From time immemorial, The Panchatantra has regaled children and adults alike through its wonderful folk tales, where animals and birds speak as well and as wisely as their human counterparts. Where did they originate?

Legend goes that a king had three sons who had no idea about the world they were living in. They were gullible and unwise. Hence, the king summoned a wise man named Vishnu Sharma to teach them to survive in the world.

The wise man pondered over the problem and then decided that the best way to train these young princes would be to tell them short stories to illustrate how they needed to face the world and live in the best way possible.

‘Pancha’ means ‘five’ and ‘tantra’ refers to ‘strategies’ or ‘principles’. Thus, the stories narrated by Vishnu Sharma were like magic pills designed to help the princes to face the problems of life bravely and overcome them as well. It is said that by the time all the stories had been told, the princes were well-versed in the ways of the world.

The stories deal with qualities like mental strength, love and loyalty, the folly of animals and human beings and the art of never underestimating one’s friends or enemies. Many tales in the Panchatantra dealt with themes of dishonesty and foolishness. Maybe, Vishnu Sharma realised that the princes would need to hear such stories to learn to read the minds of the cunning and the dishonest.

The Panchatantra lives on in the hearts and minds of every person who has grown up hearing these tales, either from their grandmothers or from books. Every story comes with its own moral. While children love listening to these stories, adults find them filled with nuggets of wisdom. I remember those days back in school when we had a period called Moral Science where our teachers told us stories of bravery, wisdom and common sense. Somewhere, the moral lessons we learnt, albeit unwittingly, stayed on in our hearts, and made us the people we are today.

In a world where the moral fabric seems to be in danger of being ripped apart, maybe it is Classic Tales from the Panchatantra that may keep folks afloat, and well grounded.