Giving is the greatest gift of all

A friend of mine, who lives in Navi Mumbai, told me of a philanthropic act initiated in his housing society this week. Residents there collect rakhis that would have been thrown away after last year’s festival and distributed them a day before the occasion this year among children who live on railway platforms.

This way, without straining the pocket, residents could share the festive joy with socially-deprived kids.

The society residents intend to take  this initiative a step further by collecting sweets from each household during Dussehra and firecrackers during
Diwali and giving them away to homeless kids.

This, my friend said, was a step to assure the kids that there were people out there who cared for them and that festivals were the best occasions to
share the joy.

“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone,” I recollect someone quoting American philanthropist, Dr Loretta Scott some days ago in the course of a discussion. It’s not the magnitude, the enormity of help that matters, but the intention and willingness to share smiles that’s important. It is all about sharing a few moments of joy with those who think they are children of a lesser god.

Let’s remember, we have our own crosses to bear just as they do. A childhood robbed of innocence leaves behind indelible stains in the deepest recesses of the psyche — of anger and rejection.

The frustration could well bear out in the future when they grow up and this could rebound on us. In letting these children know that we care, we are
actually doing ourselves, and posterity, a thoughtful service.