In The Kingdom of Fools — Complete Easy Study Material class 9
English — Moments (NCERT) | Chapter 4
In The Kingdom of Fools — Complete Easy Study Material class 9 Audio Note Part 1
In the Kingdom of Fools
In the Kingdom of Fools is a funny and interesting Kannada folk tale retold by A. K. Ramanujan. It is included in the Moments for Class 9. The story is about a foolish king, his minister, a wise guru, and his disciple. In this strange kingdom, people work at night and sleep during the day, and everything costs one duddu. Through humour and adventure, the story shows the difference between wisdom and foolishness, the danger of bad laws, and how intelligence can solve problems. This chapter also teaches that greed and foolish decisions can lead to trouble, while wisdom and common sense always win in the end.
In the Kingdom of Fools Summary (About the Story)
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यह story एक Kannada folk tale है जिसे A.K. Ramanujan ने ‘Folk Tales from India’ में लिखा है।
इसमें एक मूर्ख राजा (foolish king) और उसके मंत्री (minister) की कहानी है — जो अपने kingdom को बिल्कुल उल्टे तरीके से चलाते हैं!
Story Summary — बिल्कुल आसान भाषा में
Part 1 — The Strange Kingdom (अजीब राज्य)
बच्चों, imagine करो एक ऐसा kingdom जहाँ — रात को दिन और दिन को रात माना जाता है!
वहाँ के राजा और मंत्री दोनों बड़े मूर्ख थे। उन्होंने एक अजीब कानून बनाया था —
रात को जागो, काम करो, खेत जोतो।
दिन में घर पर सो जाओ।
जो नहीं माना — उसे मौत की सज़ा! (death penalty!)
और एक और मज़ेदार बात — हर चीज़ की कीमत एक ही थी: एक duddu (पुराना सिक्का)! चाहे चावल खरीदो, चाहे केले — सब एक duddu में!
Part 2 — The Guru and His Disciple (गुरु और शिष्य)
एक दिन एक guru (ज्ञानी बुज़ुर्ग) और उनका disciple (चेला) उस city में आए।
Guru ने सोचा — ‘यह kingdom of fools है, यहाँ रहना ठीक नहीं।’ उन्होंने disciple को कहा — ‘चलो यहाँ से!’
लेकिन चेले ने मना किया! क्यों? क्योंकि यहाँ खाना बहुत सस्ता था! वो रोज़ केले, घी, चावल खाता रहा और खूब मोटा हो गया!
Part 3 — The Foolish Chain of Justice(मूर्खों की chain)
एक दिन एक thief (चोर) किसी अमीर merchant के घर में घुसा। वहाँ एक पुरानी दीवार (wall) उस पर गिर गई और वो मर गया।
उसका भाई राजा के पास गया और बोला — ‘Merchant को सज़ा दो!’
अब राजा ने पूछताछ शुरू की। और फिर शुरू हुई एक मज़ेदार blame game chain:
- Merchant पर blame — उसकी दीवार कमज़ोर थी
- Bricklayer (राजमिस्त्री) पर blame — उसने weak wall बनाई
- Dancing girl पर blame — उसकी आवाज़ और पायल की आवाज़ से उसका ध्यान भटका
- Goldsmith पर blame — उसने dancer को बार-बार अपनी दुकान बुलाया
- Rich Merchant पर blame — उसने goldsmith को जल्दी में काम कराया
और देखो — यह rich merchant वही था जिसके घर की original दीवार गिरी थी! Circle complete!
लेकिन वो merchant भी मर चुका था — तो राजा ने कहा: ‘उसके बेटे को सज़ा होगी!’
Part 4 — The Fat Disciple in Danger! (चेला खतरे में!)
सज़ा देने के लिए एक execution stake (सूली) तैयार किया गया। लेकिन merchant बहुत पतला था — वो stake में fit नहीं हुआ।
राजा ने कहा — ‘कोई मोटा आदमी ढूँढो जो stake में fit हो।’
और उनकी नज़र पड़ी — हमारे चेले पर! जो महीनों से खाता रहा और खूब मोटा हो गया था!
चेले ने रोते हुए कहा — ‘मैंने क्या किया? मैं तो निर्दोष हूँ!’
लेकिन राजा ने कहा — ‘Rule is rule. तुम्हें stake पर चढ़ाया जाएगा।’
चेले को याद आई guru की बात — ‘यह मूर्खों का राज्य है, तुम्हें नहीं पता ये लोग क्या करेंगे।’
Part 5 — Guru to the Rescue! (गुरु आ गए!)
चेले ने मन में गुरु से प्रार्थना की। Guru के पास wise and sensed थे — उन्होंने vision में सब देख लिया।
( Guru was very wise and sensed his disciple was in trouble, so he returned to help him.)
गुरु दौड़कर आए और बोले — ‘मुझे पहले stake पर चढ़ाओ, मेरे disciple को बाद में।’
चेला भी चिल्लाया — ‘नहीं! मुझे पहले! मुझे पहले मारो!’
राजा ने पूछा — ‘ये दोनों मरना क्यों चाहते हैं?’
Guru ने राजा को अकेले में बुलाया और secret बताया — ‘यह stake नया है, इस पर जो पहले मरेगा, वो अगले जन्म में इस देश का राजा बनेगा! और दूसरा — मंत्री!’
राजा और मंत्री घबरा गए — ‘अगर ये दोनों राजा और मंत्री बन गए, तो हम क्या करेंगे?’
उन्होंने सोचा — ‘हमें खुद ही पहले मरना चाहिए ताकि हम अगले जन्म में भी राजा और मंत्री बनें!’
Part 6 — The Foolish End! (मूर्खों का अंत)
रात को राजा और मंत्री खुद चुपके से prison गए, guru और disciple की जगह खड़े हो गए — और execute हो गए! 💀
अगले दिन लोगों ने देखा — राजा और मंत्री मर गए! पूरे शहर में हंगामा मच गया।
लोगों ने guru और disciple को ढूँढा और बोले — ‘हमारे राजा और मंत्री बनो!’
Guru ने पहले मना किया, लेकिन एक condition पर माना — ‘पुराने सारे कानून बदलेंगे!’
और फिर वो kingdom normal हो गया — रात को रात, दिन को दिन, और हर चीज़ की अलग-अलग कीमत! The End!
In The Kingdom of Fools — Complete Easy Study Material class 9 Audio Note 2
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Main Themes (मुख्य विषय)
मूर्खता का परिणाम: Foolishness leads to self-destruction — राजा और मंत्री अपनी ही मूर्खता में मर गए।
Wisdom की ताकत: Guru ने बिना हथियार के, सिर्फ अपनी बुद्धि से disciple को बचाया।
Greed and Blame: हर कोई दूसरे को blame करता रहा — यह chain of blame दिखाती है कैसे justice कभी-कभी भटक जाता है।
Rule vs. Common Sense: जब rule सही नहीं होते, तो wise people उन्हें बदलते हैं।
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In the Kingdom of Fools, question and answer. Think About It — Book Exercise (Solved)
Q1. What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Ans. The guru and his disciple found two strange things. First, people worked at night and slept during the day. Second, everything cost the same — one duddu, whether it was rice, bananas or anything else. Both things were against normal logic.
Q2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Ans. The disciple stayed because everything was very cheap and he could get plenty of food for one duddu. He ate well and became fat. It was not a good idea because the guru had already warned him that living among fools was dangerous. His greed for cheap food later put him in great trouble.
Q3. Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial.
Ans. Many people were tried in the king’s court:
- The merchant — because his wall fell on the thief.
- The bricklayer — because he built a weak wall.
- The dancing girl — because she distracted the bricklayer.
- The goldsmith — because he kept the dancing girl waiting.
- The rich merchant — because he made the goldsmith hurry with his work.
At last, the merchant’s son was also blamed for his dead father’s crime.
Q4. Who is the real culprit, according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?
Ans. According to the king, the rich merchant was the real culprit because he started the whole chain of events. But he was dead, so he could not be punished. The king then decided to punish his son instead. This shows how foolish the justice in that kingdom was.
Q5. What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
Ans. The guru said that this was no place to stay because the people were fools and anything could happen there. The disciple remembered these words when he was being taken for execution and prepared for the stake. Then he prayed to his guru for help.
Q6. How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life?
Ans. The guru used a clever plan to save his disciple. He told the king that the stake was special and whoever died first on it would be reborn as king, and the second as minister. The king and his minister believed him and decided to die on the stake themselves. In this way, the guru and his disciple were saved.
Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. When did people in the Kingdom of Fools work?
A. During the day
B. During the evening
C. At night
D. In the morning
Answer: C. At night
2. How much did everything cost in the kingdom?
A. Two duddus
B. One duddu
C. Five duddus
D. Different prices
Answer: B. One duddu
3. Why did the disciple decide to stay in the kingdom?
A. He liked the king
B. He wanted to become rich
C. Food was very cheap
D. He wanted to rule there
Answer: C. Food was very cheap
4. Why did the guru leave the kingdom?
A. He was afraid of fools
B. He was ill
C. He disliked the food
D. He was called home
Answer: A. He was afraid of fools
5. Who was first blamed for the thief’s death?
A. The bricklayer
B. The merchant
C. The dancing girl
D. The goldsmith
Answer: B. The merchant
6. Why was the rich merchant not executed?
A. He escaped
B. He was innocent
C. He was dead
D. The king forgave him
Answer: C. He was dead
7. Why was the disciple chosen for execution?
A. He was guilty
B. He was fat enough for the stake
C. He stole food
D. The king disliked him
Answer: B. He was fat enough for the stake
8. How did the guru save the disciple?
A. By fighting the guards
B. By running away
C. By using a clever trick
D. By paying money
Answer: C. By using a clever trick
9. What did the guru tell the king about the stake?
A. It was broken
B. It was magical
C. It was lucky for the first person who died on it
D. It was dangerous
Answer: C. It was lucky for the first person who died on it
10. What happened to the king and the minister?
A. They ran away
B. They were executed
C. They became wiser
D. They punished the guru
Answer: B. They were executed
Part B: 10 FAQ (Short Questions and Answers)
1. Why was the kingdom called the Kingdom of Fools?
Answer: It was called so because the king and his people made foolish decisions and lived in a very strange way.
2. Why did the guru call the place dangerous?
Answer: The guru knew that foolish people can act without sense, which can lead to trouble.
3. Why did the disciple ignore the guru’s advice?
Answer: He was tempted by cheap and plentiful food.
4. What made the disciple grow fat?
Answer: He ate a lot because food was very cheap.
5. Why was the king’s justice foolish?
Answer: The blame kept shifting from one person to another without proper reason.
6. Who was the wisest character in the story?
Answer: The guru was the wisest character.
7. What lesson do we learn from the disciple?
Answer: We should not be greedy or ignore wise advice.
8. What lesson do we learn from the guru?
Answer: Wisdom and presence of mind can solve difficult problems.
9. Why did the king believe the guru?
Answer: The king was foolish and easily tricked.
10. What is the main message of the story?
Answer: Foolishness and injustice can destroy a kingdom, while wisdom can save lives.
In The Kingdom of Fools — Complete Easy Study Material class 9 Audio Note 3
Part C: 4 Solved Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
Read the extract and answer the questions:
“This is a city of fools. You don’t know what they will do next.”
Questions
- Who said these words?
Answer: The guru said these words. - To whom were these words spoken?
Answer: They were spoken to the disciple. - Why did the guru call it a city of fools?
Answer: Because the people behaved in a strange and foolish manner. - What warning was given in these words?
Answer: The warning was that staying there could be dangerous.
Extract 2
Read the extract and answer the questions:
“Everything costs a single duddu.”
Questions
- What surprised the guru and disciple here?
Answer: They were surprised that everything had the same price. - Why did the disciple like this system?
Answer: He liked it because food was very cheap. - Why did the guru dislike it?
Answer: He felt such a system was unnatural and foolish. - What does this tell us about the kingdom?
Answer: It shows the kingdom lacked common sense.
Extract 3
Read the extract and answer the questions:
“Bring a man fat enough to fit the stake.”
Questions
- Who said this?
Answer: The king said this. - Why did the king say this?
Answer: The man chosen for execution was too thin for the stake. - Who was chosen afterwards?
Answer: The disciple was chosen. - What does this show about the king?
Answer: It shows the king was foolish and unjust.
Extract 4
Read the extract and answer the questions:
“Whoever dies first on this stake will be reborn as king.”
Questions
- Who said this?
Answer: The guru said this. - Why did he say it?
Answer: He said it to trick the king and save his disciple. - Who believed this trick?
Answer: The king and the minister believed it. - How did it save the disciple?
Answer: The king and minister chose to die first, so the disciple was saved.
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Important English Words & Meanings In the Kingdom of Fools
Story Words (कहानी के महत्वपूर्ण शब्द)
Kingdom — A country ruled by a king or queen (राज्य / देश)
Fool / Foolish — A silly or stupid person; lacking good sense (मूर्ख)
Disciple — A student or follower of a teacher/guru (शिष्य / चेला)
Guru — A wise teacher; a spiritual guide (गुरु / ज्ञानी)
Decree — An official order made by a ruler (राजकीय आदेश / हुक्म)
Astonishment — A feeling of great surprise (आश्चर्य / हैरानी)
Duddu — An old coin (used in this story) (पुराना सिक्का)
Burglar / Thief — A person who breaks into a place to steal (चोर)
Merchant — A person who buys and sells goods (व्यापारी)
Bricklayer — A person who builds walls using bricks (राजमिस्त्री)
Execution — Carrying out a death sentence; putting someone to death (फाँसी / मृत्युदंड)
Culprit — A person who is guilty of a crime (अपराधी / दोषी)
Innocent — Not guilty; free from blame (निर्दोष / बेगुनाह)
Stake — A sharpened post used for execution (in this story) (खूँटा / सूली)
Sanyasi — A Hindu monk who has given up worldly life (सन्यासी)
Disguised — Changed appearance to hide true identity (भेष बदला हुआ)
Vision — Something seen in the mind, like a dream or magical sight (दृष्टि / दर्शन)
Condemned — Officially declared guilty and sentenced (दोषी ठहराया गया)
Promptly — Immediately, without delay (तुरंत / फौरन)
Bewildered — Completely puzzled or confused (हैरान-परेशान)
Bail — Temporary release from custody (जमानत)
Bailiff — A law officer who ensures court decisions are carried out (अदालत का अधिकारी)
Scrape — A difficult or embarrassing situation (मुसीबत / परेशानी)
Impaling — Piercing through with a sharp stake (खूँटे पर चढ़ाना)
Proclaimed — Announced officially and publicly (घोषणा करना)
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Characters (पात्र)
The Guru: A wise, all-knowing teacher with magical powers. He understands the Kingdom of Fools is dangerous and tries to leave. Later saves his disciple cleverly.
The Disciple: The guru’s student. Greedy for cheap food, he stays in the dangerous kingdom. Gets into serious trouble but is saved by the guru.
The King: A foolish ruler who makes absurd laws (night is day). He gets tricked by his own greed for power and dies at the stake.
The Minister: As foolish as the king. Agrees to all the king’s decisions. Also dies with the king.
The Thief’s Brother: Complains to the king about his brother’s death, starting the whole chain of blame.
The Goldsmith: The Rich Merchant is treated as the final culprit in the foolish chain of blame.
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Moral of the Story (सीख)
- मूर्खों के साथ रहना हमेशा dangerous होता है — Guru सही थे!
- Greed (लालच) हमेशा मुसीबत में डालती है — चेले की लालच ने उसे जानलेवा situation में डाला।
- बुद्धि (wisdom) सबसे बड़ी ताकत है — Guru ने बिना हथियार के, सिर्फ अपनी चालाकी से सब बचा लिया।
- Wrong laws must be changed — जब guru और disciple ने शासन संभाला, उन्होंने सभी गलत कानून बदल दिए।
Quick Revision Points
- यह story एक Kannada folk tale है।
- Kingdom of Fools में रात को दिन और सब चीज़ें एक duddu में मिलती थीं।
- Guru ने leave करने को कहा, disciple cheap food के लिए रुका।
- Thief की मौत से एक long blame chain शुरू हुई।
- Disciple को fat होने की वजह से execution के लिए चुना गया।
- Guru ने stake वाला secret trick use किया।
- Raja और Mantri खुद मर गए — यही उनकी मूर्खता का नतीजा था।
- Guru और Disciple ने conditions के साथ kingdom का शासन संभाला।
In The Kingdom of Fools — Complete Easy Study Material class 9 Free PDF Download
Best of Luck! पढ़ते रहो, आगे बढ़ते रहो!
