Detailed Summary: The Wise Men of Ramnagar | Oxford English for Class 4 PDF Download

Key Points of the Story

• There was a happy and prosperous village named Ramnagar near a wide river.
• Ramnagar was peaceful, and everyone lived together happily without any problems.
• Ten miles away, a town planned to build a new road connecting to another town.
• The new road's route would pass close to Ramnagar, threatening to destroy some of their best fields.
• Villagers from Ramnagar held a meeting to discuss how to stop the road construction.
• After three days, they decided to protest against the building of the road.
• A man from the town saw villagers using a cup to take water from the river and thought it was strange.
• The townsfolk spread rumors saying the villagers were mad because of their unusual ways.
• Two men from the town saw villagers trying to cut down a large tree with small penknives and found it ridiculous.
• The District Officer heard about the situation and decided to investigate.
• When he visited Ramnagar, he saw women carrying ants away one by one and thought the villagers were crazy.
• The District Officer concluded that the villagers were lunatics and insisted the road should be rerouted.
• The road was built along the top of a hill, avoiding Ramnagar completely.
• Ramnagar remained peaceful, and the villagers continued their lives without any disruption.
• In the end, the villagers were wise and used methods that worked for them, even if others found them slow.

Detailed Summary

Once upon a time, there was a happy village named Ramnagar near a wide river. The people in Ramnagar lived peacefully and were prosperous. Ten miles away, a town decided to build a new road that would go close to Ramnagar and destroy some of their best fields. The villagers of Ramnagar held meetings and made a plan to stop the road from being built. They used slow and unusual methods, like using cups to take water from the river and cutting down trees with small knives. People from the town thought Ramnagar’s ways were strange and said the villagers were crazy. The District Officer visited Ramnagar and saw their unique methods. Believing the villagers were mad, he decided to reroute the road away from Ramnagar. In the end, Ramnagar remained peaceful, and the villagers continued their happy lives. The story teaches us to respect different ways of doing things and shows that sometimes, unusual methods can be very effective.

Theme/ Message

The central theme of the story revolves around the idea of wisdom in simplicity and the importance of understanding different ways of life. The villagers of Ramnagar employed methods that were unconventional and appeared slow to outsiders, yet these methods were effective for them. This highlights the notion that intelligence and effectiveness can manifest in various forms, and what works for one group may not seem logical to another. The story suggests that it is essential to respect and appreciate the diverse practices and traditions of different communities.

The message conveyed through the narrative is that it is crucial to avoid judging others based solely on appearances or different ways of doing things. The townspeople viewed the villagers as mad because they did not understand their practices. However, the villagers were content and successful in their own right. This teaches a valuable lesson about tolerance and the need to embrace diversity in cultures and practices. It reminds readers that wisdom can come in many forms and that one should not dismiss others simply because they follow a different path.

Difficult Words

• Village: A small community or group of houses in a rural area.
• Marketplace: A public area where people gather to buy and sell goods.
• District: A specific area within a town or city that has its own government or administration.
• Route: The way or path taken to get from one place to another.
• Plan: A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
• Protest: A statement or action expressing disapproval or objection to something.
• Curious: Eager to learn or know something.
• Astonished: Very surprised or shocked.
• Ridiculous: Deserving or inviting mockery; absurd or laughable.
• Lunatics: People who behave in a crazy or insane manner.
• Reroute: To change the path or direction of something.
• Prosperous: Successful and wealthy.
• Traditions: Customs or beliefs passed down from generation to generation.
• Effective: Successful in producing a desired or intended result.