Naya Sandesh

The Monkey and the Fish – A Tale of True Friendship Once upon a time, in a lush green forest bordered by a wide sparkling river, lived two unlikely but best friends—a clever monkey named Miko and a kind-hearted fish named Fin. Miko lived in the tall trees, swinging from branch to branch, while Fin swam happily in the clear river below. Even though they were different in many ways, they loved spending time together. Every day, Miko would climb down to the riverbank to chat with Fin, and Fin would leap out of the water to greet him with splashes of joy. One summer, the forest was struck by a terrible drought. The trees began to wither, and the river’s water started to dry up. Miko, who lived in the trees, could still find a few fruits to eat, but Fin was in trouble—the water level was dropping fast, and he had less space to swim. Seeing his friend in danger, Miko became worried. “Don’t worry, Fin,” he said. “I’ll help you. I’ll find a deeper part of the river for you to stay safe...

  “Birbal’s Khichdi”  On a cold winter day, Emperor Akbar and his advisor, Birbal, were walking by a lake. Akbar dipped his finger into the freezing water and remarked, “I don’t think anyone could spend an entire night in this cold water.” Birbal confidently replied, “I am sure I can find such a person.” Akbar, intrigued, challenged Birbal to find someone willing to endure the cold night in exchange for a reward of a thousand gold coins. Birbal searched and found a poor man who agreed to the challenge. The man stood in the lake overnight, enduring the cold. The next morning, he was brought before Akbar. When asked how he managed, the man explained, “I focused on a street lamp burning 200 yards away, and its light kept me warm.” Akbar, believing the man had been warmed by the lamp’s light, decided he was not deserving of the reward. The disappointed man sought Birbal’s help. The following day, Birbal did not attend the court. Concerned, Akbar visited Birbal’s home and fo...