About the Author
This story is a fun tale from old Indian stories passed down by people. It is not written by one person we know. The makers of the NCERT book turned it into a comic with pictures to make it easy and enjoyable for students.
What’s the Story About?
The story happens in a king's palace long ago. It is the time when a special fish called Hilsa is easy to catch. Everyone talks only about this fish. Fishermen think about it, people in the market chat about it, even the king's helpers in the court keep saying "Hilsa fish" all day. The king gets very upset because no one talks about anything else. He feels angry and wants to stop this.
The king says to his smart helpers, "If any of you can buy a big Hilsa fish and bring it to my palace without even one person saying the word 'Hilsa', I will give you a reward." All the helpers try but fail. People always ask about the fish on the way.
Then, a clever man named Gopal steps up. He says he can do it. To trick everyone, Gopal changes his looks. He shaves only half his face and half his hair. He puts dirt and ash on his body and wears old torn clothes. His wife sees him like this and thinks he has gone crazy. She tries to stop him, but Gopal goes to the market anyway.
He buys a huge Hilsa fish. As he walks to the palace with the fish, people look at him and laugh. They call him a madman because of his funny looks. No one notices the fish or asks about it. They are too busy staring at his strange face and clothes.
At the palace gate, the guards try to block him. But Gopal shouts that he has a gift for the king. They smell the fish and let him in. The king sees Gopal with the fish and his odd look. He asks what happened. Gopal smiles and says, "See, Your Majesty, I brought the Hilsa fish, but no one talked about it. They all laughed at me instead." The king is happy and says Gopal is the smartest.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The King: The ruler who gets annoyed with everyone talking about the Hilsa fish. He gives a challenge to his helpers.
- Gopal: A very smart and funny helper in the king's court. He uses a clever trick to win the challenge.
- Gopal's Wife: She sees Gopal's strange new look and thinks he is acting mad.
- The Courtiers: The king's other helpers who try the challenge but cannot do it.
- The Guards: Men at the palace gate who almost stop Gopal but let him in.
- Villagers and Fishermen: People outside who laugh at Gopal's funny appearance instead of noticing the fish.
Themes and Moral
The story shows how being smart and quick-thinking can solve hard problems. It teaches that sometimes you need a funny or surprise way to make people forget something. The main idea is that nothing is too hard if you use your brain well. Gopal proves that clever ideas beat just hard work. The moral is: Use your wits to face challenges, and you can succeed where others fail.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
- Hilsa fish: A big, tasty fish that lives in rivers and seas. People love to eat it when it is in season.
- Annoyed: Feeling upset or angry because something keeps happening.
- Challenge: A dare or test to see if you can do something hard.
- Courtier: A friend or helper who works for the king in his palace.
- Disguised: Changing your clothes and looks so no one knows who you are.
- Madman: A person who acts very strangely, like he is not in his right mind.
- Shaved: Cutting hair or beard with a razor to make it smooth.
- Reward: A prize or good thing you get for doing something well.
- Phrase "Lost his temper": Getting very angry suddenly.
- Phrase "Out of his mind": Acting crazy or not thinking clearly.