The Slave Who Became A King

A certain ship-owner had a slave named Chappani, who served his master very faithfully. The master was so happy with his slave’s services that he said, “Chappani, I shall free you. You will no longer be a slave. As a token of my appreciation, I shall give you a ship. Go and earn your bread as a free man.”

Chappani was given a sturdy ship and immediately set sail to sea for distant lands. While he was at sea, a great storm arose and the ship was wrecked. All the hands on board were drowned, but Chappani was saved miraculously. He was washed ashore on a lonely island.

As he stumbled across the island, he came to a large city in the midst of the hills. Wearily, he entered through the gates, but suddenly found himself surrounded by hordes of people who raised a glad cry when they saw him. “Long live the king,” they shouted.

A well-caparisoned elephant ambled across the town square and knelt before him. The people urged a dazed-looking Chappani to sit on its back. He obeyed, and the procession wended its way towards the royal palace. There, the elephant set him down, and a liveried footman conducted him inside and gave him rich clothes to wear.

Chappani, astonished at all this, asked, “What is this? Why do you give me clothes fit for a king? You must mistake me for someone else. I am but a shipwrecked sailor.”

Then a venerable old man replied, “Sir, twenty years ago, there was a lot of disorder on this island. Then a prophet came and declared that only a foreigner could bring about order with his rule. After describing the role of an ideal king, he suggested that we should elect a new king annually. Since that time, we have always had a new king every year. This year, you are the first foreigner to set foot on this island. Therefore, you are our new king.”

Chappani agreed and became the new king. Though he was very happy to rule, now and then he felt sad at the thought that at the end of the year he would have to give up his post.

Now there was another condition attached to the kingship. At the expiry of the year, he would have to go and live in the forest because he would not be allowed to leave the island. Bearing this in mind, Chappani began to turn the forest into a habitable place. He cut down the trees, sowed seeds, and turned the entire area into a lovely garden. Then he built roads and constructed houses. In this way, soon, he turned the inhospitable jungle into another lovely city. Lush fruit orchards and neatly laid-out gardens mingled with the trimly built houses.

When the people of the island saw what their king had done, they sought his permission to go and live there. Chappani replied that at the end of the year when it would be time for him to leave the kingship, he would himself live in the new city, and all the people could then go with him.

The year came to an end, and Chappani prepared to leave. But the islanders would not let him go. They were so impressed by his good rule and fine schemes for the welfare of the people that they did not want to lose him. So they requested him to continue to rule over them.

So he who had been a slave now reigned as a wise and good monarch and brought prosperity to that island.