The Clever Hare : Theba Lousingba
Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma

Translation by Bidyarani Thingujam *

An illustration of Folk tale 'Theba Lousingba' by Sibananda Thokchom

Once upon a time, there lived a Hare on a hilltop. The hare used to pluck and eat the fresh vegetables from the hilltop.

One day when he was munching some vegetables, a tiger who lived nearby saw the hare and thought, "I want to eat that hare, let me think of a plan".

The tiger came near the hare and asked in a very loud voice, "Hey hare! What're you doing"?

Seeing the tiger, the Hare jumped up with a start and timidly replied, "Oh sir! I'm just eating the fresh vegetables".

The tiger said, "Let me also taste".

The hare replied, "O yes please, I'll pluck the vegetables".

During the time, the tiger feel sleepy and within a second he was fast asleep.

Taking the chance, the hare escape from the place. He reached a field and there he spent his time playing and jumping from one tree to another.

The next day when the tiger come out in search of food, he happens to see the hare playing joyfully.

Seeing this the tiger shouted, "Hey you stupid hare, you think you can fool me? Yesterday you escaped from my clutch, today you can't".

Hearing this the hare remained calm and cleverly replied, "O great one, do as you like, I'm not going to run".

"But there is one thing I would like to say to you" said the hare.

"The hare who tried to fool you yesterday was not me. He must be my look-alike. I'm of a different kind. We hares have different kind of breeds", continued the hare.

The tiger believed the words of the hare and said, "then, let me also play on the tree branches".

The hare let the tiger sit on the tree branches and swing it slowly. This act made the tiger feel sleepy and was soon fast asleep.

Taking the chance, the hare took the long furs of the tiger and tied them to the tree branches and then he ran away.

The tiger woke up some time later and when he tried to get up, he got stuck and in the process all of his fur got torn.

The tiger get more angry and cursed, "you little hare, I'll get back to you for sure".

The following day, the tiger searched here and there for the hare and at last found him catching fish in a stream.

The tiger growl ferociously and said, "You stupid hare, you tried to challenge me, I'm going to eat you today for sure".

Seeing the tiger, the clever hare pretend to cry and said, "O great one, I'm not the one who cheat you usually. I'm of a different kind. I make a living by catching fish. Please don't kill me. If you want, please eat all of my fish".

The tiger believed him again and eat up all the fish.

Being full, the tiger feel sleepy again and was soon fast asleep.

This time the hare thought if the tiger keep living, his life would not be safe.

He thought of a plan to kill the tiger. The hare went to a nearby hut and from there, he brought an axe and heat it up over the fire.

The hare then pushed the heated axe inside the sleeping tiger's mouth and killed him.

From that day onwards, the hare lived happily without any worries and enemies.


** From Manipur folk tale Book called "Fungawari Singbul" by B. Jayantakumar Sharma