Monday, April 20, 2015

Panchatantra with a twist : The Turtle and the swans

It was a drought year and the water in the pond was disappearing. Two swans, Sankat and Vikat, were worried about their friend - the turtle, Kambugriva - who lived in the pond. The turtle suggested that the two of them could hold opposite ends of a stick, while he held on to the middle of it with his mouth, and ferry him to safety. The swans agreed and the plan was carried out. When they were flying, people saw the sight and commended the cleverness of the birds. The turtle opened his mouth to respond to them, fell to the ground and was killed by the people.

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So, you thought that it was all about keeping your mouth shut, when speech is dangerous? That's because you do not know the real story.

"Look, bro! There is a turtle in that drying pond. If we capture that, my cook can make a delightful dish of it."

"Listen! The turtle is saying something to those swans."

"Get a stick and you two hold opposite ends of it. I will hold on to the middle with my mouth and you can carry me to safety."

"Hey Bro! Let us rush in before the swans carry the turtle away."

By the time the duo reach the pond, the birds had started flying.

"Let's follow them in the jeep, bro! I have an idea."

"What?"

"Remember Ravi? That idea for the ad campaign for the new deodorant?"

"Yeah! He screwed himself up royally, didn't he? The boss was telling HIS boss how he always knew that Soumya was a great talent, and she had proved herself with the idea for the campaign when Ravi pipes up and says that it was HIS idea."

"It WAS his idea. BUT the idiot should have known that telling it then would screw him up with the boss. YET, he could not keep quiet."

"Yeah, but why are you telling this now?"

"Some people cannot keep quiet when someone else is given the credit for their ideas. Even if it kills them."

"So...? Ah! I get what you mean."

The two of them yelled loudly, "Ah! How clever of the birds to have thought up this idea to save the turtle."

The turtle could not bear to see the birds praised for what was, after all, HIS idea. Even if they were helping him. He opened his mouth to say that it was HIS genius; fell to the earth and ended up becoming turtle stew by the night.

Yes, getting due credit can be real hazardous!

23 comments:

  1. Aah...beware, with the help of a certain kind of reasoning, your version of the story could be used to defend plagiarism :)

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    1. Human beings can use anything for anything, Beloo :) I make a point only about a time and place for anything :)

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  2. That's a nice twist to the tale and great food for thought.

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  3. LOL :D So speaking up can be a problem too at times.

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  4. I hope all those who can't zip up get to read this. When to speak is as important as what to speak. I learnt the art of timing while dealing with my teen son. Timing, timing, timing.

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  5. I wrote a post a week back on how excessively opinionated we have become. I think if i merge your story with my article, we can have a greater impact and an interesting warning

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    1. I too had a post "Have Opinion Will Speak" on my blog recently :) If you feel like linking, please do.

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  6. Speaking up can really be hazardous, sometimes. One must watch carefully the situation before opening the mouth :-D

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    1. Exactly - you can dig your grave with your mouth otherwise :)

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  7. Flight of imagination...and substantially meaningful at that! Wonderful Suresh!

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  8. This makes me think---think before you speak!

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  9. Reacting to non-sense is a problem. Rather commenting on every situation is not wise.

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    1. The worst of it is sometimes it is best to keep silent when every cell in your body shrieks to speak out :)

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  10. Ahem Suresh.. What can I say.. I have a foot in my mouth disease.

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    1. If you find a cure for that inform me too :) I need the cure too :)

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