THE PLEASURE OF GIVING.

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain the mercy”. The pleasure of giving a gift, a kind word, an appreciation or a daughter in marriage is beyond words and is to be experienced to be believed. It is often apparent in the gleam of the recipient’s eye. Every one high or low warms to a kind word, or a thoughtful gift which need not be expensive. The very fact that he has been given a gift sends the recipient into raptures of varying degree.

Every time I go to USA I take with me presents to every one in the family and some selected friends. My grandchildren gather around my suitcase impatiently and ask me to take out their presents immediately ignoring the protests of their parents about jet lag and my age. My presents although insignificant but bought with lot of love and forethought send them soaring with delight. They shower on us plenty of kisses tastier than the home made sweets that follow.

I take few shirts and jackets to my SILs knowing well that they may not wear them at all as their tastes keep going up several/few notches between my visits. Wise they are they put on a show of great happiness just to give me the pleasure of giving. As for myself I get immense pleasure.

In case of gifts to those less fortunate than us the pleasure of giving is manifold. The gift may solve a long outstanding problem or fulfil a long cherished desire for the recipient. It may even save him from a calamity or disorder either manmade or natural. In such cases the recipient remembers the gift if not the giver for long. Often I come across people who salute me, thank me profusely for the help that I rendered to them whilst in Service and wish me good health and prosperity. In most of the cases I do not even remember them leave alone the help I rendered. Perhaps due to their good   wishes I am still kicking and managing not too badly.

I also feel that it is our bounden duty to help all those that seek our help as much as possible within our resources. I feel that I am obliged to plough back some of the gains that I derived from the community/society. I always make it a point to contribute in case of natural calamities and disasters whatever I can afford. There are certain recognised institutions which are rendering yeoman service to the poor and down trodden and I feel compelled to send the cheques whenever they ask. Organisations like UNICEF and CRY are few of my favourites.

As a Past President and now a senior active member of our Rotary club I loosen my purse strings whenever the President announces a worthy cause and passes the hat around. The only difference is that the hat is in the form of a collection box. Recently I adopted a girl from the local orphanage and took upon the responsibility of paying the educational fees and allied charges for the entire year, I had also given a commitment to continue this as long as I remain a member of our club. I had not even seen the girl but wish her well.

Our country which was a bread basket at the time of Independence stands today poised for excellent growth and the middle class to which I belong is thriving. The fact that this prosperity was partly due to several International Agencies which rendered aid cannot be ignored or wished away. It would be in the fitness of things if today we Indians should help some underdeveloped countries strewn all over the world and especially in Africa. I contributed $1K to be a PHF and contribute $100 every year whenever possible.

Our club collects some good doctors including specialists, collects medicines by way of contributions and conducts free medical camps in far flung villages. The other members and I derive immense pleasure when we see the look of gratitude on the faces of patients’ young and old who receive free medical check up and medicines.

Although I am neither rich nor a great philanthropist I contribute small amounts in hundreds and thousands to help the down trodden and needy. When my driver mentioned that he postponed the eye operation of his daughter for want of funds I readily gave him 1K and sent him to the hospital. When I saw the look on the grateful driver my heart leapt with joy. Incidentally I teach English to my drivers to help them get a better job and supply books, dictionary, writing materials and stationery etc.

I along with the members of our club prepare the paperwork and find a willing partner club abroad to get enough funds to execute a major scheme that benefits a whole community. A bore well in a village, a toilet in the Railway station for the convenience of passengers, are a few of the many cases in point.

I listed all the above activities not to blow my trumpet but to impress upon the members the pleasure of giving and to motivate them to undertake similar schemes whenever possible and contribute whatever little they can. This is definitely a better way of serving God than presenting a gem studded necklace to the Lord Balaji who has more than enough ornaments by now. Recently one devotee presented such a necklace worth a crore and half to the Lord. I think it was a sheer waste of money which could have been put to better use. Imagine what that amount would have done to a village or hamlet.

Finally even giving a kind word helps the recipient if he is in dumps.

I would like to sign off by saying that even in interpersonal relationships there is a great pleasure in giving pleasure to the other party including one’s life partner. Giving is always a “win win” situation. Just do it.