Despicable We ?

My mind takes me back to when I was a child. To give a background, this was during the time I began to understand the world around me. A stage in growing up when the innocence associated with childhood begins to wear off and slowly but surely the individual personality begins to take over. I was at the beach with my cousins around 9 PM (and those were the days when beach wasn't crowded) when couple of leprosy stricken people approached us and begged alms. And as my cousins started shadow searching in pockets and wallets, I blurted 'Change illa nga' and........... they went off... (probably, they expected this answer). 

Obviously I have heard the usage before.The great escape tool. I think we all have used this. At trains, at traffic signals, outside cinema halls, restaurants, temples etc. etc. Probably the only time I do not use this 'technique' is when hermaphrodites approach. At that insane moment, I almost always hand over whatever little cash I have with me. Once,  I even handed over a 'surutified' 100 Rupee note as it was the only cash I had with me that day. At the mere sight of them , my brain stops functioning and I start panicking instantly. (Though I must clarify, I do not have any hatred towards that 'community' but then I have seen some badly behaved individuals who I would like to believe are not representative samples for the entire population)

So.. As we talk about brains.. I would like to digress.. 

I am digressing here to understand how does one(rather the supposedly 'unbiased' brain) form an opinion about something. Why is that something that is acceptable for X is not acceptable for Y. Seriously, this human brain often astonishes me. It fascinates me simply because the voice inside it takes sides and argues (at least for me) .  I am not sure how many of you do this, but then I have this standard set 'process' (This might be comical, but I still run the risk of blogging about it). This is something that subconsciously runs within me which is why people often find me staring at some object for long periods of time with a straight face. I let myself do this and I let the thoughts in auto-pilot mode.

I have given a process chart (prepared poorly in MS Word of course {did you notice that green underline ?}) of how I form an opinion or how I think I form an opinion. It basically begins with me having this primary assumption. Then, I scan across people who might have alternate views and find out their reasons. I let myself to be deeply influenced by this thought of others. I voluntarily empathize to that different point of view. My cortex ponders over it for sometime and I let it park there for sometime. The only instruction I give it is to tell it to be unbiased. And later, the most important part of it is to try to forget about it after some pondering. And suddenly, unpredictably out of the blue I have this opinion of mine ready. That opinion of mine is being served to me by my brain at unimaginable situations(It comes  Boom.. Like 'Love' in the movie 'Azhagiya Theeye'). It might be  at work, at traffic, at the couch while watching TV, at the coffee break, or surprisingly even during some other discussion. However, there are some issues that I find very difficult to form an opinion and its been pending  for eons. Like for example, I do not have an opinion on Euthanasia.  I do not know whether I am for or against it. 

But then some years back, I did form my own opinion on one topic named charity. Several questions arise on charity and issues around it. Acts of charity have been documented since the beginning of recorded history, yet even now in the most democratic and economically advance nations charity is still necessary. Does this mean charitable acts are failing to affect meaningful change? Should Charity even be the responsibility of individual citizens or is it the obligation of Government? Do hand outs make people lazy and dependent instead of resourceful and responsible for their own livelihoods? Is it every man for themselves or are we all in this together? Some really tough questions to answer. 

The interesting Ayn Rand lexicon of Charity is as follows.

"My views on charity are very simple. I do not consider it a major virtue and, above all, I do not consider it a moral duty.There is nothing wrong in helping other people,if and when they are worthy of the help and you can afford to help them. I regard charity as a marginal issue. What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty and a primary virtue"

I don't advocate it. However its interesting. It takes a dig at the people who take pride in showing that they are doing Charity. Yes. The sad part is Charity is supposed to be the among the noblest of acts. Sadly, even charity is done in to obtain cheap publicity.  Other lexicons on charity including our local paati amma version that is 'Thanakku minji thaan dhaanam'. I am completely in concurrence with it. Have sufficiently for yourself and give whatever is left after your requirements. True that. You don't want to be a pauper yourself after giving whatever you have. 

There is theory that is called 'Karma' theory. Simply put , this is what Rajinikant tells to the kids in a song in the movie, 'Raja Chinna Roja' where the kids go to the forest and help plucking out a thorn from the legs of an wounded Elephant. Later , they tie a cloth around a monkey and light a fire in its tail. The fire spreads. The Elephant then sprays water to help them fight the fire. So.. Rajinikant sings.. (there is a catch in this). 

"... Nanmai ondru seitheergal.. Nanmai vilaindadu... :) Theemai ondru seitheergal... Theemai vilaindadu..:(... Theemai seivathai vituvittu nanmai seiya thodangugal..."  

Perfect example for Karma Theory

There are lot of people who do lot of atrocities in this world. They are frauds in their respective fields. They even accept that they are white collared dacoits. Their way of washing out their sins is by donating significantly towards charity of what they earn illicitly. However, they fail to understand there is no set-off in the theory of Karma. Even in the above mentioned song, the good act and the bad act does not set-off. Both occurs. These are self-imposed charity work done to wash their own sins. Its not an act of charity done from the heart.

My lexicon of charity might be quite confusing. It might seem as though it is not charity at all. For, I do not pay the beggars. My idea of dropping an one rupee or a two rupee coin in to the hands of torn blanket stricken people on pavements is highly inconsistent. Some day, I might. Some day, I won't. However there is one act that I am very consistent. 

I visit this old lady who pulls her cart and sells fruits and vegetables in Mylapore market. Seriously, there is no point arguing with her for the price. I see people coming in foreign cars start a big tantrum of being charged an extra 5 rupees. Where are our values ?  I don't find it worthwhile to argue with this Auto wallah who asks Rs. 10 extra to the meter. If only ,you had not argued, you would have reached your destination earlier.(I do agree there are unreasonable autowallah's but there are genuine one's too). Even the sundal or mango guy at the beach. The guy who provides tea in the afternoon. The lady who sells train timetable in trains. The guy who sells soda on the road side. etc. etc. 

Yes. I don't bargain. Its my way of being charitable. 

In my opinion, its deplorable if we bargain to such people.You need not make huge donations. Small acts like not bargaining can be charity. What are we going to achieve by saving that 5 or 10 Rs. Seriously, look at yourself. What is your definition of Charity ? Are you being philanthropic only for 80G ? or to wash of your sins ? or to have your name at the top of list of donors in any building ?. If yes, so cheap of you. You are not BCCI. Are you ? 

P.S. - BCCI wanted to be a charitable organisation for tax purposes.