The Power of Criticism | Folktale of India

Once upon a time, there lived a goldsmith named Ramanlal. His loved his work.

He was very hard working and very passionate about his craft. He had many clients belonging to affluent families. He learned his craft from his father. As this was his family business, he put his soul into it. 

People from far off villages too came to him. Usually, ladies would arrive and would pick jewelry designs from his catalog. His catalog consisted of sketch designs made by him. Ladies would happily pick one from them and purchase. But there was one girl named Lalita who gave him a tough time. Lalita was the only daughter of a wealthy merchant. Though she stayed five villages away from Ramalal’s village. She used to travel and come to meet him.

After seeing the catalog, she used to criticize the design. And give suggestions to improve it.

This attitude of hers often fumed Ramalal. But he had no choice but to listen. As his father taught him to be patient with the clients.

One day Ramalal felt that Lalita had offended him beyond his level of patience. 

She got him a jewelry design sketch of her own.

‘Your designs are too old,’ said Lalita handing him a sketch.

‘Why don’t you get it made from where you got this design,’ irritated, Ramanlal replied.

‘This is my design, and I feel no one can take up the challenge to make it,’ she said.

Ramanlal felt the challenge in her words. Keeping his anger aside, he accepted the challenge. And promised her to give the jewelry in some days.

Ramanlal put his best craftsmen in the job, and they created good design.

Lalita didn’t express any happiness over the design; she simply paid and left.

Soon this became a habit for Lalita to give Ramalal her design. Her designs were so challenging that Ramanlal learned a lot from it. He started enjoying it.

After a few days, he started looking forward to receiving Lalita with her new design.

‘Sir, why are you putting so much hard work to make that lady happy?’ asked a craftsman.

Ramalal said that it is not about making Lalita happy. It was about him learning new things. I don’t care if my designs will ever make her satisfied. But I am learning new things.

From that day, none of his craftsmen expected gratitude or appreciation from Lalita. They just enjoyed her challenges.

They all learned the fact that your critique is your most prominent teacher.

Moral- Keep learning new things and never be outdated.

Happy reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.