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The Story

Lesson
7 of Eklavya

Art and Culture

Warm Up

• What are the qualities that you think a student should have?

• What are the qualities that you think a teacher should have?

Let us read a story from the famous Indian epic Mahabharata about a student named
Eklavya.

I Read

Long ago, in the forests of the kingdom of Hastinapura, lived a boy
named Eklavya. Eklavya was the son of the tribal chief and was loved by
all. However, he often remained sad as he wanted to learn archery.

So, one day, he decided to go to Dronacharya, a
master of military arts. He bowed and introduced archery
himself to the Guru and said, ‘I am Eklavya, son of the
tribal chief from the western part of the forests of Hastinapura. I want
to be your disciple. Please accept me and teach me the wonderful
military arts art of archery.’

Drona sighed and said, ‘Eklavya, as a teacher of the members of the royal family, I am
not allowed to teach the art of archery to anybody else. I am forbidden from making

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