Emperor Akbar had a mobile court which one day found itself in a village in what is now MadhyaPradesh, where a young Brahmin farmer, Mahesh Das lived. Mahesh heard a herald announce that Emperor Akbar would award a thousand gold coins to the artist who pleased him with the most realistic portrait of the emperor.
On the appointed day and time, there was a beeline of artists before the Court; each had a covered picture of the emperor. Everyone in the court was anxious to find who would get the coveted prize of one thousand gold coins.
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Akbar, sitting on a high-throne, received the folded portraits, and rejected them one by one with cryptic comments.
Akbar :- "NO. This is not exactly what I am now."
The poor Brahmin, Mahesh Das who later became famous as Birbal, was waiting of his chance. He was the last to show the portrait he carried with him.
Birbal's Solution
When Mahesh's turn came, Emperor Akbar was already piqued
Akbar :- "Are you like the rest of the incapables who have unsatisfactorily produced my portraits, Which don't exactly show me who I am now ? "
To which Mahesh, without any fear yet in a tone of humility, said
Mahesh Das :- "Look my emperor, into it and satisfy yourself."
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Strangely, it was not a drawing or painting, but a mirror that emerged from the folds of Mahesh's garments to show the Emperor exactly what he was then.
"The best replica of Emperor Akbar" everyone chorused.
Akbar received Mahesh Das with open arms to the applause of everyone in the open court, and rewarded him with a thousand gold coins. He also gave Mahesh a ring with Royal Seal and invited him to meet the Emperor in his capital, Fatehpur Sikri.
MANAGEMENT MORAL 1
Learn what your client wants and give it to him so that his need is fulfilled. What Akbar wanted was not an artist's impression of himself but reality - which only a mirror could provide.
MANAGEMENT MORAL 2
With all humility, Mahesh made the emperor realise that it was not possible to get what he wanted and for this he won the prize, despite not having done what the emperor wanted - a prefect portrait. An argument with one's superiors would be termed arrogant behavior and could get one the sack. But practical proof of the impossibility of the Emperor's request made him the wiser for it and earned the contestant his reward! so by all means, communicate what you have in mind frankly, but diplomatically.
