HAPPINESS GROWS WHEN SHARED
An anthropologist is a person who studies human behaviour, culture, and social life in a scientific manner. Such a researcher once visited a remote African village to understand the traditions and values of a local tribe.
Wherever he went in the village, a group of cheerful and curious children followed him. They watched him closely, sat beside him when he rested under a large shady tree, and listened to his conversations with great interest.
One afternoon, the anthropologist decided to engage the children in a small activity. He quietly placed a basket filled with candies at a short distance from the tree. Then he returned and called the children to sit near him.
Pointing towards the tree in the distance, he asked,
“Can you see that basket near the trunk?”
“Yes!” the children replied excitedly.
“That basket is full of candies,” he said. “Let us have a race. You will all run from here to that tree. The child who reaches first will get the entire basket of candies.”
The children agreed eagerly.
“Start running only when I say ‘Go’,” he instructed.
“Ready?”
“Yes!”
“Steady?”
“Yes!”
“Go!”
As the anthropologist watched carefully, he was surprised. Instead of running alone, the children joined hands and ran together. They reached the tree at the same time and returned with the basket, laughing joyfully. Sitting together, they shared the candies equally, making sure everyone received some.
Curious, the anthropologist asked,
“Why did you all run together? Only one person was supposed to win.”
A young girl smiled and answered softly,
“This is Ubuntu.”
“Ubuntu?” he repeated.
She explained,
“How can one of us be happy if the others are unhappy?”
The anthropologist understood immediately. For these children, togetherness mattered more than winning. Joy was meaningful only when shared.
Meaning of Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a traditional African philosophy that teaches humaneness, kindness, and shared responsibility. It reminds people that individuals do not exist alone but are part of a community.
The idea of Ubuntu can be expressed as:
“I am because we are.”
It encourages values such as:
● Respect for others
● Caring and sharing
● Trust and cooperation
● Selflessness and empathy
Ubuntu teaches that a society flourishes when its members support one another, and that true success is sweeter when experienced together.
Moral of the Story:
Happiness increases when shared, and humanity grows through compassion and togetherness.
