Charity begins at home....

When I opened up the online edition of the Times of India today, I was greeted by a disturbing news : "Record 1 billion go hungry, says UN". I thought that was bad news until I found the next article -"India tops world hunger chart"! Click here  India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report says.....

I had a good picture of India in my mind until I saw Slumdog Millionaire - it changed my perceptions completely. I knew that life was tough in the slums but this...Here I am, a middle aged guy, slighly pot bellied and steadily going bald, having two kids going to school, a doting wife, enough food to eat and a comfortable warm home to go to at the end of the day. I had never thought of a world beyond my family - why should I? Charity begins at home, right?

Well most of us would agree to this philosophy. But the question is should it be restricted to your home once you have crossed the LOC? (Line of comfort). I am sure there are a lot of people among us who regularly contribute to charities and I have high regards for them. What makes them contribute when they have their own needs to take care of? That brings me to another artice in the Times of India where the richest man in Rayalaseema (industrialist and Congress MLA TG Venkatesh) contributed Rs. 1 Crore to the PM's Relief fund - at a time when he lost his own home in the flood that devastated Andhra recently! I asked myself the question " Would I have done what he did?" I tell myself, in all probability, no. That is the time I realize that I am the most selfish guy on earth.

Now, what can I do about correcting this imbalance? 1 Billion going hungry all over the world and 230 million undernourished in India! No, surely I cannot help all of them! But I can make a start by conributing a small part of my earnings to help atleast one of them to get aleast a square meal a day and if possible, a decent education for the young ones. I don't have to look far, there are a lot of takers in my neighbourhood back home itself...

Just thinking about what I can possibly do makes me happy. I realize the fact that this small gesture from me can bring a smile to a poverty ravaged face somewhere..

I hope you will join me in this crusade. Let us make a small difference.

Charity begins at home, but should it stay there?