The practice of giving was inculcated by me since childhood from my parents.  As a child, I remember the first act of giving was saving one handful of the food and vegetable daily and keeping it aside in two separate bowls on specified days.  Four children, parents, grandfather, cousins and relatives staying with us occasionally; so a decent quantity would accumulate in the bowls.  My mother used to keep it for an old lady (a rag picker) and a deaf & dumb boy. Even during difficult times, she ensured that this ‘annadhan’ was done.

Another childhood remembrance was giving away old clothes. As Sumana mentioned, neatly washed and folded, duly ensuring that the stitches, buttons, zibs are in place.  I also recollect passing over the textbooks, notes, copies, pencil boxes, geometry boxes and every other odd thing to other needy friends in school, neighbourhood and amongst relatives.  And not to speak of sharing of tiffin boxes ! These childhood habits still continue.

I will share some of the important ‘gives’ which creates a feeling of pride in me today.  The first one is the free tuitions I had undertaken to a girl while I was in my 12^th standard.  She was 5/6 years elder to me and had been repeatedly failing in SSLC in English and Maths papers. She could not afford any fees, her mother was working as a cleaner in a nearby bakery shop. She had got engaged to a workshop owner with the condition that she should atleast clear her SSLC so that she can join some vocational course. It was quite a challenge to me because I too was in a crucial year. Nothing would go into her head and most of the days, she would start crying much to my embarrassment.  But I somehow managed and she cleared the exams securing slightly over the pass marks ! Later on, she did a course on tailoring and now earns quite a lot. Even now, her family remembers this.

Similar tution I offered to our vegetable vendor’s son during his college days.  In fact, Akka (elder sister), for more than three years, delivered fruits and vegetables “free of cost” to our house and received her payments only after I joined IOB ! The son was ok boy but seemed to be lagging behind suddenly.  Slowly I extracted the news from him that he was in love with a girl who later on decided to leave him.  When the boy used to come for tuitions, I would slowly divert him with pep talk, took lot of care and over a period of time, he realized his responsibilities towards his family. Later he did his post-graduation too and now leads a settled life.

During my first posting in Kolkata in 1988, food was major problem.  Further, that was the first time I was away from my home and was not used to other foods.  One boy, Velu, used to sell idlis and chutney near Fairlie Place.  And for months; till I started tasting the luchi, aloo dum, dim (egg) and mach (fish); that was my breakfast.  We were 20 of us in our batch posted there and slowly I convinced all of them to have idlis! Good marketing skills, nah? One fine day, out of sheer boredom, I asked Velu to diversify to dosa, vada etc. I contributed Rs.1000/- and my friends chipped in with their contributions.  I also collected some amount from the south Indians working in that area and gave Velu Rs.4,000/- to purchase a tela (cart), utensils, gas stoves, etc.  Velu brought his brothers and cousins too from far south and with his hard work, expanded his business to Tollygunge, Chittaranjan Avenue, Sealdah and Salt Lake by the time I left Kolkata in mid-1994.  I refused to take back the money. But on his insistence, a few items in the first birthday party of my daughter was sponsored by him – Masala dosa, Dahi Vada, Rava Kesari.  When I met him in 2001 during my last visit to Kolkata, Velu was happily married with children, one of them whom he had named Vengatesh.  He could not contain his tears as we sat near the Ferry Ghat near Strand Road and talked our way through; with my daughter watching it.  I never imagined such things would happen in real life.

In Bhopal, my next place of posting, things were not that developed during that time. Transport system was poor and one had to rely on his own vehicle.  It was my experience that payment of telephone, electricity and water bills, booking of tickets, etc.  were quite a problem since there were hardly 2/3 payment / booking centers.  I was pretty impressed with one Sardarji boy (for that matter, all sardars are !) who worked in the only departmental store located nearby.  I suggested him to undertake the work of payment of bills and charge a nominal fee for that. I suggested that he makes payment first and then claim reimbursement since it was difficult to convince people to part with the money to a new person. I funded him with an initial amount of Rs.3,500/-. Soon by his hard work and sincerity, he started earning lot of good will and began doing good job.  He also engaged boys for reserving train/bus tickets and local courier. I have not visited Bhopal after I left the place in 1999, but heard that he is now into LIC agency also.  In October, I am planning to visit Bhopal and for sure, when I meet him, I would shout BALLE BALLE and dance Bhangra with him !!

At Chennai, I was in a touring department during my first five years of my tenure.  I had the opportunity to visit almost all the major districts.  My tours would last for 15-20 days and once a year, would stretch upto 2 and half months. Since my kids were small, I used to miss them a lot and at times, even resorted to the unpleasant situation of resisting these tours. But office exigencies are always there and I had to reconcile. Later on, I decided to solidly utilize those trips to do something useful.  Personally I felt the most useful and easiest way we can help others is by teaching them.  I used to stay in a particular hotel every time and picked up one room boy for my ‘mission’.  My evenings would be spent fruitfully chatting with those boys and knowing about the city and the places around and doing a bit of ‘market intelligence’ work also for my bank. I motivated a few boys to appear for their 10^th / 12^th exams.  For those who had no/limited education, I would teach them little bit of reading and writing and some tips on etiquettes and manners which would be useful for them. I would follow up the progress during my subsequent trips. I impressed upon my colleagues also to stay in those hotels and keep an eye on them.  The room boys and other hotel staff started giving me good company and would join me on my morning walks/exercises, movies, nearby sight seeing, help me in local shopping,  etc. No cost involved for me, I just had to give them my time and care.

My next two years in Chennai gave me ample opportunities for practicing the art of giving since I was posted to the HRD Cell in our office. That was indeed the turning point in my life.

At Jaipur, my present department offers ample scope for me to visit the interior parts of the state, interact with the villagers, artisans, self help group members, MFIs and the general public. Many a times, they narrate their problems which require appropriate interventions.

Despite the hectic pace of life, I find that these activities keep us mentally so fit and active.  The very thought of some good things happening to people around us makes us forget our load.  Indeed helping and giving is the best source of satisfaction and one should, as per his ability and means, never hesitate to do so.

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