The Two Teachers

King Adityaraj of Sundarpur dreamed of an equal world. After traveling to neighboring lands, he realized that education was the key. He declared, 'Every child deserves knowledge, no matter their background.' He built a grand school in the capital and opened its doors to all.

Years passed, and the school flourished. However, Adityaraj noticed a problem. While students excelled in reading and scriptures, their arithmetic skills were poor. Concerned, he turned to his trusted minister, Devendra, who said, 'We need a master teacher to solve this.'

The search for a teacher began. After careful evaluation, two candidates were chosen - Bhaskar, a charismatic and confident teacher, and Keshav, a calm and thoughtful mentor. To find the best, Devendra suggested a challenge. 'Let each teacher train a group of students for six months. We’ll then compare the results.' The king agreed.

Bhaskar chose the brightest students and taught them rigorously. Keshav, on the other hand, selected weak students and worked patiently to help them. Six months later, the results were presented to the king. Bhaskar’s students had made remarkable progress and solved complex problems effortlessly. Meanwhile, Keshav’s students had improved steadily but were still far from perfect.

Bhaskar proudly said, 'Look at how I turned students into stars.' Keshav humbly replied, 'I took struggling children and gave them hope. With time, they will shine too.'

King Adityaraj thought deeply. Devendra said, 'Refining already brilliant students is simpler, but a true teacher can nurture potential and transform challenges into achievements. Keshav’s efforts uplift those who need help the most. That is the need of the hour.'

Adityaraj smiled and said, 'A fertile field yields crops for anyone, but only a skilled farmer can make barren land bloom. Keshav will lead our school.'

From that day, Sundarpur’s school became a symbol of hope for all children, proving that the right guidance can turn any child into a star.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi