Stories of Jivavarta:Ti Li’s Help (Parable) by Shon Mehta

Ti Li was proud of his helpful nature. He helped people, whenever he felt they needed any. It didn't matter for Ti Li, if they asked for the help or not. As Ti Li was a wealthy man, he could afford doing so.

One day, while travelling through the village, Ti Li saw a curious sight. A man was swimming across a water stream, to get to the small island with fruit trees. The man reached the island and collected the fruits from one of the trees in a bag. Then, he swam back with the bag. Ti Li watched in amazement at the tremendous effort man was going through. Ti Li felt pity for the man, and decided to surprise him.

Overnight, Ti Li hired construction workers, and built a small bridge between the island and the village.

Next day Ti Li went to the bridge. The same man was sitting near the bridge, with despair on his face. Ti Li was very surprised.

"Why you look sad. Look at the bridge. It has saved your effort. Now every time, you don't need to swim to get to the island." Said Ti Li.

“Did you build that bridge?” Asked the man.

“Yes, of course! I wanted to help you. You can now just walk across the bridge to the island to collect the fruits.” Said Ti Li.

"So can the other villagers. Now, why will they pay me for the fruits? You ruined my business.”

The man laughed bitterly.

“Next time, if you really want to help someone, make sure they benefit from your help -- not get harmed!”

Reflection: Can an act still be considered altruistic if it unintentionally causes harm?

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Lexicon of Jivavarta

Tili's Help: The act of helping someone according to one's own perception of what they need, without considering whether the help is wanted, useful, or harmful to their interests.

Examples:

1. European Imperialism — “The White Man’s Burden”European powers claimed that colonized peoples needed to be “civilized” through European religion, culture, education, and government. These interventions wereimposed without consent and often caused cultural destruction, exploitation, and suffering.
2. Australia’s Stolen Generations
   Australian authorities removed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, claiming they were giving them a better life. The policy instead caused family separation, cultural loss, and lasting harm.
3. The Lobotomy Craze
   Doctors performed lobotomies on psychiatric patients believing the procedure would relieve severe mental illness. Many patients suffered permanent changes in personality, cognition, and ability to function, despite the intervention being presented as treatment.

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Key Philosophical Concepts Represented

1. Consequentialism
   Good intentions are insufficient; the moral value of an action depends on its outcomes.

2. Ethics of Intent vs. Impact
   Helping someone requires considering how your action affects them, not just your intent to do good.

3. Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)
   Moral discernment involves foresight and understanding context to ensure actions truly benefit others.

4. Unintended Consequences
   Even well-meaning actions can create harm if broader effects are overlooked.

5. Moral Responsibility in Aid
   True ethical behavior accounts for both intention and the social/economic consequences for those helped.

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Jivavarta is a fictional land created by Shon Mehta, where epic tales of power, survival, and social upheaval unfold, as seen in her novels The Timingila and Lair of the Monster, along with many other stories and parables set in this richly imagined world.

Shon Mehta is an author and philosopher known for creating the Jivavarta Universe, a fictional setting used to explore sociopolitical themes, human resilience, and moral philosophy. Her work has transitioned from contemporary fiction to foundational academic material used in several countries. Rough Hewn is her series of reflective essays, where she explores the personal memories and philosophies behind her writing.