What does it take to give? A
large heart, some cash, a needy person, an urge to do something for someone,
little bit of time, and a noble thought…
The Daan Utsav messages, Joy of Giving Week at workplaces,
collection drives at residential societies, and various campaigns mobilising
support for poor children, the elderly, women or people in need of relief and
rehabilitation – the list goes on… so much so, that many-a-times, we wonder who
is more in need of our help and how should we go about choosing and addressing
a cause.
On a recent visit to a local
orphanage, a glance at the donation register revealed numerous entries, of people
who donated some cash, sponsored a meal, or offered snacks like a slice cake or
biscuits. There were few persons who shared their old clothes or bedsheets,
useful household items and items of health and hygiene.
There is no doubt that everyone is
making a sincere effort to make the world a better place to live. However, is this
enough or is there something lacking in our efforts, in what we choose to share
with or offer to the needy, or does the basic thought process need to be
revisited and reenergised.
Spread your wings far and beyond – the buck will never stop
Well, charity begins at home, yet
it does not and need not stop there. However, there is a fine line between
giving what you want, and giving what they need. Only when we start
recognising, understanding and bridging this gap, will we make inroads towards
a better and brighter future and holistic improvement in lives of people
around.
Few questions that could lead you
to the right channel:
- Do I want to give something just to experience the joy and fulfillment of a donation?
- Do I want to offer something to someone, just because I have too many clothes, vessels or items of furniture, and I want to empty some space for new stuff?
- Do I want to join my friends and family in supporting a cause, to avoid feeling excluded?
- Do I want to be part of such an exercise because I believe I can make a difference to the world out there, and to the people living around me?
- Do I want to share my assets or belongings with those who matter to me, so that they feel loved and cared for, and will reciprocate in some manner later on?
Whatever be the answer to these
questions, the thought of giving, caring and sharing needs no justification.
Plugging gaps – finding the lacuna
As a giver, you can choose the
cause you wish to support, decide the recipient of your goodwill, and the size
and scale of your benevolence.
Given our cultural backgrounds
and upbringing, it is natural to find ways to share our good fortune, personal
belongings and items of value with our support systems, the people who make
life easier for us day in and day out – be it housemaids, gardeners, drivers,
security guards, and housekeeping staff looking after our residential and
office premises.
If we step out of our comfort
zone, there are orphanages and homes for small children, women and the elderly,
rehabilitation centres for victims of terminal diseases, or areas under
flyovers inhabited by the homeless, who along with their children, try and make
a living by selling goods at traffic signals.
Still further on, we have
initiatives such as tree plantations, building homes in rural areas, caring for
animals, conserving natural resources, promoting the need for sanitation and
hygiene, waste management, protecting and restoring heritage sites, many of
which we also associate with, under our employers’ or companies’ agenda for
Corporate Social Responsibility.
Be human, yet humble
Our ancestors always stressed on
‘not letting the left hand know what the right hand did’. Well, in today’s
world, where social media screams at the drop of a hat, and WhatsApp just does
not let you breathe without clicking the forward button, agree this is a tough
ask. Yet, a conscious effort to remain focused on the task, without giving in
to momentary highs, can help you meet this goal.
Sharing my own experience here, I celebrated my son’s fourth birthday
last year, by throwing a small party for all his little friends at our
community hall. Following that, on his star birthday (as per the Hindu
calendar), I took him to a local orphanage which had 200 girls, and distributed
food packets from Monginis to all of them. I had a close friend and her son
with me, and the three of us helped my son hand over the packets to the girls
with his own hands. He stood there for over an our and with a smile on his
face, carried on with the task. Later, when a close relative asked me for some
pics, I replied that I did not click any, not only because I did not want to
share visual images of this event, but more so because I never wanted any of
the recipients to feel overwhelmed.
The point is, let us not mix
charity with our personal or professional image. As long as we maintain this
balance, we will be contributing towards building an equal world, where
equality lies not just in incomes or livelihoods or standards of living, but also
lies in how each individual perceives herself, be it her attributes, education,
social status or the overall state of existence.
Not just in kind, but also in body and mind
Philanthropy always culminates
into giving something, be it in the form of cash or items of need, building
facilities and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, etc, or protecting
the universe, yet it can also take the form of words, thoughts, ideas and
services.
Speak to your housemaid or driver
for ten minutes a day, understand their problems, and encourage them to build a
better world for their children. Teach them how to save money to purchase a
house, or for funding their children’s education, by sharing information on
insurance policies, child endowment plans or systematic investment schemes for
mutual funds. Tell them ways to ensure their children are well-educated and
properly nourished, and are getting the right environment to spread their
wings. This too can go a long way in improving the quality of life for the coming
generation.
If you are looking for ways to
spend a weekend in a more purposeful manner, visit a home for the needy or a
rehabilitation centre, and spend some time reading good books to them, or just
lend them your ear. Even better, volunteer with a local NGO or community to
help them in initiatives such as blood or organ donation. You will return home
with a smile and more purpose and life to your years.
Comment less, contribute more
Commenting on each and every act
or post has become a way of life for many around us; however, it is important
to remember, ‘to each, his own’. Instead of commenting on what someone did or
did not do, or could have done better, let us look within, and find ways and
means to contribute more to the people of our society and nation.
After all, a simple act of
kindness creates endless ripples.
Thank U for writing this beautiful n thoughtful piece)) Ur kind kiddo too learnt joy of giving n sharing...!!
ReplyDeleteYes he did... Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts
DeleteVery well written Preeti
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Raj
DeleteTotally agree! Even if you're merely giving away your excesses, it's good to consider if it really matters to the recepient in meeting their needs. Those who go beyond this, even with small contributions are truly blessed and noble souls.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely... thanks for sharing your thoughts...
DeleteThank you for this very insightful article. There are many ways in which we can help people around us and you have analysed it very well. Just like Portia's 'quality of mercy 'in the' Merchant of Venice, charity done with a good intention blesses both the giver and the receiver.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your valuable thoughts... Indeed charity done with a noble intent benefits everyone
DeleteThanks for writing such a beautiful and meaningful article.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and sharing your thoughts Anusha...
DeleteIt is really nice and i firmly believe that our right hand should not know what left hand is giving, donation is not only money it could be good advice also to lead the needy a better life,here compassion and your enjoyment is more important than taking selfies and showing it to the world
ReplyDeletePreeti,It is really nice and i firmly believe that our right hand should not know what left hand is giving, donation is not only money it could be good advice also to lead the needy a better life,here compassion and your enjoyment is more important than taking selfies and showing it to the world
ReplyDeleteRegards
S.Kannan
Absolutely... Thanks so much for sharing your views Kannan..
Delete