By Mercy Zou Taithul
In remembrance of the death of India’s highest recognized civilian, Ratan Naval Tata, who passed away on October 9, 2024, I would like to share one of his beautiful stories called “Four Stages of Happiness.”
A little bit about Ratanji (Ratan’s nickname): He was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, serving as the chairman of Tata Group and Tata Son. He received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honor in India. He also received the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor in 2000.
Ratanji Tata said:
I have gone through four stages of happiness in life, and I finally understood the meaning of true happiness. The first stage was to accumulate wealth and resources. But at this stage, I didn’t get the happiness I wanted. Then came the second stage of collecting valuables and items. But I realized that the effect of these things is also temporary and the luster of precious things does not last long.
Then came the third phase of getting a big project. That was when I had 95% of the diesel supply in India and Africa. I was also the owner of the largest steel factory in India and Asia. But even here I did not get the happiness that I had imagined.
The fourth step was when a friend of mine asked me to buy a wheelchair for some disabled children — about 200 children. At the behest of a friend, I immediately bought a wheelchair. But the friend insisted that I go with him and hand over the wheelchairs to the children. I got ready and went with him. There I gave these children this wheelchair with my own hands. I saw a strange glow of happiness on the faces of these children. I saw them all sitting in wheelchairs, moving and having fun. It was as if they had reached a picnic spot, where they were sharing a winning gift. I felt real happiness inside me.
When I decided to leave, one of the kids grabbed my leg. I tried to slowly release my legs, but the child looked at my face and held my legs tight. I leaned over and asked the child, “Do you need anything else?” The answer this kid gave me not only shocked me but also completely changed my outlook towards like. This child said, “I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I can recognize you and thank you again.”
IN LIFE WE TEND TO focus on goals that bring temporary happiness, such as fame, attention, power, money, and the like. Professor Mark Tranvik, formerly of Augsburg University and Luther Seminary, calls these false satisfactions “small gods” that we create within ourselves.
Just as Ratanji mentioned in the fourth phase, however, I find happiness when I share what I have – my gifts, love, caring – with my neighbors. It just feels right.
This comes down to a question: Who is your neighbor? Everyone has their own way of defining who their “neighbors” are. But to me, everyone is our neighbor because we are all the children of God; we are encouraged to love one another as Jesus loves us.
“Everyone has their own way of defining who their “neighbors” are.”
In Matthew’s Gospel, it says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depends all the Law and the Prophets.”
I often ask myself “In what ways do I want to be remembered after my death?” I normally answer, “I would love to be remembered for my kindness, love, and positivity that I share with others.”
So, I invite you to reflect on these two questions: What does happiness mean to you? How do you want to be remembered?
I encourage you to give yourself some time to think about these questions as it might help you to view happiness and life differently.