"I was cursing my luck because I had no shoes, till I saw a person with no legs."
I always found this ideology a bit regressive and rather unambitious.
Deriving succor and consolation by focusing our attention on the lesser fortunate was in fact a touch sadistic. Altruism was a virtue, compassion was the hallmark of humanity, but success, fame and fortune were the real pile drivers, the propellants that powered my thoughts and actions. The reality of a large number of our brethren languishing in misfortune, poverty, suffering was one of those
"What can I do about it" compromises that very easily sank below the horizon of cognition. The thoughts about their plight would surface once in a while, only to get submerged as fast as they arose.
I had operated on a 65 year old senior citizen. He had a severe lumbar disc prolapse due to a fall he sustained. He could barely walk a few steps and was in agonising pain. He was accompanied by his wife, who herself had been operated recently for some abdominal problem. The elderly couple had an expression of resigning to their fate. I could see the concern and care in the eyes of the lady for her ailing husband. They hailed from a nearby village, and were marginal farmers, tililng a small plot of land, just enough to eke out a living. They were not accompanied by any children or relatives.
I explained to them about the need for surgery, and the lady expectantly asked me if her husband would recover after the surgery. There is a widely prevalent belief in the vast majority, that spine surgery can never be successful. I don't know the etiology of this misconception, but I reassured her, that I'll make her husband walk the next day after surgery. She consented for the surgery either because she trusted me, or then decided to surrender to her destiny. I will never know exactly.
The surgery went off uneventfully and the next day, the old man walked. He had some soreness at the operative site, but the agonising, radiating pain had disappeared. They both were happy. After the 3 days of antibiotics, the i.v. line was removed and he was discharged on the 5th day.
Yesterday he came for removing the stitches. He was walking without any pain and looked cheerful. The old lady, very embarrassingly wanted to touch my feet. I stopped her from this insane subservience.
I casually asked her, why her children or relatives never visited during their hospital stay.
The old man narrated a touching tale.
They had 2 sons. The elder one had taken a loan and bought a taxi. He had two children and worked really hard. He had repaid almost 60 percent of the loan, when tragedy struck. He was hired by a person, to go to a village. There they were ambushed by people who wanted to kill the person who hired the taxi. That person escaped, and this taxi driver was killed in a fit of rage in this insane act of vengeance. The old man had tears in his eyes as he told me that they could never see their son again. The car was picked up by the bank and auctioned. The old couple had to take care of the their widowed daughter-in-law and their 2 grand children as the younger son was an alcoholic.
The daughter-in-law got a job in a factory, where she was paid a measely 160 Rs per day. There old couple toiled in the fields to harvest grain and some seasonal vegetables. I was overcome with grief on hearing their sordid saga.
Our state has one of the highest farmer suicide rates in the country. These marginal farmers really have a very rough life. They are lured by politicians for their votes during elections, only to be conveniently forgotten for the next 5 years.
They are used as pawns by the parties in their political slugfest, with perfunctory, cosmetic visits by ministers. Such a travesty of justice and relief to these unfortunate souls.
I enquired about the expenses of this family, and was told that their grand children attended school for which they needed about 1000 rupees every month. I wondered how in the world, could they manage all this with their meagre income.
I decided on the spur of the moment.
I asked the old lady for her bank details and promised her, that I will deposit 1000 Rs every month for her grand children's education. The condition being that the funds should be used only for the specific propose of their schooling.
1000 Rs. An amount that we casually spend for just a cup of coffee with a friend.
I'm seriously thinking of starting some micro philanthropic movement.
"Spare that cup of coffee for educating a child"
I'm sure, we all can easily manage to put aside a 1000 bucks. Think about it.
I'm not posting this for any personal glory. I just thought of sharing this true story to highlight a grim reality, and the fact that we can make a difference, irrespective of how small the amount.
Microphilanthropy like Microfinance. Forget the Armani shoes, just lend a hand to the man without the legs.
How's the Idea?
I always found this ideology a bit regressive and rather unambitious.
Deriving succor and consolation by focusing our attention on the lesser fortunate was in fact a touch sadistic. Altruism was a virtue, compassion was the hallmark of humanity, but success, fame and fortune were the real pile drivers, the propellants that powered my thoughts and actions. The reality of a large number of our brethren languishing in misfortune, poverty, suffering was one of those
"What can I do about it" compromises that very easily sank below the horizon of cognition. The thoughts about their plight would surface once in a while, only to get submerged as fast as they arose.
I had operated on a 65 year old senior citizen. He had a severe lumbar disc prolapse due to a fall he sustained. He could barely walk a few steps and was in agonising pain. He was accompanied by his wife, who herself had been operated recently for some abdominal problem. The elderly couple had an expression of resigning to their fate. I could see the concern and care in the eyes of the lady for her ailing husband. They hailed from a nearby village, and were marginal farmers, tililng a small plot of land, just enough to eke out a living. They were not accompanied by any children or relatives.
I explained to them about the need for surgery, and the lady expectantly asked me if her husband would recover after the surgery. There is a widely prevalent belief in the vast majority, that spine surgery can never be successful. I don't know the etiology of this misconception, but I reassured her, that I'll make her husband walk the next day after surgery. She consented for the surgery either because she trusted me, or then decided to surrender to her destiny. I will never know exactly.
The surgery went off uneventfully and the next day, the old man walked. He had some soreness at the operative site, but the agonising, radiating pain had disappeared. They both were happy. After the 3 days of antibiotics, the i.v. line was removed and he was discharged on the 5th day.
Yesterday he came for removing the stitches. He was walking without any pain and looked cheerful. The old lady, very embarrassingly wanted to touch my feet. I stopped her from this insane subservience.
I casually asked her, why her children or relatives never visited during their hospital stay.
The old man narrated a touching tale.
They had 2 sons. The elder one had taken a loan and bought a taxi. He had two children and worked really hard. He had repaid almost 60 percent of the loan, when tragedy struck. He was hired by a person, to go to a village. There they were ambushed by people who wanted to kill the person who hired the taxi. That person escaped, and this taxi driver was killed in a fit of rage in this insane act of vengeance. The old man had tears in his eyes as he told me that they could never see their son again. The car was picked up by the bank and auctioned. The old couple had to take care of the their widowed daughter-in-law and their 2 grand children as the younger son was an alcoholic.
The daughter-in-law got a job in a factory, where she was paid a measely 160 Rs per day. There old couple toiled in the fields to harvest grain and some seasonal vegetables. I was overcome with grief on hearing their sordid saga.
Our state has one of the highest farmer suicide rates in the country. These marginal farmers really have a very rough life. They are lured by politicians for their votes during elections, only to be conveniently forgotten for the next 5 years.
They are used as pawns by the parties in their political slugfest, with perfunctory, cosmetic visits by ministers. Such a travesty of justice and relief to these unfortunate souls.
I enquired about the expenses of this family, and was told that their grand children attended school for which they needed about 1000 rupees every month. I wondered how in the world, could they manage all this with their meagre income.
I decided on the spur of the moment.
I asked the old lady for her bank details and promised her, that I will deposit 1000 Rs every month for her grand children's education. The condition being that the funds should be used only for the specific propose of their schooling.
1000 Rs. An amount that we casually spend for just a cup of coffee with a friend.
I'm seriously thinking of starting some micro philanthropic movement.
"Spare that cup of coffee for educating a child"
I'm sure, we all can easily manage to put aside a 1000 bucks. Think about it.
I'm not posting this for any personal glory. I just thought of sharing this true story to highlight a grim reality, and the fact that we can make a difference, irrespective of how small the amount.
Microphilanthropy like Microfinance. Forget the Armani shoes, just lend a hand to the man without the legs.
How's the Idea?
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