Akbar-Birbal Tales: Legendary & Witty Stories for Kids

By Tanvir Khan

Akbar and Birbal stories have been popular for entertaining readers/people for long. Who doesn't know Birbal? His awesome yet light-hearted funny tales are famous throughout the Indian subcontinent. This compilation presents funny and frolic happenings between the two legendary. Each story depicts quick wittedness of Birbal in outwitting Akbar's intelligence in the humorous way. The author has presented short stories in a precise and age-specific manner using plain and clear language for children to understand even without parents' involvement. The book with all its features and necessary colour pictures is worth reading.
This book is strongly recommended for all school going children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: V&S Publishers
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9789357942850

Book preview

Pandit's Mother Tongue

In the kingdom of Emperor Akbar there was an eminent pandit. He was very knowledgeable and proficient in many languages. He was reputed all over the empire. He thought of himself as a very wise man who could not be fooled. One day he came to visit Akbar’s court. He claimed that he could answer any question asked of him by Akbar’s ministers.

Akbar asked his ministers and courtiers to ask as many questions as they could and in different

languages to the pandit. One by one the courtiers asked the pandit questions in diverse languages. The pandit answered all the questions in the language in which they were asked. Throughout he remained calm, composed, and sure of his wisdom.

Ultimately everyone present in the court was impressed by the pandit. At the end of the day the pandit gave a challenge to the courtiers. He said to Akbar, "By tomorrow your courtiers should tell me what my mother tongue is. By doing this they will prove to me that they are worthy and wise. If

they are not able to do so I will know that I am superior to all your courtiers."

Akbar was very proud of his courtiers, also known as his ‘Navratnas’, and asked them to solve the pandit’s challenge. The courtiers tried asking questions to the pandit in many languages but no one was able to find out what his mother tongue was. Akbar saw his courtiers failing and asked Birbal, his wisest courtier, to find out what the pandit’s mother tongue was. Birbal thought about the challenge and asked for some time. He said he would tell the pandit’s mother tongue by next morning.

That night Birbal went to the pandit’s house. He sneaked into the pandit’s room when the pandit was fast asleep. He took a leaf of grass and tickled the pandit’s ear with it. The pandit’s sleep was disturbed a little. He opened his eyes, then turned and slept again. Birbal tickled the pandit’s ear again. Again the pandit went back to