This is a story from Uttar Pradesh. Many of the characters here are still commonly seen in the villages and towns of Uttar Pradesh. There are learned men known as Maulvi Sahibs still working as teachers. They are held in great respect, particularly by the people who are uneducated themselves. True, the qazi has been replaced by the magistrate. But labourers like Jumman are a common sight. And a donkey is still a popular beast of burden all over the state.

Once there was a Maulvi Sahib. He lived in a village and was a master at the village school, which had but a single room and a handful of students, all boys. But a master is a master and Maulvi Sahib was a very important man. The villagers thought the world of him and asked him for guidance whenever they had a problem. As a result Maulvi Sahib was all puffed up with pride. He always carried a cane in his hand and swung it around as he walked down the village street. He always boasted that he was the best teacher around.

He said this so many times that he soon began to believe it himself. If anybody tried to argue a point with him, Maulvi Sahib would retort that he should agree with him as he can turn a donkey into a man. One day Maulvi Sahib lost his temper with one of his students. He caught the boy by the ear and gave him a good whacking. He shouted at the boy that even donkeys have turned to men by his mere touch.

At that very moment a man called Jumman was donkeying by the schoolroom window. Jumman was a labourer. He earned a living by carrying loads for other people-bricks, bags of wheat and rice, vegetables from the fields. To carry these loads he made use of a donkey. Now this donkey was so useless, he gave his master a headache almost every day. He was slow and stubborn and totally unwilling to work. Jumman was a simple man. The moment he heard Maulvi Sahib say that his very touch had turned donkeys into men; Jumman thought he too would bring his worthless donkey to the maulvi so that it could be turned into a man. Then his donkey can work like a son and his old life will be full of happiness.

The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He hurried home to fetch his donkey. Jumman put a rope around his donkey`s neck and drove it to school. Maulvi Sahib was still busy making his pupils repeats the Urdu alphabets. Jumman waited patiently under a tree till the last student had left and Maulvi Sahib rose to go home. Then he ran to the door and fell at Maulvi Sahib`s feet. Maulvi Sahib was surprised and irritated. On asking Jumman expressed his desire.

Suddenly Maulvi Sahib realized what had happened. But he was not going to tell Jumman the truth. Instead he put on a stern face and said that he can turn a donkey into a man. Once again Jumman fell at Maulvi Sahib`s feet and repeated his wish. Maulvi Sahib realized that this was his chance of making a little extra money. Aloud he said that it was not at all easy to turn a donkey into a man. He needed special ingredients which he has to grind for weeks. More importantly it would cost money. Jumman was willing to pay for and the wicked Maulvi demanded Rs.100 for the work. Jumman hesitated a bit but then gave in. He drove his donkey to Maulvi Sahib`s house, tied it to a stake in the courtyard and ran home again to fetch the money. As he placed the money in Maulvi Sahib`s palm, he asked in all humility whether he would come after 10 days to fetch his donkey.

The Maulvi asked Jumman to come after 12 days. Jumman answered that he would turn up after 15 days. Maulvi Sahib waited a couple of days just in case Jumman changed his mind. Then he sold the donkey for fifty rupees. He bought himself some new clothes and shoes. And with the rest of the money he and his wife feasted on kofta and biryani for a whole week. Meanwhile Jumman could hardly sleep for excitement. He made all sorts of plans when his donkey would become a man.

At the end of a fortnight, on the dot, Jumman was back. Maulvi Sahib was looking much fatter and happier than before. He wasn`t even shouting at the children. Jumman waited patiently for the last student to leave, and then ran to Maulvi Sahib. With the extra money Maulvi Sahib was so comfortable that he had almost forgotten Jumman. It took him a minute to recognize the man. Jumman reminded him anxiously and asked for the animal.

Maulvi Sahib threw up his hands and said to meet him Jumman must go to Jaunpur. The Maulvi cooked up a story and said that he had mixed too much masala and the donkey has been turned to Qazi (magistrate) of Jaunpur. Jumman couldn`t believe his ears. That his worthless, good for nothing, stubborn, nitwit of a donkey has turned into a donkey.

When the information had finally sunk in, Jumman was a changed man. Gone was the humble manner, the deep salaams, the habit of going down on his knees before others. He drew himself up to his full height and announced that he was going to Jaunpur. And turning on his heel, he marched down the village street.

Jumman reached Jaunpur the following day, all dusty and tired from travelling. He had a wash at a wayside tank, took off his turban, smoothed down his hair and tied the turban back in position. He ran his finger through his beard and dusted his clothes. After all, he was going to meet an officer. Never mind if that officer was only a donkey to begin with. Now he was a man and a very important man at that!

At first the city baffled Jumman. But at last he found his way to the Qazi`s court. He pushed his way past the guards at the gate and marched straight in. The Qazi was busy settling a dispute between two shopkeepers. Jumman went and stood squarely in front of the Qazi. in a slightly mocking tone he asked the Qazi that how did it feel to be transformed into a man from a donkey.

A sudden hush fell over the court. The Qazi`s face slowly turned a deep red. He angrily demanded to know the identity of the man. The guards ran to catch hold of Jumman. But he shook them off and faced the Qazi again and spoke to him as if the Qazi was his donkey. The Qazi rose to his feet and ordered the guards to throw the man away. But Jumman was too nimble for the guards. He jumped on to a table and repeated the same thing aloud. At this point one of the guards caught hold of Jumman and he was pout into lock up.

Jumman spent the night in the lockup but it did not help matters. Next day he was back again at the court of the Qazi anfd rebuffed the Qazi saying that he should have remained a donkey. By now the Qazi was certain that Jumman was out of his mind. He thought it best to humour the man. He asked Jumman, what ge wanted.

Jumman promptly asked for 500 rupees. The Qazi gave him a bag and said, and asked him to leave the court and never to return again. Jumman took the money and went back to his village. With the money he bought himself another donkey. He also bought a goat, a new trunk and two quilts. Thanks to the Qazi of Jaunpur, Jumman and his wife spent the rest of their days in comfort.