There is a story about Birbal and Akbar that goes something like this:

One day Akbar invited Birbal to join him at Lunch, one of the dishes served was the Brinjal, called Baigan in Hindustani, akbar liked the preparation and said as much, Birbal not only agreed but also praised the vegetable to high heavens, talking about its great qualities and about its ancient roots in the Indian lore.  Several days later he was invited for another meal with the Emperor and this time too Brinjal was on the Menu, Akbar did not like the preparation said that Baigan was an affront to finer sensibilities, Birbal promptly agreed and added that it had no taste of its own, had the consistency and colour of mud and destroyed anything that it was cooked with. Akbar remembered the fulsome praise that Birbal had just a few days earlier heaped upon the vegetable and reminded him. Birbal bowed his head and said, my lord, I am beholden to you, not to the Brinjal. Continue reading Royal Purple with a Green Crown →