Panchatantra
Author- Vishnusharma, Rohini Chowdhury
Publisher- Puffin, Rs 299
The art of storytelling runs through generations and keeps one connected to the other. It is also means used by the elder generation to teach the youngsters, in subtle ways, the nuances of leading a balanced life. The Panchatantra has the power to enamour readers of all ages. These tales will surely be worth your time, writes ASTHA JOSHI
Narrating tales is one of the most ancient ways of imparting wisdom in almost every tradition. The art of storytelling runs through generations and keeps one connected to the other. On the one hand it is a means used by the elder generation to teach the youngsters, in subtle ways, the nuances of leading a balance life. On the other, these stories act as guidelines for the younger ones who revisit these tales from time to time. Stories of thePanchatantra form one of the oldest collection of stories in India. Told in a simple and engaging tone, these tales appeal cutting across ages and languages.
Narrated through the voices of both humans and animals, the tales offer lessons on behaviour in day to day life. Vishnusharma, the author of this collection by Puffin books called Panchatantra, recreates the most ordinary looking situations from our social life with the most important of the lessons. As an extremely unique narrative method, he carves out characters which are both human and animals leading the most obvious and mundane lives. Moreover, these tales are set in a jungle instead of a human habitation, establishing similarities between humans and animal kingdom.
The engrossing technique of narration employed by the author is one of the many means which keeps the reader flipping the pages. What begins as a story of three dumb princes soon turns into a narrative pregnant with innumerable as well as impactful tutorials on life. The stories are short and crisp and the ending of one serves as the beginning of a new one. It is this clever technique that doesn’t allow the readers to keep the book aside.
The two jackals Kartaka and Damanaka are the major protagonists of the tales who relate to each other stories of common sense and plain logic. These tales in turn act as guidelines for conduct at times one gets stuck at crossroads unable to distinguish between the correct course of action.
The various tales of the Panchatantra also offer insights on a number of themes, both personal and social. The social setting at the jungle is akin to a certain stage of human society. The lion King holds supreme power and has at his disposal all other animals who serve him in return of the protection he offers. It is the wish (and need) of every weaker animal to be on good terms with the King, failure to do which can cost them their dear life. It is a well-known fact that we all secretly wish to maintain friendly terms with the powerful ones. This power could of one’s financial position, professional achievements or a political position. Attraction towards these is natural but we need to be aware of the extent we are willing to go to acquire these. The clever and greedy jackal Damanaka tries to befriend the powerful lion and the mighty bull to serve his selfish desires. But is it really the only way to make space for oneselfIJ By killing off others on the wayIJ The feeling of inferiority/ insecurity is an extremely strong emotion. But surely there can be better ways of getting rid it of this crippling feeling.
In the Introduction of the work, Roy elaborates on the tradition of storytelling. like most of us, she accepts that she has heard these stories during her childhood and the growing up years, but forgets about the characters called Pingalaka and Sanjivaka and the others. Stories travel through time and space. Geographical borders are never a hindrance for narrators and listeners. We know that the characters of Panchatantra have also mesmerised readers of the Arabic tales, Kalila-wa-Dimna. The two jackals have a place in the hearts of Urdu and Persian readers too.
The numerous wild animals inhabiting the world of Panchatantra are quite akin to us humans. Morals and ethics exist in the animal world too; but not all of them adhere to these. Their actions are reflections of how they think, manipulate, and calculate situations. These animals, as Roy suggests, are cunning and jealous, as well as friendly and generous like us. But despite all similarities the characters of Panchatantra are animals, as much as we would like to think of them as humans, given their ways of talking and behaving. Fables, just like thePanchatantra, have imaginary worlds, where the engrossed reader never questions how four-legged creatures have superhuman abilities.
The tales are roughly set up in sections which teach ways to win friends, and how to keep them and how to lose them. The story of the wild goose and the owl tells us that friends should be chosen wisely. A friend who does not adequately reciprocate your loyalty should not be kept close. The story of the camel, the jackal and the crow, warns one to be careful of the ‘mean and petty minded’ who always try ‘to do away with those who are good and less devious’. Also such mean people can in no time poison the minds of those are trusting and caring. Not paying heed to the words of our wise and well-meaning friends can even cost us our life, as we learn from the story of the foolish turtle and the swans. The story of the three fishes teaches that shutting our eyes to the approaching danger will not ensure safety. It would be foolish to leave our lives in the hands of luck if we still have time to act and save ourselves. It is The Tittibh bird and the sea’s story puts across the point that even the weak can defeat the strong one without the use of physical power. By intelligently thinking of a plan and carrying out it with the help of his close friends, the male Tittibh was able to recover his eggs without needing to stoop to the sea’s level.
The Panchatantra has the power to enamour readers of all ages. No matter what genre of literature is your cup of tea, these tales will surely be worth the time. And for all those who have read or heard these tales throughout childhood, it will be all the more interesting to read these from a mature perspective. Stories never go stale and neither do the morals. Every generation grows up with a bunch of tales which we relate to even after years of growing up. But our very favourite Panchatantra tales have been on the lips and hearts of the grownups and children of most of the generations. Brought out in different Indian languages from time to time, these tales are kept alive as a treasure, not to be kept under lock and key but shared and celebrated beyond any borders.