About the Author
Zakir Husain was a famous Indian writer and thinker who loved telling stories that teach big lessons. He was born on February 8, 1897, in Hyderabad, India. He was not just a writer but also a great leader who became the President of India from 1967 to 1969. He wrote stories, essays, and books in simple and beautiful words, often about people and animals who show courage and love. His stories are full of heart and make you think about life. He cared a lot about education and helped start schools and colleges, like Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Kids love his stories because they are kind, meaningful, and easy to understand.
What’s the Story About?
This is a touching story about a brave little goat named Chandni who loves freedom. The story happens in a small village in the hills, where an old man named Abbu Khan lives alone. Abbu Khan loves goats and treats them like his own children, giving them tasty food and funny names. But his goats keep running away to the hills because they want to be free, even though it’s dangerous with wild animals like wolves around. Every time a goat runs away, it gets eaten by a wolf, and Abbu Khan feels very sad.
To stop feeling lonely, Abbu Khan buys a new young goat and names her Chandni, which means “moonlight,” because she is white and beautiful like the moon. Chandni loves living with Abbu Khan at first. She eats green grass, drinks water from a clay pot, and listens to Abbu Khan’s stories. He ties her with a rope to keep her safe, but Chandni starts looking at the hills. She dreams of running free under the open sky, jumping on rocks, and eating wild grass. She feels trapped, even though Abbu Khan is kind.
One day, Chandni tells Abbu Khan she wants to go to the hills. He warns her about the wolf, saying it will eat her, but Chandni says she’d rather be free and happy, even if it’s risky. Abbu Khan tries to stop her by tying her with a stronger rope, but Chandni escapes one night and runs to the hills. She feels so happy breathing the fresh air, climbing rocks, and seeing the stars. For a while, she enjoys her freedom, eating sweet grass and dancing in the moonlight.
But then, a big wolf finds her. Chandni is small and weak, but she is brave. She decides to fight instead of running away. The wolf and Chandni battle all night, with the other animals in the hills watching quietly. Chandni fights hard, using her horns to push back the wolf. By morning, the fight ends, and the story doesn’t clearly say who wins. But a bird in the hills says the wolf walked away, and Chandni’s bravery made her the real winner, even if she didn’t survive. The story shows how much Chandni loved freedom and how she fought for it with all her heart.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Chandni: A small, white goat who loves freedom. She is brave and dreams of running free in the hills, even if it means facing danger.
- Abbu Khan: An old, kind man who lives alone in a village. He loves his goats like family but feels sad when they run away to the hills.
- The Wolf: A dangerous animal in the hills who attacks goats. It fights Chandni when she goes to the hills.
- Other Goats: Abbu Khan’s earlier goats who ran away to the hills and got eaten by the wolf. They are mentioned but not named.
- The Bird: A wise bird in the hills who tells the other animals that Chandni’s bravery made her the winner, even after the fight.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Main Ideas): The story is about loving freedom and being brave enough to fight for it. It shows how some creatures (and people) value being free more than being safe. It also talks about courage, as Chandni fights a strong wolf even though she’s small. The story shows love between Abbu Khan and his goats, but also how everyone needs to follow their heart, even if it’s hard.
Moral (Lesson): Freedom is precious, and it’s worth fighting for, even if it’s dangerous. Be brave to follow your dreams, but know that choices can have risks. True courage is standing up for what you believe in, no matter the outcome.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story. I explain them in easy words, like talking to a friend:
- Freedom: Being able to do what you want without being tied or stopped, like running in an open field. (Chandni wants freedom in the hills.)
- Tied: Held back with a rope or chain, like a dog on a leash. (Abbu Khan tied Chandni to keep her safe.)
- Dangerous: Something risky that can hurt you, like a wild animal or a steep hill. (The wolf in the hills is dangerous.)
- Brave: Having courage to face scary things, like standing up to a bully. (Chandni is brave to fight the wolf.)
- Escape: To run away from a place where you’re stuck, like sneaking out of a locked room. (Chandni escapes from Abbu Khan’s house.)
Phrases:
- Heart’s desire: Something you really, really want, like wishing for a new bicycle. (Chandni’s heart’s desire is to be free in the hills.)
- Run away: To leave quickly without telling anyone, like leaving home to play without permission. (Abbu Khan’s goats run away to the hills.)
- Fight to the finish: To battle until it’s over, like playing a game until someone wins. (Chandni fights the wolf to the finish.)
- Live like a prisoner: To feel trapped and not free, like being stuck in a small room all day. (Chandni feels like a prisoner with Abbu Khan’s rope.)