Giving with a purpose

Tech head honcho Azim Premji recently pledged $2 billion to charity, while earlier Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and 38 other US millionaires pledged $130 billion. DNA finds out what gets celebs to do charity.

Shaina NC
Politician and fashion designer
Wow, it’s incredible that all that wealth has been pledged to charity — but then money after a point loses its value. It’s more difficult for somebody not fractionally as well off as them, such as me, to do charity. Nevertheless I’m actively involved with the cancer
patients’ welfare, with environmental and green issues and with the girl child and family planning I have received so much from society and from my profession — name, fame and money — that I feel the need to give back, to make a contribution to society. The aim is to give to a cause to create awareness because society has done so much for me.

Rita Dhody
Businesswoman and naturopath
In the spiritual practise of Swami Muktananda that I follow we believe in guru dakshina — setting aside a certain percentage of our earnings every month to give to an umbrella body that’s involved with multiple charitable projects. It doesn’t matter how much but the important thing is to experience the commitment of giving. In learning to give you open yourself up in a subtle way to the art of letting go. It lessens attachment and also opens you up to the cycle of receiving. It’s the hardest thing for a human being to give because we want to hold on to our material possessions with all our might. Learning to give can completely change your perspective on life.

Aarti Surendranath
Ad film producer
I’m have from time to time sent aid for the victims of various national calamities such as Ladakh and Leh recently. On a day-to-day basis the causes I’m most involved in are finding homes for abandoned and homeless people and for animals seeking shelter. I can’t explain why I do it - perhaps it was because my mother did it and it has been ingrained into me as a child.  It’s not a question of satisfaction or not, I believe it’s either a part of a person’s mental make-up or it isn’t.  Having said that,  I find that a lot of people eventually do charity — in their own way, even if isn’t by donating money - they do help out people in their environment.

Sharmilla Khanna
Event organiser
I’ve been involved with children’ welfare  for the last six years and before that with the welfare of the girl child, something that most people in our country aren’t interested in.  I feel more important than giving money it’s about raising funds for them on a regular basis that’s important.  I do it because I see no harm in giving back, especially to people to whom it makes such a big difference. We have been given so much in comparison,  it’s up to us to help these people who’re down and out.

Nauheed Cyrusi
  Actress
I’m actively involved with a project that feeds, clothes and educates underprivileged children. I do it because I totally believe in the law of Cause and Effect and in the karmic theory of ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’. By the act of giving one adds to good causes. I strongly believe that all the good fortune I have as an actor and all the fortuitous circumstances are a result of the causes I have made in the past.