Who is the Brave One? .

- Akbar and Birbal

- The one who stands up to fight against injustice is the truly brave one. 

- Jivram Joshi

O ne day, the Emperor and Birbal went out for a walk. On their way, they came across a tomb.

The Emperor said, "Look, Birbal, this is the tomb of a brave soldier from the royal army. I bow my head again to brave soldiers like him."

Birbal remained quiet. He did not bow his head.

The Emperor felt that Birbal did not like him praising the brave soldier of his army.

A few days later, Birbal and the Emperor went for a walk in another direction. There, they saw the memorial of a Rajput warrior.

The Emperor said, "Look, Birbal, this is the memorial of a Rajput warrior. I have heard that he showed great bravery. We salute this brave warrior's 

memorial by bowing our heads again."

Birbal was quiet.

Again, he did not bow his head.

The Emperor was very surprised.

The Emperor asked, "Who do you consider to be brave?"

Birbal did not say anything.

The Emperor said, "Why are you lost in thought?"

Birbal replied, "Should I tell you with my words, or should I show you through my actions?"

A few more days passed after this conversation.

One day, when they went out for a walk, Birbal took five or seven soldiers and a police officer with them. The Emperor's horse and Birbal's own 

horse were also brought.

The Emperor asked, "Why have you brought the soldiers? Why the horses?"

Birbal said, "Today, we have to go to a place far away. It is good to have soldiers with us. We will also go on horseback. Today we are going to 

see a new place, and it is a little far."

The Emperor and Birbal got on 

their horses. Their horses were in the front, and the group of soldiers followed behind.

They traveled very, very far. They passed some small villages and settlements. After that, they reached another village. A merchant was seen 

coming from the opposite direction. Immediately, Birbal stopped the horses and told a soldier, "Catch this merchant."

The Emperor asked Birbal, "Why?"

Birbal replied, "This merchant is a big criminal. I will explain everything later."

The soldiers were told to tie the merchant to the trunk of a nearby tree.

The merchant was tied to the tree trunk.

The merchant started crying and saying, "I have not done anything wrong. I have not stolen anything, nor have I said bad words to anyone."

The Emperor was also getting confused.

Now, Birbal gave an order to the soldiers, saying, "You have to guard this merchant right here. Another order is that you are not to give him any 

food to eat or water to drink. If any other person comes to give him water or food, you must send them away. If anyone disobeys this order and 

gives the merchant food or water, arrest them. Such a person will be sentenced to death."

After explaining everything to the police officer and the soldiers, Birbal said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, let us go back now."

The Emperor asked, "Oh Birbal! What have you done? What is the crime of this poor merchant?"

Birbal said, "You will understand everything tomorrow."

The Emperor and Birbal went back.

The night fell and passed. The morning also passed, and in the afternoon, the soldiers came, having caught a young man. Birbal went with them. 

He took them to the Emperor. He made the young man stand in front of him. Birbal told the police officer to explain what had happened.

The police officer said, "Many people from the village came to give food and water to the merchant who was tied to the tree trunk. We told them 

the Emperor's order that whoever gives this merchant food or water will be sentenced to death. Hearing about such a punishment, everyone went 

away. This young man is from another village. He heard the merchant shouting, 'Someone give me water.' So, this young man came with a pot of 

water. We told him the order that if you give water to this merchant, we will arrest you, and you will be sentenced to death. Still, he gave water to the merchant."

As soon as he heard this, Birbal asked the young man, "Did you not understand the Emperor's order properly?"

The young man said, "I understood it."

Birbal asked, "Then why did you give water to the merchant? Were you not afraid of death? The punishment for doing this is death."

The young man said, "I am not afraid of the death sentence."

Birbal said, "Then you are now sentenced to death. Get ready to die. The Emperor's order must be obeyed."

The young man said, "But if the Emperor's order is wrong and it causes injustice to someone, then such an order cannot be obeyed. To catch an innocent man, tie him up, and then forbid giving him water is complete injustice and cruelty. I have given water to that thirsty merchant. You can 

give me whatever punishment you want."

The young man bowed his head and knelt down. Birbal pulled out his sword, raised it high, and was about to strike when the Emperor grabbed 

Birbal's hand and said:

"Stop! Stop!"

"Emperor! Can you cut someone's head off like this?"

Birbal smiled.

The Emperor asked, "Why?"

Birbal said, "I did this to show what a truly brave person is like. The one who stands up to fight against injustice is the truly brave one. And the 

one who is ready to die but never leaves the path of truth is the truly brave one. This young man is that truly brave person. Someone who gives their life for their job or to serve someone for their own benefit is worthy of praise, but that is not true bravery. The one who fights against injustice is the only truly brave one."

The Emperor exclaimed, "Well done, Birbal! Today you have taught us the true meaning of a brave hero."

The Emperor gave respect to the young man.