How To Overcome The Fear Of Sound? – A Story From Indian Quality Management
Sign in

How to overcome the fear of sound? – A Story from Indian Quality Management

Management Consultant


When we are alone, especially in the nights of our troubled days even a small scratching sound due to a breeze can torment us.

Any issues shall be ascertained individually at thepoint of happening and make your own assessment.

All issues and problems should be subjected to root cause analysis before jumping into conclusions. Believe in factual approach to decision making.

(The story reproduced from tales of 'Panchatantra', as it is, to avoid dilution and provoke students and managers to conduct brain storming for developing efficient and effective strategies in managing an organization.

This is a story told to children through a dialogue between twojackals named Karataka and Damanaka).

Damanaka called on the king. Recognizing Damanaka that he was the son of his old minister, King Pingalaka told his sentry to bring him into his presence.Damanaka came down on his knees to pay respects to the king.

“We haven't seen you for a long time,” the king said.

“I don't know of what use I can be to you, my lord. Yet, according to the learned, there are occasions when every person however high or low will be of use to the king.For generations we have served the king with devotion. Yet I am out of your majesty's favor.”

“All right, competent or incompetent you are the son of our old minister. Go ahead and tell me whatever you have in your mind,” the king ordered Damanaka.

“May I ask you humbly, my lord, what made you come back from the lake without drinking water,” asked Damanaka reluctantly.

“O 'Damanaka, haven't you heard the great and frightening sounds in the distance? I want to leave this forest. The strange animal that could make such sounds ought to be as powerful as the sounds he makes.”

“Your majesty, if it is only sound that is your problem, I wish to submit that sounds are misleading. I can tell you the story of the jackal, how it overcame the fear of sound.”

Let us hear it, said the king.

The Jackal And The Drum

A hungry jackal set out in search of food and ended up at an abandoned battlefield whence he heard loud and strange sounds. Scared, he thought, “I must disappear from here before the man who is making these sounds gets me.”After a while he told himself, “I must not runaway like that. Let me find out what really the sounds are and who is making them because whether it is fear or happiness one must know its cause. Such a person will never regret his actions. So, let me first look for the source of these noises.”

Warily, the jackal marchedin the direction of the sounds and found a drum there. It was this drum, which was sending the sounds whenever the branches of the tree above brushed against it. Relieved, the jackal began playing the drum and thought that there could be food inside it. The jackal entered the drum by piercing its side. He was disappointed to find no food in it. Yet he consoled himself saying that he rid himself of the fear of sound.

“Therefore”, Damanaka told king Pingalaka, “your majesty should not be afraid of sounds. I seek your permission to go and see what the sounds are.”

“Okay,”said the king

Taking leave of the king, Damanaka proceeded in the direction of the sound.


start_blog_img