38 - A Close Shave

Summary

In this episode of 'Stories from India,' host Narad Muni narrates a tale of Emperor Akbar and his wise minister Birbal. The story revolves around a conspiracy by Akbar's ministers and the royal barber to get rid of Birbal by tricking him into a fake afterlife mission. Birbal, however, outsmarts them by faking his own death and reappearing later to reveal the truth. The episode ends with the conspirators imprisoned and a humorous twist that Birbal's presence is sorely missed in heaven due to the lack of a skilled barber for Akbar's bearded ancestors.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The podcast 'Stories from India' narrates myths, legends, and folk tales, hosted by a character named Narad Muni who is a mythological figure with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.
• 👑 The story focuses on Emperor Akbar and his favorite minister, Birbal, known for his wisdom and wit in solving problems and answering difficult questions.
• 🃏 During a poker night, other ministers and the emperor's barber express their discontent with Birbal's favored status and plan to get rid of him by exploiting Akbar's belief in the afterlife.
• 💭 Birbal becomes aware of the conspiracy and devises a plan to outsmart his enemies by pretending to go to the afterlife to check on the emperor's ancestors.
• 🔥 Birbal creates a spectacle of his 'journey to the afterlife' by having a pyre set on fire, while secretly escaping through a tunnel back to his home.
• 📺 For a month, Birbal stays at home, binge-watching Netflix shows and growing a full beard, all while his enemies believe he has been sent to the afterlife.
• 🎉 Birbal makes a dramatic reappearance at the emperor's court, surprising everyone and delighting Akbar, who had been bored without his witty minister.
• 👴 Birbal tells Akbar that his ancestors in heaven are comfortable but lack good barbers, as evidenced by their long beards, which leads to a humorous situation.
• 🪓 The barber, part of the conspiracy, is ordered by Akbar to go to heaven, but instead, he and the other conspirators end up in prison.
• 🏆 The story ends with Birbal's victory, showing his resourcefulness and the consequences for those who conspired against him.
• 🎶 The podcast is supported by music from Purple Planet and encourages listeners to engage through comments, reviews, and social media.

Q & A

What is the podcast 'Stories from India' about?

The podcast 'Stories from India' is about myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by Narad Money, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.

Who is the main character in the story of Akbar and Bebel?

The main characters in the story are Akbar, the emperor of most of medieval India, and Bebel, his favorite minister known for his wisdom and resourcefulness.

Why did the ministers and the barber dislike Bebel?

The ministers and the barber disliked Bebel because they felt he was favored by the emperor and his influence was causing issues for them, such as budget cuts and being asked silly questions.

What was the plan devised by the ministers and the barber to get rid of Bebel?

The plan was to exploit Akbar's belief in the afterlife by suggesting that someone be sent to the afterlife to help the emperor's ancestors. They hoped that Bebel, being the wisest, would be chosen for this task.

How did Bebel prepare for his supposed journey to the afterlife?

Bebel used the month of preparation to dig a tunnel under the stack of wood where he was supposed to be burned. The tunnel led back to his house where he stocked up on food and spent a month watching TV.

What happened to the conspirators who tried to get rid of Bebel?

The conspirators ended up in prison after their plan was exposed. They later applied for an exchange program to another kingdom.

What was the reason Akbar ordered the barber to be sent to heaven?

Akbar ordered the barber to be sent to heaven because Bebel reported that the emperor's ancestors in heaven were in need of a good barber, as their beards had grown very long.

How did Bebel manage to reappear in the court after supposedly being sent to the afterlife?

Bebel reappeared in the court by using the tunnel he had dug during his preparation. He grew a full beard to match his story of having been in heaven and walked in during an All Hands meeting.

What was the reaction of the court when Bebel reappeared?

There were gasps all around as people recognized Bebel. Akbar was delighted, and the court was once again captivated by Bebel's presence.

What was the final outcome for the conspirators after their plan was exposed?

The conspirators were sent to prison, and they eventually applied for an exchange program to another kingdom to escape further punishment.