101 Best Indian Fables for Children

By Stuti Gupta

Would you like to meet the ferocious king of the jungle? How
about reading the story of the cunning fox that talks its way out of
tricky situations? Wonder what the little monkey is doing with the
looking glass? Or what the peacock and crow are fighting over?
While you will be amazed at the wit of a few, the subtlety in many
others will impress you.
Enter the magical world of fables that capture the splendour of
kings, commoners, animals and birds alike, to bring to us some of
the best tales from the Indian subcontinent.
101 Indian Fables for Children is a collection of hand-picked short
stories that entertain, amuse and leave you with essential life lessons in the end. Hiding the most
valuable of teachings in the simplest of tales, this book is a treasure trove of wisdom.
What’s more, an Introduction by Stuti Gupta brings forth interesting anecdotes about the fun of
storytelling, and how it has the power to change lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: May 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9789387022591

Book preview

India

Introduction:

The Magic of Storytelling

"The universe is not made of atoms;

it’s made of tiny stories."

When did you hear your first you Your grandparents must told you one, or were they your parents? Did your teacher narrate the one you still enjoy, or was it someone else? No matter where it came from, the story did create some magic, didn’t it?

Stories have a charm of their own. Especially for children, because they open a whole new world for them - a world full of love, happiness and unending magic. These a life that we dream of. We promise to tell you some amazing stories in this book, in which the fox cunningly breaks into a party, a monkey finds a mirror and has fun showing off to other animals, a peacock and a crow get into a competition for their looks, an elephant tries to be the king of the jungle, and an owl runs a school. Through funny instances and smart anecdotes, these stories will entertain you to the core.

This book, 101 Best Indian Fables for Children is a collection of fables that are stories with animals and birds as characters, conveying a moral at the end. These stories are really short and powerful – perfect read for all you enthusiastic, young readers. On reading them closely, you will understand how certain animals have come to symbolize a few characteristics in humans – like, a fox is mostly sly or cunning, a tiger is a symbol of power and sometimes arrogance, and a cow a quiet animal. It is entertaining to see these animals compete and come together to weave magical tales.

This book is dotted with catchy illustrations. So, while you learn precious lessons from the stories, you can also try your hand at copying these sketches! These 101 hand-picked fables, once compiled and edited by P.V. Ramaswami Raju, show us a unique and interesting way of learning some of the wisest lessons of the world. So, what are you waiting for! Get ready to dive into the magical world of birds, animals, and yes, humans too.

And since nobody can deny that stories have the power to change lives, here’s hoping these fables make you sharper,wiser and more seasoned storytellers.

Keep reading, keep growing!

Stuti Gupta*

May, 2019

* Stuti Gupta holds an M.Phil degree in Comparative Literature from University of Delhi, with a detailed research work on representations of Ravana from the Ramayana in various texts and visual media. Fascinated with tales that teach and inspire, she constantly works to make stories better and more entertaining.

1

The Fox and the Villagers

A fox that had long been the dread of the village poultry yard was one day found lying breathless in a field. The report went abroad that, after all, he had been caught and killed by someone. In a moment, everybody in the village came out to see the dead fox. The village cock, with all his hens and chicks, was also there, to enjoy the sight.

The fox then got up, and, shaking off his drowsiness, said, I ate a number of hens and chicks last night; hence I must have slumbered longer than usual.

The cock counted his hens and chicks, and found a number wanting. Alas! said he, how is it I did not know of it?

My dear sir, said the fox, as he retreated to the wood, it was last night I had a good meal on your hens and chicks, yet you did not know of it. A moment ago they found me lying in the field, and you knew of it at once. Ill news travels fast!

2

The Glow-worm and the Daw

A Jackdaw once ran up to a glow worm and was about to seize him. Wait a moment, good friend, said the worm; and you shall hear something to your advantage.

Ah! what is it? said the daw.

I am but one of the many glow-worms that live in this forest. If you wish to have them all, follow me, said the glow-worm.

Certainly! said the daw.

Then the glow-worm led him to a place in the wood where a fire had been kindled by some woodmen, and pointing to the sparks flying about, said, There you find the glow-worms warming themselves round a fire. When you have done with them, I shall show you some more, at a distance from this place.

The daw darted at the sparks, and tried to swallow some of them; but his mouth being burnt by the attempt, he ran away exclaiming, Ah, the glow-worm is a dangerous little creature!

Said the glow-worm with pride, Wickedness yields to wisdom!

3

The King and His Vassal

An Eastern king was very angry with a certain chieftain who had not seen him at court, though often desired to do so. One day he was walking through the streets of his capital in disguise with his chief minister, according to the custom of kings in the East, to see how the people fared. Soon after passing a butcher's shop, the king said to his minister, Instantly the chieftain arrives in the city, send him up to me.

When the minister returned to his palace, he found the chieftain on his way to the court. Pray, don't see his Majesty till I ask you to do so; and don't ask me for the reason now, said the minister to the chieftain, who therefore postponed his visit.

The king