9 Reasons Why Tenali Rama Is The Perfect Modern Day Role Model To Survive In This Century

‘Tales of Tenali Raman’ was one of the first gifts I received from my father when I had just started reading. I was a big fan of mythology, and my father would load me with beautiful books about Ramayana, Mahabharata, Krishna Leela etc. This one was a little different, and it managed to hook me perfectly. I fell in love with Tenali Rama’s way of solving problems and how he always had an answer to any question thrown at him.

But, while growing up, I didn’t realise that Tenali Rama was much more than just a humourous court jester. After reading up on him, I have come to a conclusion that a man of his stature deserves so much more than what people remember him by.

Tenali Rama is someone this current generation can take a lot of inspiration from because his ways of dealing with problems were way ahead of his time. With every move, Tenali grew as a person. So, here are some reasons which prove why Tenali Rama is the perfect modern day role model to survive in this century.

1. He fought against the social norms which denied him his education. His thirst for knowledge was invincible.

Tenali Rama couldn’t get any formal education during his childhood. But, he still became a great scholar because of his thirst for knowledge. The devotees of Vishnu refused to accept him as a scholar because he was a devotee of Shiva. But, Tenali Rama found his way to brilliance with his sheer determination and intelligence.

Societal norms might hold you back, but you have to think about breaking the glass ceiling, just like he did.

 

2. He was a lazy fellow, but he used that to his advantage.

Tenali Rama was a very smart man. Yes, he was lazy, but that quality of his never held him back. Bill Gates once said, “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” Tenali was a perfect example of that. He found ways to do amazing things with very little effort.

 

3. He impressed King Krishnadevaraya with his wit and intelligence and became one of the key people in the court.

Tenali had joined a troupe called ‘Bhagavata Mela’ which had come to Vijayanagara to perform in front of the king. After his performance caught King Krishnadevaraya’s eye, and Tenali, with his wit and intelligence, went on to become an Ashtadiggaj (One of the eight scholars) group from just an entertainer in the court.

Similarly, we should not be intimidated by who is in front of us and give our best. Believing in ourselves will lead us to an inevitable success.

 

4. He had an amazing sense of humour, and it worked brilliantly to his advantage.

He worked closely with the King, and for that, his wit was not enough. Tenali’s sense of humour and intelligence were few of the biggest reasons he became a key person to Krishnadevaraya. He always knew how to lighten up the mood, and make the court room extremely pleasant.

If we inculcate this habit in ourselves, it will not only make us more likable but will improve our temperament along with others.

 

5. Apart from being funny and witty, his art showcased his immeasurable talent.

Tenali was not just about one liners. He was a brilliant poet and has contributed immensely to Indian Literature. His great work Panduranga Mahatmyam is a Kāvya of high merit. It is also counted as one of the Pañcha Mahā Kāviyas (the Five Great Kavyas) of Telugu literature.

We should never forget that along with building our personality, focusing on our actual art and talent is the most important thing and that’s what we’ll be remembered by when we are gone. Our art is our legacy.

 

6. His position in the courtroom was never stagnant. He always kept growing.

He started as a jester but went on to become one of the eight Ashtadiggaj in the courtroom. Tenali was never complacent of what he had. He always kept working to better himself in any way possible.

Someone has said that if you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But in any case, don’t stop moving.

 

7. King Krishnadevaraya never stopped testing Tenali, and Tenali never stopped impressing him.

Krishnadevaraya used to challenge Tenali with the most difficult problems, and he used to surprise him with the most brilliant solutions. That is how he made himself indispensable in the court.

You should never be afraid of the new challenges in your life. Instead of being afraid of them, see them as an opportunity to create a mark.

 

8. Tenali saved Vijayanagara from Deccan Kingdoms by his wit, intelligence, and strategy

Tenali acknowledged his duty and went above and beyond his job to save his beloved kingdom against the Deccan Kingdoms.

Do not constrain yourself to what you ‘can and can’t do’. When the times comes, be ready to face the adversity with everything you have got.

 

9. Wondering what else made Tenali Rama so special? You can find that out on 11th July at 8:00 PM only on SAB TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GycIegP1ck&feature=youtu.be

You can also follow him on LinkedIn to get your daily dose of dose of his wit and intelligence.

Are you already intrigued? So am I. DO NOT miss it!

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This story is brought to you in association with Sab TV