Short Answer Questions
Ques 1: Why were the people of the kingdom confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and his minister?
Ans:
The people of the kingdom were confused as to how their king and the minister were dead instead of the Guru and the disciple. The people were not able to see through the plan that was executed by the Guru against their king and minister.
Ques 2: When does the disciple remember the words of the Guru?
Ans:
The disciple did not pay any heed to the advice of his Guru when the Guru asked him to leave the kingdom of fools. When the king decided that the disciple was a suitable person for execution, he remembered the words of the Guru.
Ques 3: How was the kingdom of Fools different from any other place?
Ans:
Everything was different in the kingdom of Fools. The night was considered as day and day as night. Not only the human beings even the animals stayed awake at night. Anything and everything could be bought for a Dudu.
Ques 4: Why did the Guru want that he and his disciple should die first?
Ans:
The Guru wanted himself and his disciple to die first because he devised a plan to save his disciple from execution. By convincing the king that whoever died first would become king and minister in their next life, he ensured their safety by exploiting the king's superstition.
Ques 5: On what conditions did the Guru and his disciple agree to rule that kingdom?
Ans:
He set the condition that he would be free to change all the old and foolish laws. Hence, night was considered as night and day was regarded as a normal working day. Even persuaded prices were changed according to the value of the material.
Ques 6: Why did the Guru not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools?
Ans:
The Guru did not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools, as the people over there were foolish. He was not sure about them and felt that they could harm him.
Ques 7: Why does the disciple not want to leave the Kingdom of the fools?
Ans:
The disciple did not want to leave the place because of the sale of cheap eatables and other commodities and since everything was easily available life seemed to be very simple and easy.
Ques 8: Why did the king decide to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciples?
Ans:
The Guru befooled the king. He told him that the people dying now would be the king and minister in their next birth. The foolish king fell for the words of the Guru and postponed their execution.
Ques 9: What was so strange about the Kingdom of Fools?
Ans:
The strange thing about the Kingdom of Fools was that not only humans but animals were also made to sleep during the day. Everything in this kingdom used to come for a dudu.
Ques 10: Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape from the punishment?
Ans: According to the king, the real culprit is the rich merchant. The king holds him responsible for a wall collapse that killed a thief because the merchant inherited his father's wealth, along with his sins. However, the merchant escapes punishment because he is too thin to be properly executed on the newly made stake, leading the king to search for a fat man to fit the stake instead.
Ques 11: What advice did the Guru give to the disciple before going out of the city?
Ans: The Guru told his disciples that it was dangerous to stay in a Kingdom of fools. He said that there was no justice only foolish, unpredictable behaviour. According to him, the kingdom would not last long.
Ques 12: What is the Guru’s wisdom? When does the disciple realize this?
Ans: The Guru's wisdom lies in recognizing the lack of justice and the unpredictable nature of the kingdom of fools. He advises his disciple to leave the kingdom, foreseeing potential dangers. The disciple realizes the significance of this wisdom when he faces imminent execution, regretting his earlier decision to ignore the Guru's advice.
Ques 13: Why did the king want to punish the merchant?
Ans: The king wanted to punish the merchant because the wall of his house fell on the thief killing him. Since the merchant had inherited his father’s wealth he inherited his sins too therefore, he should be punished.
Ques 14: Who became the king and the prime minister of the kingdom?
Ans: As the kingdom was without a king, the people of the kingdom persuaded the Guru and the disciple to take over the throne. So, the holy man became the king and his disciple took the charge of Prime Minister.
Ques 15: What two things were different in the kingdom of fools?
Ans: Two things that were different in the Kingdom of Fools were that the people worked at night and slept during the day. Everything was sold at the same price. A ‘Dudu’ could buy a mass of rice as well as a bunch of bananas.
Long Answer Type Questions
Ques 1: The disciple in the story didn’t look into the depth of the matter and made a hasty decision to not leave the kingdom of fools. What light does the story throw on the importance of good decision-making in one’s life?
Ans:
- The disciple in the story didn’t look into the depth of the matter and made a hasty decision not to leave the kingdom of fools.
- Disciple was waylaid by the prices of the commodities. Anything could be bought with a ‘Dudu’.
- Either it could be a mass of rice or a bunch of bananas.
- So, the disciple decided to stay back not listening to his Guru who advised his disciple that it was dangerous to stay back in the kingdom of fools as there was no justice, prevalent in such a kingdom.
- It was when the disciple was chosen as the suitable person for execution that he realized his mistake. He regretted his decision to stay back. Just one small decision cost his life.
Ques 2: Do you believe in the fact that our prayers are often heard and answered? There are miracles which change the course of life. Which miracle took place in the story? ‘In the Kingdom of Fools? What lesson do you learn from the Guru’s word of wisdom?
Ans:
- It is often believed that our prayers are often heard and answered which was proved in the story. ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’.
- The king had ordered to execution of the disciple. He prayed to Guru to save him.
- It was a miracle that his Guru heard his prayer and came to rescue him. He whispered something in his ears and then asked the king to execute him first and then the disciple.
- The king released them both knowing that whoever died first would be the king in his next birth. It was his Guru’s advice and presence of mind that saved the disciple.
- The disciple realized his mistake for Guru’s not listening to the Guru’s words of wisdom.
Ques 3: You are the disciple in the story, “Kingdom of the Fools”. You are in trouble as you are about to be hanged. You decide to write a letter to your Guru regretting your decision to stay in the kingdom of fools and requesting him to help you. Write the letter in 80 words.
Ans:
Respected Guru ji,
I am writing this letter out of sheer desperation. I regret not paying heed to your advice of leaving this Kingdom of Fools. I fell prey to my temptation for cheap and tasty food and now I am in serious trouble. I have been trapped and will shortly be hanged. Everyone here is foolish and there is no point in reasoning with them. You are my only hope who can save me from this situation. I request you to please come here at the earliest and save my life. I promise in future I will always pay heed to your advice and keep myself in control.
Your disciple.
Ques 4: How did the Guru and his disciple become the king and the minister of the kingdom?
Ans:
- The Guru knew that his king and his minister were fools.
- To save his disciple, Guru hatched a plan.
- He said that the first one to be executed at the state, would become the king in the next life and the second to be executed would be the king’s minister.
- The foolish king and his minister got themselves executed.
- As the kingdom was without a king, the guru and his disciple were made the king and the minister.
Ques 5: How did the Guru manage to save his disciple?
Ans:
- The king ordered to execute the disciple. He prayed to his Guru to save him.
- The Guru heard his prayer in his vision and appeared to rescue his disciple.
- First, he whispered something in his disciple’s ears and then asked the king to execute him first.
- And the disciple followed suit, which puzzled the king.
- Knowing the secret, the king fell into the trap of his temptation and wanted to be the king in his rebirth.
- He went into the prison at night and set the guru and disciple free.
- In their place, he and his minister disguised themselves as the guru and the disciple and got executed. Thus, the Guru managed to save his disciple.
Ques 6: “Guru was a wise man” – how does the story “The Kingdom of Fools” reflect it?
Ans:
- “The Kingdom of Fools” clearly reflects that “Guru was a wise man” as he advised his disciples not to stay in that kingdom.
- As the disciple thought that the future was uncertain, he did not pay any heed to his Guru and stayed on.
- When he was imprisoned by the King’s men, he realized the significance of his Guru’s words and repented for not following his Guru’s advice.
- So, it is proved that Guru was very wise. And it was because of his wisdom that disciple was saved and they were made king and prime minister of the kingdom.