In the Kingdom of Fools by A.K. Ramanujan - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "In the Kingdom of Fools"

In the Kingdom of Fools, the king and his minister decide to invert the natural order by making people work at night and sleep during the day. A guru and his disciple arrive in this kingdom and are puzzled by the bizarre routine. They discover that all items cost the same, which delights the disciple but worries the guru, who decides to leave.

The disciple stays behind, enjoying the cheap food, and becomes very fat. One day, a thief dies when a wall collapses on him during a burglary. The thief’s brother demands justice from the king, who orders a series of trials to find the culprit responsible for the thief's death. The blame shifts from the merchant to the bricklayer, the dancing girl, and the goldsmith, eventually circling back to the original merchant.

The king decides to execute the merchant but finds him too thin to be impaled. He then orders the execution of the fat disciple instead. The guru returns and uses cleverness to save his disciple by convincing the king that whoever dies on the stake will be reborn as the king and minister. The foolish king and minister decide to die in their place to secure their rebirth as rulers. They are executed, and the guru and disciple are asked to rule the kingdom. They agree on the condition that the laws be changed to normalcy.

Answers to "Think About It"

1. Two strange things in the Kingdom of Fools:

   • People worked at night and slept during the day.
   • All items in the market cost the same, just one duddu.

2. Disciple's decision to stay:

   • The disciple stays because everything is cheap and he enjoys the food. This is not a good idea as the kingdom's foolishness poses unpredictable dangers.

3. People tried in the king's court:

   • Merchant: For having a weak wall that killed the thief.
   • Bricklayer: For building the weak wall.
   • Dancing girl: For distracting the bricklayer.
   • Goldsmith: For delaying the dancing girl's jewelry, causing her to distract the bricklayer.
   • Merchant's father: Originally blamed, but he's dead.

4. Real culprit according to the king:

   • The merchant’s deceased father, as he ordered the jewelry that caused the chain of events. The merchant escapes punishment as the king decides to punish someone else in his place.

5. Guru’s words of wisdom:

   • The guru advises that fools are dangerous and unpredictable, warning his disciple. The disciple remembers this when he is about to be executed.

6. Guru saves his disciple:

   • The guru convinces the king that the stake has a special power to make the first person who dies on it the next king and the second the minister. The king and minister, fearing loss of their kingdom in the next life, decide to die in their place.

Iswaran the Storyteller by R.K. Laxman - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT Q&A Solved

 Summary of "Iswaran the Storyteller"

The story is about Mahendra, a junior supervisor working for a firm that hires out supervisors to various construction sites. He moves frequently for work and is accompanied by his cook, Iswaran. Iswaran is a resourceful and talented cook who can conjure up delicious meals even in the most desolate places. Additionally, Iswaran is an excellent storyteller who narrates gripping tales filled with adventure, suspense, and horror.

One night, after Iswaran shares a particularly terrifying ghost story, Mahendra experiences a chilling encounter. He wakes up to see a ghostly figure outside his window, which greatly unsettles him. The next morning, Iswaran casually mentions that Mahendra had seen the ghost he had described, which frightens Mahendra enough to make him decide to leave the place immediately.

Answers to 'Think About It'

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

   • Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra because he is not only a skilled cook who can prepare delicious meals in difficult conditions, but also a loyal companion who follows Mahendra to all his postings. Additionally, Iswaran entertains Mahendra with his storytelling, making life more enjoyable.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

   • Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway as a monstrous beast lying sprawled across the road, creating suspense and drama in his narration. He aims to captivate and thrill his listeners by adding an element of surprise and excitement to an otherwise mundane incident.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

   • Iswaran narrates the story of the tusker with great enthusiasm and detail, describing how he bravely confronted and subdued a rampaging elephant with a single blow to its toenail. While his storytelling is vivid and engaging, the tale itself seems exaggerated and implausible, adding to the charm of Iswaran’s storytelling prowess.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

   • The author states this because Iswaran's captivating stories filled with suspense, horror, and drama provide Mahendra with entertainment and excitement, compensating for the lack of television in his living quarters.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

   • On a full-moon night, Mahendra hears a low moan near his window and, despite trying to ignore it, eventually sees a ghostly figure outside. This frightens him and makes him reconsider his disbelief in ghosts, showing how Iswaran’s stories have influenced his imagination.

6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?

   • An alternate ending could be Mahendra discovering that the ghostly figure was actually a prank played by Iswaran to teach him a lesson about respecting local beliefs and traditions. This revelation could lead to a deeper bond between the two characters, with Mahendra appreciating Iswaran’s storytelling even more.

Qualities of a Good Storyteller

A good storyteller like Iswaran possesses:

• Imagination: Creating vivid and engaging stories.
• Dramatic Flair: Using expressive gestures and voice modulation to captivate the audience.
• Suspense Building: Keeping the listeners on edge with unexpected twists.
• Relatability: Weaving elements of everyday life into the stories to make them more believable and entertaining.