Pandit Sevaram

As all of us know that Brahmins in North India have been referred to as Panditjis. But many of us don't know how and when that title came to brahmins indiscriminately.

Here is a story of amusing interest among Akbar-Birbal anecdotes that tells us the details. Sevaram was a brahmin who met Birbal for help. He had a personal problem: His forefathers were great Sanskrit scholars, and that the people used to call them with respect "Pundits". But Sevaram had neither scholarship nor money. Of course, he had no regrets. He was content to live a simple life of an ordinary man. However, he had just one wish-that the people should cal him Panditji, as it was in the case of his forefathers.

Sevaram made a request to Birbal, "Will you kindly do me a favour in making me achieve this one goal in my life?"