The dying art of Giving

In the days just after creation, when the world order was being established, there rose a primeval voice from the skies, proclaiming ‘Da…Da…Da’. The three races inhabiting the worlds - the Gods, the Demons and the Humans approached the creator Brahma to understand what the words meant. Rather than answering, Brahma asked - What do you think it meant?"

After some deliberations, the Gods replied –“It means Daman (control over pride). As the owners of the Heavens, we are prone to arrogance and we need to overcome it”. The Demons responded – “It means Daya (compassion). We are cruel by nature and hence need to be more compassionate”. The Humans in turn said – “It means Daan (Charity). The quest to secure our future creates needs and that need, when unbridled leads to Greed and we fall prey to it. Hence we need to share to control our greed through sharing & giving away.” Bramha replied – “You have understood correctly. Now go and live your learning”

This tale can be taken metaphorically with Daman, Daya and Daan – all being meant to be practiced by Humans to control the sins of pride, wrath and greed. Among all, Daan is one virtue which has been praised in no uncertain terms in almost all major religions of the world, both Dharmic and Abrahmic. Closer home, the Hindu way of life established Charity as among the foremost duty of the king, the warrior, the householder and even the server. Even if we don’t account for generosity of hoary figures like Dadhichi, Shivi, Harishchandra, Karna or the historical Harsha, we cannot ignore the reality that even not very long ago, refusing food to the hungry was considered a taboo in the society. Travel to any city / town in India and one will find traces of old philanthropy – schools, colleges, inns, temples, hospitals, ashrams, gaushalas and social institutes. While the British Raj did maintain Law & Order, neither the British nor the princely states were welfare states and any institutions they created were solely for their own benefits. It was left to individuals and groups to try and make a difference in whatever way they could. And did they not try - particularly in the heydays of the Nationalist movement?

Somewhere something has changed. While the Indian Nation can still pool its resources together when faced with disasters and wars, 'Giving' as a way of life seems to be in a decline. No longer do we see a willingness of people to donate, particular if it would hurt them in any way. Oh – we do give – hand me downs to maids; feeling good when we give to 'charity' those old clothes we did not have heart to throw away. Or even better – feeling good by 'giving' to some random agency our money (equivalent to a coffee’s worth) from payroll, which then deducts 40% of that puny amount before 'giving' the balance to some other agency, which finally uses the amount, after of course, using a good part of it to meet its establishment expenses. 

How long has it been that one has seen new institutions coming up through philanthropy? True, temples are being built and they certainly meet one need of the society but temples cannot be a substitute to hospitals and nari niketans. Interestingly, for a ‘materialistic’ society, the West seems to be beating us ‘spiritualists’ when it comes to loosening the purse strings. Not only do a far greater number of the Richie rich donate, an even greater number of people like us donate. People routinely bequeath part or their entire legacy to trusts. When did it last happen in India? We are a Nation where probably the richest sportsperson in the world claims that he only lives comfortably and asks for duty waivers on gifted luxury cars and we are all fine with it. Fine with it for deep down, we know that probably we would have done the same thing when in place of that sports icon.

Interestingly, the sin of pride is another area where we seem to be loosing the battle for arrogance is many a times deemed as ‘Justified arrogance’. Here again, while the ‘materialistic’ western civilization frowns upon arrogance even among its celebrities, we the ‘spiritualists’ fawn upon those who make it a point to flaunt their goodies. 

Of the three teachings of Brahma, it is Daya, which seems to be faring better. While we are yet to overcome violence, we do have lesser wars and lesser physical violence compared to the days of the yore. Even those who have little sympathy with the liberal movement will grudgingly acknowledge the impact of the human rights movement has had on societal disdain for physical violence.

It is funny but it would seem that the least likely winners, the demons have managed to fight their vices more effectively than their counterparts, the gods and the humans! So much so for the human superiority.

Some will argue that parting with one’s belongings is an individual act and the society has no role to play. I beg to differ. Values do get built by society and it is societal norms which determine what is good and what is not acceptable. If bullying people on their sexual orientation was acceptable till a few decades back and not acceptable now, it is changing societal norms and constant iteration of the need to respect an individual which has brought this change.  The norm of youngsters making a beeline to gyms has been brought upon by a societal appreciation of lean, muscular bodies.  Probably a review of the education system, at schools and at homes, may make the situation better. Probably it will make a difference when have spiritual leaders talking of the joy of giving rather than asking people to deposit money in their Bank accounts.