. Akbar was the son of humble parents. His father was a schoolmaster. There was never very
much money in the house, so he didn‘t enjoy any luxuries. All he wanted was to learn more and
more. Books were not easily available then as they were handwritten and very expensive.
Akbar read all the books he could lay his hands on. In due course, he mastered Arabic,
Persian, Philosophy and Astronomy and dreamt of getting a position at court. But for this, one
had to really excel in some field. Also one needed a patron close enough to the Emperor to
recommend a newcomer. It was a few months before he could find a patron and a few more
months before he could find a suitable opportunity to recommend him to the Emperor who
asked what he had learnt and what work he could do. On hearing the same, he said, ―We are
pleased to give the young man a chance. Let him take charge of the royal poultry house!‖
When he heard the news Akbar was heartbroken. He, a scholar, capable of debating with the
most learned men, was asked to look after chicking hens! All the same, he got down to work
with great determination. His only concern was hens. He saw to it that they were well fed and
had clean water, that their living quarters were clean and if a fowl took ill that it was separated
from the others and given proper treatment.
Meanwhile, the Emperor had forgotten about the scholar he had packed off to mind the hens.
But one day while his Finance Minister was reading out the palace accounts to tell the Emperor
how much money had been spent on the royal household, he mentioned such a low figure that
the Emperor sat up.
―Have most of the hens died?‖ he asked. ―No, your Majesty‖ was the reply – ―The hens are not
only alive but are
plump and fit.‖ "Send for the scholar,‖ the Emperor demanded. When Akbar came to the
palace, the Emperor demanded ―Aren‘t you feeding them properly?‖ ―I am, sire, only the food is
different – I‘m feeding them what cannot be used in the royal kitchen, vegetable peels and
dough used to seal the vessels while cooking for your Majesty. The hens not only enjoy it but it
is also very good for them. ―Good work, we hereby promote you to the rank of royal
librarian.‖Akbar was bitterly disappointed. He had spent the first thirty years of his life gaining
knowledge. How he wished to gain that knowledge and help people. Instead, as head of the
royal library he would be seeing only books and no people. But he buckled down to organizing
the library. A year later the Emperor came to visit the library. He was surprised to find each