Saturday, March 5, 2011

The joy of giving

Hello Everybody!!


Recently there was news of Chairman of Wipro Ajim Premji donating 8.6% stake to his own charity foundation, dedicated for education. This translates to approximately 8,846 crores at present market price. Similarly you might have read about Bill gates has donated more than US$ 2 billion to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation having Global Health Program as one of its activity. Warren Buffett, who was world’s richest person in 2006 has donated shares worth US$30 billion for philanthropic purposes. (Source: Wikipedia)

What drives these great people to donate such huge sums for philanthropy? At dizzying heights of their successful careers, there is always a void, a search for inner peace. This is achieved by giving away what they have earned, through the years, giving back to society. It is like returning the water taken from pool back to the pool. For those who have heard Carnatic music, you may recall the famous composition of Purandara dasa, “Kereya neeranu kerege chelli, varava padedavarante kaniro”. It means in kannada, by returning the water taken from the pool, back to the pool, they got the boons.

The boons may be in any form. It might be a simple joy, inner peace or sense of achievement, sense of gratitude. I remember a phrase from a Sanskrit Subhashita read in childhood, “Paropakarartham idam shariram”. To rephrase the content of this subhashita, it says, for the benefit of others the trees gives fruits, for the benefit of others the cows give milk, for the benefit of others the rivers flow. This body is meant for the benefit of others.

I would like to share one of my personal experiences. In my earlier organization, there was an organization wide initiative called “Healthy Mind in a Healthy body”. Under this initiative, the company was offering free medical checkup for all senior executives, above the age of 35 years. For getting this medical checkup done, one fine Saturday morning I went to the Apollo Hospital in Malleshwaram, Bangalore. Malleshwaram is at the heart of the city and one of the most beautiful old residential areas of Bangalore. I reached hospital and finished the tests before taking food. I was asked to go to nearby canteen to have breakfast and then come back for remaining tests.

I was having breakfast at the small canteen adjacent to hospital. I saw a woman, lean and thin standing near the entrance. She was like pity personified and hesitation was showing on her face and she was looking to be in deep sorrow. She was having some hospital related documents in her hand and trying to talk to the cashier, who was apparently trying to shoo her away. Then she came inside asking people to help her. One are two people gave some two or three rupees, which she received with gratitude. Then she came near my seat. I enquired what her problem was. She said that her husband has been admitted in the hospital and she has deposit some money at hospital for treatment. Somebody had pickpocketed her money in the bus and she did not have any money at all. She said she needs money to go to her village and bring back the money for depositing at hospital. I asked her the details of her village, the bus fare to get there and her husband’s condition. She said bus fare is 70 rupees. I was convinced it was a genuine case and gave her 100 rupees. When I gave her the money, I could notice her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. The satisfaction I got by this deed was worth more than any other activity, a 100 rupees can buy. In this era, when prices are sky rocketing, a 100 rupees can buy very little.

After this incident, I was thinking, what would have happened at that time and at that location I was not there. Probably nothing would have happened. She would have found some means to reach her home town, but I would have missed an opportunity to give.

In a recent scientific research, it has been proven that endorphins get released in our body, when we indulge in the act of giving. Endorphins are secreted by pituitary gland in our body, which act as neurotransmitters. They create a feeling of well-being and peace in the body. What is given is not important, but the act and selflessness in the act of giving is important. One should not give with hidden motivation of getting something in return. Do not expect anything and give with your full heart and experience the joy!! I am sure we all have had many such instances of joy in our life till now. It is in our hand how we can increase that joy within ourself and in our surrounding. Selflessness is the key.

When I mean giving it may not be a physical item, it could be a selfless service you provide to your customers, your friends, colleagues, family or society. Or it could be the kind words to pacify some body in distress, without any hidden motive. It could be lending your ears and listening patiently to your subordinates and colleagues.

In many companies, already many senior executives are involved in philanthropic activities. I got a chance to speak to number of such executives, who mentioned that they are working towards mobilizing funds for the eduction and other such philonthropic works. In my company, the HR VP, Sanjay Khorate has a blog created for providing support for the school where he had studied and group of their friends providing all kind of support, both monetary and service.
There is some responsibility associated with the act of giving. When we are giving we need to ensure that the receiving party is worthy of receiving. Otherwise it will become “Apartha Dan” or donation given to not worthy people.

I will sign off here with wishing you all good luck and happiness. Discover the joy of giving and share your experiences. I would love to hear your personal experiences where you have experienced the joy of giving. Please leave your comments.

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