3. My Heros -Altruists
They say you admire what you are not, and I can vouch for it. For a person who has trouble giving away an old ill-fitting pant, people like Mother Theresa and Azim Premji amaze me. Their self-less behavior is inspirational and appeals to my heart as they are an exception where the norm for personal behavior is to be selfish if not self-centered. While all self-less acts appeal to me, I am intrigued and enamored by what triggers charity and how it evolves into philanthropy. Further meeting people who embody sensitivity by engaging themselves in alleviating human suffering as a way of their life irrespective of their personal discomforts triggers a reflective mood born of sheer admiration.
Charity-as the etymology of the word suggests, charity is derived from the Latin word caritas meaning care, dearness or affection. Charity is an individual’s response to an emotional appeal for help to provides solace to a suffering individual or a group facing survival threat. The most common form of charity we see is alms provided to the hungry and sick, or contributions made to provide relief to victims of natural or man-made calamities.
Philanthropy -derived from the Greek words meaning love of mankind, philanthropy combines the emotional spark of charity and sustains it with a deeper reflection fueled by the intellect. The aim is to eliminate human suffering for a larger group, with continuing efforts. Charitable hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes, and educational institutions are the most visible forms of philanthropy.
Ethical conduct-Arising from within, i.e. ethos, ethical conduct is based on the character of an individual who is sensitive to human needs and works to alleviate human suffering. Gurudwara, the Sikh’s place of worship, that feeds everyone without discrimination is the most enduring and visible institutional example. At an individual level, self-less professionals like doctors, lawyers and teachers providing their services to the most deserving members of our society ignoring their own commercial benefits exemplify it.
In an increasingly commercial world, I believe there is none in our society who is untouched by and has not benefited from altruistic acts of others in our society. I pray that appreciation is only the first step of many more I need to take for me to internalize their value.
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