When I was a teenager, my grandmother would jokingly refer to my age as the “donkey age”. In fact, the range extended from 12 years to 20 years, an age group that I later came to know is called the “Young Adult” by academicians, writers, publishers, etc. Being the eldest of my cousins, I saw three other cousins up close going through this “donkey age” and am on the verge of witnessing a fourth one. Teenage is a phase every parent identifies with phrases such as “difficult-to-handle”, “rebellious”, “full of misunderstanding and miscommunication” to “selfish”, “lazy” and “unmotivated”; and every teen describes it with “generation gap” or “lack of understanding”.
A partial solution to these can be found (as always) in stories. While the Panchatantra stories and Aesop’s Fables are filled with stories that can be useful for a teenager, here we bring a list of 6 Panchatantra stories that are must-reads for them. Of course, at this stage you, as a parent, may not be able to actually read these stories to your child, but you can definitely do so before they hit the “donkey age”. If your kid is already a teenager, you could suggest reading them. If you are a teenager, read these stories just for the fun of reading them; if you feel what they convey is right, then go ahead and apply it to your life.
1. The Parrot and The King – Once a King is out hunting and catches two parrots. On his way back, one of the parrots escapes and flies into a sage’s hut. He starts living there. The other parrot is taken to the palace to live. A few months later, a King from a nearby kingdom passes by. The sage’s parrot is courteous to him, while the royal parrot is very rude. This story beautifully illustrates the importance of making the right friends. A person is molded by the company s/he keeps and the right friends made during adolescence stay with you for a long time.
2. The Thirsty Crow – This Aesop’s Fable is a story every child has read, learnt and probably even narrated. But there is no better story that shows the importance of combining hard work and smart work than the story of the thirsty crow who finds a pitcher of water with very less water in it. Unable to reach the water, he picks up pebbles from the ground and drops them into the pitcher one by one. Soon the water is high enough for his beak to reach it. Adolescence is where the seeds of hard work sown in the childhood are tested. Re-reading this story acts as a refresher.
3. The Camel’s Revenge – This Panchatantra tale about a camel and a jackal conveys the importance of choosing your friends wisely, as well as the importance of integrity. The Camel and Jackal are great friends. One day, while feasting in a watermelon field, the jackal decides to sing, saying that singing is good for his digestion. The farmer hears them; the jackal is quick and manages to get away but the camel gets caught. The next day, while crossing a river, the camel offers the jackal a ride on his back. When they reach the center, the camel starts diving under water saying that diving in water is good for his health, leaving the jackal helpless. Loyalty and integrity in relationships are crucial, and adolescence is an age when this message should be driven home clearly, since this is when one starts developing relationships outside of family. Being disloyal in a relationship is bound to backfire on you someday.
4. The Brahmin and The Three Rogues – The story of the Brahmin carrying a goat, who is fooled by three rogues teaches the importance of knowing the facts and not getting swayed by others’ perceptions. At an age when one is easily influenced by external factors, this story is invaluable. For the complete story, click here.
5. The Four Friends – This classic Panchatantra story about a rat, a tortoise, a crow and a deer is an example of how important good friends are, especially in the face of adversity. At an age when one spends more time in the company of friends than with family, it is important to have friends who will stand with you and not lead you astray, just as the rat, the deer and the crow saved the tortoise from the hunter. For the complete story click here.
6. The Hare and the Tortoise – Nothing illustrates the importance of perseverance than this timeless Aesop’s Fable. Every person has read or heard this story as a kid. The tortoise who keeps up at his task (running the race) slowly but steadily, wins the race eventually. The overly confident hare ends up losing due to his vanity. While slow may not appeal to a teenager, steady definitely makes sense.