The Scholar and a Boatman: There was a poor boatman is a village (Story Writing)

The Scholar and a Boatman

Once upon a time in a village, there lived a destitute and uneducated boatman who had to row his boat from dawn to dusk just to make ends meet. It was during the month of Baishakh when one day, a scholar boarded his boat. The scholar inquired if the boatman had read history, to which the boatman replied negatively. The scholar remarked that without any knowledge of history, one-fourth of the boatman’s life had been wasted. He then admired the picturesque scenery and asked the boatman if he had any acquaintance with geography. The boatman’s answer was again in the negative, leading the scholar to declare that half of the boatman’s life had been lost. The boatman felt sad and thought about the futility of his existence. After a while of silence, in the afternoon, the scholar asked if the boatman had any knowledge of science. The boatman’s answer remained negative, and the scholar retorted that three-fourths of the boatman’s life were now ruined. The boatman rowed the boat in a despondent mood, with the scholar quietly sitting by his side.

Suddenly, the sky darkened with ominous clouds, and a violent gust of wind started to blow. Darkness engulfed the surroundings, and heavy rain accompanied by lightning struck the boat. The scholar became exceedingly frightened. However, the boatman remained composed since he was accustomed to such weather. In a calm voice, the boatman asked the scholar if he could swim. The scholar replied with a pitiful tone in the negative. The boatman then announced that the boat was about to sink, and he could see that the scholar’s erudition was of no use in this moment of peril.

Moral :