Till We Meet again....

The first ever Joy of Giving Week, has officially ended. For those of us who have been involved with the week in some capacity, either organising, looking after the publicity, or involved with one of those campaigns to create awareness, it is as if there's a vaccum in our lives, for much of our 'waking thoughts' was related to the Joy of Giving Week. In the weeks to come, we will take stock of the feedback we receive, and perhaps brainstorm about how we can make the Joy of Giving Week, bigger and better next year.
Meanwhile, we would like to thank all those who made it their mission to inspire, to share, to give and to thank. To them we say, Thank you for the support. To those who found themselves unable to participate this year, we say, come and experience the rewards of belonging to a 'giving community'. If you would like to share with us your experiences, ideas, do mail us at jgw@giveindia.org.
We meet next in 2010, to celebrate the Joy of Giving Week, from 26th Sept. tp 3rd oct., 2010.
Thank You for being there for us and please do continue to give.

3rd Oct., Day 7

The final day of the Joy of Giving Week, and we share with you a story that captures the essence and spirit of the week; a story of joyous and wholehearted giving, of expressing thanks. Mr.Sridhar and his family decided to express their thanks to the autodriver who had ferried the former's daughter to school. They invited the autodriver and his family home and besides serving them a sumptous lunch, also gave them some gifts. The smiles on the faces of the autodrivers children as they receive the gifts, says it all; the surprise, the pleasure, the joy.

These stories of ordinary citizens going out of their way to spread joy in the lives of others, are an inspiration for us. They speak to us of sharing and caring, of walking that extra mile to bring a smile to another's face, make other lives a little easier, by helping them carry their burdens. In the days to come, we look forward to more participants write in with their stories of joy and hope, and we will feature them on this blog, so that we may all learn to inspire, to share, to give and to thank.

2nd Oct., Day 6

There is enough in this world for everyone's need, not everyone's greed. (Mahatma Gandhi)
Day 6 of the Joy of Giving Week, and it is also Gandhi Jayanthi. It is ironical that 16 people have been massacred by Naxalites in Bihar today. In this background, when one writes about the Joy of Giving Week, one wonders what Gandhiji would have thought of the idea of devoting a week to giving . He is sure to have appreciated it, for very few have given back as he has.
Akanksha, Mumbai, that works with underprivileged children, has earmarked today as Volunteer Day and has invited all who would like to, to share their skills and time with children.
In Patiala, Avneet Kaur, along with a group of friends will be treating underprivileged children to a free movie and snacks. Hopefully in the interaction that is likely to happen between the children and the volunteers, lives connect and change positively.
SASWAT in Orissa, also has volunteering as its aim today and members of the organisation plan to spend their day at a senior citizens' home.
It is fitting that all these events are based on the Gandhian principles of peace, non-violence, sharing and giving back to the community.While all these efforts are laudable, one also hopes fervently that we are able to sustain this giving and sharing. If Mahatma Gandhi were alive today, his message to us would be to give and continue to give. Let us pledge to do so both today and for all the days to come. giving can and should continue even when the Joy of Giving Week has come to an end.

1st Oct., Day 5

Day 5 and some major events sheduled across cities: CSR Bridge 2009, an ambitious partnership between changemakers and decision makers, looking at inclusive growth, to be held in Delhi. Its mandate is to, "catalyze social change, giving impetus to developing India." It aims to do this by organising a conference "which will bring together Government leaders, Representatives of Industry, Heads of Foundations, International persons inclined to CSR missions and representatives of most effective NGOs to discuss the key issues, challenges & innovative solutions for the development sector"
A Joybazar would also be organised as a part of the CSR Bridge, giving an opportunity for NGOs to showcase their projects.
Meanwhile the Battle of the Buffet kicks off in Chennai today, with leading 5 star hotels and top restaurants cooking for a cause, by hosting a fundraiser for NGOs. A donor who makes a donation of Rs 5K to an NGO will be given an invite to this event. There is no cost to the NGO.
The other much looked for event to be held today is the Styles for Smiles, in Mumbai,where CEOs walk the ramp to raise funds. One of the unique factors of the Joy of Giving Week, besides the idea, is the manner in which it has truly turned into a 'pan India ' movement where everybody from a "paanwallah to a billionaire" has been able to participate. We had autodrivers doing Annadaanam, in Chennai 2 days ago and we have CEOs of bluechip companies walking the ramp today, all for the same cause. It can happen only in India. We are like this only. Truly we know the Joy of Giving.

30th Sept., Day 4

" I will be Mr.Dependable, to those who have nobody to depend on." that is Rahul Dravid on Day 4 of the Joy of Giving Week. This statement embodies the spirit of the week and makes the commitment between the giver and the receiver very clear and categorical, in a sense saying, that this is not a one time relationship, but an ongoing one.

This in essence is what the India Giving Challenge is aiming at, by bringing together corporates with a desire to help and NGOs that need funds to carryout its activities. The Challenge has raised around 20lakhs so far, no small amount, considering that the economic climate is not particularly rosy. A spirit of healthy competition has been infused into the spirit of giving in the India Giving Challenge with prizes announced for the corporate that donates the most and the NGO that raises the most funds. Besides, the whole system is very transparent and all details are made available on the India Giving pages. http://http://www.giveindia.org/t-india-giving-challenge.aspx

In all this joy of giving, there is also a sobering thought that not all the NGOs are able to raise funds. In fact some have not managed to raise a single rupee. One really needs to introspect as to the reasons for this.

Meanwhile The Economic Times today carries an interesting write-up on Style for Smiles, another event to be held tomorrow as a part of the Joy of Giving Week, besides taking a tongue in cheek look at what the Ad agencies and their clients would gift each other as a part of the week. http://http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Brand-Equity/Give-Take/articleshow/5070423.cms

29th Sept., Day 3

Too many problems and it is rather impossible to get rid of all of them, therefore every individual should change themself, No man is perfect, but if from childhood to adulthood, if everyone could change atleast one thing, the world would be a wonderful place.
Who do you think could have said these words? An adult motivational speaker, a spiritual leader, a teacher...? Wrong, wrong, wrong. These are the words used by children who have registered for the Design For Giving Event for schools. These are children from the small state of Uttarakhand (Greenway Seri Secondary School) and this is what they are attempting to change. Children have learnt what we adults have forgotten, that change has to come from within and if each of us changed, the world would surely be a better place.
Going through the website of Design For Giving http://http://www.joyofgivingweek.org/children is a wonderful experience and gives one a lot of hope that with young minds like these, life in our country can only get better. The problems these young minds are attempting to solve, range from cleanliness of the environment, recycling, controlling pollution, to doing what is also of prime importance to them, discipline in schools and changing the behaviour of the significant adults in their lives.
A government school in Bangalore, has found a solution to keeping their school clean while simultaneously indulging in their love for creating with waste. The students approached the community to donate old newspapers which was willingly done. Armed with paper, the students no longer tore pages from their notebooks and learnt to create with the old newspapers. This is the manner in which solutions are to be found: use the resources of the community within the community. It is fascinating to go through the ideas the children have and one hopes that they get all the support they deserve to ensure that they are able to implement them. One hopes that the spirit of change that has been kindled in the children, continues long after the Joy of Giving Week has come to an end. When we adults, decide to support the young, a positive change can be sustained.

28th Sept., Day 2

The second day of the Joy of Giving Week, and it is also Vijay Dasami.. Good has triumphed over evil, the effigy of Ravan will be burnt, Maa durga will return to her home for another year, the display of dolls (Golu), ends today, the Navratri festival will culminate in Mysore today and the Gagra Cholis and dandias will be packed and put away in Gujarat. But in the tiny state of Himachal Pradesh, Dassera begins in Kulu today. In a sense, there is a continuity of the celebration and so it is with the festival of giving, it does not and should not end with the week.
The second day of the Joy of Giving Week, and NDTV has planned to air a special interview with Nandita Das and Imtiaz Ali, who will be talking to Prannoy Roy tonight. Nandita Das has been a vociferous supporter of the Joy of Giving Week and has committed enough of her time already to the cause. As she says: "The JGW is a small pot, and if filled with every drop that we have, it can make a big difference. ........ the festival belongs to each one of us and yet belongs to no one in particular."
The second day of the Joy of Giving Week and the auction on e-bay, for Sachin's coaching skills, Love Aaj Kal's memorablia is hotting up. The auction for Shadow a CEO, has ended and has raked in over 6lakhs, a good amount considering the bidders were all students. Meanwhile, the Vastra Samman project initiated by Goonj, is proving to be very popular amongst the givers and many have come forward to donate clothes for charity. The autodrivers in Chennai, showed the softer side of their character as they did Annadaanam to over 500 people yesterday, contributing their own money for the cause.
Joyfest, the giving festival for youth has over 85 colleges registered and the power of youth to spread the message of giving throughout the week is immense. If colleges are contributing, can schools be far behind! Over a thousand schools from across the country have registered for the Design for Giving Contest. When the young get together for a good cause, then a transformation takes place and the cause prospers. We are looking forward to this happening with the Joy of Giving Week and hope we learn from them to care more. And we end this post with a sense of anticipation as to what Day 3 of the Joy of Giving Week will bring.

27th Sept., Day 1

Day 1, and we rejoice that over 200 events have been registered from all parts of india, from Jammu to Trichinapalli, and from Imphal to Rajkot. The issues that are covered range from conserving and nurturing the environment, to empowering children and adults by focussing on health, education, livelihood, life skills. The methods used to spread the spirit of giving are ingenious; whether it is the Family India Foundation's weekly task list, where the person signing up receives 7 envelopes for each day of the Joy of Giving Week, each with a task to be completed to spread the joy of giving; or the Literary Angels Book Giveaway, where readers are requested to read a blog and answer a question to be able to receive a book which is to be given to a random reader. Many are the ways in which one can give.
Day 1, and we are overwhelmed that modern India's icon, the 'little master' Sachin, has endorsed the Joy of Giving Week all the way from South Africa. Truly a master giver, when he makes time in his hectic schedule to spread the message of giving and has chosen to contribute his time for the cause both now and later. As he says in an article in The Times of india, " People from all walks of life can give. In our country there are so many less privileged, less fortunate, that any small thing we find useless can be like gold to someone else."
Day1, and we are humbled at the passion with which people have taken the message of giving to heart. From Amravati comes a mail that Dr.Avinash Saoji of PRAYAS, has undertaken a fast for the entire week and has exhorted others to fast as much as they can to promote the concept of 'Charity by Fasting'. Not only this, but the organisation has undertaken to spread the message of giving through various initiatives in the Vidarbha region.
Day 1, and we are sobered that even as we rejoice in the spirit of giving, comes the news that farmers in Andhra pradesh are selling or abandoning their new born daughters. This reminds us that we have a long way to go. The way can be made easier when we walk collectively towards a common goal. Let our goal be to spread joy through giving, both in the present and the future.

The Next 7 Days We Will..

The Joy of Giving Week.

Giving Thanks

In speaking about Human Rights, which was then perceived of as an idea, Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Where after all do human rights begin ? In small places close to home; so close and personal that they cannot be seen on any map of the world." And with just a day to go for the Joy of Giving Week, this is where we could start our giving, with our neighbours, with our family, with ourselves. Why ourselves? Simply because unless we can cherish, value and respect ourselves and what we enjoy, we would find it practically impossible to cherish, value and respect others. Without this feeling of being cared for and caring, it is difficult to give with joy. When one gives out of a sense of compulsion, there is no joy in it. All giving, should begin with a Thank you.
Today, let us resolve to : Give thanks for our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, our children and friends and neighbours, to the bosses and colleagues, to all the people who care for us and who we care for.
Give thanks for the food we eat thrice a day if not more
Give thanks for our peaceful sleep
Give thanks for our good health
Give thanks for our freedom and our rights: political, civil, economic and cultural
Give thanks to the trees that blossom, the birds that chirp
Give thanks to all those anonymous hands that toil to grow our food, make our roads, run our public utility services,
Give thanks to all those protecting us from intruders, giving up their sleep so we can
We could go on for the list of those we need to thank are many and our memories short.
Above all let us give thanks for living in a country that allows us to rant and rave, and curse and bless, a country at once proud and humble, a country that disperses sorrow and joy in full measure, a country that welcomes and assimilates, a country that allows us to be. We will join hands to make this wonderful country proud by joining wholeheartedly in the Joy of Giving Week. Let us spread the word throughout India. Let us spread joy.

The 7 Day Challenge

The 7 day challenge is amongst those innovative ideas that make the Joy of Giving Week, a mass movement. It is all inclusive and holds within itself, the essence of the movement, as it opens the door and gives opportunities for every single individual to participate, in a manner decided by him/ her. The experiences of those who have decided to spread joy through giving for 7 days, has been all positive; whether it is buying toys for an auto driver's son, cooking a meal and sharing it with a toothless vegetable vendor, making it up with a friend or with family,teaching the needy, making sandwiches. to distribute to the needy.... or the many more ways of helping, some of them ingenious that the participants have shared (http://7days7gifts.ning.com/), is a sure way of spreading the culture of giving.

With just 2 days to go before the week officially begins, one could still start to think of ways in which one could contribute, for the causes are many and resources few. If it is difficult to decide the manner of contribution, well help is always available. All one needs to do is check out www.joyofgivingweek.org.

Lets not wait. Lets just go ahead and make the Joy of Giving Week, a week that is truly a joy to have lived.

A Miracle

We have always said giving is instinctive and it is so both in the human as well as in the animal kingdom. What else can one term it, except a miracle when a predator turns protector, in this National Geographic video.

A female leopard hunts a pregnant female baboon. While the leopard was dragging the baboon, the baboon delivers a baby. What would we normally expect to happen; that the baboon would die of neglect or possibly be eaten up. But a miracle takes place, one of those unexplained things that brings out so beautifully the wonders of nature.


http://lists.elistx.com/archives/blank/200906/wmv3fmz2HFc2N.wmv
The maternal instinct? A joy? The joy of Giving.

Hamara Bharat Mahaan

The title does sound trite, but this cliched phrase describes better than any other the wonderful spirit of giving that has taken root in India, slow, but sure and growing stronger by the day.

What can we say except 'Hamara Bharat Mahaan', when we hear of ragpickers in Delhi, contributing for the upkeep of the Mobile Health Clinic that visits their slums. More details on the joy of Giving Week web page.

It is 'Hamara Bharat Mahaan' as over 1000 schools register in the Design for Giving contest inspite of the fact that September and october are usually devoted to the end of the term exams in most schools across the country.

It is 'Hamara Bharat Mahaan' as people from the slumdweller to the billionaire join forces to indulge in the true spirit of giving and sharing. With just 5 days to go for the Joy of Giving Week to officially begin, the number of registered participants is growing by the day and we are sure there are many more just forging ahead with the Joy of Giving.

Enduring Images, Inspiring words

As we march closer to the Joy of Giving Week, we take a detour for some inspiration, from words and images. As an Indian living in the movie capital Mumbai, how can one not be inspired by movies!
Movies are not just magic, but also teach us life's little lessons in an entertaining way. Some movies that come to mind, that inspire one to give and share:
Iqbal: Naseeruddin Shah's life changes completely when he begins to share his time and skills with Iqbal as does Iqbal's.
Fiddler on the Roof: The most cheerful giving movie ever. Poverty does not stop Topol from sharing and offering help to those less fortunate. Even his rantings against his poverty are made with a goodwill, difficult to aquire.
Shwaas: The poignant story of a grandfather who fights to save his grandson's eyes.
The Bucket List : Two terminally ill patients make a list of all the things they wanted to do and never did and the friendship that is a result of their shared illness.
Children's films like Halo, Makdee, Annie, bring about the spirit of giving and sharing and helping in a cheerful and funfilled way.All these movies invoke a wonderful spirit of nurturing, so very essential in order to give.

And for those who have lost touch with the reasons for giving, some words to remind us:
"What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other." (George Eliot)
"It is better to give when asked, but better to give unasked through understanding."
(Gibran)
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." (Anne Frank)
To Kill a Mocking Bird, is amongst those books that teach without preaching. Respect, tolerance, empathy are beautifully imbibed by the characters in the book and by the readers also, again, all of which is a pre-condition to experience the joy of giving.
Amongst children's literature, there is Charlotte's Web, The Prince and the Swallow, The Selfish Giant, the many folk tales of India, retold by A.K.ramanujam, all of which deal with transformation in individuals through their act of giving.
Images and words endure and reinforce our will and desire to give. If you would like to share your list of books, movies, quotes, please post them here. Sharing ideas and knowledge is one of the best forms of giving and endures for generations long after the edifice we have helped construct has crumbled into dust.

Religion and Giving

"Shraddhaya deyam
Ashraddhaya adeyam,
Shriya deyam,
Bhiya deyam
Hriya deyam,
Samvida deyam,”

Give with faith,
Do not give without faith
Give with a sense of plenty,
Give with sympathy,
Give with humility,
Give with knowledge.

This verse from the ‘Taittariya Upanishad’ speaks about the best way to practice charity. When we are asked to ‘give with faith’, we are basicaally exhorted to think and take individual decisions on our giving and to question the cause we are giving to. The receiver or the cause should be worthy of our gift. This is something that we have been advocating and hence the List of Events link on the home page of the Joy of Giving Week, where those seeking to raise resources, are free to register their own events and donors can excercise their independent judgment and choose.

‘Daan’ (giving/ charity) is mentioned in the ancient texts of Hinduism and it is a part of religion. There is the Zakat which is the third Pillar in Islam, the daan in Hinduism, charity is one of the five Anuvratas of the Jains, the Adhyatmak karma establishes communion between man and god in Sikhism through charitable acts which also has ‘wand kay sakho’(sharing the fruits of one’s labour) as one of its tenets, Judaism speaks of sharing and exhorts one to give 10% of one’s earnings to the needy (the word tithe orginiates from this) and so on.

As India gears up to celebrate Id ul Fitr and Navratri simultaneously, let us all collectively spare a thought for the less fortunate; less fortunate not just in terms of material goods, but also in terms of opporunities denied, love withheld and human rights unexcercised. Let us resolve therefore to give in plenty, not
just money, but our time, our love, our goodwill and our joy. With just a week to go for the Joy of Giving Week, let us start now to give with joy. The Joy of Giving.

Cynicism and Joy of Giving Week

Cynicism and the Joy of Giving Week ? Sounds absurd does’nt it ? But why is it dificult to believe that the JGW will not have critics ? Is it because it is an idea that promotes altruism and so is to be considered universally and unconditionally acceptable? When one really thinks about the concept, there is much to commend. But this does not mean that there is nothing to criticise. Since we have been writing about the commendable features of the JGW concept, we should be fair enough to present the cynical viewpoint also.

In discussions with others about the Joy of Giving Week, one of the main areas of criticism is that the concept is being marketed as a brand. If giving is a part of our lives and is inherent, then why does a week have to be devoted to it, is the common refrain. Is the week more important than the giving, is another. Should we stop giving just because the week is over, is a third. And the ‘unkindest cut of all”, the celebrities need to build on their brand image and increase their ad value so they chip in for these causes, is the fourth. And so on….

It would be very easy for us to ignore these comments, for after all those who are critical are free to choose not to participate. However, since we are calling it a movement where every Indian from a ‘paanwallah to a billionaire’ can participate, it is essential to answer these queries and doubts.

Why is the Joy of Giving Week being marketed so aggressively. Simply because in order to transform the ‘ joy of giving’ into a national movement, in the shortest possible time, one needs to market the idea. What better way of doing this than through celebrities who are devoting their time and skills for the cause without any expectations and are not charging for their time. On the contrary, they are giving what they would be getting to participate in the week. (Shadow a CEO, Sachin auctioning his skills) are just a few of the examples that come to mind in this regard.

Does ‘giving’ have to stop when the week is over? Not at all, in fact we would like the movement to continue. The Joy of Giving Week, we hope, will provide momentum to the act of giving. And that, is its true purpose; to reconnect us with our inherent natue and remind us to share, to appreciate, to pause and thank, to proclaim “this is for you” and watch a smile light up the face. That is joy, the Joy of Giving.

Random Thoughts

On going through the List of Registered Events at the Joy of Giving home page, one is struck by the fact that out of the 109 events listed so far, nearly 70 events look forward to raising funds for a cause. The ratio may change in the days to come and perhaps more volunteering opportunities present themselves. We do hope so, for while fund raising is important and essential to work towards an equitable society, by itself it is not enough to sustain it. To do this, one needs to commit oneself personally, give of one's time as it were. As committing our time is difficult for most of us, we donate funds or other resources. But even when we do so, we could take the extra effort to find out how the organisation is doing, whether the funds are being utilised for the purpose they were meant, does the organisation need help in planning the distribution of funds, more important is the organisation in a position to continue working towards its mission.

Advocacy and awareness campaigns, are other areas that could do with more help. They are important in themselves, for not only do they draw attention to a cause, but they are also pointers of larger inequities or of areas needing attention. It is heartening that at least 30% of the events registered so far are related to one of these twom activities.

One of the amazing aspects of the Joy of Giving Week, is the out of the box thinking shown by most participants. Whether it is an individual event like the 7 day 7 Gift Challenge ( www.7days7gifts.ning.com), or a NGO intitative undertaken by Akanksha Foundation, 'Be the Change Come Alive' (www.akanksha.org), or steps taken by a corporate to impact our environment and create awareness about our carbon footprints by 'Make My Trip', the dominant factor in all these is the ingenuity with which the aim is to be achieved.

All these initiatives truly bring back the 'Joy of Giving'. When we participate in the Joy of Giving Week, we can look forward to a week of fun and joy.

Update and a Story

With less than two weeks to go for the Joy of Giving Week to begin, (it begins on 27th Sept.), there is more clarity amongst the registered participants. Individuals, corporates and NGOs will be a part of the week and the events they would be organising, cover a wide range of issues and areas : environment, education, health, animal rights, to name just a few. All of them are covering various aspects like, creating awareness, prevention, fund raising, call for donations . However, what is admirable is that a majority of the registered participants are not looking for resources. On the contrary, the participants are arranging for their own resources. At the time this is being written, there are a total of 103 events listed on the Joy of Giving Week homepage. It is inspiring that the registered participants come from not just the metros, but from even smaller places like Rajkot. Our message of giving has spread to many areas, and by the time the week begins, we hope all of India will be aware of the week and will work towards spreading joy. When the awareness campaign for the Joy of Giving Week, is telecast, we are sure that participation will increase.

For a complete list of events do visit the home page and see how you can contribute.If you have new ideas on giving, please do share them with us.

We at the Joy of Giving Week team are sure that there are many participants who have perhaps not registered as a participant but are determined to be a part of the week and contribute towards its success. As each one of us decides to spread the joy of giving, it would do us good to remember an incident in giving, related to an old woman and Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. “I must see him,” she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. “I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh,” Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly “yet you won’t trust me with a copper coin.” “This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands,” Gandhiji said. “If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn’t mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees"

Inspiring Stories

It is amazing how one comes across so many inspirational stories on giving now. Were these stories not written before or were they dismissed as 'emotional stuff'? In a way, being a part of the Joy of Giving Week, has increased ones awareness about the inspirational potential of these 'joy of giving stories'.

Some days ago, on Teachers' day, we had written a post requesting readers to 'give back' to their school, college, teachers. In our post 'A Giving profession', we had written :
As we ready ourselves for the Joy of Giving week, let us commit ourselves to give to those who have contributed to our being able to think and to learn; are responsible for our success as it were. Visit your old school, meet your teachers, set up an alumni fund, repay the debt in part for it can never be repaid in full. Let your teacher know that what he / she is, is important and has made a difference

Coincidentally, Outlook carries an article on just that; how a teacher of Tamil in a small school, has been gifted a house by his students, because he was struggling to maintain himself in his old age. The story is aptly titled 'To Sir With love'.

And today, in the Inbox was yet another inspirational true story, this time a direct result of a participant registering herself for the 7 day 7 gifts challenge, that we mentioned in our previous post. This is also a little indirectly about teachers and teaching, on the importance of literacy and on the joy of gifting books.

Those who have experienced such 'joy of giving'will not only exhort others to give, but will continue to do so themselves, thus increasing the general happiness quotient. Share your giving stories with us and inspire others to give. Meanwhile here are links to the two stories we have written about.

http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?261798
http://blog.prathambooks.org/2009/09/literacy-day-true-story.html

The Joy of Giving Week.

How Can We Give ?

How can we give,
Let us count the ways.....
Numerous are the ways by which we can express our solidarity for the Joy of Giving Week. The most important of these is to participate. Most of us will have our own ideas of the ways in which we would like to participate, but to get us started and probably make it easier, we have listed a few of those.

How can you be part of the Week? Here are 10 simple ways to do so...

1.Participate in any of the events in your city listed at www.joyofgivingweek.org.
2.Donate clothes as part of Goonj’s Vastrasamman campaign- see www.goonj.info
3.Donate money through the India Giving Challenge at www.GiveIndia.org/IGC
4.Volunteer during the Week- www.ivolunteer.in for more
5.Sign up for the 7 days 7 gifts challenge at www.7days7gifts.ning.com.
6.Donate one day's salary through your company to a cause of your choice via GiveIndia
7.Tata Indicom subscribers will get a chance to donate Rs30 by SMS- wait for the message that will hit our inbox during the Week. You can donate as many times as you want!
8.Donate books at Oxford Bookstores and get a 15% discount on new purchases or donate books through www.karmayog.org
9.Organise “fun”draising events in your office, neighbourhood, school or college- Housie/tambola, food fests, amateur performances and exhibitions and donate the proceeds!
10.Doctors, Lawyers, Designers, etc. can offer services free to the poor
11.Celebrate Green Week by reducing your carbon footprint
12.Children participate in www.designforgivingcontest.com and youth in www.joyfest.in

So wear your thinking caps, get ideas from www.joyofgivingweek.org, plan what you can do, rope in as many people to join you as you can, and get going!

You can register your event on the website, offer or seek resources from others. You can also write to jgw@giveindia.org or call the Joy of Giving Week Helpline at 022-67876345 for more information

Why Do We Give?

It might seem absurd to ask the question “why do we give?”, now when one has been writing about various aspects of giving for a month. Is it necessary to understand our motive for giving ? Is giving a learnt behaviour or is it an inherent one ? Does motivation for giving stem from a common cause or does it vary across communities and cultures ? Do we need to answer these questions? Is it not more important to continue giving ?

To answer the last question first, it is definitely essential to continue giving. Discovering the answers to the other questions will help us to sustain our giving. We have in other posts presented the view that ‘giving’ is inherent and instinctive. Witness a newborn mother with her child, whether in a 5 star hospital or in a remote village at home, there is a spontaneous joy and an immediate need to protect and nurture. That is ‘giving’. A child grows up with this basic desire to share and the experiences of sharing and giving, when positive, increases this and he / she grows up to be a ‘giving’ person. The positive experience one is talking about is what economist James Andreoni calls the ‘warm-glow theory’., where he argues that internal motives for giving are more important than having a building named after one, or saving on tax by contributing to charity. The feeling that one has contributed towards making the world a better place, is what leads to the glow and so one continues to give.

To get a little personal here, I experienced this ‘warm glow’ last afternoon at school, when I cooked lunch(rajma and rice) for a group of girls. Do these girls not have enough to eat ? Of course they do, 3 proper meals a day. Have they not tasted rajma earlier ? They have, probably tastier rajma at home. Then why were the girls and by extension, I, “feeling so nice” (to use their words), at this simple lunch ? Probably because it made them feel special that their teacher took the trouble of personally cooking lunch for them. It made them feel wanted and cherished and their happiness at such a simple gesture made me feel good, so good that I have rashly promised other classes home cooked lunch as well. ( The warm glow can make us irrational sometimes !!!)

That is why we give : to cherish, to nurture, to protect, to better, circumstances, people, the world. Indigenous cultures have understood this concept very well and not for nothing is it said “It takes a whole village to raise a child” (African proverb). As we move away from the traditional way of life, we have also lost touch with many of our basic instincts of sharing and the Joy of Giving Week is a reminder to us to connect with and reinforce our innate need to give and to share.

Countdown Begins

With just 17 days to go for the Joy of Giving Week, we at the JGW team are amazed and touched by the widespread response to the week. CEOs, actors, sportspersonalities, professionals, dabbawalas, rickshawdrivers; have all confirmed their participation and will work at making a difference in the lives of others. While this is inspiring and encouraging in itself, it is the participation of college and school students that is overwhelming. When the young participate willingly and resolve to make a positive difference, then we can say with conviction that lasting changes are on their way to transform the fabric of Indian society to make it more equitable.

The press coverage and endorsements by the well-known from all walks of life may have made it easier for us to get our message of giving across, but large scale participation can only be possible when the idea of 'a week of giving' catches the imagination of the people. The fact that we have been able to do this, is probably because we have managed to touch a chord in the hearts and minds of most. The desire to give has been dormant in most of us and the idea of the Joy of Giving Week, has seen this desire come alive. What is also heartening is that individuals are coming forth with creative and innovative ideas on how they would be contributing, reaffirming our faith that the 'culture of giving' has spread.

Meanwhile, today's Indian Express carries a story on how a teacher is bringing about remarkable changes in interior Madhya pradesh in a caste ridden village, through the medium of education. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/colours-of-knowledge-on-walls-of-hope/515163/) Such stories are our inspiration and our hope and reinforce our strong belief that we are a nation of 'givers'. So let us join all those who are a part of the Joy of Giving Week and help make a difference. If you have ideas on how one can participate, please share your comments here or register on our website (www.joyofgivingweek.org) and share your ideas.

Anonymous Givers

"Almost everyone regardless of income, available time, age and skills can do something useful for others and in the process strengthen the fabric of our shared humanity." Bill Clinton

There are many unknown, unsung people in India and abroad who have been giving of their time and skills to society and in the process have passed on their collective wisdom and knowledge that sustains society. One such organisation is the Explorers and Adventurers in Mumbai. Establised more than four decades ago, the members of the club not only share a common passion for the mountains, but also share a common desire to kindle this passion in the younger generation. The members, most of whom are working full time, or are older students or have other responsibilities, give freely and ungrudgingly of their time and skills, to accompany school children on treks, on adventure camps, teach them rock climbing and organise other adventure related activities, and see to it that not only do the children enjoy themselves, but that they also simultaneously learn valuable lessons for life : sharing, mutual respect, team work, responsibility and most important learn to respect our environment. The members ensure that the camps they organise are enjoyable, non-threatening experiences and often go out of their way to organise birthday celebrations for children in out of the way locations, complete with cake, candles and wafers and their reward is the look of disbelief and happiness on the face of the child. The Explorers and Adventurers has truly understood the Joy of Giving.

These are the people and organisations that we need to remind ourselves about as we prepare for the Joy of Giving Week. Let us resolve to give not just for today, but for all the days to come; not just to the known, but to all the unknown. Let giving be our passion....

A Giving Profession

When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

That is what a teacher does, pass down to us and to ours, wisdom and knowledge, values and inspiration. Today, as India celebrates Teachers' Day, this post is dedicated to teachers. Much is written about bad teachers, but unfortunately not much about the good. Teaching is a profession where the rewards percolate down after years, not to the teacher but to society. Long after the teacher is dead and gone, his/ her values remain, imbibed and lived by others. Is it any wonder then that we call teaching one of the most 'giving' professions.

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn

Yet teaching is demeaned by many and it is often said of teaching that "Those who can do, and those who can't teach." To say this is to negate the immense influence a teacher has on us. The power and influence of a teacher is often underestimated. Most of us remember our teachers, both those who evoked dread and scorn and those who inspired and motivated. But we remember that teacher the best who invoked in us a love for learning, aroused our curiosity and really taught us the principles of 'learning to learn', something that we need to do for the rest of our lives to be successful in whatever profession we choose to follow.

While teachers help sustain the values in society to a large extent, the Special Educator besides this, also helps to sustain the family of a child with special needs. He /she plays many roles : teacher, parent, counsellor, therapist, friend.. Those who deal with children/ adults with special needs measure success in the small steps taken by those they teach. Has the child sat in one place for 5 mins, stopped flapping his hand long enough to copy 2 lines, has learnt to jump, to control unexplained outbursts of anger? There are days when the teacher and the child are equally frustrated, the parents are in tears, all effort seems to have literally gone down the drain and then suddenly a miracle takes place and like the blossoming of a tree, changes happen and the child begins to learn, slowly at first and then with increased confidence, more rapidly. These are the moments that make all the effort and the frustration worthwhile for hope prevails.

As we ready ourselves for the Joy of Giving week, let us commit ourselves to give to those who have contributed to our being able to think and to learn; are responsible for our success as it were. Visit your old school, meet your teachers, set up an alumni fund, repay the debt in part for it can never be repaid in full. Let your teacher know that what he / she is, is important and has made a difference.

The Power of Giving

Giving impacts our lives in many ways, all of it positive, the most important being that it adds value both to our life and to the one who receives from us. But this positive impact happens only when we give selflessly, without any expectation. Quite often, we carry the burden of expectation even in our giving. We often feel terrible when a friend to whom we have given a gift, forgets our birthday. We expect to be remembered because we have given. This expectation negates the effect of giving, and affects our future relationship with this friend. This is not practcing 'giving' in the way it should be practiced.

An incident Subroto Bagchi (CEO Mindtree) writes about his mother illustrates wholehearted giving beautifully. Bagchi writes of how his mother after finishing her household chores for her big family, would, equipped only with kitchen implements, work very hard to create a garden in the small patch of land in the government quarters where they were housed. It did not bother her that she would not be around to enjoy the benefit of her hard labour or see the flowering plants, for by then they would have moved house. For her the joy was in creating a beautiful environment and giving of herself with zero expectation.

Such joyous giving does not come easy to most of us and has to be practiced. Giving has to become a way of life and those who don't recognise its inherent presence in their lives, must learn to do so. One of the ways to do this is to think less about our feelings and ourselves and more about others: praise your co-worker, give up a seat for the tired person in the bus, smile at the man selling pens in the local train, share a cup of tea with the household help, help the kids kick a ball, leave the public toilet clean for the next person, cook your partner's favourite meal. Numerous are the ways in which we learn to give and the result would be the same : to enrich our lives and to turn us into more contented individuals. When we practice 'giving' consciously and constantly, we will reach that stage of giving where we give totally of ourselves with no expectations and like Subroto Bagchi's mother we would be able to embrace death courageously in the satisfaction of having lived a full and fulfilled life. Let us "Go Kiss the World".

Charity and Philantropy

Some introspection is necessary as we set out on a quest, to discover joy in giving. One often associates 'giving' with charity. In India, we focus a lot on the 'charitable acts' of an individual. A 'charitable individual' according to us, is one who gives freely to the needy, often gives freely to religious causes, can be called upon to help generously during times of disaster and usually contributes at an individual level. Could we also say such a person is philantrophic? Not necessarily, for there is a marked difference between philantropy and charity.

Charity is often impulsive and humane, like giving alms to a beggar, clothes to those who need it, helping a victim of an accident, to give a few examples. Charity is usually not associated with commitment. We do not give the same beggar alms everyday and neither do we wonder what happened to him after we have given the alms. It is associated with generosity and gifting, much of it instinctive, basically with giving those who need it, a helping hand. To use a much used analogy, charity is like giving a hungry man a fish.

Philantropy on the other hand, is more humanitarian in its vision. It is more institutional, and operates on a larger canvas than charity and hence is more organised. There is more altruism associated with philantropy than with charity and a sense of justice that is lacking in charity. There is also a commitment in this that is not always present in charity. In contrast to charity, philantropy is like teaching a hungry man to fish and the focus here is on moving towards a more equitable society.

Does this mean we are demeaning or negating acts performed with charitable intent ? Not at all, for such acts are necessary to spread the message of giving and quite often are the points of departure to bigger philantropic acts. Mother Teresa began by helping one homeless man die with dignity, Vandana of The Banyan began by helping a single destitute mentally ill woman move out of the streets. Both of them moved on to establish philantropic institutions funded by individual and institutional contributions, made possible by tapping the inherent impulse to give, present in most of us. When people contribute collectively to a cause, a philantropist or a philantropic institution is born, and that should be our goal for the Joy of Giving Week, to give collectively and generously in order to bring about lasting change in individuals and through them in society

No Easy Answers

This post is not about giving, at least not directly. But yet we hope it leads to one asking questions about giving, even as we commit ourselves to give.

This morning, while on the daily commute by a Mumbai local, the train stopped for a fairly long duration between Santacruz and Khar stations. (For non-Mumbaikars, Santacruz and Khar are two suburban stations). Sitting comfortably in the First Class compartment next to a window (a highly coveted seat), one looked idly out of the window to see adoloscent boys and young girls sitting on the adjoining railway track, with a small plastic bucket of water waiting for our train to pass so that they could cross the tracks and go towards some bushes to answer the call of nature, a daily ritual for those living in the slums in cities. Somewhere in the background, Bhajans were being played probably from the community Ganesh mandal. One could visualise the garish thermocole decorations, the flowers and the lights decorating the Mandal all made possible with contributions from the residents of the vicinity. A thought crossed the mind : Do we have our priorities wrong? Could the money spent on community celebrations not be put to better use by constructing basic community facilities?
The second disturbing event that happened today was in the evening when the vegetable and fruit vendors at Andheri, (another suburb in Mumbai) had to quickly pack their wares because the municipal van was making the rounds to confiscate goods from unlicenced hawkers. Some were not lucky and their goods confiscated, they rode to the municipal office to try and get their carts back perhaps after paying a fine or a bribe or perhaps lost their goods altogether. All of us walked by unconcerned and indifferent to the plight of the hawkers and their monetary loss, even though many of us patronised them on a daily basis. Why do we find it so difficult to take a stand and commit ourselves? Is it because we do not care? is it because we lack empathy ? Is it because we are uncomfortable about peeling off the layers of the difficult lives of the less privileged to find out what lies beneath ?

It is important to answer these questions for in answering them we will discover our motivation for giving. There are no easy answers and no right ones. That is why we need to participate in the Joy of Giving Week, for it will hopefully set us off on a journey of giving for others and in the process, we will discover the answers.

Does India Give Enough?

That is not a rhetorical question, but one that we need to ask ourselves as we move further towards the Joy of Giving Week. If one were to go by the number of homeless, by the number of starving children, by the number of children at signals- peddling books, flowers, begging; by the number of those seeking alms and food outside places of worship; we would say Indians do not give enough. But yet consider this: our major temples have more money today then they did a decade ago, our Gods are adorned with gold, diamonds and precious stones, in fact there is a temple lined wih gold in Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Is not all this a pointer to the fact that we do give?

We are a country that likes to give, whatever the religion we follow, the majority of us give, both because we want to and also because our religion asks us to. The trouble however lies in this that we do not follow up either before or after our giving . We assuage our conscience by making a contribution to a local NGO, or dropping some money in temple hundis, or collection boxes at places of worship, and feel we have done our bit. We neither have the time nor the inclination to wonder whether the money has been put to good use or to wonder if that was what was needed.

It is important to ask this for the answer to this can and will motivate further giving. We are not just talking about monetary contributions here. Our time, skills and other resources also need to be put to good use. After the tsunami we indulged in what can only be described as an orgy of giving. We gave so much and some of it so unsuitable (esp. clothes, we forgot that the rural areas do not dress the way we city dwellers do), that a lot of resources went waste. More recently, after the terrorist attack in Mumbai, doctors at hospitals in Mumbai went on record asking eager donors to check what was needed before donating. A very sensible and practical viewpoint and one that we need to remember as we commit ourselves to being a part of the Joy of Giving Week.

Giving Principles

Those who give to us teach us to give.

The more you give, the more you get.

Those who have in abundance, should give in abundance.

Give because you value giving, not as a compulsion.

We have two hands; one to receive and one to give.

Be personally present in your giving. (Give wholeheartedly)

One can never give enough.

Don’t ask, just give.

Giving makes the world a better place.

There is enough in this world for everyone’s need, not everyones’ greed. (Mahatma Gandhi). So Give. The Joy of Giving Week

Joining Forces

Can we visualise a scenario where India will be garbage free ? Difficult for most of us but if all of us come together and decide to clean up on a single day then we can definitely start moving towards a cleaner India. This is not an impossible task but can be made possible, with the help of strong motivators, who inspire collective action.

This is what happened in Estonia last year which had a nation wide campaign 'Teeme ara' or a 'Let's Do It' drive that saw around 40,000 volunteers turn up on a single day to clean up the country.

"Clean-up campaign "Teeme ära!" (Let's Do It!) was led by one of the Skype inventors, Ahti Heinla, and the founder of Microlink and Delfi, Rainer Nõlvak, who used own-created innovative software based on Google Earth, positioning software for mobile phones and mobile phones with GPS to map and take images of illegal garbage dumps across the country. With the help of volunteers, they mapped more than 3000 illegal waste dumping sites. At the end of May 3rd a huge part of it was gathered and transported to waste collection centers" (Maigi's blog)

Here's a video of the drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5GryIDl0qY


A movement like this is what the Joy of Giving Week is aiming at. Collective action that will enable us to move forward as a nation towards a better and more joyous life. If we can come together we could surely move mountains, but even as individuals, let us start shifting pebbles so one day we move the mountain. Let us resolve to give for the joy of others.

Musings......

"Stone walls do not a prison make, / Nor iron bars a cage."

Even as we rejoice at the rise in the number of those registering for the JGW, comes a story from ‘God’s Own Country,’ Kerala, that is at once humbling and inspiring. It is one of those stories that drives home the message that the Joy of Giving breaks all barriers, even the stone walls and iron gates of a prison.

Gladwin Emmanuel reports on this story for the Mumbai Mirror. Justin, an inmate of the Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur, saw an appeal for funds in a Malyalam daily,from the parent of Nanditha, for surgery of the heart. Nanditha’s father is a casual labourer and could not raise the 2 lakhs needed for her surgery. The appeal so moved Justin that he immediately mobilised a fund collection drive in the prison and together the prisoners raised Rs 29,000 for the surgery, in less than a week. The contribution was entirely voluntarily and ranged from Rs50 to Rs2000/ . Let us not forget that convicts earn Rs30 a day and may need this money when they are released.

The 200 odd inmates of the prison who contributed, have shown us by their act that the prison has not sapped them of their will to give, which is eternally present in all of us, and all one needs to do is to draw on it to bring some joy into our lives. As we march into the next few weeks culminating in the Joy of Giving Week, this is what we need to remember, that barriers are man made and imposed upon. So this should not be allowed to come in the way of our doing something that is inherent in us ; the Joy of Giving.

An Update

While this blog has been discussing the concept of the Joy of Giving Week and ‘giving’ in general, a lot of action is happening centering around the week. Sachin Tendulkar has been devoting a lot of his time, promoting the cause through various media. We are however unable to express the feelings his latest initiative has invoked in us. Sachin, has.committed himself to giving up a whole day, auctioning his time as it were, to the highest bidder, doing what he does best, playing cricket and coaching. The proceeds of this auction will go towards educating underprivileged children and what is more, he will also be doubling his contribution to the charity he supports. All we at the Joy of Giving Week team can do now is to ‘suspend our disbelief’ and rejoice for it is as if a thousand rainbows have descended down to earth.
http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_sachin-s-auctioning-his-time-penny-pinchers-not-welcome_1284420

Tendulkar is not the only celebrity to commit himself to the cause. There are others as well, all of whom are strongly in favour of promoting the ‘giving culture’ in India, Azim Premji, film stars Madhavan and Surya in the South, to name just a few. What is heartwarming however is the number of anonymous Indians who have come forward on Facebook, through e-mails, on Orkut, to support the cause : the RJ who promised to air jingles promoting the cause during her show, the office boy at ivolunteer, who is a part of the 7 Day Challenge (check out www.joyofgivingweek.org for details), the college students who are taking it up in their colleges, the home-maker who wrote in asking how she could be of help, are all strong indicators of how deeply this idea has taken root in the mind of the Indian.

Whether the will to continue ‘giving’ after the campaign stops is not something we can predict but we can state with conviction, going by the enthusiastic response generated, that the Joy of Giving Week is an idea, ‘whose time has come’.

Audacity of Hope

Nothing can describe the Joy of Giving Week better than the title of Obama’s book. The idea that people will respond overwhelmingly to the concept of giving seems to be naive, ambitious and audacious for it presupposes that we all want to share. Yet there is also within this the promise of a hope that we would be rewarded for this. That this is what is commonly believed is borne out by the fact that a majority of people will be participating in this unique ‘giving movement’.
What is it about the Joy of Giving Week that has attracted people from all parts of the country, from all walks of life, each of them commiting themselves to be a part of the giving week and working hard towards contributing for the same. Is it the publicity that is being given to it by the media ? Is it the endorsement by filmstars, sports persons and corporate bigwigs ? Is it the fact that the concept is novel and is being introduced for the first time in India ? Would the response go down if this were to be repeated year after year? Not really, if one were to judge by the number of people signing up to Run for a Cause in the Standard Chartered Marathon. The numbers go on increasing every year and we anticipate the same will hold true of the Joy of Giving week.

The answers are quite simple actually. A large part of the popularity of the Joy of Giving Week is because it is perceived as a national movement, and no one person can claim ownership, not even Give India that has launched this. Neither can any person impose conditions on how one should be contributing. Yes, there are people to help out with ideas and suggestions on the various ways one can contribute, (check out www.joyofgivingweek.org or follow Joy of Giving Week on Facebook, Twitter , Orkut or Ibibo for ideas) but ultimately it is up to the individuals, schools, colleges, or corporates to decide if they want to contribute and how. The enthusiasm generated by the Joy of Giving week, can be attributed in a large measure to its very inclusiveness; both in number and mode of participation; it excludes nobody, and it does not claim to advice, there is no right or wrong way of participation, it is absolutely unconditional and non-judgmental.

At a time when cynicism, consumerism and ambition seem to rule the day (we are not being judgmental here), the Joy of Giving week, comes as a reminder to us to go down to the basics and learn to share and give. It reminds us that the little that we have gets doubled when shared with others. It reminds us that nothing can be greater than giving, for giving, is a blessing.

A story of Giving

Summary
When the famous novelist Stephen King was in an accident, lying in a ditch, his views on giving underwent a change. The article below is about that.

“A couple of years ago I found out what "you can't take it with you" means. I found out while I was lying in a ditch at the side of a country road, covered with mud and blood and with the tibia of my right leg poking out the side of my jeans like a branch of a tree taken down in a thunderstorm. I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you're lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair, no one accepts MasterCard.
...We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we're just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going to go out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks? Going out broke. Steve King? Broke. Not a crying dime.
All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, all the mutual funds you trade—all of that is mostly smoke and mirrors. It's still going to be a quarter-past getting late whether you tell the time on a Timex or a Rolex....

So I want you to consider making your life one long gift to others. And why not? All you have is on loan, anyway. All that lasts is what you pass on....

Giving isn't about the receiver or the gift but the giver. It's for the giver. One doesn't open one's wallet to improve the world, although it's nice when that happens; one does it to improve one's self....
A life of giving—not just money, but time and spirit—repays. It helps us remember that we may be going out broke, but right now we're doing O.K. Right now we have the power to do great good for others and for ourselves.
So I ask you to begin giving, and to continue as you begin. I think you'll find in the end that you got far more than you ever had, and did more good than you ever dreamed"

Let us not wait for an accident to change our attitudes. Let us begin now.

Giving Is...

Giving is..

An offering, not a sacrifice
A commitment not apathy
Voluntary, not an obligation
Humility, not pride
A right and not charity
About sharing and not selfishness
Spontaneous and not calculated

Giving is about taking a stand
about standing up to be counted
about recapturing the lost innocence of childhood
aboutmaking a difference

Giving is divine
It is warmth
It is humane
It is happiness
It is a reward
It is joyous
The Joy of Giving

Towards Freedom

India is gearing up to celebrate Independence Day and usher in the festival season. This is that time of year, when our achievements as a country are faithfully recounted by the media, the time when we promise to redeem our pledge to become a developed nation and take pride in our status as a thriving democracy. This year, all this will take place under the shadow of the Swine Flu. But even as the threat of the H1N1 virus looms large, we forget that there are many other shadows that are invisible but yet are a reality to millions of Indians : poverty, child labour, illiteracy, displacement, malnutrition, domestic violence, physical, mental and sexual abuse, unemployment, ignorance and the list could go on. All these get enough attention both in the Indian the world media.

But do we pay enough attention to these?

We need to ask ourselves this as we prepare to go on a long weekend break or lament the closure of malls and theatres in some cities just when there are holidays. As we reach for our credit cards to pay for that dinner at a fancy restaurant , or the Gucci bag, or the trekking shoes the extra shirt that we don't really need, we need to pause and think about all those who probably have not eaten in days, about the farmer who continues to kill himself, about the children who are out of school; the shoe shine boys, the children at traffic signals, the child infected with AIDS through no fault of his / hers, about the disabled with no home, about the juveniles, about the abandoned elderly, about the women who sell their bodies for a meal, about the planet that we all share and the depths to which we allow her to be degraded. The list is endless.

And as we gratefully usher in another Independence Day, we can, individually and collectively choose to set free all those imprisoned by the shadows. Let us resolve to contribute our time, effort and money for a cause that demands it. Each of us, can do this and bring about a change where each Indian is able to develop his / her capabilities to the fullest. We owe it to our country, to our fellow beings and most important to ourselves, to give and to give freely.

Let that be our pledge this Independence Day, to individually and collectively experience the Joy of Giving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wdlV22mDNE&NR=1

Those who give to us, teach us to give….

How do we learn to give ? Is giving instinctive, or does it need to be taught ? Do we give of ourselves and what is ours, wholly and spontaneously like Nature ? Nature gives us all wholeheartedyl and unconsciously: the plants grow, the trees flower, the fruits ripen, the rivers flow, the minerals are there for our taking, the birds chirp and the butterflies flit spreading their beautiful wings. But we the human race, need to make a conscious effort to give. How do we learn to do so? Most of us are in spired by those around us who give to others happily .

They are people who we read about like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther king, Nelson Mandela, Medha Patkar, Bill Gates, Azim Premji, Aruna Roy and so many others, all, with a vision to bring about change, and with a drive to transform society. But there are also inumerable anonymous people who also give willingly their time, money and services. They are people like us, the taxidriver who ensures that a child reaches home during trouble in the city, the number of hands that are linked to form a human chain so that people can walk to safety in times of flooded streets, the hands that pull children out of a burning house, the donors who queue up to donate blood for complete strangers, the homemaker who spares her time to tutor her maid’s children ,doctors who give up their weekends to conduct health camps in villages, the student who signs up for volunteer work, the corporate executive who supports the CSR cell in his organisation, the anonymous donors who flood relief centres with cheques, clothes, utensils, blankets, medicines; all these people, are amongst the ‘Givers’ for they give wholeheartedly without any expectation of a reward, simply for the Joy of Giving. These are the people who commit their time, their money and their services to the many causes that demand it.

Aside: Do you know the word ‘give’ is used very often by schoolboys in the 10-12 age group. Puzzling ! Just spend some time in a classroom and observe the number of times a boy comes up and says, “Miss, he is giving me bad words.” Try asking him to show you the bad words, the reply would be ; “Miss, I can’t give them to you. My mummy will shout if I give bad words.”

Joy of Giving Week (Sept. 27th to Oct. 3rd 2009)

a child’s delighted laughter at a surprise gift
the smile on the face of an elderly relative at an unexpected visit
the blush on the cheeks of a woman when she receives a red rose
the deep sleep of those in an orphanage in warm clothes
the look of relief on the neighbours face while holding his hand outside an ICU
the tears of joy on the faces of the displaced when given a shelter
the gesture of thanks from the weary villager after giving him a lift
banishing silence from the hearing impaired’s life by donating a hearing aid
helping the impoverished lead lives of dignity by enabling them to earn a living
the musical chirping of the birds on the trees we have helped nurture

All of this is our reward, a reward that is a joy and one that has come our way because we have given, we have given our time, our money and shared freely our skills and services .
The happiness is a result of our giving voluntarily, because we want to give and that is why our reward is “twice blessed”, blessing both the giver and the receiver. It is because of this, that the act of giving needs to be celebrated universally for it is the one act that spreads universal happiness (Sarvaha Sukhinobavantu) Would we like to continue to experience this joy ? Of course. And how do we make it possible ? Simply by reaffirming our commitment to giving.

That is what the Joy of Giving Week is all about; a week long commitment to giving, to sharing with those we love and those in need, our time, our resources and our joy. September 27th to October 3rd, all of us in India, will come together to celebrate the Joy of Giving Week, a festival where we share and give, and measure our worth not by how many gifts we have received or how much we have spent on ourselves, but by how many lives we have touched in unexpected and pleasurable ways.

Why do we have the Joy of Giving week ? How do we give ? To whom do we give ? Why should we give ? What do we gain by giving? How do we get others to give? When do we give? How can we continue to give? Who is giving?
All these questions and more will be answered in the weeks to come as we build support for this wonderful initiative to spread immeasurable joy by giving. A story to inspire us:
A woman who was traveling alone in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, the woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation..The traveler left, rejoicing in his great fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman."I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."The woman smiled, "The joy of giving! (Author unknown)