IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

COLD AND STARK

All my life I have lived in India. While driving on the roads, I have seen immense poverty, squalor, small children and old people begging on the streets. I have seen very small children performing tricks on the busy road crossings trying to eke out a living for themselves and also for their families. All that I can do is feel very sorry for them, pity them, give them some alms and move on.

Later with friends, over a cup of coffee or chit chatting on the net, I get into arm chair discussions about the state of my country. We talk endlessly about feeling sad for these roadside children and about the risk that they face on the roads for a pittance. Then we all turn our anger at the inefficiency of the government, the state, and the authorities that be, for allowing this state of affairs to continue, in our country. We talk, vent our anger, pay for our coffee and go to our respective homes, driving or being driven through those roads, full of beggars at crossroads.

This happens quite often, and I and my friends are not the only people who indulge in this discussion. There are millions of Indians doing this day in and day out.

Have we actually bothered to think about what we can do to change this situation? This dependence upon some other governmental body to bring about change is so rampant, that we the people of India, simply side step the issue and rave and rant and discuss and put the blame somewhere and rest in peace in our own sanctuaries called "home".

I have the chance to visit America, as my son Anurag works here. He lives with his wife Jharna and daughter Aaria. This year within three weeks of my coming here, I have attended two programmes which were fund raisers for charity to be done in India. 

From thousands of miles away, spanning so many time zones, there are people in this country, whose heart beats for their poor fellow Indians. They do not sit over endless cups of coffee, whiling away their time, fixing the blame for inadequacies in the country which they have left temporarily. They come together to raise money to set up homes for children, widows and destitute. They raise funds for Hospitals, and schools. They simply lend "helping hands". They serve my nation better than most of us living in India. These good Samaritans, who do not have to see poverty stricken faces of small children while driving to work every morning, get together to wipe tears from faces which they may not have ever seen.

I attended an event in April, where funds were raised for "Ekal Vidyalaya". This is an organisation that opens one man schools in the remotest villages of India. In one evening money was raised for opening 83 Ekal Vidyalayas. Amazing feat indeed!! 

WITHERING IN WINTER

SMILING IN SPRING

I also saw young people of Indian origin work tirelessly for organising charity events in New Hampshire State of USA.  For a particular event to be held on the 30th of April in Nashua, my daughter in law, Jharna would ask every person of Indian origin that she met in the park, the street or store to attend the event, as it was for a good cause. This was of course besides all the other work that she was doing for organising the event.

 This event was organised by India Association of New Hampshire(IANH) on 30th April. The purpose was to raise funds for setting up of a hospital by "Udavum Karangal". These words literally mean 'helping hand', in Tamil. The evening began by honouring select teachers of the State, who have honed the talents of young people in their native cultural identity in various Art forms. This was followed by a  musical performance by the group "Aaroh" followed by an  auction of a good many things like an I- Pad, jewellery, sarees, 7 nights stay in Orlando(Florida), 2 nights stay at a hotel in Times Square(New York), stay at Radisson Hotel at Nashua, A Spa gift, A beauty salon gift, A gym gift,  and breakfast on Mother's day at the Alpine Lodge. I was indeed very proud when my son was the first bidder as soon as the auction started. He bid for Breakfast on Mother's Day. He bid much more than what it was shown as priced at, because he thought it was going for a good cause. An I- pad, the cost of which was shown as $500, went for over $1000, as again, in the words of the donor Sapna, it was for a good cause. I was totally floored by these acts of generosity. Our emcee at the auction, Ranjini Saigal, was an amazing lady. She was totally in control of the hall and its audience. She spoke beautifully. People were mesmerized with her lovely words of encouragement, provocation and appeals to donate. This was followed by absolute magical performance by DJ Yogz, who literally got every person on their feet with beautiful Indian Bollywood numbers. No one could resist getting on the floor to sway with the beat. It was an evening very well spent. It was a huge learning experience for me.

Young couples with small children and babies, were doing their bit for charity. They all enjoyed an evening which was spent for a good cause, and surely went home happy, because they had contributed to help wipe a tear from the face of some unknown person back home. Some had donated precious time, some donated money, and some bid in the auction much more than the cost of the item, as it was all for a good cause. 

I wish that after going back to India, I will be able to inspire my friends to do their bit for helping those who need our help. I would like to see us stop grumbling and take in our own hands a few responsibilities which we expect others to perform for us. I worked in the biggest Bank of my country for thirty years. I thought that I had done my bit for the Nation, when I gave loans to those who needed the money. I now realise that I only worked within the norms and time set out by my Bank!

After having spent a good portion of our lives waiting for others to go wipe someone's tears, how about us taking some task in our hands to do something constructive and meaningful? It is said "boond boond se sagar bharta hai!"

COLOURFUL AND VIBRANT