The Saint That Followed the Set Path
A story of how using a proverb wrong ended up with me offending someone when I meant to offer congratulations.
I am guilty of hearing proverbs and using them per my interpretations. Someone I know had accomplished a goal she had been working on for a long time and I commented to congratulate: “Kudos, Fakir Ka Lakir” ( Per my interpretation of the proverb, I had said “Kudos to you for setting out a path for yourself in life and sticking to it”). That person was offended; now I know why.
A lot of times, we use proverbs for the meaning that we interpret them as. The proverb ‘Lakir Ka Fakir’ is used for a person who follows the set guidelines completely without ever giving it a second thought. Although the proverbs ‘Lakir Ka Fakir’ and ‘Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots’ are used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between them. The proverb ‘Lakir Ka Fakir’ is used for someone who doesn’t want to change, while the proverb ‘Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots’ is used for someone who cannot change.
The Origin
A long time ago, a famous saint ran a school promoting discipline and study of the Vedas. The students wanted to be as great as their teacher. Out of all the students, one student (Fakir) was extremely unique and ambitious. He stood out from the pack. He Studied to ensure he gained all the theoretical knowledge, however, he lacked common sense and ability to apply his theoretical knowledge. He was only ‘books smart’, but not ‘street smart’, as we would say in today’s age.
One day, to maintain discipline and organization, the saint drew a lines outside each hut for each student. The students were to hang up their washed clothes on that line (Lakir) until they are dry. One day, it started raining, so all the students took their half dry clothes back into their hut, except for the unique student. He left them hanging as he was instructed to. He never second guessed his teacher’s instructions. For his lack of common sense and original thought, he was forever known as ‘Lakir Ka Fakir.’ A saint (Fakir) that followed the drawn line ( Lakir) blindly.
I used to always use ‘Lakir Ka Fakir’ positively; a person who sticks to the path and goals they set out for themselves. I am glad to have found out the real origin. I think the actual interpretation of the proverb is better than my own interpretation.
