The Famous and Inspiring Story of the Blind and the Sighted
Once upon a time, Akbar and Birbal were engaged in conversation. At one point, King Akbar remarked, "Birbal, for every 100 people in the world, there is one blind person." Birbal, disagreeing, said, "Your assessment, Your Majesty, seems inaccurate. In truth, the number of blind people in the world is far greater than those who can see." King Akbar was surprised by this response, saying, "When we look around us, we see more sighted people than blind. How can the number of blind be greater than the sighted?"
Birbal replied, "Your Majesty, I will certainly prove to you, with evidence, that the number of blind people in the world is greater than the sighted." King Akbar agreed, "Fine, if you can prove this with evidence, I will accept it." After about two days, King Akbar forgot about the matter entirely. However, Birbal was determined to prove his point. After about four days, Birbal devised a plan and, accompanied by two scribes, headed towards the marketplace.
Upon reaching the marketplace, Birbal asked the guards to bring a cot frame and rope for weaving. He then instructed the two scribes to sit on chairs, one to his right and one to his left. The scribe on the right was to create a list of the blind people in the kingdom, and the scribe on the left was to create a list of the sighted. Following Birbal's orders, the scribes set about their work, while Birbal began weaving the cot frame. As he worked, a crowd began to gather in the marketplace. One man in the crowd couldn't help but ask Birbal, "What are you doing?"
Birbal did not answer, but signaled to the scribe on his right to add the man's name to the list of the blind. As time passed, more and more people came and asked Birbal what he was doing. Each person was pointed to the scribe on the right, and their names were added to the blind list. Then, a man approached and asked, "Why are you making a cot in this heat?" Again, Birbal remained silent, gesturing to the scribe on the left to add this man's name to the sighted list. This continued throughout the day.
News of Birbal's activities reached King Akbar, who also went to the marketplace to see what was happening. He asked Birbal, "What are you doing?" Upon hearing the King's question, Birbal instructed the scribe on his right, "Please add the King's name to the list of the blind." King Akbar was both surprised and slightly annoyed. "Birbal," he said, "my eyes are perfectly fine, and I can see everything clearly. Why are you putting my name on the list of the blind?" Birbal smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, you are here watching me weave a cot. Yet you asked what I was doing. Only a blind person would ask such a question."
King Akbar understood Birbal's intention—to prove his earlier statement. He smiled and asked, "Birbal, what have you discovered? Are there more sighted or more blind people?" Birbal replied, "Your Majesty, my statement was true. The number of blind people in the world is far greater than the sighted. The lists I have compiled, I hope, prove this clearly." King Akbar laughed heartily, saying, "Birbal, you can do anything to prove your point!"
The Lesson from this Story - This story of Akbar and Birbal and the blind person teaches us that those who ask foolish questions despite being able to see are like the blind.
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