THE ART OF SYCOPHANCY
A Mulla Nasrudin Teaching Story
Retold By
VIKRAM KARVE
This is Part 3 of the series on Yesmanship and Crony Leadership
Continued from:
Part 1: YES-MEN AND CRONY LEADERSHIP
and
Part 2: THE ART OF YESMANSHIP
Mulla Nasrudin had become a favourite of the King.
He was a part of his inner circle and was always seen hanging around the king with the coterie of sycophants.
In fact, Mulla Nasrudin had become the Chief Sycophant to the King.
One day the King was very hungry.
Mulla Nasrudin rushed to the palace kitchen and saw some cooked brinjals so he immediately served the brinjals to the King.
The brinjals had been so deliciously cooked that the King loved the taste and relished them so much that he told the Palace Cook to serve brinjals every day at every meal.
“Are brinjals not the best vegetables in the world?” the King asked Mulla Nasrudin.
“Very Right, Your Majesty, Very Right. Yes, Brinjals are the very best vegetables in the world. You are absolutely right, your Majesty. The brinjal is the tastiest vegetable in the world,” Nasrudin said, in total agreement with the King, “As you desire, your majesty, I will ensure that brinjals are served every day at every meal.”
Five days later, when brinjals had been served for the tenth meal in succession, the King who was by now fed up of eating brinjals roared in anger: “Take these brinjals away! They taste terrible! I hate them!”
“Absolutely right, your Majesty, brinjals are the worst vegetables in the world,” agreed Nasrudin.
On hearing this the King was quite bewildered, and with a bemused look on his face he asked Mulla Nasrudin, “I don't understand. Now you say that brinjals are the worst vegetables in the world, but just a few days ago you said that brinjals were the very best vegetables in the world.”
“I did, your Majesty. But I am the servant of the King, not of the vegetable,” replied Mulla Nasrudin ingratiatingly.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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