CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

THE APPLE STORE IN NEW YORK (THE BIG APPLE)

Despair, sorrow and all kinds of derogatory thoughts keep flooding the minds of most Indians, most of the time. We look at poverty, children begging, old people left to fend for themselves and the deteriorating standards of teaching in India and sitting in our air conditioned room with a laptop in hand we express our sorrow, helplessness and disgust.

Are we not Indians, who are part of that culture? Have we not grown up seeing all those disgusting sights? Have we actually done anything to change the situation? Can we  simply sit back and express our disgust?

We look at rampant corruption. We see money being collected in the name of charity and used for purposes which can best be described as charity for self! I think some people exploit the saying, "Charity begins at home".

A lot of Trusts and Organisations take money from Charity as well as money from the Government to line their own pockets. A lot of money and grant is given by the government to help ashrams run for orphans, children or helpless and destitute. Sadly a lot of that money is used elsewhere and therefore the people for whom the money is received, at the end of the day remain as they were. Destitute, hungry, and in despair.

The basic malady that is very rampant is exploitation and corruption. Every person wants to siphon off something for themselves before taking care of the next person. As they say in the airplane,  "In case of an emergency first put on your oxygen mask and then help the next person" However we have made it a rule to be followed always! There are worldwide organisations that collect a lot of funds. A lot of these funds go for religious preaching. 
We are very religious people. We have umpteen number of Gods and any number of festivals. We pray, do penance, visit temples and bribe our Gods in routine!  The fear of God is not enough to stop misuse of authority. There is a saying that we get punished for our wrong deeds and rewarded for our good deeds, in this very life. Yet, that does not stop us from exploiting the weak. We have found simple solutions to make sure that our misdeeds do not get the deserved punishment.  We have a ready made formula for overcoming our sins and exploitation. One dip in the River Ganga  is enough to wash away all our sins. Once our sins are washed away, there is no question of punishment. One can always donate to the temples and make sure that God is happy. How many times have we offered Sawa rupay ka prasad in return for grant of a boon from God? We promise to feed a number of people. We promise to shave off our hair. We promise to go barefoot or backwards or rolling on the ground to a Temple. This is all to wash away our sin and to do penance for all the wrong deeds that we have performed.

How about thinking that perhaps a better way would have been to do service for those that we have exploited, cheated or pilfered from. Would that not serve a better purpose? Why try to please a statue of stone in a beautiful palatial building, called a temple? How about serving those who are human, who need us?

If only all the money that is collected by various organisations abroad reach the correct people, our country would really flourish as it is meant to. If only all the money that the Government of India gives for Homes is used meticulously, honestly and for the purpose that it is given, my country would be second to none. Most of the people I know or talk with, do want to do their bit for helping the poor, down trodden or helpless. However they lack trust in the organisations that come to them for charity. 

If all the people who are sad, and despair at the sad situation, take up cudgels on behalf of those who are not able to fight for their rights, perhaps my country would be a happier place to live in. Long ago in the Sarv Siksha Abhiyaan of Government of India, there was a slogan, which is very dear to my heart. It says, "Each one teach one". How many of us have done that?

If we use our resources to at least educate one child of our domestic help, we would have done some bit for society.  Believe me, this is really an easy way to repay society,one does not have to work too hard to achieve this. If we try to improve the life of at least one person, by teaching them good values in life, we could rest in peace and feel happy about our contribution to society. We are in that position, where we can help. Either with time or money.

We could try to bring about change in a lot of our orthodox ways of life. Instead of giving a Brahmin bhoj on the death of a family member, if we give food for a meal in an orphanage, we will be able to spread some happiness. At some rituals I have seen Brahmins wait to be fed. They look very well fed as it is. They first open their dakshina to see if they have got a good gift. They see the clothes that have been given and then eat the good food that is served to them. I really wonder when we will stop believing that this food will reach the dear departed person.

Service to humanity must come before service to God.  God, and good, as words are very close to each other. Similarly Khud and Khuda are also very close. If we trust our own capabilities then everything in this world is achievable. One does not have to go anywhere for happiness, salvation and peace. It is all within our own self. We are responsible for everything that happens in our life. Do good and good will come back to you. Similarly, do bad and it will find its way back to you.

NATURAL BEAUTY IN SWITZERLAND.