The Golden Cucumber - Sri Lanka

Once upon a time, there was a farmer. He was cultivating many kinds of vegetables: sweet potatoe, manioc, pumpkin, sweet melon, maize, golden cucumber, millet and egg plant.One day the farmer was going around his field when he noticed a huge golden cucumber, a ran kekire. As the farmer watched the cucumber grow each day, he felt very happy. 'Isn't it a wonderful big fruit? I should not be the only one to enjoy it. It must be gifted to someone, who deserves it?', he shared with his wife.

In his village, the chieftain was a kind man. He looked after the poor people. The farmer plucked his cucumber and offered it to the chief. 'Please accept my gift, you deserve it for you're always looking after people's welfare'. The chief felt pleased and wondered how he could repay the farmer.

The chief decided to give away his cow. The farmer could not believe his luck, how fortunate was he, to receive a cow in return for a cucumber! As the news spread quickly around the village, another farmer thought: I too must offer a gift to our chief. He gave a cow for a cucumber. If I give him my bull, he might give me some land in return, or a paddy field.

He took his bull and offered it to the chief, who was a wise man. The chief remembered the cucumber. Surely this man expects me to give him an even bigger gift now, he wondered. The farmer was impatient to receive his present. The chief went inside th house and brought a large gift, wrapped in brown paper. The farmer's joy knew no bounds...

He could not even wait to get back home, he quickly opened the package, and...it was the golden cucumber.

Image: Susil Sri Creations

Questions

• Why did the poor farmer decide to give away the cucumber?
• Why do you think the chief offered hum a big gift (cow)?
• Why did the second farmer offer his bull?
• What may happen if you give only because you expect something in return?

Management Link

The first farmer in the story shows values of love and altruism, while the second farmer reveals greed and selfishness. The wise chief was able to distinguish between the two, and treated the givers accordingly.
With the first farmer he took a risk by offering an expensive gift in return for an inexpensive one. That was philanthropic...or was it? The chief is a smart person, therefore, it is more likely that he saw it as an investment in his village's relations. As a manger you sometimes have to take risks, investing in the people of your organization without knowing what to expect in return. In your human resource development strategies, be sure they are calculated risks, and try to distinguish between people who are true, and those who have means.

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