Usuf Mir
“Raja was convinced that the people were devoted only to his tune, while the King, too, was becoming convinced that the people had begun to dance to his tune rather than the Raja’s.”
Long ago, there lived an old man in a village. He held a unique place in the hearts of the villagers because of his many qualities. He was respected and honoured by everyone. Every day, during his leisure hours, he would tell stories to the children of his household. Once a week, the children and young people of the neighbourhood would gather around him to listen to stories, old and new.
One day, the old man made an announcement and called the entire village together to hear a story. Everyone came: children, elders, young people, women, employees, students, doctors, engineers and lawyers. They all gathered in one place. The old man began his story, and the people listened with great attention.
“Once upon a time, there was a Raja…”
A young man in the crowd interrupted.
“Another old story?”
“Listen first,” the old man replied.
The young man sat down. The old man began again.
Once upon a time, there was a Raja. He possessed a special kind of musical instrument. On certain days, the Raja would play it. The tune he played was unlike any other. It touched the hearts of everyone who heard it. Once a person heard the Raja’s tune, he became devoted to the Raja. Whatever command the Raja gave was then obeyed without question.
The Raja’s growing popularity greatly troubled the King of the time. He tried every possible means to break the Raja, but all his efforts were in vain. Meanwhile, the Raja’s circle of influence continued to expand. It grew and grew until he had reached a position almost equal to that of the King. He was no longer a Raja merely in name; he had become a Raja in power as well. Without his command, it seemed that not even a bird could spread its wings.
Raja’s tune was becoming his greatest source of strength, and he used it to the fullest. Such was its power that the King of the time was beginning to appear almost powerless. The King’s authority had been reduced to a narrow sphere. This filled him with fear.
He set all his agents to work and sought advice from outside as well. Combining every suggestion and every available resource, he began shooting his arrows in every direction, hoping somehow to render the Raja’s tune ineffective.
The King employed every possible means to reach the Raja and finally sent messengers with a message.
“Greetings, Raja Sahib. I am the King’s messenger. I have been entrusted with delivering His Majesty’s message to you.”
The messenger addressed the Raja.
“The King’s command is that you must change your tune. Whatever compensation is due to you will be paid.”
Having delivered the message, the messengers departed from the Raja’s mansion.
But the Raja was no less determined than the King. He took great pride in his tune and remained firmly committed to it. He declared that if the King sincerely wished the tune to be changed, then the King himself should ask the people.
The King, meanwhile, continued with his efforts. Relying on the strength of his kingdom, he began testing the people in one way after another. People were shown colourful spectacles and alluring entertainments. Whenever necessary, the King sent his officers to keep the people under control. Whenever a particular method seemed to work, he adopted it.
He also placed restrictions on the Raja’s movements and on his contact with the people. At the same time, the King composed several tunes of his own, each more attractive than the last. He tried every possible method to make those tunes increasingly appealing and enchanting.
Gradually, the people began to develop a taste for them. Yet whenever the King found an opportunity, he would again urge the Raja to change his tune, while the Raja remained stubbornly attached to that one tune of his.
The King had begun to realise that the Raja’s tune was slowly losing its influence. With each passing day, the need to replace it seemed to diminish. Even so, from time to time, the King would provoke the Raja once again, urging him to change his tune.
The Raja remained proud of his tune. He was convinced that the people were devoted only to his tune, while the King, too, was becoming convinced that the people had begun to dance to his tune rather than the Raja’s.
Then the King was given an opportunity to test the people with a new tune. This new spectacle strengthened his belief that the people were now listening less to the Raja’s tune and beginning to prefer his own.
But the Raja remained lost in his own world. The King decided to test him once more. But who could persuade the Raja? Pride had taken hold of him. He knew only one tune, and that was the tune he had always played.
One day, the King said to the Raja, “Raja Sahib, how are you? I think you will have to listen to me now. Change your tune.”
With pride and unwavering determination, the Raja replied that the tune would not change.
“Try, Raja Sahib,” said the King. “You are the master. The people of this land move at your signal. Listen to me, Raja Sahib, my brother. In any case, the people are no longer prepared to dance to your tune.”
The King provoked the Raja. Unable to control his anger, and without thinking or weighing the circumstances, the Raja challenged the King.
“Prepare yourself for tomorrow.”
And so, every preparation was made to ask the people. The news spread like wildfire. Observers arrived from all over the world. Everyone expected that the people would choose to listen to the Raja’s tune.
But the people’s decision was the opposite, and the Raja’s tune…
The old man’s story left the entire gathering in stunned silence. They sat there astonished, unable to utter a word…
“In any case, the people are no longer prepared to dance to your tune.”
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