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| Sunitra's India |
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The Blind Men and the Elephant
Indian folktale retold in poetic form by Godfrey Saxe
It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the elephant,
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! But the elephant
Is very like a wall!"
The second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho! What have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis very clear,
This wonder of an elephant
Is very like a spear!"
The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a snake!"
The fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is might plain," quoth he;
"Tis clear enough the elephant
Is very like a tree."
The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most:
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an elephant
Is very like a fan."
The sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a rope."
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong.
Though each was partly right,
All were in the wrong.
What is the moral of this story? Give your opinion on this discussion thread.
Gathering facts is a necessary element in writing a report. Wrong information or partial information may distort and hinder success.
Reflect on how RESPECT and CO-OPERATION could have served the characters in this story.
Now try to work as a team in researching and see your subject from more than one point of view.
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 This site was developed in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Teacher In-Country Fellowships to Asia program of the Asia Education Foundation. Email Tasmanian State Advisor: Jan.Kiernan@education.tas.gov.au |
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