Why do people give alms? I guess because they pity the beggar and his condition.
Why then do they pay him a meager Rs. 1 coin (some people graciously offer 2). What in the world is he supposed to purchase from it? Chintoo Candy? or Tiger biscuit? And if that buck is useless to him, what exactly does giving a buck signify? I think it is a mere gesture, coming more out of guilt and habit. Isnt it the 'guilt'? The guilt of what the onlookers will think? Or the guilt that I am richer than this guy? If No, if it is really out of pity, then why dont you think of some better places to invest your hard earned money (OR your father's hard earned money) in some NGO which works towards the long term elevation of Poverty? Or, if you want to help that particular person, sponsor his meal, or give him a blanket, or Rs.10, or any think he can actually use. Surely there are better ways to help the beggar than literally throwing a buck in his 'katora"
Some people will argue, We feel a sense of satisfaction.
I will just say one thing. Think!!!
Aren't you hurting a human being's dignity for that satisfation?
Some will say, he is starving, fighting to stay alive, he cannot afford 'Dignity'
I will say just one thing. Remeber by giving alms, you are actually helping yourself (to overcome the guilt) and not the beggar.(1 rupee isnt helping him anyway)
For people who are still not convinced, THINK and comment
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9 comments:
10 people give one rupee. That makes it 10 Rs.
The problem is we only think and blog...so I have no right nto comment..
Apoorv I think your post has touched upon the "why" people give alms??? But you have missed one serious and very significant "why"!
Religious reason!
Most major religions endorses giving alms to poor. This takes serious dimensions in case of very organised and scripture-driven religions like Christianity and Islam!
You have no idea the scale of such alms...there are proper organised syndicates that operate during important festivals of all the major religions. These syndicates travel extensively across India to collect alms. I will cite one example...During important muslim festival like, Id-ul-fitr, Id-ul-Zuha etc these syndicates cover important idgahs and shrines and collect alms in the tune of crores. Each beggar has a fixed payment which varies from 500-5000 per day!
I strongly disagree to a couple of your thoughts. I will share my take on those later.
@swapnil I dont think u understood what I tried to say.
@aditya everybody has a right to comment... but an even bigger responsibility to follow what you preach afterwords.....
@Rajkamal I just wanted to write on the 'thoughtless' gesture of giving alms to beggars on roadsides, or in trains or in other such places... What you speak of is Charity... I have tried not to touch that topic
Apoorv...Correct me if I am wrong. Are the people throwing coins at the beggars after emerging from places of worship doing charity???
Do you mean to say that giving alm to a beggar in "in trains or in other such places" is like a "'thoughtless' gesture" and doing the same in a place of worship "Charity"???
So do you think that mere geographic co-ordinates determine the novelty of an action?
@Rajkamal Not at all. They are equally senseless and futile. I call it 'charity' when people decide to give alms after giving it a considerable thought(They have some reason to do it rather than mere instinct...). Even in religious places, its instinctive, and comes under alms. I want to exclude the money given under the name of charity from the discussion right now (like money given to temple, or common meals, or by the ways you mentioned earlier)
Good. i think it a contri of guilt and pity.
So Apoorv, whats your point. What I mentioned in my primary post is about begging....and not charity.
So let there be no doubt about that. This because it will help to carry the discussion forward.
your "1 re is too less" theory is very unconvincing. After all its what the beggars collect at the end of the day that matters. And people giving alms is not just based on immediate instinct but also is heavily influenced by the amount of money in their wallets/purses, amount of time they have, in what mood they are at that point of time, if they desperately need coins, if they want to get rid of coins and also very importantly the exterior of the beggar and his/her level of misery.
And 1 Re theory is not valid because I have come across many people giving a fiver/ten..etc etc.
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