The Making of a Man

Adhobi once heard that there lived a great pandit who could make a man out of anyone. He resolved to take his trusty ass and enrol it as the pandit's pupil.

“Good idea!” concurred the dhobin. “He’ll be the son we never had!”

When he reached the pandit’s house, the dhobi requested him earnestly, pushing forward the ass.

“Please make a man out of him,” he said. “He will then be of great help to me in my old age.”

The pandit was taken aback. “Whatever gave you the idea?” he asked. “I can’t do that!”

But the dhobi was insistent and the pandit, deciding to humour the man, asked him to leave the ass month.

When the washerman returned, the pandit informed him seriously that his ass was now an eminent judge in the city court.

“What a miracle!” exulted the dhobi. “A learned judged, no less!”

The judge was astounded to see a man rush in and embrace him. The man was weeping as he addressed him.

“Oh, my dearest son! You have done me proud. You have become a man!”

The judge was furious. “What? Are you mad? I’m not your son!”

At this, the dhobi railed at the judge wildly. “Oh, ho! The moment you become a man, you forget your old master, do you?” he cried. “You stupid ungrateful ass!”

After the judge threw him out, the dhobi picked himself up and rushed to the pandit's house.

“You lied to me!” he yelled at the pandit. “My ass has become a good-for-nothing son. He even refuses to recognise me. I’m taking your ass instead!”

And going to the stable, the dhobi untied his ass and dragged it away. in the stable and return after a