Potter’s Daughter

In a certain remote village there lived a potter who made various types of clay objects like pots and pans and sold them at the village fair. People came to buy his pots and pans. His daughter, Chamari, was skilled in designing clay objects.

She used to watch her father doing work so carefully that she too mastered the clay creations. But she wanted to make new ones, especially for children. So she got clay from her father and made various images of animals in the form of toys like rabbits, monkeys, rhinos and crocodiles.

Then one day a messenger from the royal palace visited the village where the potter lived.

“Here is a message from the king.” The messenger announced.

The whole village fair flocked to give audience to the royal message. The audience consisted of buyers, sellers and artisans.

“The king of the country wishes to visit this village next week with the little princess. The aim is to inspect the arts and crafts of the village. His Highness also wishes to award prizes for the best product to encourage and motivate the industry.”

Chamari also heard the message. She wanted to do something extraordinary. She took some smooth clay from father’s storage and designed a new jar.

“This is going to be special with a colourful row of animals in the village.” Chamari thought and toiled hard day and night. She could finish it one morning.

Chamari’s father looked at it from various angles.

“This is really a fine jar. How long did you take to finish it?” He asked.

“I worked on it day and night. I can make many more of this kind if there is a demand.” She made a painting on the clay. She gradually shaped it and smoothed it. She painted fine black lines on it and baked it. Chamari's father had not seen a jar of this type exhibited in a village fair or created by any other potter.

The day dawned for the king and his daughter to visit the village fair. Chamari saw the king and his daughter from a distance.

The king and his daughter were visiting from one stall to the other. Chamari was watching how beautiful the princess is. She was admiring the various exhibits in the village fair. She was also seen walking alone in some places observing carefully how some objects are made.

She was talking to people at times and pacing towards flower plants growing on the sides of the village fair. Chamari had her jar held in her hand and she kept it aside when the princess came closer for her to see.

All of a sudden Chamari saw a snake crawling from a tree trunk and raising its head towards the princess.

Chamari knew the creature is not innocent at all. The king stood by the side of the daughter. As the two royal visitors got close, the snake too got closer and closer to the princess. Chamari knew she must ward off the snake rather than disturbing the creature. In a few moments the snake will definitely harm the princess. She did not want to shout. She was trying her best to get hold of a club to hit the snake.

But she had to be quick in her action. The only thing she could think was the jar held in her hand. In the first instance she made the king see the object.

The king indicated his likeness by nodding his head. But it was a moment of a glance.

It did not take much time as Chamari was aiming at the snake with the jar in her hand. As the snake was about to touch the princess Chamari took a good aim at the snake and threw off the jar to hit the snake as fast as possible.

What a miracle? The jar which was made with so much of care hit the head of the snake. The snake fell down.

Then the king realized what Chamari had done. A poisonous snake was found dead on the floor.

“I did not mean to kill the snake. All I wanted was to drive it off from harming the princess.” “Anyway you have saved the life of my daughter,” said the king thankfully. He wanted to say more.

“I am sorry the fine jar is destroyed.” “That does not matter. I can make one more jar, perhaps a better one. I brought it to be exhibited.”

“Fantastic. That exhibit saved my daughter.”

Now the whole village had gathered here.

“As the king of the country I give you two awards. One for your skills of making a fine clay jar, the other is for the bravery in which you acted by saving the life of my child.”

The senior potter slowly approached the king.

“Your Highness, this is my daughter.”

“I am happy to hear that. From today onwards I appoint you as my royal potter.”