The Fool

The Cunning Landlord

Kamal Chowdhury of Shyampeta was a wealthy landlord, known for his wit and cleverness. He was confident in his intelligence and often regarded himself as superior to others.

One day, while relaxing in a rest house on his way back from town, he overheard two men talking in the next room. “You too are on your way to Shyampeta, are you? Good. We can travel together,” said one of the men.

“I’m happy to get a companion,” replied the other man. Curiosity piqued, Kamal listened intently. “What business have you got at Shyampeta?” the first man inquired.

Reputation Revealed

“Well, I have some business with Kamal Chowdhury,” replied the second man.

“You mean Kamal Chowdhury, the fool?” the first man laughed.

“The fool? Is Kamal Chowdhury, the landlord, a fool?” asked the second man, surprisingly.

The first man chuckled, “No, no. He is far from being a fool. In fact, he is quite intelligent. But he has a habit of calling everybody a fool. Mention anyone to him, and he will at once say, ‘Oh, that fool!’ To distinguish him from another Kamal Chowdhury in the village, the villagers refer to him as Kamal Chowdhury the Fool.”

A Change of Heart

Hearing this, Kamal sat up straight and burst into the other room. One of the travelers, who recognized him, was surprised and embarrassed. Yet, Kamal smiled and said, “I am grateful to Providence that I overheard your conversation. Indeed, what a fool I was to call everybody a fool! I deserved to be called the fool myself.”

“You are a noble man. That’s why you took our conversation in good spirit,” commented the two travelers.

Feeling a shift within himself, Kamal offered them a ride in his carriage and decided to abandon his habit of calling people fools. Gradually, the people of Shyampeta also ceased referring to him as Kamal Chowdhury the Fool, recognizing his transformation.