This story by Premchand contrasts two Indian bothers attending boarding school. The older (by five years) is studious, disciplined, serious about his responsibility to look after and guide his younger brother, and consistently fails his grade. The younger brother is the opposite: fun-loving, undisciplined, irresponsible, and consistently tops his class. The major messages of the story are the danger of arrogant pride, and that irrespective of one’s level of education, there is always something to learn from those with more life experience. Themes include education, self-discipline, responsibility, pride, work/life balance, respect for one’s elders.
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