All of us assume that April Fool’s Day was started in the west. We could not have been more wrong. April Fool’s Day was first celebrated in India, even before the British came to India.
It was started by a zamindar in the year 1845 in the village of Margarh in Rajasthan. The villagers were suffering because of frequent loots by Thuggees while traveling.
Thuggees were infamous for being brutal with the victims they used to loot. They were so infamous that later the British even ordered soldiers to eliminate them altogether.
And that is how the English word ‘thug’ came about to exist.
But this incident took place before the British had any real influence. One of the Thuggee leaders had a skirmish with the zamindar of Margarh village. The zamindar lost the use of both of his hands after the brutal incident.
Because of this rivalry, the Thuggee chieftain attacked the village at frequent intervals. With the morale of the villagers at an all time low, the zamindar tried to get their spirits up with an elaborate plan.
During one of the panchayat gatherings on April 1, 1845, he walked to the village chief and asked if he could speak to the villagers. After being given permission, he announced that he actually had both his hands intact!
The villagers were stunned but happy! They asked how was this possible and he narrated that exactly one year go, he fooled the Thuggee leader Gabbar Singh by pretending that he lost both his hands!
The villagers were overjoyed to see that the zamindar had the use of both his hands. They forgot that they had no money or food and still played Holi.
And that’s how the trend of playing April Fool’s Day was started.
The zamindar lived on, having a lot of money inside his safe. He later hired two goons to kill the Thuggee chief off.
Now you know why April Fool’s Day is celebrated!
If you still believe what you’ve just read, maybe you haven’t watched Sholay. April fool banaya…unko gussa aya!
Please don’t spill the beans in the comments section. Instead, share it with your friends to prank them.