Once upon a time, there lived a farmer in a small village. He had two fields. He used to work very hard. When he prospered, he bought another field. There was a well next to it. Since the farmer needed a source of water for his fields, he bought the well from his neighbour.
The neighbour was a cunning man. He thought of a plan to cheat the farmer.
The next day, when the farmer reached the well, he found the neighbour standing there. He refused to let the farmer take water from the well. On asking why, he replied, “I sold only the well to you, not the water. The water still belongs to me. You cannot take it.”
The worried farmer didn’t know what to do. So, he went to the village chief and told her about his case, and said, “He is not letting me take the water.”
The village chief fixed a day for a meeting of the Panchayat.
The day came, and the members of the Panchayat gathered under the banyan tree in the centre of the village. Both the farmer and his neighbour were summoned. Most of the villagers were present.
The farmer explained the situation to the gathering. The chief asked the neighbour why he was not letting the farmer draw water from the well. The cunning man said the same thing again, “I sold only the well to him, not the water in it. The water still belongs to me. So, he cannot take my water.”
The members of the Panchayat, as well as the villagers, tried to reason with him. but he was adamant. Finally, the Panchayat members discussed the matter among themselves. Then they stood up to give the judgment. The villagers also stood up.
The village chief began, “After hearing both sides, we agree that it is correct to say that only the well was sold.” The neighbour gave a satisfied smile. “However,” continued the village chief, “if you have NOT sold the water and the water is yours, then you have no business keeping your water in his well. Remove the water or use it all up immediately. If not, the water will belong to the owner of the well.”
The farmer was relieved and gave a shout of joy. The cunning neighbour realised that cheating will not lead anywhere. He had to pay a fine as well as apologise to the farmer. The villagers praised the wisdom of the Panchayat.
Also read this: Gilli Danda : Lesson -7
New Words
Panchayat – पंचायत
Adamant – अडिग
Wisdom – बुद्धि
Cunning – चालाक
Apologise – क्षमा माँगना
Let us Think
A. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did the farmer buy the well?
Ans. The farmer bought the well because he needed a source of water to irrigate his fields.
2. Why did the farmer become upset?
Ans. The farmer became upset because the neighbour did not allow him to take water from the well, saying that he had sold only the well and not the water.
3. How did the Panchayat solve the problem?
Ans. The Panchayat listened to both sides, discussed the matter wisely, and gave a fair judgment that exposed the neighbour’s cheating.
4. What was the final judgment given by the Panchayat?
Ans. The Panchayat said that if the neighbour still owned the water, then he must remove it from the well or use it immediately; otherwise, the water would belong to the owner of the well.
B. Think and discuss
1. Do you think the decision of the Panchayat was correct?
Ans. Yes, the decision was correct because it was fair and wise. It taught the neighbour that cheating is wrong.
2. You have an extra painting box which you wish to share with your friends in the class to complete an activity. Two of your best friends, Radha and Sita, fight for the box. How would you deal with the situation so that you are fair to both of them?
Ans. I would ask them to share the painting box by taking turns or divide the colours equally so that both feel satisfied.
3. Who said to whom:
a. “I sold only the well, not the water.”
Ans. The cunning neighbour said this to the farmer and the Panchayat.
b. “Remove the water or use it all up immediately.”
Ans. The village chief said this to the neighbour.
c. “He is not letting me take the water.”
Ans. The farmer said this to the village chief.
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