Ubuntu is an African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It emphasizes a bond among all humanity. It encompasses the social, political and cultural life of the individual. It is Jesus’ gospel of love “Love one another as I have loved you.’’
It is said that Nelson Mandela was influenced by the ubuntu philosophy. He believed that we are all united by the common thread of humanity. He won over people with gestures such as the introduction of his jailers as guests at his inauguration ceremony. He was indeed a great statesman and humanist.
There are cases galore where ubuntu is practiced, though those practicing it were unaware of this word. The Acts of the Apostles describes how early Christians stayed in a commune and shared everything in common. The Christians in Rome sent a large sum of money to their brethren in Corinth.
In India, the nuclear family is gradually replacing the large joint families. As with every social organization, the joint family had its drawbacks but at the same time, it provided a support system for the very young, the elderly and the sick. A child in a nuclear family, for instance, was left in the hands of a paid maid to take care of him while the parents went off to work whereas in a joint family, the child would have had doting grandparents to teach him and give him abundant love.
I once read this story where a bunch of kids were told that they should run a race and the one who came first would win all the sweets. To the surprise of the organizers, the kids joined hands and happily ran to the finish point in order to equally share the sweets.
Atmavishwas in Verna, Goa is a workshop for mentally challenged young adults. There are strong bonds within the group. There was one incident when the entire group was to
sing on the stage. Who doesn’t want to be in the limelight? To the chagrin of the teachers of Atmavishwas, the youngsters started backing out because one girl got cold feet and absented herself from the venue. A delegation with some of her friends was sent to her house to persuade her to join the group on stage. It was only after she arrived that the group happily trooped onto the stage.
A heartwarming event took place at the recent Tokyo Olympics. Both Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi despite three attempts, could not clear the 2.39 meter bar. In the true spirit of sportsmanship, instead of having a ‘jump off’, Mutaz suggested that he and Gianmarco could share the gold medal. The rest is history.
The camaraderie and fellowship shared among our valiant jawans guarding our borders braving the icy winds and the biting cold is truly inspirational. Caste, creed, social status – all these are forgotten. United we stand, divided we fall.
We could follow the ubuntu principle
in numerous ways. Rayna and Sunita were classmates. While Rayna excelled in English, she was weak in Maths. With Sunita it was just the reverse. Both the girls decided to study together. Rayna coached Sunita in English while Sunita helped Rayna to improve her Maths.
Sheila was part of a very tight group of girls from her school. Sheila’s parents were going through a messy divorce. While her father paid for Sheila’s school fees, he refused to provide them with food and would even raise his hand on them. Poor Sheila would land up at a friend’s house in the evenings and say that she just wanted to taste the food whereas she was actually starving. Her friends had warned their parents to carry on the charade and pretend to believe Sheila. When Sheila claimed that her black eye was because she bumped into the fridge, they just told her to be more careful. Sheila’s mother’s family were a great support during the divorce proceedings. The story has a happy ending. After Sheila’s parents divorced, her mother started working with the encouragement of her family. Today Sheila is a happy person.
The family is the building block of society and hence, the home is the ideal place for the ubuntu principle. The younger generation could help their parents in chores and teach them how to operate various apps. The family could pray, play games such as scrabble and watch TV programs together. The family meal on the dining table together is a good place
to foster closer bonds between grandparents, parents and children.
Society could be likened to the human body. Each organ has a role to play. If there is
a malfunction in one part of the body, say one has a massive headache, the entire body suffers. So too, it’s not altruism but to our own self interest to co-operate with one another. This humanistic approach may appear idealistic in a world increasingly dominated by cut throat competition and individualism. But it is a way of life needed during these times.
I conclude with the words of a hymn which are so relevant today: “The world stands in need of liberation, my Lord, it still has to learn to love.’’
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