Reflections @60: Giving Without A Thought

This is the last of my 60 planned posts of Reflections @60. Thank you for your time and feedback.

Reflections @60: Giving without A Thought!

A tall claim I thought to myself, when I read that there is no element of life that is not covered in Mahabharat. One of my favourite tales involves Arjuna asking Sri Krishna, ‘Why is Karna considered the ultimate donor? Does my elder brother Dharmaraja not give as much?’ The Lord used the concept of learner seeing for themselves the reason for that title and gave a small hillock of gold to Dharmaraja to distribute among people. Dharmaraja being fair minded wanted to ensure the hillock was divided equally and he personally supervised the distribution. Next the Lord gave Karna a similar hillock and asked him to distribute it among people. Karna called the people together and told them to divide the hillock amongst themselves and walked away without looking back at what he had given.

In today’s world, if we want to see Karna, I do not think we need to look beyond Sri Azim Premji. A philanthropist who has given the society an amount equal to a few small hillocks of gold, and given it like Karna, without any pomp or ceremony. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been associated with him for more than a decade to personally know that simplicity and magnanimity is his inherent trait, just as the armour and earrings were Karna’s inborn accessories. Unlike in Karna’s case, even if Mr. Premji gives it to others around him, he will still have it as it is an intangible asset like the software that brought him fame and fortune.

Having started with the most inspirational person of the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi, I feel it is only appropriate that I end my 60th reflection with Azim Hasham Premji, the most inspirational person I have met.

Thank you for being a part of my journey over the last 60 days. Grateful to you for your company.