Back to Square One

Wed July 13, 2011 by Kunal Bansal

As usual a lot of people were present in Akbar's durbar. A famous astrologer had come from a far away country. He was talking about the Solar System and the Earth's shape. At one point Akbar said, "If the earth is round, and if one travel strait towards one direction, he will come back to the same spot from where he has started the journey." "Theoretically it is correct", said the astrologer. "Why not in real life?", asked the king. "One has to cross oceans, mountains and forests to keep the path straight." the astrologer said. "Sail through the oceans, make tunnels in the mountains and use elephants to cross the forests." Akbar found the solution. "Still it is impossible" said the astrologer. "Why?" Asked Akbar. "It may take years to complete the whole journey" said the astrologer "Years? How many?" asked Akbar. "I don't know. May be a hundred years or more" said the astrologer "Don't worry I will ask my ministers. They have an answer for everything" Akbar looked at the ministers. "Impossible to calculate" "Around 25 years" "Fifty years or less" "80 days" "Why Birbal, you haven't uttered a word" the king showed his surprise at Birbal's silence. "I was just calculating the time required to go round the earth" explained Birbal. "And did you get the answer?" asked the king. "Sure." Said Birbal "It will take just one day." "Just one day! Birbal it is Impossible! Even it will take more than one day to cross our country." Said Akbar. "It is possible. Provided you travel at the speed of the Sun" said Birbal with a smile.