Mulla Nasruddin (also known as Nasreddin Hodja) is a well known figure in folk tales across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Often seen as a clever trickster or a wise fool, his stories are full of humour, wit, and unexpected wisdom. Though no one knows exactly when or where he lived (most say around the 13th century in what is now Turkey) his tales have been passed down for generations. They usually poke fun at human nature and everyday situations, offering simple but sharp insights through laughter. Here’s a quick story: One day, the king summoned Nasruddin to court and said, “Tell me, you are a mystic, a philosopher, a man of unconventional wisdom. I have become interested in the issue of value , an important philosophical question. I wish to establish the true worth of a person or an object. Take me, for example. If I were to ask you to estimate my value, what would you say?” Nasruddin replied, “I’d say about 200 dinars.” The emperor was flabbergasted. “What? But this belt I’m wearing alone is worth 200 dinars!” “I know,” Nasruddin said. “Actually, I was taking the value of the belt into consideration.”