# Punchkin — Indian Fairy Tales character guide

> Punchkin in Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Punchkin Fakir, the Fakir, Fakir, The Fakir

**First appearance:** 0006-punchkin

## Snapshot

A wicked fakir whose power seems absolute and whose hidden vulnerability is the whole point of the tale that bears his name.

## Who they are

Punchkin is the antagonist of the collection's darkest story, a fakir whose magic makes him untouchable and whose cruelty drives the plot. He is the kind of villain these tales specialize in: outwardly invincible, secretly dependent on something small and concealed, so that the entire middle of the story becomes a search for the one thing that can undo him. He matters because he raises the stakes of the collection, showing that Indian fairy tales can be as menacing as they are charming.

## Relationships

### [Raja Sarkap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/raja_sarkap)

_professional_

Punchkin serves as a minister or advisor to Raja Sarkap, carrying out his orders.

### [Prince Majnun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/prince_majnun)

_rivalry_

Prince Majnun and Punchkin are direct adversaries, with Punchkin working to thwart Majnun's goals.

### [Balna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/balna)

_rivalry_

Balna and Punchkin are enemies, with Balna often opposing Punchkin's evil deeds.

### [Raja Sarkap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/raja_sarkap)

_professional_

Punchkin serves as a minister or advisor to Raja Sarkap, carrying out his orders.

### [Prince Majnun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/prince_majnun)

_rivalry_

Prince Majnun and Punchkin are direct adversaries, with Punchkin working to thwart Majnun's goals.

### [Prince Majnun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/prince_majnun)

_rivalry_

Prince Majnun and Punchkin are direct adversaries, with Punchkin working to thwart Majnun's goals.

### [Raja Sarkap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/raja_sarkap)

_professional_

Punchkin serves as a minister or advisor to Raja Sarkap, carrying out his orders.

### [Balna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/balna)

_rivalry_

Balna and Punchkin are enemies, with Balna often opposing Punchkin's evil deeds.

### [Balna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/balna)

_rivalry_

Balna and Punchkin are enemies, with Balna often opposing Punchkin's evil deeds.

## In the story

### [Punchkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/punchkin)

The powerful enchanter who imprisons Balna and turns people to stone.

### [The Prince and the Fakir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/the-prince-and-the-fakir)

The fakir who grants the king sons but is ultimately thrown into a cauldron by the prince.

### [Notes and References](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/notes-and-references)

Referenced in the discussion of the 'external soul' incident, with parallels in Norse tales and Miss Frere's Old Deccan Days.

### [IV: Punchkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv-punchkin)

The ogre whose external soul is hidden in a series of nested objects.

### [The Son of Seven Queens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xvi-the-son-of-seven-queens)

Referenced as a parallel tale involving a son of seven mothers.

### [XXIII: The Prince and the Fakir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xxiii-the-prince-and-the-fakir)

Referenced in the context of fakirs; the chapter mentions 'unholy fakirs' as rare.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters/punchkin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/characters