For ten long years, I have been living in the Chinese region of Uigher, mainly occupied in the collection of folktales. But all I had to do was a translator’s function in understanding what the common folk narrated.
This is what the Chinese writer cum translator Sang Shou-chuan said initially. He was requested to deliver a lecture on humorous tales of Avanti, the Chinese Nasreddin. I was reminded of all these when I went down the memory lane, some 30 years ago, enjoying my sabbatical leave in the UK attached to Leicester University engaged in some communication studies at the International Association for Mass Communication Research (IAMCR). Shou-chaun came out with an interesting tale according to the notes retained by me. It goes as follows:
“Please understand the character of Avanti not as Nasreddin, but as Avanti himself. He is no one else. Avanti did not serve as the court jester, but as a courtier in a Chinese palace. The king asked Avanti: “If you had here money on one side and justice on the other side, which would you take?”
Without much thought, Avanti replied: “Oh great king, of course, I would take the money.”
“You are not as wise as I thought,” said the king.
“Why, great king?” asked Avanti.
“If I were you, I would take justice. Money is much easier to find than justice.
“Oh, most honoured king,” said Avanti.
“It is because I already have a sense of justice that I chose money. Whereas you have a great deal of money and no sense of justice at all, choose justice.”
Then said the Chinese translator: “This is no joke. Such things have happened all round the globe. Though the king was put to silence by Avanti, it was a lesson in itself about money and justice. Which is worthier?”
Tell us some more tales of Avanti, came a voice from the audience. The Chinese scholar smiled for a while and narrated this tale.
This is a tale in search of wisdom. On another occasion, the king was told that among his officers was a certain Avanti, a most wise and learned person. One day accompanied by his ministers, he called on Avanti.
“Avanti from where did you learn all that wisdom you possess?” The king asked.
“I found it by searching hard.”
“Can wisdom be obtained by searching?”
“Yes, great king.”
“Tell me where you found it!”
“Oh that’s very easy. All you have to do is bring a pick axe and follow me.”
The king felt happy. But he went on thinking that his people have called him a useless fool and a muddle-headed ruler.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t have much wisdom. If I can find it at least now, the people will change their opinion about me.”
He had a subordinate to give him a pickaxe and follow him from the palace and follow the track of both Avanti and himself. They were in search of wisdom.
Avanti led his way to a plot of wasteland where he took off his upper garment. Then he turned to the king and said.
“Most honoured king, please take off your royal robe and hold your pick axe properly.”
The king went on following all what Avanti did. He dug and dug. But no wisdom appeared. The king felt tired. He was also angry.
“Where is the wisdom, Avanti?”
“Have patience, honoured king,” said Avanti, “Dig and dig some more. If you plough the land this autumn and sow some wisdom next spring, by summer, we shall reap a harvest.”
The king became contemplative and asked Avanti.
“Avanti, do you mean to say that the wisdom you are talking about is grain?”
“That is right, great king! That is right,” said Avanti engaged in his work. The king was silently listening to Avanti as he said: “If your palace is not filled with grain harvested by the people with blood and sweat how could you be such a fool as to follow me here to look for wisdom today?”
Needless to say, said the Chinese scholar, the king was not only put to shame, but also felt how very ignorant he is in the face of the public opinion.
Do you have all these tales put into a single book, came an inquiry from the audience. Perhaps in Chinese, but my collection will be out soon, he said smilingly.
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