Full transcript
0:06An orphan boy named Raghu lived in a
0:09broken hut on the edge of the village .
0:12His parents had passed away during his
0:14childhood . He somehow managed to make a
0:17living by grazing goats and selling
0:19milk .
0:22My parents left me when I was just a
0:24child . But before leaving , they taught
0:27me that no matter how difficult life
0:31gets , never keep anything that belongs
0:34to someone else . I have no land , no
0:38money , and no family of my own . But if
0:43I have my honesty with me , I don't need
0:47to feel inferior to any rich person .
0:53Every morning , Raghu would take his
0:55goats out of the village and graze them
0:57around the fields until evening . One
1:01day , The village moneylender , Lalaram ,
1:07was heading toward his fields along
1:09that same path .
1:12Today , I have to pay the laborers their
1:14wages . That is why I must keep this
1:18money safe . As soon as I reach the
1:20fields , I will pay the laborers first .
1:23Then I will check the rest of the
1:24accounts . While walking , Lalaram didn't
1:28even notice that some money had fallen
1:31from his bag onto the path . Raghu ,
1:35sitting a short distance away , stood up
1:37after suddenly seeing notes lying on
1:38the ground .
1:41Oh , how did so much money end up lying
1:43here ? It must have fallen from
1:45someone's pocket . I should not take
1:48this home with me . I will wait here
1:51first to see if someone comes back to
1:53look for it . Raghu took the money and
1:57sat down in the same spot . The sun
1:59slowly began to set . But no one came
2:02looking for the money .
2:06If this money belongs to someone in
2:08need , they must be very worried about
2:10losing it . I could take this home and
2:14fulfill my needs . But buying my own
2:17happiness from someone else's
2:18misfortune would be wrong . In the
2:22evening , Raghu brought the money to his
2:25hut , tied it in an old cloth , and kept
2:27it in a chest . That same night , heavy
2:31rain started suddenly . I haven't seen
2:35such heavy rain in a very long time . I
2:38just pray that my hut survives the
2:41night , because I don't have a single
2:44penny to rebuild it .
2:48Suddenly , there was a loud noise , and
2:50the corner of one of the hut's walls
2:52broke and collapsed . Water started
2:55coming inside , and Raghu got busy
2:57trying to save his belongings . If this
3:01money were mine , the first thing I
3:03would do is get my hut fixed . But it
3:06belongs to someone else . That is why ,
3:08even if my roof collapses , I will not
3:11touch a single penny of this . No.
3:16Raghu sat near the broken wall all
3:18night long . When the rain stopped in
3:22the morning , he was just about to go
3:25out with the money when Lalaram
3:28happened to pass by to check on his
3:30land .
3:33Oh Raghu , your hut has been badly
3:35damaged in the rain . Where did you
3:38spend the night ? It must be very
3:40difficult for you to stay alone in such
3:43bad conditions . The night was certainly
3:47difficult , but I managed somehow . Thank
3:50God I didn't get hurt . I will work hard
3:54and rebuild the remaining wall .
3:58Raghu immediately took the money out of
4:00the chest and extended it toward Lala
4:02Ram .
4:03Perhaps this money is yours . I found it
4:06on the path to the fields yesterday . I
4:08sat there for a long time . But when you
4:11didn't return , I brought it home for
4:14safekeeping .
4:15Lala Ram recognized the money as soon
4:17as he saw it . He kept looking at Raghu
4:20for a few moments .
4:22Your own hut has collapsed . You must
4:25not even have money for food . Even then
4:28, you didn't spend a single rupee of
4:31this money . My troubles are indeed big ,
4:35but this money is not mine . If I had
4:38used it for my needs , my life might
4:40have improved on the outside , but
4:43inside , I would always consider myself
4:46a thief .
4:47Respect for Raghu appeared in Lala
4:49Ram's eyes . He put the money in his
4:52pocket .
4:54From today , you will look after my
4:55fields and household work . You will get
4:58wages and I will also provide a better
5:01place to live . I need an honest person
5:05like you . Not just a servant . You have
5:09done a great favor by trusting a poor
5:13man like me . I will respect both your
5:16hard work and your trust . And I will
5:19never give you a chance to complain .
5:26From that day , Raghu started working at
5:29the landlord's house and fields . Seeing
5:32his hard work , Lala Ram's trust grew
5:35every day .
5:37You handle the accounts for the fields .
5:40Pay the workers the wages told , and
5:43deposit the remaining money with me in
5:46the evening . Please do not worry at all
5:50. I will fulfill the responsibility you
5:53have given me with my hard work and
5:57keep every account clear . Lala Ram's
6:00daughter , Kavya , standing inside the
6:02house , was watching all this . She did
6:05not like her father's growing trust in
6:08Raghu at all . What is the need for you
6:12to trust this poor servant so much ?
6:15Until yesterday , he was grazing goats ,
6:17and today you are handing over the
6:19money of the house and fields to him .
6:22Do not look down on him because of his
6:24poverty . He returned my money during my
6:28difficult times . That is why it is my
6:31responsibility to respect him .
6:35But I don't like that you keep praising
6:37him all the time . You have your own
6:40daughter in the house . Yet you see more
6:43honesty in that servant .
6:46Daughter , honesty cannot be compared
6:48with relationships . It is important to
6:51praise the one who has done the right
6:53thing . You should also learn something
6:56from Raghu . Do not be jealous of him .
6:59Kavya said nothing , but her jealousy
7:02toward Raghu grew even deeper . She had
7:07no idea that this very jealousy would
7:10eventually ruin an innocent person's
7:13life . For a few days , Raghu continued
7:19to work on money-lender Lalam's farm
7:21and house with complete honesty .
7:24Lalam's trust in him kept growing
7:27steadily . But Kavya's jealousy toward
7:30Raghu also kept increasing . Father , you
7:34told me that you had found a good match
7:37for me in a nearby village . But I don't
7:41understand why , instead of talking
7:43about my marriage , you keep worrying
7:45about Raghu all the time .
7:47Your marriage is the most important
7:49thing to me . I have gathered
7:51information about a boy from a good
7:53family in a distant village . But the
7:56final decision will only be made with
7:58your consent . I am not at all
8:01interested in that match . I don't even
8:04want to think about marriage right now ,
8:06so why are you deciding my life by
8:08choosing that boy for me ?
8:11I am not deciding your life alone . As a
8:16father , I am just concerned about your
8:19future . If you don't like the match , we
8:22will definitely look for another way .
8:25Kavya went into her room . What bothered
8:29her the most was that her father viewed
8:32Raghu as a trusted member of the family
8:35. Since my father trusts this poor boy
8:39so much , I must do something to make
8:42him kick Raghu out of the house himself
8:44. After that , Father will also realize
8:48how misplaced his trust was . That same
8:52evening , Kavya met with her mother .
8:58Expressing her frustration , she brought
9:00up the idea of plotting against Raghu .
9:04Mother , Father doesn't even listen to
9:07me . He thinks Raghu is the most honest
9:10person in the world . If he leaves the
9:13house , Father's attention will return
9:15to me . Daughter , it is not right to
9:19harm an innocent person . You shouldn't
9:23choose a path to avoid your father's
9:26displeasure that could affect a poor
9:28man's entire life . Mother , I just want
9:33Father to stop trusting Raghu . If I
9:38have to exaggerate things a little , I
9:40will handle it . Her mother tried to
9:43reason with her . But the feeling of
9:46revenge in Kavya's heart was so strong
9:49that she was not ready to listen to
9:51anyone . The next night , Kavya quietly
9:56reached near Raghu's hut . She
10:00deliberately started making noise so
10:02that the neighbors would come out . Help
10:07! Someone help me ! Raghu has tried to
10:11misbehave with me . I have somehow
10:13managed to escape from his house .
10:16Otherwise , something terrible would
10:18have happened to me today . Hearing
10:21Kavya's voice , the nearby villagers
10:23rushed to the spot . Raghu came out of
10:26his hut in a panic .
10:29Why are you saying such things about me
10:31? I was in my hut all night long . I
10:34didn't even see you come here . Then how
10:38could I possibly mistreat you ?
10:41Don't lie , Raghu . Seeing me alone at
10:45night , you looked at me with ill intent
10:47and tried to force yourself on me . I
10:50somehow managed to run away and reach
10:52here .
10:53I swear to God that I have done no such
10:57thing . I may be poor , but I cannot even
11:01think ill of any woman's honor . You are
11:04misunderstanding me . The villagers
11:07started whispering among themselves . No
11:10one believed Raghu because the
11:12moneylender's daughter was standing
11:15right there . Soon after , Lala Ram also
11:19arrived .
11:21Raghu , what is all this happening ? My
11:23daughter is leveling such serious
11:26charges against you . Tell me clearly
11:28what happened with her last night . I
11:33myself don't understand why these
11:34accusations are being made . I was in my
11:38hut and I hadn't even seen Kavya before
11:41she came here .
11:44Father , I am your daughter , why would I
11:47lie to you ? If Raghu hadn't done
11:50anything wrong , why would I scream for
11:53help in front of the villagers at
11:55midnight ? Lala Ram's face filled with
11:58anger . He looked at Raghu , but his
12:02daughter's words weighed heavily on his
12:05mind .
12:07I trusted you blindly . I gave you the
12:11responsibility of my home and fields .
12:14But if my daughter's words are true ,
12:17you have betrayed my trust deeply .
12:21You may fire me from the job if you
12:24wish . But do not consider me a criminal
12:27for something I never did . I have
12:30nothing but my poverty . Even then , I
12:33have always respected you . I don't want
12:37to hear anything from you right now . As
12:39soon as morning comes , you leave your
12:42job at my house and fields . From today
12:45onwards , you will have no connection
12:47with my family .
12:49Tears welled up in Raghu's eyes . He
12:53bowed his head but did not argue with
12:56anyone .
12:57If this is your decision , I accept it .
13:02Just remember that I never betrayed
13:05your trust . One day , the truth will
13:09surely come out before you .
13:11The next morning , Raghu took his few
13:15belongings and left the moneylender's
13:18house . His hard work , his job , and most
13:22importantly , his honor — everything had
13:25been snatched away from him in a single
13:27night . Wherever he went in the village
13:31to ask for work , people would turn away
13:33upon seeing him .
13:35Please give me some kind of work . I
13:38will work in the fields , take care of
13:40the cattle , or do household chores . I
13:44just need a chance to earn my
13:46livelihood . We are sorry about your
13:49situation . But after what has been
13:53rumored about you in the village , it is
13:55difficult for us to hire you . You
13:59should try somewhere else . Go .
14:03Dejected , Raghu sat under a tree
14:06outside the village . At that moment ,
14:09Madhav , a sensible young man from the
14:12village , passed by . He looked at
14:15Raghu's face and sat down next to him
14:18for a while .
14:20I have known you for many years . You
14:23have never even spoken loudly to anyone
14:25and have always worked hard . This
14:29accusation does not fit your character
14:32at all . Madhav , even I don't understand
14:36why this happened to me . I haven't done
14:39anything wrong . But I have no evidence
14:43to prove my innocence either . Don't
14:47worry . If you are telling the truth , I
14:50will personally find out what actually
14:52happened that night . It is not right to
14:55consider someone guilty without knowing
14:58the truth .
14:59From that very day , Madhav decided to
15:02keep an eye on Kavya's activities .
15:06Little did he know that this effort of
15:08his would soon bring out a truth that
15:11would change the life of an innocent
15:13boy in front of the whole village .
15:16Madhav had promised Raghu that he would
15:20not speak of his innocence to anyone
15:22without proof . That is why he quietly
15:27started monitoring Kavya's movements .
15:31Raghu , do not lose hope . People in the
15:34village are misunderstanding you today .
15:37But I am making an effort not just to
15:39save you , but to find out the truth .
15:43Madhav , I am not afraid for myself . But
15:47in the eyes of the merchant who gave me
15:49work during my poverty , I have become a
15:52criminal . This pain is breaking me from
15:55within .
15:57You had already proven your honesty by
15:59returning his money . I am sure that the
16:03day the truth comes out , every
16:05accusation against you will shatter on
16:08its own .
16:11The next day , Madhav saw Kavya going
16:14towards the old village well with her
16:17mother . Both were looking around and
16:21talking in hushed tones . Mother , Raghu
16:25has left the house forever now . Father
16:27is also angry with him , and no one in
16:29the village is willing to give him work
16:32. Now my trouble is over . Daughter ,
16:36what you did was very wrong . What wrong
16:39did Raghu ever do to you ? Just because
16:41your father trusted him ? You ruined his
16:45life . Mother , I didn't hate him . I was
16:50just jealous that Father trusted him
16:53more than me . I thought this was the
16:57easiest way to remove him . Madhav was
17:01listening to everything while hiding
17:04behind a tree nearby . He had even held
17:08his breath so that neither of them
17:10would know he was there . But what if
17:15Father finds out the truth ? Because of
17:18your lie , a poor boy has been defamed
17:21in the entire village . Father will
17:24never find out . I have made such a big
17:27accusation in front of everyone that no
17:30one will dare to question me now .
17:32Madhav heard everything . Now he had not
17:36just suspicion , but the foundation of
17:38the truth . He immediately reached out
17:41to Raghu . But he decided that it
17:44wouldn't be right to spread this
17:46without the right time .
17:48Raghu , I heard the entire conversation
17:51between Kavya and her mother today .
17:53Kavya herself admitted that she framed
17:56you with false accusations . Are you
18:01telling the truth ? I have been
18:03wondering for days what I could have
18:07done to deserve such a harsh punishment
18:10. I have heard their conversation with
18:13my own eyes and ears . But we need
18:17evidence that no one can dismiss as a
18:20lie when we present it before the
18:22council . I want my reputation back . But
18:27I don't want any more family fights
18:31because of me . I just want the truth to
18:34come out . That is enough for me .
18:38Madhav decided that he would first find
18:40a witness to Kavya and her mother's
18:41conversation . That evening , he spoke to
18:45an elderly woman of the village , Jamuna
18:48Kaki , who often sat near that well .
18:52Kaki , did you go near the well
18:54yesterday afternoon ? I need to ask you
18:57something important . But I want you to
19:00tell only the truth about what you saw .
19:05Yes , son , I went there to fetch water .
19:08I saw Kavya and her mother coming . But
19:12I moved a distance away before I could
19:15hear their talk .
19:17If you heard any part of their
19:20conversation , please tell me . It is a
19:23matter of a poor boy's life and his
19:25reputation .
19:28As I was leaving , I did hear Kavya say
19:31that getting Raghu out of the house was
19:34her own decision . At that time , I
19:37thought maybe I had misheard . Madhav
19:40had now found another witness . He spoke
19:44to some of the village elders that same
19:46evening and told them the whole story .
19:49The accusation against Raghu is serious
19:51. That is why I want us to decide based
19:55on the truth , not emotions . If someone
19:58has framed him by lying , then he must
20:02get justice . Madhav , if you truly have
20:07testimony , then a panchayat should be
20:10called . The voice of a poor man is
20:14often suppressed . But it is the duty of
20:18the panchayat to listen to both sides
20:20and make the right decision .
20:23Meanwhile , one of Madhav’s trusted
20:26associates went and told the
20:28moneylender Lalaram everything . At
20:31first , Lalaram did not believe it .
20:34What are you trying to say ? That my
20:36daughter made a false accusation
20:38against Raghu ? I have known my daughter
20:41since she was a child . Why would she
20:44lie to me ?
20:46Moneylender , I have not come to blame
20:49your daughter . But I have heard the
20:52conversation between her and her mother
20:54. If you don't believe it , then bring
20:56this matter up in front of everyone at
20:58the panchayat .
21:00Worry began to show clearly on
21:02Lalaram’s face . He called Kavya to
21:05him that very same night . Kavya , I will
21:09ask you only one question , and I want
21:12you to tell me the truth . Did Raghu
21:16really misbehave with you that night ?
21:21Kavya remained silent for a few moments
21:23. Fear was clearly visible on her face .
21:27Father , what I told you before was the
21:30truth . Raghu tried to misbehave with me
21:34, and I made noise to save myself .
21:38Lalaram took a deep breath . He did not
21:41see the same firmness in his
21:43daughter’s voice as before .
21:46If you are telling the truth , then you
21:48don't need to be afraid . But if you
21:52have falsely accused an innocent person
21:54, I won’t protect you just because
21:57you are my daughter . Tears welled up in
22:01Kavya’s eyes , but she still did not
22:04abandon her lie . Father , you are
22:07doubting me . That poor boy broke my
22:10trust in front of you , and now you have
22:12started believing him instead . Lalaram
22:16did not give any answer . He could not
22:18sleep the whole night . The next morning
22:20, the news of calling a panchayat
22:22spread in the village . Raghu was also
22:24asked to come to the panchayat . Madhav ,
22:28I am not feeling afraid . If the truth
22:31is going to come out today , then I will
22:33stand before the panchayat with my head
22:36held high . I will no longer carry the
22:39burden of what I did not do . Today ,
22:42your truth will speak , not your poverty
22:45. Just don't get angry at anyone . And
22:48answer whatever is asked with complete
22:51honesty . The villagers slowly began to
22:55gather under the large banyan tree in
22:58the village for the panchayat . Lalaram
23:02arrived with his daughter and wife .
23:05Raghu stood quietly on the other side .
23:08Before the Panchayat even began , Madhav
23:11stepped forward and spoke to everyone .
23:15Today , the decision should not favor
23:17the rich or the poor . The decision
23:20should only favor the truth . Because if
23:24an honest person's life has been ruined
23:27by a lie , it is the entire village's
23:29responsibility to see them get justice .
23:33Silence fell under the banyan tree . Now
23:36his gaze was fixed on Kavya . The
23:39Panchayat had gathered under the banyan
23:41tree . The village elder Lalaram , Kavya ,
23:45her mother , Raghu , and Madhav were all
23:48there . The entire village was waiting
23:51for the truth now .
23:54Today , no side will be taken , whether
23:56rich or poor . The accused will have the
24:00right to speak , and the accuser will
24:04also be questioned for the truth .
24:08Panchayat , I don't have much to say . I
24:12did not do anything wrong that night . I
24:16was in my hut , and I still don't
24:18understand why such a grave accusation
24:21was leveled against me .
24:23Panchayat , what I said is the truth .
24:27Raghu tried to misbehave with me , and I
24:30somehow managed to escape from there .
24:35If your story is true , I just want to
24:38ask , why did you go to Raghu's hut that
24:41night ? Because Raghu never called you
24:45to his place .
24:47I was passing by , and seeing me , Raghu
24:50spoke inappropriately . After that , he
24:54tried to force himself upon me . That's
24:57why I got scared and started screaming .
25:00Madhav looked at the Panchayat and then
25:03called Jamuna Kaki forward .
25:06Panchayat , I heard a conversation
25:08between Kavya and her mother , but I am
25:10not the only witness . Jamuna Kaki also
25:15heard Kavya talking about framing Raghu
25:17in front of her mother that same day .
25:21Yes , Panchayat , I did not see any
25:24incident with my own eyes . But I heard
25:28Kavya telling her mother that she made
25:31false accusations to get Raghu kicked
25:33out of the house . Kavya's face turned
25:38pale . Her mother also bowed her head .
25:42Kavya , this is a very serious matter .
25:45There is testimony from two people
25:47against you . Now tell us clearly what
25:50really happened with Raghu that night .
25:54What I did , I did out of anger . I was
25:58jealous of Raghu because Father trusted
26:01him so much and praised him all the
26:04time . Lalaram closed his eyes upon
26:08hearing his daughter's words . He
26:12realized what a huge mistake he had
26:15made by trusting his own daughter . When
26:20father started talking about my
26:22marriage , I became even more troubled .
26:25I felt that because of Raghu , father's
26:26attention had shifted away from me .
26:29That is why I planned to drive him out
26:31of the house . I went near his hut at
26:34night and deliberately made noise . I
26:37lied to the villagers that Raghu had
26:39misbehaved with me . Whereas he had not
26:43even touched me . They started looking
26:46at each other's faces . Raghu was
26:48quietly looking down at the ground .
26:52Kavya , you didn't just get Raghu fired
26:55from his job . You snatched away his
26:58dignity , his livelihood , and his
27:00identity in the village . Didn't you
27:03worry about his future even once ?
27:06Father , I realize my mistake now . At
27:11that time , I could only see my own
27:14jealousy and I didn't think about how
27:17much my lie would ruin Raghu's life .
27:20Raghu slowly lifted his head . There was
27:24pain in his eyes , but no anger .
27:26Kavya-ji , you have done me a great
27:29injustice . But I want the panchayat to
27:33not just punish you , but teach you that
27:37the dignity of a poor person is as
27:40precious as that of a rich one . Raghu ,
27:45there is a very big heart in your words
27:49. Even after the injustice done to you ,
27:52you didn't ask for revenge , but instead
27:55spoke of teaching a lesson . Lalaram
27:59came in front of Raghu . There were
28:02tears of regret in his eyes .
28:06Raghu , I gave you a place in my home
28:08because I thought you were honest . But
28:11listening to my daughter , I labeled you
28:14a criminal without any proof . My
28:18biggest mistake was that I didn't trust
28:21your truthfulness . Sahukar-ji , your
28:26decision hurt me a lot , but you gave me
28:30work in poverty and I can never forget
28:33that favor . I want that from today on ,
28:37no poor person should be accused of
28:40betrayal without proof . I don't just
28:44want to apologize to you . I want you to
28:48take charge of my house and my fields
28:52again . If you are willing , I will give
28:56you more respect than before . I will
28:59definitely work , but not just for
29:02myself . I want the poor people of the
29:05village to get a fair chance to work so
29:08that no one is forced to choose the
29:10wrong path . Your idea is correct . From
29:16today , Raghu will also be given respect
29:19by the panchayat , and the Sahukar will
29:22compensate for the injustice done to
29:24him as his responsibility .
29:27Lalaram tried to put some money in
29:30Raghu's hand . But Raghu stopped him
29:34first .
29:35Sahukar-ji , I do not want charity money
29:38. If you really want to help me ,
29:42instead of fixing my broken hut , give
29:44me enough work so that I can turn it
29:47into a home through my own hard work .
29:51Raghu , today you have proven once again
29:54that your poverty can never be greater
29:58than your principles , and I will fully
30:01respect your hard work .
30:04Kavya approached Raghu in tears . Raghu ,
30:08perhaps no apology of mine can take
30:10away the pain of what I did to you .
30:14Still , I apologize sincerely and
30:16promise that I will never make fun of
30:19anyone's poverty again .
30:21I accept your apology . But remember one
30:25thing I say . Do not judge a person's
30:28character by their circumstances .
30:31Poverty can make a person helpless . Not
30:34dishonest . The Panchayat scolded Kavya
30:39severely for her lies and warned the
30:42villagers not to socially boycott
30:44anyone in the future by making
30:46accusations without knowing the truth .
30:50A few days later Raghu started working
30:55in Lalaram’s fields again . This time
30:58he was not just a servant , but had
31:00become a trusted partner to his
31:02employer . Raghu , your truth has finally
31:06come out in front of everyone . I told
31:10you that day , if you are telling the
31:12truth , then one day the truth will
31:14surely win . Madhav , if you hadn't
31:18supported me , I might still be
31:20considered guilty in the eyes of the
31:22village today . Friendship is that which
31:26stands for the truth during difficult
31:28times . No matter how powerful the
31:30people on the other side might be .
31:32Raghu continued his hard work , and a
31:35few months later He transformed his
31:43broken hut into a sturdy little house
31:45with his own earnings . He learned one
31:49thing from his life forever . The path
31:52of truth can be difficult . But in the
31:56end , the person who does not lose their
31:59honesty even in difficult times stands
32:02the strongest , and from that day on ,
32:05Raghu became known in the village not
32:07as a poor servant , but as an honest and
32:10strong individual .
32:13I had nothing in my childhood . Even
32:16today , I am not very rich . But now I
32:20have my hard work , my self-respect , and
32:22the belief that a lie cannot stand
32:25against the truth for long . Villagers ,
32:29do not consider someone weak just by
32:32looking at their poverty . Sometimes ,
32:35the poorest man possesses the wealth
32:38that cannot be found even in the
32:40world's largest vault . Honesty .
32:46Poverty does not define a person's
32:48worth . Their character does . A lie can
32:52defame an innocent person for a while .
32:56But the truth eventually finds its way .