Gopal and the Hilsa-fish

It is hilsa-fish season. Fishermen, courtiers and even the palace guards talk of nothing else. The king grows angry and tired of the endless hilsa talk.

During the season for hilsa-fish, everyone - from fishermen to courtiers - speaks of nothing else. The king loses patience and declares he wants no more talk about hilsa.

The king asks Gopal to buy a huge hilsa and bring it to the palace without anyone asking about the fish - to prove Gopal is clever.

Gopal is known as a clever man. The king challenges him to bring a hilsa-fish to the palace while making sure no one speaks a word about the fish.

Before buying the fish Gopal shaves half his beard, smears ash on his body, and wears torn, shabby clothes so people stare at him instead of the fish.

Gopal accepts the challenge. He shaves only half his face, smears ash on himself, and puts on rags. His wife thinks he has gone mad, but Gopal has a plan.

Gopal buys a huge hilsa and walks to the palace. People laugh at his appearance and ask why he is dressed so strangely - nobody mentions the fish.

He buys a large hilsa and walks through the market and streets toward the palace. Crowds gather, but they talk about his half-shaven face and ash-smeared body, not about the fish in his hands.

The guards refuse the strange-looking man entry. Gopal insists on seeing the king. A crowd follows, still wondering about his madness, not the hilsa.

At the palace gate the guards stop him. He demands to meet the king. More people follow, amused and curious about the mad-looking man.

The king sends for Gopal. When Gopal shows the hilsa, the king laughs - no one had talked about the fish. Gopal proves he is truly clever.

The king orders the guards to bring the man in. Gopal presents the hilsa. The king realises that throughout the journey nobody spoke about the fish; they spoke only of Gopal. The challenge is won.