The New Good Samaritans


For some, the seeds were sown when they were quite young, while for others certain incidents served as turning points in their life. An employee’s sudden demise altered Ranvir Shah’s view of life, while entrepreneur Ashish Dhawan had formed an idea, though nebulous, that when he touched 40, he would give back to society. An increase in profits for industrialist C V Jacob would help raise the outlay towards charity, while Infosys honcho Binod Hampapur Rangadore sought to build a hospital in his father’s memory.

Similar thoughts have sprung up in the minds of other equally successful entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. These are the new philanthropists on the block, many of them young and restless, setting a refreshing new tone to India’s giving outlook.      

Philanthropy is not new to Indian culture. It is replete with examples of generosity, charity and giving. Much before India’s charity poster boy Azim Premji, the legends of Karna in Mahabharata and Raja Harishchandra were symbols of unselfish benevolence. Even Lord Brahma’s instruction ‘da’ was interpreted by human beings as ‘datta’—to give in charity. The Bhagavad Gita says that one who enjoys abundance without sharing with others in indeed a thief. Yet in the latest World Giving Index covering 135 countries, with three parameters of giving—helping a stranger, volunteering time and donating money—India (69) is still far from its smaller neighbours, Sri Lanka (9) and Myanmar (1). It, however, fares better than other developing nations like China (128) and Brazil (90)—and has risen from 134 in 2010...............Read more

 

Source web page: The New Indian Express


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