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.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Friday, September 18, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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"
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"
Monday, September 14, 2009
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.
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.
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