<p>Fate, it is said, is inevitable and invincible. Yet scripture and folklore have instances where people beat not just their own fate but also that of others. </p>.<p>A folktale tells us that in times of yore, a learned man was once called away to attend a debate. This happened at a time when his wife was due to deliver a child. He went away leaving a young student behind to manage matters. The student fetched the midwife when it was time for the delivery, sat down outside and, after a while, dozed off. When he opened his eyes he found the door open and a man coming out. Chasing him, the young student demanded an explanation. The man smiled and said he was Brahma and had come to write the fate of the child. The busy God not wanting to waste time said that the boy will have as his possession only one buffalo. </p>.<p>Many years went by. Now a successful teacher himself, the thought occurred to him to visit his guru and also check on the fate of the boy. As he reached the town he learnt that the old guru and his wife were both no more. Their son lived in a hut in poverty and all that he possessed was one buffalo.</p>.<p>He introduced himself to the boy, became his guest, and promised to help him. He advised him to sell the buffalo and spend all the money on a feast. The feast made the boy happy and the next morning he was overjoyed to find a younger and better buffalo in the place of the one he had sold. He found no words to thank his honoured guest who asked him again to sell this buffalo and spend every penny on a feast. Every day there was a new buffalo and a bigger feast.</p>.<p>When the guest took his leave it was dawn. The former student smiled as he spotted the hassled Brahma pulling a buffalo behind him. The God recognised him. He also understood what he had done. I cannot change what is writ but I will grant it to you that the boy will always have a good meal he conceded.</p>.<p>Fate may appear invincible, but it is sometimes overcome by ingenuity and will.</p>
<p>Fate, it is said, is inevitable and invincible. Yet scripture and folklore have instances where people beat not just their own fate but also that of others. </p>.<p>A folktale tells us that in times of yore, a learned man was once called away to attend a debate. This happened at a time when his wife was due to deliver a child. He went away leaving a young student behind to manage matters. The student fetched the midwife when it was time for the delivery, sat down outside and, after a while, dozed off. When he opened his eyes he found the door open and a man coming out. Chasing him, the young student demanded an explanation. The man smiled and said he was Brahma and had come to write the fate of the child. The busy God not wanting to waste time said that the boy will have as his possession only one buffalo. </p>.<p>Many years went by. Now a successful teacher himself, the thought occurred to him to visit his guru and also check on the fate of the boy. As he reached the town he learnt that the old guru and his wife were both no more. Their son lived in a hut in poverty and all that he possessed was one buffalo.</p>.<p>He introduced himself to the boy, became his guest, and promised to help him. He advised him to sell the buffalo and spend all the money on a feast. The feast made the boy happy and the next morning he was overjoyed to find a younger and better buffalo in the place of the one he had sold. He found no words to thank his honoured guest who asked him again to sell this buffalo and spend every penny on a feast. Every day there was a new buffalo and a bigger feast.</p>.<p>When the guest took his leave it was dawn. The former student smiled as he spotted the hassled Brahma pulling a buffalo behind him. The God recognised him. He also understood what he had done. I cannot change what is writ but I will grant it to you that the boy will always have a good meal he conceded.</p>.<p>Fate may appear invincible, but it is sometimes overcome by ingenuity and will.</p>