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THE ARCHITECT OF CULTURE It was a bright day during the spring festival when expert archers of Gujarat were demonstrating their skill with the bow and arrow in the august presence of Bhimdeva, the ruler of Gujarat. Citizens of Patan had gathered to watch the contest and their excitement rose to its climax when, for the final item, a target was fixed at a long distance. This was to be the final test of the archers' skill, and one who hit it would be declared the champion archer and awarded a prize. Archer after archer took his aim, but failed to hit the target which seemed to be beyond his reach.
Just as the spectators were wondering how this would end, they saw a youth of magnificent stature approaching the scene of the contest. He was plainly dressed and had slung his bow and sheaf of arrows over his shoulder. He bowed politely to the king. For a brief moment Bhimdeva fixed his eyes on this unusually, handsome, young man •with a bearded, smiling face. Then he graciously said to the archer, “Young man, since you are an archer, you may also join the contest and try for the championship.”
The youth advanced a few steps, straightened his graceful figure, bent his bow.. Then, drawing the string as far. back as his ear, he shot the arrow. With a twang of the bow, the arrow whizzed through the target and disappeared in the sky.
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