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    4. In the Kingdom of Fools - Class 9 - Moments

    Updated: May 30


    Author: A.K. Ramanujan

    Textbook: Moments (Class X)

    Genre: Folktale / Satire



    📝 Summary


    The story is set in a kingdom ruled by a foolish king and his equally foolish minister. In their strange land, night was considered day, and anyone caught working during daylight was punished. Prices of all goods were the same, no matter the quantity or type. A wise guru and his disciple visited the kingdom and were amazed by these absurd laws. While the guru quickly left, the disciple stayed back to enjoy the cheap food.

    Time passed, and one day, the disciple was wrongly chosen for execution because he was fat and fit the newly prepared execution stake. In distress, he prayed for his guru’s help. The guru returned, and with clever thinking, convinced the king that whoever died on the stake would be reborn as the king. The frightened king and his minister decided to sacrifice themselves instead.


    After their deaths, the people pleaded with the guru and disciple to rule the kingdom. They agreed, but only on the condition that common sense would replace foolish laws. The story ends on a humorous yet moral note, highlighting the importance of wisdom in governance.


    👤 Character Sketches


    The Guru

    The guru is a wise and insightful man who quickly understands the danger of living under foolish rulers. He chooses to leave the kingdom immediately, proving his foresight. When his disciple is in trouble, he uses his intelligence and presence of mind to save him. His clever manipulation of the king shows his deep understanding of human psychology. The guru represents wisdom, calmness, and the power of clever thinking over brute strength.


    The Disciple

    The disciple is simple-minded, greedy, and easily tempted by material comforts. He ignores his guru’s warning and stays in the kingdom to enjoy cheap food. When faced with the threat of death, he realizes the consequences of his greed. His transformation from foolishness to gratitude teaches an important lesson about listening to wise advice.


    The King and Minister

    The king and minister are foolish rulers who create absurd laws without thinking of their consequences. Their justice system is illogical and dangerous. They are superstitious, easily manipulated, and ultimately fall victim to their own stupidity. Their characters serve as a satire on blind governance and poor leadership.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Foolishness in Governance

    The story mocks irrational rulers who create illogical laws.

    Power of Wisdom

    Wisdom is shown to be stronger than power or position.

    Greed and Its Dangers

    The disciple’s greed puts his life in danger.

    Justice and Absurdity

    The justice system in the kingdom is unfair and based on foolish reasoning.

    Reversal of Power

    In the end, fools lose power while the wise take control.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Irony

    The king and minister are executed because of their own laws.

    Satire

    The story uses humor to criticize foolish leadership.

    Humour

    The strange rules and events create a comic effect.

    Symbolism

    The stake symbolizes irrational and blind justice.

    Hyperbole

    Exaggerated laws and events make the absurdity clear.

    📖 Title Justification


    The title “In the Kingdom of Fools” is completely appropriate as the entire story takes place in a land governed by absurd and foolish rules. The king and his minister create strange laws, punish people unfairly, and make decisions without logic. Their foolishness not only affects their people but also leads to their own downfall. The title prepares the reader for a humorous tale filled with satire and moral lessons.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions


    Q1. What was strange about the kingdom’s laws?

    In the kingdom, people were forced to sleep during the day and work at night, and everything was sold at the same price — just one duddu.


    Q2. Why did the guru decide to leave the kingdom?

    The guru decided to leave the kingdom because he realized that a land ruled by fools could become dangerous at any time due to their unpredictable decisions.


    Q3. Why did the disciple stay in the kingdom?

    The disciple stayed in the kingdom because he was attracted to the cheap food and did not understand the risks of living under foolish rulers.


    Q4. What led to the disciple being chosen for execution?The disciple was chosen for execution because he was the right size to fit the newly made execution stake after the original accused person was found to be too thin.


    Q5. How did the guru save the disciple’s life?

    The guru saved the disciple by tricking the king into believing that dying on the stake would bring rebirth as the next ruler, thus causing the king and minister to take their place.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions


    Q1. What chain of events led to the disciple’s death sentence?

    A thief died when a wall collapsed while he was robbing a house. His brother blamed the house owner, which led to a bizarre trial where blame kept shifting from the merchant to the bricklayer, to a dancing girl, to a goldsmith, and back to the merchant. The king then decided to execute someone as punishment, and the disciple was chosen based on his size, not guilt.


    Q2. How does the story highlight the importance of wisdom over power?

    The story shows that wisdom can outsmart even those in power. The guru uses his intelligence to manipulate the king into saving the disciple and proves that clever thinking can overcome foolish authority.


    Q3. What lesson does the disciple learn by the end of the story?

    The disciple learns that ignoring wise advice and chasing comfort can lead to danger. He realizes the value of wisdom and becomes grateful to his guru for saving his life.


    🧠 Value-Based Question


    Q. What moral values does “In the Kingdom of Fools” teach us?

    The story teaches us the importance of wisdom, foresight, and good leadership. It shows that greed and ignorance can put our lives at risk, while intelligence and calm thinking can save us. It also reminds us that those in power must govern with logic and fairness, or they risk harming themselves and their people.


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