Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal And The Hilsa Fish

The king did not want any more talk about the hilsa-fish because it was the season for hilsa-fish and no one could stop talking about it for even five minutes. He was getting annoyed with all the talk about hilsa-fish.

In order to prove that he was clever, Gopal was asked to buy a huge hilsa-fish and bring it to the palace without anyone asking anything about the fish.

Before he went to buy hilsa-fish, Gopal half-shaved his face, smeared himself with ash, and wore disgraceful rags.

After he had bought the fish, Gopal reached the palace and told the guards that he wanted to see the king. When the guards did not let him in, he began to dance and sing loudly. When the king heard this, and also the comments of the people watching the man sing and dance, he asked for the man to be brought before him.

No one seemed to be interested in talking about the hilsa-fish which Gopal had bought because of Gopal’s ridiculous appearance. Some people found him comical, others thought he was a madman, still others thought he was a mystic. They were so engrossed in discussing his appearance that the hilsa-fish went unnoticed.

(ii) He was just acting as a madman so that people’s attention would be diverted from the hilsa-fish he was carrying.

(iv) He wore rags so that people would notice them, and not talk about the hilsa-fish.

(v) The king laughed and congratulated Gopal for achieving the impossible yet again.

(ii) Why is your face half-shaven?

Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven

(iii) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.

Gopal told the kingthat he accepted the challenge.

(iv) I want to see the king.

Gopal told the guardsthat he wanted to see the king.

(v) Bring the man to me at once.

The king ordered the guardto bring the man to him at once.

(i) Challenge

Every difficult situation should be taken up as a challenge and not be run away from.

(ii) Mystic

The mystic from the Himalayas had great words of wisdom to share with the villagers.

(iii) Comical

Everyone appreciates the comical side of a man.

(iv) Courtier

Birbal was Akbar’s most trusted courtier.

(v) Smearing

Smearing the forehead with tilak is one of the traditions of the South Indians.

When the king heard his courtiers talking about Hilsa fish, he lost his temper and warned them that they were courtiers and not fishermen, But the king soon feft guilty, looking at his nervours and humble courtier when he had rebuked. His tone changed and he said that it was the season of Hilsa and nobody could be stopped from talking about it.

Gopal had half-shaved his face. Smeared ash over himself. Had put on rags and was looking disgraceful. She asked Gopal the reason for such weird acts. She stopped him from going out like that but Gopal told her that he was going to buy Hilsa fish. At last she concluded that Gopal had gone mad.

Gopal was one of the wise men in the king;s court. When the king was fed up with ongoing talks about Hilsa fish he challenged Gopal.

Gopal happily accepted the challenge of buying a huge Hilsa fish from the market and to ensure on the way from the market to the palace no one should talk to him about the fish.

He was an intelligent man. he dressed up like a mad man and his appearance caught everyone's attention. He reached the court without anyone talking about the fish as everyone was drawn towards his appearance.

Gopal looked suspicious or rather mystic since he had dressed himself filthly. Moreover his beared was half-shaved and ash was smeared on it. Therefor the guards barred his entry to the palace. He started dancing and singing loudly so that the king might hear him and call him inside. The king ordered him to be taken inside but he could not recognise him. When Gopal reminded him to his challenge and proved that he had fulfilled it the king was surprised and burst into laughter.

Yes, we should not give up in any situation. We should find out a solution to come out of it. Sometimes, it might be tough to find the solution, but if we try hard, nothing is impossible. We learn from the efforts we make in life. If we won't make efforts then our learning will stop.

It is ok to commit mistake but we should learn bur lesson from them and must not repeat them again. The world remembers the great people because they did things differently and took up those risks in life.