IIn a palace faraway in the Himalayas lived a princess who one day wanted to eat apples. The first apples of the season were brought and while the reddest one was being sliced, the maidservant cut the princess' little finger into half. It was for sure an accident but the princess was outraged. She had the maidservant sent to prison and forgot all about her too.
Thus begins the Tibetan tale Nine And a Half Fingers , which takes the reader through some delightfully illustrated pages of colour. The twist to the tale comes when the princess decides to go for a walk in the royal gardens early one morning. Lost in the beauty of every flower, she wanders into the woods. Hungry demons pounce on her to have a meal they have long been waiting for. A human is a good find and they don't want to let go of her. While preparing to take her to the underworld they see her little half finger. Who wants an imperfect meal, they say and let her go. The princess returns to her palace and the first thing she does is set the maidservant free. She even begs for forgiveness when the maidservant tells her that it was good she was imprisoned. Had she been with the princess during her walk, the demons would not have spared her. They both realise how everything in life happens for a purpose.
The story, adapted by Lauren Alderfer, brings out the essence Buddhist teachings are known for. Vandana Bist's miniature painting style combined with Tibetan images showcase the amazing artist that she is, and her specialisation in children's book illustration.
“… from stories children learn about the dilemmas and difficulties that they may face one day. In these ways, stories are a preparation of life,” reads the foreword by The Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. And the tale does just that.
NINE AND A HALF FINGERS, Paljor Publications Private Ltd, Rs. 395