aRt oF gIvInG...

aRt oF gIvInG...

We have definitely seen people fighting over a Rupee to an Auto rickshaw wala!!! Even We do the same, and also bargain like anything to a vegetable vendor and also sit on long day hunger strike when government raises the petrol price. That’s quite obvious; in fact We should definitely Do the same as money is Earned by Our Hard Work. But do we think Twice before we donate a penny to Someone, how the money will actually be Used? There is definitely a Motive while we donate, It’s obviously the need of the opposite Person, a social cause and the donation is generally made to a Weaker section or Weaker group of audience.

Few Days while travelling back, in a Local compartment, I saw a Lady beggar handicapped having no eye sight, she had a wooden stick in her hand, while other hand making sound with few coins and singing some holy song to win few more coins. Within minutes she traversed the complete compartment and might have collected somewhere near 15 to 30 INR.  I Felt Pity, not for the beggar lady, but for the useless people who donated without Identifying the Need.  Trust me NO one there actually bothered about the presentation of that lady beggar. Her physical appearance nowhere indicated a NEED of money…  Colorful bangles, new wooden stick, decent ear rings, average floaters, and a much decent outfit... She was absolutely Not in a Need of Money, and people just kept on Giving, as some stupid started the chain, others were just driven by emotion or kindness... I couldn’t decide who was correct? Whether the people who gave without bothering the Actual Need or the Lady who just seemed Addict of Begging. I am focusing for Need based donation and an effective donation. Why to GIVE when RECEIVING GROUP has ALREADY in EXCESS?

In a conversation last month with one of my friend, on account of some good news in his family, he gave away 10 rupee to a beggar near by a temple... I asked him, did he make sure the money was utilized for right cause?? He was clueless. Problem with people these days is they have misunderstood the concept of Giving. I am not talking philosophical or about philanthropy. It’s a simple equation; if I am hungry, water cannot suffice my hunger. What I wish to say is when people are required to GIVE, they don’t GIVE and loose the opportunity. However when they themselves want to give, they give irrespective of the Need and even without a RATIONAL MOTIVE. Point is simple for what reason did you give your your time or your money should always be accounted and assurance i.e. feedback needs to be linked back to verify if the donation has benefited the recipient.

In this case of Lady Beggar, the receiver’s NEED was not high; the GIVING NEED was high. People who gave in money were unclear as in why Donation has been made?

Irrespective of Money, Blood Donation is most of common Donation camps across all metros, but still the rarest of blood is still Not available So Easily. Those people whose blood groups are found rare in market are either Unaware or are Not Interested in Donation. 

The most important is the Timing of a Donation / Giving. It should be absolutely timely dependent, as in when the NEED is there, only then Donation should be made.  It’s something like, In the train a seat donated to an old man or a needed person, else in Empty rake everyone prefer to hang on door rather than sitting on window.  A friend or Cousin asking for some huge ransom on account of some urgent shortage, and you don’t give due to any reason, whereas spend thousands on stupid luxury items.  I have also noticed a case where confectionary item was donated to set of poor people, and after the donor left the place, the confectionery item was re sold at a cheaper rate and money earned were used for some wrong purpose. Impact of donation should always be looped back to donor, to validate and verify if the expected change has been done or not...

This goes with a Kabir doha which says- Kabhi Pyase Ko Paani Pilaya Nahin, Baad Amrit Pilane Se Kya Faayda, Kabhi Girte Hue Ko Uthaya Nahi, Baad Aansoo Bahane Se Kya Faayada,

Dahi Handi OR A Game Competition worth 50L??

Dahi Handi OR A Game Competition worth 50L??

Almost Every Hindu knows Its Janmashtmi today, Lord shree Krishna's B’day and is often celebrated as Dahi Handi across our Nation. Dahi handi is generally a mischievous side of the Lord Krishna's childhood act. Simultaneously there is Ramzan and Shravan, where long fasts are kept by devotees and strict principles are followed as per their religion during these religious days. Similarly Sindhis celebrate the fest of 40 days called Chaliyo. These days, Ganesh Idols have become visible at vendors and shops keepers, where painting is still to be done on the colorless Ganesh idols, Ganesh chaturthi will then be followed by Diwali and ID after September. So it’s actually a season of Festivals that have begun across the Nation.

Dahi handi festival has lost its color over the years. I don’t know Why, but since last few years I couldn’t sense the feeling of celebration in all these festivals. May be Because I can only notice the Improper side of the celebration or Its just my psychological difference in celebrating,, Today Dahi Handi has moved far away from just demonstrating the Lord Krishna's play act, it has become an competition, where Number matters.  These days 'Govinda Ala Re' only mean it has brought Dahi Handi festival and hence competition and money will flow and huge rack of people will be put on break a handi kept at certain height.  Dahi Handi doesn’t mean that the Handi (Pot) should be kept at 50 ft. height, 10ft height suffices demonstration of the act played.  Instead of being just a B’day celebration which should be done on a night before, so called Dahi Handi is celebrated. It’s ridiculous; this doesn’t goes with the traditional way of this day’s celebration. Why celebrities are Invited on such Events?? Tent put on has no religious songs, no Shree Krishna’s Idol (Reason for celebration itself missing and not visible), no Aartis. Just a showoff!!!

People, who actually understand the importance of this day, celebrate on a night before Janmashtmi where a Cuddle is decorated and followed by religious songs and puja's. Celebration of Dahi Handis has just become a repetitive and competitive event; Figures go above 50k and at few places beyond 5Lacs. Who sponsors such Event? A Local political Leader or the Powerful person in respective Locality.  Please note Safety for the Teams participating in the Dahi handi fest is not of a Great Concern!  Why municipal grounds are not used, and Dahi handis are organized in middle of the roads? Therefore, Unnecessarily the roads are blocked and diverted which creates huge traffic blocks and tons of diesel and petrol wasted like anything.

I am not against the Festival; I am against the way it is celebrated. Huge Tents are put on the roads, blocking the road, hence making it difficult for people to walk. More over tents have no Idol to demonstrate its Lord B’day celebration, it is full of Political leaders and Item numbers who perform dance or enact with some performances... Is this called Devotional Celebration!!! Please it’s not a Celebration; it’s just promotional event for the local political party and for Fun to some 100 set of people participating there and those who got Idle time to watch the drama.

By the way, Who pays for Electricity used in these tents? Is there any accountability for the electricity used?  Are All Dahi Handis Audited in terms of Expenditure and Revenue?  Most of Roads are blocked and diverted? Is diverted route enough to carry the vehicle load being transferred?? Is the legal permission taken?

All these happen on account of a Devotional day, and moreover Lord's B’day is celebrated in this way. People’s Perception has changed from Devotion to Celebration; Traditional Way is Modernized to make people Happy, without Preserving the Motive...