One of my friends is coming up with an initiative to give a push to the ailing weaving community in the drought-ridden ettayapuram village. When we had met in college, he explained his plan of action in detail and how everybody seems to be keen in making this work, and how this could become a self-sustaining economic model. Had he talked to me about this a few months back, i would have fallen... but not any longer....
Behind the mask of philanthropy, and behind the "eschewing selfishness and self-interest" crap, i was curious to find out what this serving the society thing was all about... turns out that its pretty simple... people simply want to assure themselves of their importance, and justify their existence to the rest of the world...
It goes like this - "See, I am this nice person and all, and am happy with life, and look at you... poor man... i pity you very much... here, take this and be happy... dont forget to thank me..." attitude outside, and inside, its like "Am i great or what! i could have used this money anywhere.. instead, i chose to give it to these poor people... and boy, i am happy that i am not one of them" - a kind of justifying one's own existence, and a silly happiness on the lines of "See, i made a difference"!
In addition, its only too easy to patronise one's services... and i've seen this happen time and again...
i wouldnt want to fall into one of these categories...
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5 comments:
I am not an idealist and am a (passive) opponent of social service and charity. Yet, I don't think it is only those (shared?) feelings that make you hate this fruit so much. It must be a mix of previous experiences with him and the images of self-concious society ladies at charity galas (Lady Diana hugging mine-stricken children, anyone?).
What's my point here? Nothing! Am in office at this ungodly hour and wanted to comment on your lovely post.
Adding ....."See, I masturbate my ego using these services.......please take pity on me and acknowledge my efforts........as this is the farthest sexual pleasure my sorry ass can manage.....I have tried every woman in sight and every female having a copper wire for bandwidth.......still here I am...".
However much I hate to say this, there's some truth in what you've said.
With that out of the way, aren't you trying to paint everyone in the same cynical shades as yourself? Besides, wouldn't this be a mild case of the end justifying the means?
Correction :
1. i dont have anything agaist this person.. in fact, we are good friends, and will continue to be if he has enough sense to take criticism as criticism.
2. i dont despise social work... only, i wont do it.
I think whatever ishwar has written holds good for famous people.... not for ppl like sanjeet. It was a good gesture on part of sanjeet.
PS: I like to add.... I dont want to do charity either.
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