Story : A Scholar and a Boatman

Read the beginning of the story. Add at least ten new sentences to complete the story. Give a suitable title to it.

There was a poor boatman in a village. He was illiterate. He used to row-boat from morning till evening only to meet both ends. There was no meaning of knowledge to him. Once in the month of Baishakh, a scholar got into his boat....................

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A Scholar and a Boatman

There was a poor boatman in a village. He was illiterate. He used to row-boat from morning till evening only to meet both ends. There was no meaning of knowledge to him. Once in the month of Baishakh, a scholar got into his boat. The scholar was enjoying his journey very much because the weather was very fine. It was almost dark and the scholar was gossiping with the boatman. “Did you have any knowledge about the creation of the universe?” the scholar asked. “No.” the boatman replied. The scholar got astonished and said, “Without the knowledge of astronomy, half of your life is spoilt.” the boatman became sad and thought of the uselessness of his life. The scholar again asked the boatman, “Do you know the history of human civilization?” The boatman replied the same. This time the scholar told the boatman that he had already spoilt three-fourths of his life and he could not come to any use to the society. The boatman remained silent and kept on rowing the boat in a sad mood. Suddenly, the weather became gusty. The sky becomes overcast with clouds. There was darkness all around. Then it started to rain heavily with lightning. The boat was about to capsize. The scholar was trembling with fear. The boatman asked the scholar, “Sir, do you know how to swim?” Hearing the question, the scholar started to cry and replied in negative. Now, the boatman said, “Alas! Your life is totally spoilt. Pray to God for your safety.”

Same story collected from another book

Read the beginning of the story. Add at least ten new sentences to complete the story. Give a suitable title to it.

In a small village once a scholar was crossing a river on a boat. The weather was very pleasing. The river was very cool and calm.....................

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A Scholar and an Illiterate Boatman

In a small village once a scholar was crossing a river on a boat. The weather was very pleasing. The river was very cool and calm. The scholar was enjoying a lot. The boatman was a simple illiterate man. His booking knowledge was nil. The scholar started talking to him when he was sailing the boat. The scholar asked the boatman whether he had read the Gita and whether he could explain the verse of the Gita. The boatman replied that he had heard about that but had not read that. The scholar then said that he had wasted one-fourth of his life. The scholar again said, “But tell me have you read the Arthashastra?” Again the boatman showed his ignorance. The scholar then undervalued the boatman and arrogantly (উদ্ধতভাবে) said, “Then my friend, you have wasted two-fourth of your life.” It was about to become dark as the sun was going to set. Noticing the sun the scholar again asked the boatman if he knew the reason behind the sun-rise and sun-set. Being helpless the boatman again expressed his ignorance. The scholar haughtily said, “Then my friend, you have wasted three-fourth of your life.” After some time suddenly a thick could cover the sky and a storm rose from the river bed. Being anxious the boatman asked the scholar, “Sir, do you know swimming?” “No I don’t know how to swim,” the scholar answered with anxiety. The boatman said with sigh, “Then Sir! I see your whole life is going to be wasted and meaningless.”