LET'S SHARE EXPERIENCES... : A DAY OF JOY GIVING...

Swami Vivekanda (Swamiji) or Narendra Nath Datta the man of service, the man of giving, a lesson in himself was an Indian Hindu monk and the chief discipline of the 19th century saint Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. He was born on 12th January 1863 and this day is not just celebrated in India but across the world. Today on this auspicious occasion of 152nd Birth anniversary of swamiji and the national youth day we decided to celebrate the day uniquely yet following swamiji’s teachings.

Well, I believe that “hunger is not an issue of charity but justice…” and on this note me and few of my friends agreed to support a noble cause for donating food to the needy on this day. I would like to mention here that 36meals (Bangalore) is doing a wonderful job of filling the empty poor stomachs. The day just started well when my friends showed faith in me and came up helping. The overwhelming response, donations and food grains which we received was commendable (all these came from college students i.e. Indian Youth itself).

We started with receiving all these donations and articles at around 11am. By 12:30pm we got rich enough with some 1,650 rupees, 10 kg of grocery (rice grains, wheat grains, and tuvar dal grains) and around 100-120 clothes. We than went to market nearby for buying some: 18kg of Oranges, 14kg of Potatoes, 4kg of Laddus (Sweets), 100 pieces of Samosas (Snacks), few paper dishes and bags in all spending those 1,650 rupees we received. By 1:30pm we were all set to leave with sorted food packs.

We selected three slum areas nearby our college: (i) Parshuram Bhatta Slum (Sayajigunj, Vadodara), (ii) Slum Behind Railways Station (Sayajigunj, Vadodara), (iii) Slum Opposite University Office (Fatehgunj, Vadodara). We went one by one to all these places and distributed samosas, laddus, and oranges to all kids, adults and oldies. We distributed grain and potato packets to the females of the slum, and gave clothes to the kids and oldies according to their need and size. In these three slums we covered in all some 100-150 individuals and tried to fulfill their needs.

Those incredible smiles, thank you and blessings which these needy people showered on us was all what I wished for. While they had shiny eyes, I had watery eyes. I lately realized that today we unknowingly have earned 150 smiles, I realized we were the reason for someone’s happiness today, and all these thoughts made me wonder is it fair on my part that being brought up in a well to do Guajarati family and seeing the comforts all alone when I need it the least?? Can’t I share a bit of it with these people?? And Yes I did shared a bit today.

No, this event was not just for today. From today I have started towards a better and better India. I promise to serve the society the needy rather in any of the ways I can from today onwards. Today I haven’t done CHARITY in fact I have EARNED blessings for me and smiles for them.

I would like to say proudly that it was only and only because of my friends (Anurita Harshe, Avnish Raval, Dhaval Bhatt, Tarlin Bajwa, Hiren Patel, and Riti Mukherjee) that I could execute this event successfully. Though things seemed very difficult and almost impossible in the beginning with we all having all sorts of difference in opinions but then you all deserve the loudest applause for being the greatest support of this event.

Last but never the least I heartily congratulate Mr. Sujit Lalwani (founder of 36meals) for having such a wonderful plan for today’s occasion and a lot of thanks to Arun Chikkamarappa for involving me in this noble cause.

I wish for many more events, many more smiles, many more enlightened lives and a better India tomorrow.