The Blind Men and the Elephant Story

Stories hold a special place in the hearts and minds of children around the world. From magical fairy tales to adventurous quests and heartwarming tales of friendship, stories captivate young imaginations and impart invaluable lessons. We will explore one such story for kids: ‘ The Blind Men and the Elephant’. The story of the six blind men and the elephant is a funny tale that teaches us about perspective, empathy, understanding different points of view and the importance of not imposing one’s opinions on others. It has been mentioned in religious texts and picture books and is a popular bedtime read as well. In this post, we’ll cover the story and tell you how it ends.

Origin and History of Elephant and the Blind Men Story

The fable of the blind man and the elephant was originally found in ancient scriptures, such as Buddhist and Jain texts. There are several Indian variations of the fable, and an alternate version of the tale involves the six blind men coming across an elephant statue.

John Godfrey Sax, an American poet of the 19th century, played a pivotal role in popularising the fable. He adapted the story and made his own version for kids in Europe. Many children’s books and Indian publishers have since interpreted the tale differently, making it unique every time one reads it.

The Blind Men and the Elephant Story for Children

The Blind Men and the Elephant story is about six blind men who do not know what an elephant looks like. Since they’ve been blind from birth, they never had a chance to witness the animal. One day, while they were standing by the roadside and begging travellers to donate alms, an elephant herder passed by. A wild giant elephant stopped and decided to rest for some time.

Here is how the story goes:

The six blind men once lived in a village. They had no idea what an elephant looked like and didn’t know about its size. One day, an elephant stopped by as they were begging on the roadside.

Hearing the sounds of its footsteps, the blind men realised that the creature was close to them. Having never seen an elephant before, as they were blind, they decided to feel it and guess what it looked like. The first blind man approached the animal and touched its back.

He said: “Look, the elephant is huge. It feels like a wall! This beast is a wall!”

The second blind man touched the elephant’s tusk and said: “Brother, you are wrong. No way is it a wall. I’m pretty sure it’s sharp like a spear! I can feel it! It’s round and sharp!”

The third blind man was amused and decided to try the animal himself. He touched its trunk and said, “You two are definitely wrong! It’s not round, sharp, or tall like a wall! It’s like a slithering snake!”

The fourth blind man reached out and reached towards the elephant’s legs. After using his hands, he said, “All three of you are wrong! It’s neither a spear, wall, or snake! The elephant is as tall as a tree!”

The fifth blind man decided to try his luck and felt bewildered after hearing his friends’ responses. He was very tall and happened to touch the elephant’s ear. “I think the elephant looks like a fan. The shape is unique.”

The sixth blind man found it crazy and didn’t say a word. He approached the elephant’s tail and touched it. He exclaimed: “You’ve all lost your senses as blind men. It’s neither a wall, spear, snake, tree, or fan! This animal is completely different! It’s a rope!”

The six of them each held a different opinion based on their experience. They continued to fight and argue throughout the rest of the day. The elephant soon got bored and walked away.

What Is the Moral of ‘Six Blind Men and the Elephant’ Story?

The story’s moral is that sometimes we’re blinded by our beliefs and don’t see the reality. The six blind men didn’t realise this and were clouded by their judgements of the animal.

FAQs

1. How can kids apply the lessons from “The Blind Men and the Elephant” in their own lives?

Kids can apply the story’s lessons by actively practising empathy and open-mindedness. By encouraging children to listen to others’ viewpoints without judgement, we help them grasp the significance of diverse perspectives. This understanding can lead to a profound appreciation that different people may see the same situation differently, thereby enhancing their ability to collaborate and resolve conflicts peacefully.

2. Why is it important to introduce stories like these to children?

Introducing stories like “The Blind Men and the Elephant” to children is important because it empowers them with valuable life lessons in a memorable and engaging way. Such stories promote critical thinking by challenging children to consider different perspectives and understand that truth can vary depending on one’s point of view.

If it’s your first time reading bedtime tales, the 6 blind men and the elephant story is a classic read to get your child interested in stories. It introduces your child to the wonders of the elephant and teaches them basic life lessons about the world. Hopefully, your kids will appreciate the story and look back at its lessons when they grow up. For now, we can all agree it’s a timeless tale that most kids fondly reminisce about as adults.

Also Read:

The Snow Queen Story for Children
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The Boy Who Cried Wolf Story with Moral
The Story of Elves and the Shoemaker for Children