IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS

IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS

1. What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?

Ans. The people in this kingdom do all their work at night. They sleep during the daytime. Everything in this kingdom costs the same - a single duddu. It does not matter what or how much one buys. The cost is always the one duddu.

2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?

Ans. The disciple finds everything cheap in the Kingdom of Fools. He only wants good and cheap food. That is why he decides to stay here. But it is not a good idea. It is never wise to live among fools. It can always get one in trouble.

3. Name all the people who are tried in the king's court, and give the reasons for their trial.

Ans. The rich merchant, the bricklayer, the dancing girl, and the goldsmith are tried in the king's court. The merchant says that the wall fell due to the bricklayer's fault. He had not built it right. The bricklayer says that he had been distracted by a dancing girl. She kept walking up and down the street that day with her jingling anklets. The dancing girl says it was the goldsmith’s fault. She wanted her jewellery from the goldsmith. But he made her walk up and down his house many times. The goldsmith says that he had to attend the merchant's orders first because there was a wedding in the merchant’s house. And the merchant was not ready to wait. Thus each one blames the other.

4. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?

Ans. According to the king, the rich merchant is the real culprit. He orders to put the merchant to the stake. But the merchant seems too thin to be impaled properly. So, another one who is fat enough is found in his place.

5. What are the guru's words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?

Ans. The guru had said it was not safe to live in the city of fools. Fools could do any foolish thing at any time. The disciple remembered the guru's words when he was waiting for death. The foolish king had ordered to put him to the stake.

6. How does the guru manage to save his disciple's life?

Ans. The guru asks the king to put him to stake first. But the disciple says he wants to die first. At this the king asks the guru why he wants to die first. The guru tells the king that he who dies first will become the king in the next life. One who dies later will become the minister. The foolish king and his foolish minister believe the guru's words. They get themselves executed. Thus the guru saves his disciple.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

Q. Write a summary of the story ‘In the Kingdom of Fools.’

Ans. ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’ by A. K.  Ramanujan is an interesting story of a kingdom run by a foolish king.. His minister was equally foolish. They had reversed all the rules in the country. Everything in the kingdom had the same price- one duddu. People were ordered to sleep during the day and work during the night. Once, a guru and his disciple came to the country.  The guru realized that it would be dangerous to live in the kingdom of the fool.  But the disciple stayed on. One day, a person was to be executed for an offence. He was a thin person and the stake would not fit him. So the disciple was arrested by the police and ordered to be executed.  When the guru came to know of the came back to the country and saved the disciple.  At the same time, with his trick, he caused the death of the king and his minister.  Now the people made the guru the king and the disciple his minister.