Class : 9 – Lession (21) In the Kingdom of Fools

EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY

“The Kingdom of Fools” is a thought-provoking and humorous folk tale written by A. K. Ramanujan. It satirizes the idea of blind obedience to foolish leadership and highlights how wisdom and cleverness can outwit ignorance and injustice. The story is set in a strange kingdom ruled by a foolish king and his equally foolish minister.

In this kingdom, everything was upside down. People slept during the day and worked at night. Anyone who disobeyed this rule was punished severely. Even animals and thieves followed the odd routine. The king and his minister believed that this strange way of life would keep their kingdom peaceful and unique. Their laws were irrational, but everyone was too afraid to question them.

One day, a guru and his disciple arrived in the city. They were surprised to see such an unusual system. Shops were open at night, and everything — even food — was absurdly cheap. The guru sensed something was wrong and warned the disciple to leave. However, the disciple, tempted by the abundance of food at low prices, decided to stay behind. The guru left, while the disciple remained in the city, enjoying his luxurious and carefree life.

Soon, trouble arose when a thief broke into a rich man’s house but died unexpectedly when the wall he was breaking collapsed on him. The thief’s brother filed a complaint. The foolish king launched an investigation — not into the thief’s crime but into the cause of his death. He held the house owner responsible for building a weak wall. This started a chain of bizarre blame-shifting where the king summoned a bricklayer, then a dancer, and finally the goldsmith, all based on absurd reasoning.

Eventually, the disciple was sentenced to death simply because his body was fat enough to fit the newly constructed stake for execution. This decision was made without any logic or fairness, proving the absurdity of the kingdom’s justice system. The disciple, terrified, prayed to his guru for help.
The guru returned through magical powers and devised a clever plan. He tricked the king and minister by saying that whoever died on the stake that day would be reborn as the next king and minister in heaven. Greedy for divine rewards, the king and minister decided to die in their place.

Thus, the guru saved his disciple through wit and wisdom. After the king and minister’s death, the people begged the guru to rule their kingdom. The guru agreed, but on the condition that the kingdom would return to a normal way of life — working during the day and sleeping at night, with just and sensible governance.

✅ Conclusion
“The Kingdom of Fools” cleverly exposes the dangers of foolish leadership, blind obedience, and irrational laws. Through satire, humor, and fantasy, the story reminds us that wisdom, presence of mind, and critical thinking are more valuable than blind loyalty or rigid systems. A kingdom without logic and justice cannot survive, no matter how amusing or different it may seem.

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PASSAGE

📜 Passage from “The Kingdom of Fools”
The disciple found the place very cheap and comfortable. All food items cost the same — a single duddu (an ancient Indian coin), whether it was a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas. The disciple was a great lover of food. Tempted by the abundance and low prices, he stayed behind, even though the guru warned him of the danger in a kingdom of fools.

Questions and Answers

✅ Q1. Fill in the blank (1 mark)
The disciple was __ by the abundance and cheap prices of food in the kingdom.
Answer: tempted

✅ Q2. Multiple Choice Question (1 mark)
Choose the correct synonym of the word “abundance” used in the passage:
A) scarcity
B) confusion
C) plenty
D) luxury
Answer: plenty

✅ Q3. Answer in 15 words (1 mark)
Why did the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools?
Answer:
He loved food and was attracted by the extremely cheap and plentiful food available there.

✅ Q4. Answer in 40 words (2 marks)
What does the disciple’s decision to stay reveal about his character?
Answer:
The disciple’s decision reflects his greed and short-sightedness. He ignored his guru’s wise advice, prioritizing food over safety. His impulsive choice highlights how desire can cloud judgment, especially in a place governed by irrational and foolish rulers.

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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
✅ Q1. Describe the strange laws of the Kingdom of Fools. (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
In the Kingdom of Fools, people slept during the day and worked at night. Anyone who disobeyed this rule was punished. Everything, including food, cost the same—just one duddu. This absurd uniformity in pricing and time schedule was enforced by the foolish king and his minister, who believed it made their kingdom peaceful and unique.

✅ Q2. Why did the guru leave the kingdom, and what warning did he give to his disciple? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
The guru sensed danger in the strange, irrational ways of the kingdom. He advised his disciple that such a place, ruled by fools, was not safe, as anything could happen unpredictably. Trusting his wisdom, the guru left. However, the disciple, tempted by cheap food, ignored the warning and chose to stay behind.

✅ Q3. How did the king handle the thief’s death, and what does it reveal about his judgment? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
The king bizarrely blamed the house owner for the thief’s death, caused by a collapsing wall. He launched a chain of ridiculous blame-shifting, showing no sense of logic or fairness. His actions reflect his complete foolishness and inability to think critically or apply justice rationally in solving problems or delivering verdicts.

✅ Q4. What role did the guru play in saving his disciple’s life? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
When the disciple was sentenced to death for a reasonless crime, he prayed to the guru. The guru returned, used his wisdom, and tricked the king into believing that dying on the stake would grant rebirth as king. The foolish king and minister took their places and got executed, saving the disciple’s life.

✅ Q5. What is the central message of “In the Kingdom of Fools”? Support your answer with examples from the story. (6 marks – 120 words)
Answer:
The story highlights the dangers of ignorance and irrational governance. A society ruled by foolish leaders who pass absurd laws can collapse into chaos and injustice. The king and minister in this story enforce bizarre routines and deliver senseless judgments. Innocent people, like the disciple, become victims of their stupidity. The guru, with his wisdom and presence of mind, ultimately saves the day. His clever plan exposes the king’s foolishness. The tale warns readers against blind obedience and shows the importance of wisdom, reason, and justice in leadership. It also teaches that greed, like that of the disciple, can lead to danger if not balanced with caution and foresight.

✅ Q6. Imagine you are the disciple. Write a diary entry reflecting on the mistakes you made and lessons learned. (6 marks – 120 words)
Answer:
Diary Entry –
Today I feel humbled and grateful. I let my love for food overpower the wise advice of my guru. I stayed in the Kingdom of Fools, thinking the cheap meals were a blessing. But I learned the hard way that nothing in life is truly free. My greed nearly cost me my life. Had it not been for my guru’s cleverness and compassion, I would’ve been executed for no reason at all. I’ve learned to listen more and think ahead. A foolish place, no matter how tempting, is still dangerous. Wisdom is far more valuable than comfort or indulgence. From now on, I’ll live by the words of my guru and never ignore good judgment again.