be the future minister. The king, in secret, released the guru and the
disciple and disguised himself as the guru. As the king and all his minister died, the guru and
disciple were persuaded by the people to rule that village. Finally, they agreed.
Message:
• The story is a folktale and gives two messages. The first message is that one should stay away
from foolish people; else one is bound to suffer.
• The second message is that in order to tackle foolish people one should employ wisdom and not
logic. The guru does not argue or reason the innocence of his disciple. Rather he flatters the king
and manages to convince him that he new stake was lucky. He not only saves the life of his
disciple but also rids the kingdom of the foolish king and his silly minister. In addition, he becomes
the next king and his disciple the next minister.
Title:
• “In the Kingdom of Fools” is a story about a kingdom ruled by a foolish king and his silly
minister. The people too are foolish, for they obey the most ridiculous orders passed by their
king.
• The entire action of the story takes place in this kingdom. The reasons that make this place a
Kingdom of Fools are well exemplified by the episodes in which innocent people are caught one
after the other in the name of justice. Hence, the title stands justified and apt in every way.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
Characters:
1. The Guru: The guru was a very wise man. He was quick to judge that his disciple and he were in the Kingdom
of Fools. Knowing that the behaviour of foolish people is unpredictable, he decided to leave the city immediately.
2. The Disciple: The disciple was a simple but greedy fellow. He followed his guru everywhere and listened to him.
However, once he could not resist the temptation of good and cheap food available in the Kingdom of Fools. He
did not pay heed to his guru’s warning and stayed back. His greed almost cost him his life but he quickly regained
sense. He had faith in his guru’s powers; that is why he first recalled him in his thoughts and then behaved
according to the plan devised by him.
3. The King: The king was a fool who owned a beautiful kingdom. He could go to any length in order to be different
from others. His orders were foolish and his ideas stupid. Turning day into night and ordering execution of those
who disobeyed are examples of his silliness. The king had no idea about justice.
4. The Minister: The minister was also a fool like his king. The king consulted him on different matters but the
minister could never give any sane advice. He would be as irrational as the king himself.
Word Meanings:
• till: raise crops by ploughing and fertilizing
• disciple: a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosopher
• sneaked : go or do something secretly
• pursuing: carrying out some work
• wrongdoer: a person who does things that are immoral or illegal
• compensate: to give someone something in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury
• accused: a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime
• plead: to argue a case or cause in a court of law
• guilty: committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral
• execution: legal punishment of killing someone
• jingling: a light metallic ringing sound
• complicated: difficult
• distracted: unable to concentrate or give attention to something
• damned: a word used to express anger with someone or something
• culprit: a person responsible for a crime or other misdeed
• bailiffs: law officers
• accusation: a statement saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind
• impatient: someone who wants something to happen as soon as possible
• inherited: receive money, property, or possessions from someone after the person has died
• impaling: to kill someone by fixing on a stake
• execution: legal punishment of killing someone
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
Question – Answers:
1. Why were the people of the Kingdom confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and his
minister?
• After the punishment was executed, the bodies were thrown outside to feed the crows and
vultures. The people were shocked after seeing the dead bodies. They saw that the bodies were
of the king and the minister instead of the guru and his disciple. The people of the kingdom
couldn’t understand the plan of the guru to save his disciple. They also stood confused as there
was no one to rule them and they couldn’t decide who would be their next king and minister.
2. On what conditions did the guru and his disciple agree to rule the kingdom?
• The people of the city was confused and were worried about their condition as their king and
minister were dead. They were unable to decide who would be their next king and minister.
Some people suggested that the guru and his disciple could be their ideal king and minister. The
disciple was convinced at once but it took time to convince the guru to become the king. Finally,
the guru agreed to become the king but on one condition. He said that he will change all the old
laws. Nights would be nights again and day would again be day and the groceries and other items
would be available at their actual prices. Hence, the kingdom would again become like a normal
place.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
4. Why did the King decide to postpone the execution of the guru and his disciple?
• The guru plotted a plan to save his disciple from the foolish king and his minister. The guru arrived
at the kingdom and started arguing that he should die first. The disciple understood his guru’s
plan and started debating with his guru that he should die first.
The confused king wanted to know the reason behind their argument. Then, the guru took him
aside and said that the new stake was the stake of the god of justice and no criminal was punished
in that stake yet, so the first one to die on that stake would be born as the king of that kingdom
and the second one to die would be born as the minister. This made the king worried as he was
unwilling to loose his kingdom and hence he postponed the execution.
5. “Guru was a wise man” – How does the story “The Kingdom of fools” reflect it?
• “Guru was a wise man”, is clearly reflected in the story, “The Kingdom of fools.” When the guru
noticed the strange things about the kingdom he warned his disciple to leave the kingdom as the
unpredictable actions of the fools could bring their life in danger but the disciple did not pay
much attention towards his guru’s words.
Later, when the disciple faced problems for no faults of his, he remembered his guru’s words and
prayed his guru to save him. His guru at once arrived at the place and plotted a plan to save his
disciple’s life. He misguided the king by giving some false illusions about the newly made stake
which made the king to postpone the execution which saved his disciple’s life. This proves that
the guru was a wise man.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
8. Why did the guru want that he and his disciple should die first?
• The rich merchant was not fat enough to be executed on the stake. As a result the King’s men
arrested the disciple as he had a perfect body to be executed on the stake. The disciple
remembered his guru’s words. And the guru through his vision saw everything and reached the
kingdom to save his disciple’s life. The guru plotted a plan. He convinced the King that as the
stake did not kill any criminal, the first one to die on that would be reborn as the King of the
Kingdom. And the second one would be his minister. That’s why the guru want that he and his
disciple should die first.
9. Why did the guru did not want to stay in the Kingdom of fools?
• The guru when first arrived in the Kingdom saw that during daytime not a single people was out
for their work but soon after the sunset everyone started doing their work. Later on, when he
went to buy food he was surprised to know that everything had a fixed price that is one “duddu”.
The Guru wanted to leave the place because he knew that the people were fools and their
unpredictable actions may bring their life in danger.
10. Why the disciple did not want to leave the Kingdom?
• The disciple was extremely happy to know that everything was available at a fixed rate that is
one “duddu” whether they bought a measure of rice or bunch of bananas. Everything in that
Kingdom was available very easily and life was very simple so the disciple preferred to live in that
Kingdom as long as possible.
11. Why did the King decide to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciple?
• The guru plotted a plan to save his disciple’s life. He convinced the King that as the stake did not
kill any criminals the first one to die on the stake would be born as the King of the Kingdom and
the second one to die would be the minister. After hearing this the King deeply thought about
the matter. He was tensed as he did not want to leave his kingdom at any cost. So he decided to
postpone the execution.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
14. What advice did the guru give to his disciple before leaving the place?
• The disciple was impressed with the rule that everything was available at a fixed rate so he didn’t
want to leave the place. But the guru warned the disciple that the Kingdom was full of fools and
there was no justice. Before leaving the place he told his disciple that the people were foolish
and their unpredictable actions could bring their life at risk.
16. Who became the King and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom?
• After the death of the King and the minister the people of the Kingdom became tensed as there
was no one to rule them. Then many of them suggested that the guru and his disciple should
become there new King and minister. The minister got convinced at once but it took time to
convince the guru. Finally on some conditions the guru decided to become the King of the
Kingdom. Hence, the guru and his disciple were the new King and minister of the Kingdom.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091
JD’s Private Tutorials
… Building “Neev” for Future
Contact: 7303781863 / 9920564563
18. Do you believe in the fact that our prayers are often heard and answered? Which prayer was heard
in the story and what miracle took place?
• The disciple for no reason was executed on the stake. By seeing his death in front of his eyes he
remembered his guru’s words and prayed to his guru to save his life. The guru through his magical
power saw everything and reached in the Kingdom. After that the guru secretly said something
to his disciple and started debating that he should die first. The guru then said the King as the
stake did not kill any criminals, the first one to die on the stake would be reborn as the King of
the Kingdom and the second one would be his minister. The King did not want to give away his
kingdom in any other hands and hence he decided to postpone the execution. We can conclude
that, our prayers are often heard and answered and sometimes miracles happen which change
our lives.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: D/4, Old Ashok Nagar, Opp. Ganesh Mandir Lane, Vazira Naka, Borivali (West), Mumbai - 400091