The Hare and the Tortoise : Theba-theng-gu Lamjel Taanaba
Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma

Translation by Bidyarani Thingujam *

An illustration of Folk tale 'Theba-theng-gu Lamjel Taanaba' by Sibananda Thokchom

Once upon a time, on a mountainside by the river, there lived a hare and a tortoise who were friends.

The hare was always energetic while the tortoise liked to sit idly.

One day they had an argument..... "I'm the fastest animal in the whole wide world," said the hare.

"I'm also handsome. You know nothing, stupid tortoise", he boasted.

"Oh, do be quiet," sighed the tortoise.

"You're so full of yourself! If you're not careful you'll come to a sticky end".

"Oh, I don't care", laughed the hare.

"I'll prove to you that I'm the fastest animal in the whole wide world".

The tortoise replied angrily, "It's not me that is boasting, you're! If you're so full of yourself, I'll race you then!"

Hearing this, the hare laughed his head off. "Just you wait and see," said the tortoise.

Next day, all the animals living in and around the area gather in a nearby field to witness the race.

The monkey and the wild cow organize the race.

"On your marks....Get set....Go!" called the monkey............and the race was off.

Slowly, slowly the tortoise set off and quickly, quickly the hare ran off and soon he was out of sight.

In fact, he was so far ahead that, when he looked back, the tortoise was nowhere to be seen.

"Gosh", the hare thought. "I've more or less won already! I think I'll just have a little nap under this tree, it's such a hot day".

The hare was soon fast asleep.

Meanwhile, the tortoise ambled along enjoying the sun on his shell.

On and on the tortoise plodded on until he came to the finishing line.

All the animals clustered around the tortoise cheering and shouting: "Well done! Well done! You're the winner!"

The hare woke up with a start and saw that the sun has already set.

"Oh my! Oh my! What's going on? I'd better finish the race", he thought quickly.

The hare race off towards the finishing line but when he got there, he saw the tortoise with a winner's medal around his neck.

From that day, the hare learnt a lesson that slow and steady wins the race.


** From Manipur folk tale Book called "Fungawari Singbul" by B. Jayantakumar Sharma