The Barber and the Demon: Folktale from India Once there lived a barber who was very idle. He would do no work and devoted his time to preening himself with an old mirror and a broken comb. His old mother rebuked him all day for this, but it didn’t touch him. At last, one day … Read more
The Laughing Fish: Folktale from India As a fisherwoman passed by the palace hawking her fish, the queen appeared at one of the windows and beckoned her to come near and show her what she had. At that moment a very big fish jumped about in the bottom of the basket. ‘Is it a male … Read more
The Tree Spirit’s Love: Folktale from India A very long time ago, in a village in Nagaland, there lived a very beautiful girl, the only child of her parents who were very rich. As was the custom among the Ao-Naga tribe, when a girl reached puberty, she went to the girls’ dormitory to spend the … Read more
The Golden Snake: Folktale from India Long ago, in a quiet village hemmed by thick forests and winding rivers, there lived a poor old woman who earned her living by collecting firewood. One day, as she cut branches in the forest, she stumbled upon a shimmering golden snake coiled beneath a banyan tree. Startled, she … Read more
The Prophecy of the Tiger: Folktale from India On the outskirts of a forest, a brother and sister lived in a small mud hut. As their parents had died long ago, it was the brother’s duty to find a suitable bridegroom for his sister. It so happened that once a young man from a distant … Read more
The Silent Exchange: Folktale from India A rich and powerful Raja (King) was convinced in his heart that no one in the world was as powerful as he was. But he told no one about it. One day he began to wonder whether others could guess what he was thinking. So he called together all his officers … Read more
Brains Over Brawn: Folktale from India In two adjoining villages there lived two famous men. The one was called Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth—one that could accomplish wonders with words alone. The other was called Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands—one who could make no use of that glib instrument the tongue, but was able to bear burdens, cut wood, and perform … Read more
Fate’s Unwritten Path: Folktale from India A young Brahman (Scholar-sage) in search of knowledge had heard about a great sage and philosopher who lived in the heart of a dense forest, far from the madness of civilization. So he walked for days through the thorns of the jungle and the menace of wild beasts till he reached … Read more
The Jasmine Prince: Folktale from India There was once a king who was called the Jasmine Prince because the scent of jasmines would waft from him for miles whenever he laughed. But for that to happen, he had to laugh naturally, all by himself. If someone else tickled him or forced him to laugh, there … Read more
Widow Who Spoke to Walls: Folktale from India A poor widow lived with her two sons and two daughters-in-law. All four of them scolded and ill-treated her all day. She had no one to whom she could turn and tell her woes. As she kept all her woes to herself, she grew fatter and fatter. … Read more
The Boy Who Turned Into A Monkey: Folktale from India Once upon a time there was a boy in a village whose mother had died when he was young. After some time, the father married again in order to have a helpmate for himself a well as to provide a mother for his young son.But … Read more