Lest We Forget!
Last weekend when I was out with my friends, a little boy aged less than 10 came around, begging. I had a flurry of thoughts in my head, I couldn't translate it to words. He kept asking for money. I looked twice at him. Didn't say anything although I wanted to. I was pre-occupied with my task I was entitled with once I was home. Ever since, he keeps coming back again and again in my mind. I regret not having told him what I was thinking for him.
Just a little while ago, before sitting down to write this, I read a tweet (If you follow me, you'd have had my retweet regarding that) that reported the death of 6 Indian soldiers due to an avalanche at the Siachen area. It just came across a piece of news and what's appalling is, it will actually remain that way, with news channels running a headline and newspapers following suit the next day. And we forget. Many more soldiers die and we continue to forget.
Taking a cue from the predicament of our soldiers, there was yet another instance on TV where the soldiers of Rezang La pass, 1962, (who fought bravely and are living on) were awarded Lifetime Achievement award by a leading news channel. Before the announcement, was a small piece of doco presented in which these brave men, who are living their twilight years now, spoke to the camera, wearing their uniforms, narrating the incidents of the past war. There was a twinkle of pride in their eyes, a sense of satisfaction on their faces for having served the nation dutifully. Meanwhile, I was emotionally moved by the backdrop from where they were looking at each one us directly (if you believe so!). It was a small modest looking hut/house in a village like any of our fellow villagers' whose earnings meet end to end! The family seemed poor and at the same time content with what they had. I can only imagine the plight of the martyr's families. Have we become so meager as civilians? We watch them on TV in our comfort zone. On the hindsight, the government(s) doesn't even warrant a mention here!! Its an utter embarrassment to even allow a discussion here about what the political heads have been doing.
Yet another disturbing exposition was on a leading newspaper today, to download an app to watch the memorial service of a nurse who killed herself out of humiliation (or so I think. The matter is sub judice anyway). I mean, have we become so inhuman that we encourage business (read downloading the app/ subscribing to it) around someone's personal loss? What purpose does that serve?? I fail to understand!
These scenarios are just an ounce of a mountain of problems we have and have created, and have unwisely ignored for decades. I'm not here to preach or advice, neither am I here to brag or call anyone ignorant. There is an ignorant self in all of us, in me, you and everyone around us, which for reasons more than one has been ignored wisely!
I'm here with a proposition, an appeal, in simple words to attempt to get up and move that prodigious mountain, to be generous, to be loving, to be selfless, to be encouraging, to be human!
Why don't we make a resolution for life, that we will help the needy, voluntarily, without strings attached. According to me, here are few things we could do and trust me I'll not sue you if you take a leaf from this page. I would be happy, wholeheartedly and immensely And, please add your views too. I might have overlooked few other options or have been absolutely ignorant towards.
1. Park ego's aside and allocate a share of our earnings to recognized group of people. Now, the onus lies on us, as to whom we intend to support.
2. Recognize NGO's who "actually" work for them and donate periodically. If the so called NGO is a farce, do the favor directly.
3. Create your own NGO, establish contacts with the families of the deprived and donate commodities. This is absolutely great for helping our fellow soldiers' families who are deprived of a normal life because of us. Lets be guilty for good! :)
4. Help these deprived to obtain grants from Government agencies or educate them of the schemes. The process is so freaking tedious with all these government stuff, like we all know.
5. Do not throw away clothes, please hand them over to the nearest ashram or orphanages. Its a sad plight that they do exist across the lenght and breadth of the vast expanse. Find them!
6. And please do not brag (excluding advertising with a good intention) about what you do. That's when you savour the joy of doing it.! :)
All said and done, guys lets pick up our responsibilities which we have long believed is not ours and do something on this regard. All that matters is we do it, how much and how long depends on one's capacity. We might not have the capacity to translate our capabilities right now but definitely before we die, we should die a contended soul. If there are guys out there who are already helping the cause, please accept my gratitude through my write up! Thank you! :)
On a personal note, I want to do enough good in this one lifetime that I have, that I intend to escape the vicious circle of life and death and never be re-born again. Atleast, this is what I think. My selfish motive behind my acts!
Cheerio lovely people! Lets get to work:)
And on that note, I will ever regret through my entire life that I did not speak to the little kid that evening!
Just a little while ago, before sitting down to write this, I read a tweet (If you follow me, you'd have had my retweet regarding that) that reported the death of 6 Indian soldiers due to an avalanche at the Siachen area. It just came across a piece of news and what's appalling is, it will actually remain that way, with news channels running a headline and newspapers following suit the next day. And we forget. Many more soldiers die and we continue to forget.
Taking a cue from the predicament of our soldiers, there was yet another instance on TV where the soldiers of Rezang La pass, 1962, (who fought bravely and are living on) were awarded Lifetime Achievement award by a leading news channel. Before the announcement, was a small piece of doco presented in which these brave men, who are living their twilight years now, spoke to the camera, wearing their uniforms, narrating the incidents of the past war. There was a twinkle of pride in their eyes, a sense of satisfaction on their faces for having served the nation dutifully. Meanwhile, I was emotionally moved by the backdrop from where they were looking at each one us directly (if you believe so!). It was a small modest looking hut/house in a village like any of our fellow villagers' whose earnings meet end to end! The family seemed poor and at the same time content with what they had. I can only imagine the plight of the martyr's families. Have we become so meager as civilians? We watch them on TV in our comfort zone. On the hindsight, the government(s) doesn't even warrant a mention here!! Its an utter embarrassment to even allow a discussion here about what the political heads have been doing.
Yet another disturbing exposition was on a leading newspaper today, to download an app to watch the memorial service of a nurse who killed herself out of humiliation (or so I think. The matter is sub judice anyway). I mean, have we become so inhuman that we encourage business (read downloading the app/ subscribing to it) around someone's personal loss? What purpose does that serve?? I fail to understand!
These scenarios are just an ounce of a mountain of problems we have and have created, and have unwisely ignored for decades. I'm not here to preach or advice, neither am I here to brag or call anyone ignorant. There is an ignorant self in all of us, in me, you and everyone around us, which for reasons more than one has been ignored wisely!
I'm here with a proposition, an appeal, in simple words to attempt to get up and move that prodigious mountain, to be generous, to be loving, to be selfless, to be encouraging, to be human!
Why don't we make a resolution for life, that we will help the needy, voluntarily, without strings attached. According to me, here are few things we could do and trust me I'll not sue you if you take a leaf from this page. I would be happy, wholeheartedly and immensely And, please add your views too. I might have overlooked few other options or have been absolutely ignorant towards.
1. Park ego's aside and allocate a share of our earnings to recognized group of people. Now, the onus lies on us, as to whom we intend to support.
2. Recognize NGO's who "actually" work for them and donate periodically. If the so called NGO is a farce, do the favor directly.
3. Create your own NGO, establish contacts with the families of the deprived and donate commodities. This is absolutely great for helping our fellow soldiers' families who are deprived of a normal life because of us. Lets be guilty for good! :)
4. Help these deprived to obtain grants from Government agencies or educate them of the schemes. The process is so freaking tedious with all these government stuff, like we all know.
5. Do not throw away clothes, please hand them over to the nearest ashram or orphanages. Its a sad plight that they do exist across the lenght and breadth of the vast expanse. Find them!
6. And please do not brag (excluding advertising with a good intention) about what you do. That's when you savour the joy of doing it.! :)
All said and done, guys lets pick up our responsibilities which we have long believed is not ours and do something on this regard. All that matters is we do it, how much and how long depends on one's capacity. We might not have the capacity to translate our capabilities right now but definitely before we die, we should die a contended soul. If there are guys out there who are already helping the cause, please accept my gratitude through my write up! Thank you! :)
On a personal note, I want to do enough good in this one lifetime that I have, that I intend to escape the vicious circle of life and death and never be re-born again. Atleast, this is what I think. My selfish motive behind my acts!
Cheerio lovely people! Lets get to work:)
And on that note, I will ever regret through my entire life that I did not speak to the little kid that evening!
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