" The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt with the heart " said Helen Adam Keller
An American author , a political activist , was incapacitated by being both deaf and blind . She was born on June 27th 1880 and left her mortal remains on June 1st 1968.
" Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass ..... it's about learning to Dance in the Rain" says Vivian Green.
Like wise Maj DP Singh who lost his limbs in the Kargil conflict , overcame fear and started an organisation aptly called The Challengers ( which has 800 members) , and runs with a prosthetic limb. He was indisputable in his opinion that , despite the handicap he would live life normally. The challengers are playing a major role in instilling confidence among those who are physically challenged.
Oscar Pistorious was the original blade runner. These stories make heroic stories .
The life of Helen Keller is a remarkable example of the victory and triumph of human spirit over physical handicap. Decades after her death , she provides a candle of hope for those who struggle just to perform routine tasks that majority take it for granted. When we feel downcast , things not materialising as we had envisaged or hoped , we need to read such inspirational stories. And then we realise as to how "fortunate" we are . The almighty has given us abundance and we need to feel blessed and grateful.
Our life story should include such vignettes where we contribute something to the society. The right hand should not know what the left hand is doing. That is selfless service. Giving back to the community provides us with enormous satisfaction . Giving time and effort , not just money , reinforces our bonding and connections with the society It is a symbiotic relationship. It additionally provides us with proof of the effectiveness of deliberate action , and reminds us of the inspiring power of determination in human endeavour.
Several Indian industrialists and prominent personalities , have embarked on the path of charity.
Aziz Premji has set aside Rs 27514 crores for education, Nandan and Rohini Nilekeni have contributed Rs 2404 crores for Urban Governance, NR Narayan Murthy has earmarked Rs 1322 crore for social development, K Dinesh and family has allotted Rs 1238 crores for education, Shiv Nadar has contributed Rs 535 crores for health care, Mukesh Ambani has set aside Rs 345 crores for education . There are other prominent personalities like Sunny Varky and family, Ronnie Screwala , Rahul Bajaj and Pallon Mistry who have donated Rs 326 crores, Rs 158 crores, Rs 139 crores and Rs 96 crores respectively towards education and social development.
Warren Buffet an industrial magnate , investor is a big time philanthropist. Marc Zuckerberg , Bill Gates and several others have all embarked towards charity .
Philanthrophy hinges on a certain long term goal and objective. It works towards one's fellowmen, human welfare , desire to promote welfare and donation of large sums of money. Charity is sympathetic disposition of aid, or an organisation set up to provide help to the needy ( Missionaries of Charity) and in being kind and tolerant in judging others views and their view point.
Philanthrophy steps in the pesky shoes of charity .
Charity could be say feeding the poor and the needy ; but lacks in the long term goal and objective . It is missionary in nature and perhaps not visionary.
You can feed a man with loaves of fish ; but teaching a man as to how to fish is a solution to the endemic problem.
As the adage goes," Give a man a fish , you feed him for a day, Teach a man how to fish you feed him a lifetime."
Both charity and philanthrophy act from their own spaces . What is paramount is that , the individual disbursing the amount should not look for brownie points and glamour . It should not be a platform to increase the quantum of their businesses and ventures. Some while donating simultaneously look for income tax benefit in the process.This is ego massaging .
Selflessness should be the cornerstone of Art of Giving..
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