I came across a fascinating short story titled “The General Directorate of Water Jar Affairs,” by the late Egyptian author, Dr. Hussein Mounis. The story was published in the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram, in 1971. It ironically addresses corruption.
The story goes: While a king was inspecting his kingdom, he passed by a village and found its inhabitants drinking directly from the canal. The king told his companions to find a solution, even to put a large jar filled with clean water for the villagers to drink from.
The chief minister ordered the purchase of a jar and to place it on the canal bank, so the people could drink. When the jar arrived, an official said, “Since the jar is public property, it needs a guard.” The direct supervisor of the official said, “Someone must be appointed to fill the jar daily, as this is not the job of the guard.” It was found that one guard was not enough to work 24/7, so six guards were hired, in addition to six workers who would take over the task of filling the jar.
Then, an official suggested buying a stand, a lid and a cup, and hiring technicians to maintain them. At this point, a more experienced official interjected, “Who will handle the payroll for all these employees?” He suggested creating an accounting department and appointing accountants to handle the payroll. A senior employee said, “These accountants need someone to monitor and supervise their work.”
A personnel affairs department was established, and attendance and departure logs were created for employees. Another employee wondered, “If a dispute arises among the workers, who will adjudicate it? A legal affairs department must be established.” When the matter reached the chief of staff, he said, “This enormous number of employees and workers requires a competent manager. A highly experienced manager must be appointed.”
A year later, the king passed through the same area and came across a magnificent building with a large sign that read, “General Directorate of Water Jar Affairs.” The building consisted of numerous rooms, meeting halls and offices. The king found a dignified official at a huge desk with a sign that read: “Professor, Director General of Water Jar Affairs Directorate”
The king wondered about the new building and the unusual department he never heard about. His companions informed him that this department is responsible for the affairs of the jar he ordered to be installed the previous year. The king was very pleased and decided to inspect the jar himself. He was surprised to find it empty and cracked, while a guard and a worker who filled it were fast asleep next to it.
The king noticed a sign that read, “Donate to the maintenance of the jar. Regards, The General Directorate of Water Jar Affairs.” This story is crystal clear and needs no interpretation in most Arab countries.
The father and his profligate son ... a lion and a fox
The following story from Iraqi folklore is on extravagance. A merchant in Baghdad had a spoiled only son who habitually spent his father’s money without a second thought. As they say, “Easy comes, easy goes.” The father often thought, “If I die tomorrow, my son will squander this fortune in a few days, even though I spent my life accumulating it. My son will be lost in life.” The father consulted a wise friend, who frankly told him that he is accountable for spoiling his son, because of excessive pampering. The friend advised him to force his son to earn his own living and put him in charge of a trading caravan. The father liked the idea.
He summoned his son and told him that he would be leading a trading caravan the following morning. The son said, “But Father, I do not know how to trade.” The father replied, “It does not matter- buy, sell, profit or lose. You will have advisors with you, if needed. What really matters is to learn how to make your own living.” Due to his father’s insistence, the son agreed, and the caravan set out. By evening, those who were part of the caravan rested in their tents.
Early the next morning, the son awoke and looked out into the desert. He saw a magnificent sight: a lion caught a rabbit, carried it in its mouth, and headed to a cave where it placed the rabbit and then went on its way. A few minutes later, a blind fox emerged from the cave, smelled the scent, found the rabbit, picked it up in its mouth, and went back into the cave to eat it. The boy thought to himself, “How could my father be so foolish? If God did not forget to provide for this blind fox, would He forget a sighted man like me?”
The son ordered the caravan to return, saying, “We do not want to trade.” When the son arrived, his father asked him why he returned. The son told his father what he saw, and then said, “Father, if God did not forget to provide for the blind fox, would He forget me, who can see?” The father laughed and said, “My son, God does not forget anyone in terms of sustenance, but I want you to be a lion who gives, not a fox who takes.” This was the most valuable lesson from the father to his son.
