Wanted a Crowd

Wrestler Baroma had become quite famous after winning several bouts. One look at him, and people were in awe of his figure and physique. The village chief had been searching for a watchman for the local temple and decided to hire Baroma.

One night, the temple was burgled of the day’s collection and some silver vessels used for the daily pujas. The village chief was furious with Baroma. “Didn’t you see the thieves entering the temple and taking away the valuables? Why didn’t you catch them? You never fail to defeat your opponents in wrestling bouts. So what happened to you last night?”

“I would have grappled with them, sir,” said Baroma nonchalantly, “but there was nobody present to cheer me. In bouts, success comes to me because the spectators always cheer me on, which encourages and enthuses me.”

The village chief was stumped. “I was a fool to have chosen you for the watchman’s job!” He told Baroma to look for a job elsewhere. The unexpected excuse left everyone astonished, highlighting the impact a crowd can have on performance.