The Literate Cannibals

Long time ago an young prince on a hunting expedition got lost in the forest. As darkness of the night loomed, he sought shelter hoping to find a settlement nearby. Soon he heard a melodious chanting of vedic hymns and felt very ecstatic as he felt sure of finding a hermitage nearby in the dead of the night. He rode on his horse in the direction of sound.

But soon misfortune struck him as he was surrounded by cannibals. They led him to the place where the sound originated. The prince got confused as he could not relate the cannibals with the chanting of hymns. The cannibals were dancing around a pile of bones and singing in joy.

The leader of the cannibals ordered in chaste Sanskrit to tie up the prince. Fearful though for his life, the prince could not suppress his curiousity and asked the cannibal chief how he could speak such good Sanskrit.

The chief replied that he had been educated in the great Nalanda University.

The prince was flabbergasted and asked(he rather pleaded for his life), "Didn't the study in Nalanda change you ?".

"Yes it did," replied the chief calmly. "Before going to Nalanda, we used to eat raw meat and go about naked, but now we cook the meat and use human skin as clothes."

This story tells us that being literate is one thing and being educated is another.

Modern youth akin to the cannibals is more literate for sure as compared to their ancestors but at the same time has lost the compassion for humanity and has forsaken the quest for wisdom. I make this statement in the light of increased crimes being committed by educated people, particularly by irresponsible, lust driven and pelf hungry youth.


Education is not just making one literate but it is to bring forth wisdom in oneself that leads to growth.