IT WAS the beginning of monsoon season and there were intermittent rainy spells. The countryside was looking bright with fresh green sprouts of leaves and grass. A lone aged farmer was painstakingly digging pits and planting mango saplings beside the road near his village.

 

 

The ruler of the province happened to pass by and observed the old man engaged singularly in the strenuous activity. He commented that the old man was indulging in futile activity, since it would take many years for the sapling to grow and yield fruit and the person may perhaps not survive that long to enjoy the fruits of his labour. The old man replied that he was fortunate to enjoy fruits of trees planted by the people of previous generation and he was repaying the debt by planting trees whose fruits could benefit the future generation.

 

 

In our earthly existence, we are continuously receiving something, in some form, from someone, all through our life. Our birth is the biological contribution from our parents supported by the consciousness or life force emanating from esoteric Supreme Power. We receive guidance, education, experience and mentoring from elders, teachers, and much needed support from friends and peers. We are continuously enjoying all bounties of nature, air, light, water, food, the mineral wealth, the delightful sights of flora and fauna, etc. In fact the entire eco system of earth is giving us something while we are not in a position to give back anything. In the civilised social system, we are receiving variety of tangible and intangible benefits at various points of time.

 

 

Normally any person would reply Life is in Living, if asked about what is meaning, aim or purpose of life. But the essence of a meaningful and purposeful existence can be described as Life is in Giving, as illustrated by above anecdote of selfless sacrifice of old farmer. This is because during our earthly sojourn, we are deriving much benefits from others, it becomes our bounden duty to give back to the family, society and community in manifold measures what we have received.

 

 

Alfred Nobel who earned a fortune by inventing and selling dynamite, set up the Nobel Prize Foundation to give back to the world munificently whatever he had earned in his life time. Philanthropists like John D. Rockefeller, the oil industry business magnate, Bill Gates, the technology czar of America, and nearer home industrialists and entrepreneurs Azim Premji and Narayan Murthy as also the Tata Group have distributed much of their personal wealth for social and charitable causes.

 

 

In our Indian mythology, Rishi Dadhichi gave his body in sacrifice for a just cause in the ancient times. It must be clearly understood that the act of giving does not pertain solely to distributing money or material wealth. We can give back to society and community in various other forms by our dedicated service or voluntary efforts without expecting anything in return. There are committed individuals taking care of elders, sick and ailing, underprivileged and orphans abandoned, exploited or neglected by society, for example Baba Amte, Kailash Satyarthi, Sindhutai Sapkal, Shankarbaba Papalkar, and others. Even Anand Kumar of Super 30 fame, who prepares poor and talented children for IIT admission can be an instance to the point. There are volunteers who undertake cleaning activity at public places, some help in regulating traffic, some donate blood, some others provide relief services during emergency situation etc. Finally, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, “It is only work that is done as freewill offering to humanity and to nature that does not bring with it any binding attachment.”