Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

5 ‘W’ and 1 ‘H’ of Philanthropy

Recently I read an article, crux of which is: despite a rich tradition and legacy of daan (charity), Indians are actually kanjoosh. They do not ‘give’ in charity. The article has impressive statistics to show that unlike the west, corporate India is not keen on charity.  It says that the culture of institutionalised philanthropy is relatively new to India, barring a Tata here or an Infosys there. Business houses have erected temples, built dharmasalas. But when it comes to doing something noticeable in social sector, it has little to show. The article goes on to suggest that forget the corporate bodies, even an average Indian gives a fraction of what his American counterpart and about half his South Asian counterpart gives in charity.

I wonder why? We give ‘chanda’ in all religious festivals willingly or through coercion. We willingly put in green backs in the hundi, strategically placed in front of almost all temples. We throw handful of coins towards the beggars, who crowd the entrance of the religious places. But why don’t we donate for social causes?

As a former journalist, I approached this question with 5 ‘w’ and 1 ‘h’ strategy.

1.      Why give? Most of us are reluctant if not averse to give in charity. The first question that we ask ourselves: why to give? Can’t we utilize that money or article or time or whatever for ourselves or on second thought for our near and dear ones? Why give to strangers, without any hope of getting anything tangible in return?

2.      What to give? Do we give money? What should be the appropriate amount?

3.      Whom to give? This probably is the biggest question which plagues our decision. Credibility of the receiver is a big factor. We are familiar with religious places and beggars. But when it comes to giving to somebody or some institutuion for social causes- we really do not know whom to give. We are skeptic about majority of the NGOs. We think they will usurp our hard earned money.

4.      When to give? Do we give regularly- say once a month, or occasionally? Do we give on some occasion like say on the birthday of your son or when situation warrants like say when calamity has struck?

5.      How and in which form? There are practical problems. Suppose, I want to donate  my old shirt. How do I give? There is hardly an institutional system working nationwide or even statewide? I understand there are some NGOs who are working at this in some large cities, but an institutional system is yet to be developed.

I feel we Indian are willing to give in charity. The problem is to translate the willingness to reality through a credible and efficient system. If that is taken care of, Indians will not hesitate to ‘give’ in charity. After all we have a long history and legacy of philanthropy.

Surest way to go to Heaven

May and June are the hottest months in the eastern part of the country. Except on the evenings when there is a cloud burst, you swelter. In this season watered rice is preferred by many. Almost all eastern states have some variation of watered rice. But Odias are past masters in making it a delicacy. Bengalis call it panta bhat. They do not relish it as Odias do. Bengalis eat panta bhat, only if there is left over, and to preserve it they put water in it. But here in Odisha it is prepared that way.  Even posh restaurants in Odisha are now offering pakhala with assortment of fried vegetables, and if you like fish.

Pakhala at hot mid day lulls you to slumber. With a bellyful of pakhala, you just sleep. When you sleep you commit so sin. And when you commit no sin, you go to heaven. So, all those people happily eating pakhala and spending time in sleeping are surely going to heaven.

At the Dhenkanal Fish market

You get to hear interesting nuggets at the fish market. The other day a fish vendor was shouting at top of his voice: Khasi Katuchhi (I am slaying a goat). Another fish vendor immediately started shouting: Hati katuchhi. (I am slaying an elephant). One got confused: was it a fish market or meat market? On closer inspection the 'hati' was found to be a bigger size rohu.

Education

I was going through the profiles of top ten richest persons of the world in the present time. It occurred that six out of the ten are either college dropouts or their educational qualifications are not known.

Now I have given you the facts draw your own conclusion.

Dust in Rain

In late May and early June we often experience rain accompanied by high wind after intence heat. A poet friend of mine has beautifully written about the dust before and after rain:

Kal tak udti thi jo muha tak

Aaj pairo se lipat gayee

Chand bundo kya barsi barsat ki

Dhul ki fitrat hi badal gayee

(Till yesterday this dust used to hit me on face, today it is licking my feet. With some drops of rain the nature of dust has changed)

***

 28 May 2016

Posted at http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=67485

The author teaches journalism and writes fiction. He lives at Paniohala hill valley in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com