DO YOUR BIT !!

It is in times of crisis when we are devastated and traumatised that we are fully able to comprehend The Almighty's efficient planning , for He is always looking upon us lovingly ! ! It is in such dire situations that Humanity is at its best ! To name just a few of such calamitous happenings , are the Freedom Struugle , the terrible Partition , the ensuing mass exodus , the violent fury , the inhuman gruesome atrocities, the slaughter of humans by humans....But amid all the barbarism and savagery there have been instances of humanity, kindness , generosity and supreme sacrifices by some individuals or groups who have come out to relieve people during such stressful circumstances. Charity and sublime charitable deeds are then witnessed !! It is not the particular individual or group of people who do this of their own accord BUT it is Divine Intervention , God , who sends His chosen angels to alleviate the sufferings of humankind. It then becomes Charity in its true spirit ! The recent Corona pandemic has seen a surge in philanthropic and humanitarian acts also . During the lockdown period of the first wave especially, several organisations came to the forefront to help those in need of basic amenities. Food packets were the most widely distributed items . The print media was proof of this , as besides the macabre and grim stories of the devastating effects of Corona , the newspapers were full of coverage of another ongoing hectic activity and that was the overflow of Charitable groups , organisations corporate sectors who were all out to frantically bring relief to the miserable . However, some were exploiting and encashing the crisis making it into an opportunity for their own fame and vested interests. Every day there were several photographs of the proud, beaming faces of the popularity - seeking people who flaunted their charitable deeds ! It was rather bizarre to find such acts being highlighted every day . However, at times in reality the situation was alas not so relieving....as eye witnesses were proof of such deeds that were done just for clicking some photographs for publication and gaining cheap popularity and not to really help the needy .Many a times on such charitable visits esp in slum areas, only a few could receive the alms ...this was done only till the time a few photographs were clicked .Once that was done the so-called caregivers were least bothered about catering to the rest of the crowd and would immediately leave in a huff unmindful of the expectations of the remaining beneficiaries left in the lurch ! Such deliberate acts of conceit and arrogance do not come under the word Charity ! Basking in the glory of one's generosity is stagnation ! कोई दान करे कोई पुण्य करे कोई दान का रोज बखान करे These lines from a popular bhajan insinuate that doing charitable deeds merely for the sake of self aggrandisment and gaining self praise is futile and meaningless .Acts of generosity should be performed with total detachment . Charity is the most noble and sublime act of supreme kindness and empathy .However , the doer should have a pure heart and good intention when he takes up this exalted deed . Actually only a person who does have good intentions is able to spontaneously come up with such acts . He does not give a second thought to it . On the flip side, those who believe in being charitable to gain mileage and publicity through such acts are annihilating and crushing the true purpose of Charity as well as maligning this divine concept . Indeed it requires a large heart flowing with the milk of human kindness , a fervent desire to somehow help those in distress in whatever limited way one can as per their own resources, and with no intention of being rewarded , acclaimed and applauded! It is then that the ego is totally quelled and negated and the feeling of arrogant doership ceases to exist . Coming back to those hard times of the lockdown it is significant to talk about the real charitable acts of people too . There is always a positive side of every situation or else how could humanity survive ! Amid all this grabbing of self image and importance there were quite a few who silently and selflessly served those who they knew were in desperate need of resources. They initially started with those in their vicinity and those whom they felt required immediate help for sustenance . The shoe peddlers the rickshaw pullers , the roadside vendors for whom every day that dawned came with the hope of earning some money for themselves to sustain their families .....such people were stranded with the enforcement of the lockdown , with no hope of earning the meagre daily wages that they were doing earlier. The Almighty was there to take care of such indigent sufferers too for Divine grace was bestowed on them through some merciful people who took up the cudgels to mitigate their sufferings by way of helping them out in whatever way they could . Besides that those were times when large contigents of police force were deployed at different pickets to keep a strict vigil of the lockdown .They were a set of people , the front line warriors who were doing their duty braving inclement weather conditions .. the blistering heat and sultry atmosphere with no relief .With all roadside eateries , even the tea vendors closed these police personnel could not provide anything for themselves despite their long hours of duty. But again how could Providence not understand their ardous work,?? and so He made a few good- intentioned people, His chosen angels , think of them too. As a result some thoughtful people realising their plight started distributing snacks , drinking water etc to them too and this continued for quite some time . One need not think of making large donations to various Funds in such times . Any kind of help to alleviate distress of even a few known and needy are charitable acts. Anyone who wishes to help others genuinely and selflessly without wishing for any kind of return is definitely a messenger of The Almighty ! The difference was that such people were doing what they did and could with an open heart and with the sole intention of attempting to contribute in some way to lessen the misery of others .....JUST not to make themselves popular or for any vested interests, or to just pose for photos to receive acclaim . Such people are truly the Fortunate few , the Blessed, God's chosen Angels whom He sends to give some relief to those in distress!! The clichéd maxim Charity begins at home has gained strength and momentum in recent times with people coming forward to help those around them , who they know are needy and Impoverished! Mother Teresa believed and said "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest to you ." What is significant is that even if we are able to help just one or two not-so priveleged individuals around us or known to us , and bring SMILES on their worn faces, we will definitely be contributing in making the world a better place to live in ! We have to realise that whatever wealth / material gains we possess is Divine charity ! When such fortunate people who are in a relatively comfortable position and those who are revelling in material abundance and bounty , come out to help the underprivileged .... such acts are truly sublime , elevated and lofty !! Though no return is expected in any form in Charity nevertheless the amount of inner fulfilment and solace and the perennial Divine grace that flows is unfathomable!! Not only that it will further inspire , stimulate and motivate right- minded people to continue with their charitable acts and this will then become an unbroken chain that will ultimately benefit society . So Do your bit !! But remember the mantra : Do good and move on