Selfless Giving: A Way of Life in India

Over the last few days, newspapers across the country have been filled with reportage about the Pulwama attacks. And, rightfully so. As an Indian, I am devastated by the dastardly attacks on heroes of our nation. At the same time, I am confident that the criminal minds behind the attack will be brought to justice soon.

As our nation strives to overcome this pall of gloom, there are a few reasons to cheer. The undying spirit of unity and empathy displayed by our countrymen – over and above social barricades of class and standing is one of them. On Sunday, the Mumbai edition of India’s leading daily, The Times Of India, reported that daily wage earners pledged their daily earnings for the families of the martyrs.

At first glance, such local-scale giving may seem mundane and insignificant. But, think about it. It is indeed heartening to see such charitable acts from people who often have a hand-to-mouth existence. Even amidst their daily struggle for survival, they find a reason to share whatever little they have with others. This act of generosity helped me realize that you are never too weak to help others. And, that a small gesture of kindness can go a long way.

For me, the act signified true charity. These actions reinforced my belief in the culture of our great country which derives its strength from selfless service. Corporations donate millions of rupees as a part of their corporate social responsibility efforts. They are also directed by the law to do so. However, for the nameless Indians featured in the above article, such charity is not a necessity. No law compels them nor do they stand to benefit from the publicity of such actions. They donate to charity because they believe in the act. They do it for their countrymen and the prosperity of their nation.

Personally, the read swelled my heart with pride, belief and hope. Given that a significant portion of India’s population is at the bottom of the pyramid, such acts by millions of Indians in this stratum accumulate to create a spiralling effect. Their modest offerings make the act of giving more meaningful and impactful.

Reading about the act also strengthened my conviction in our business model. At Capri Global, our mission is to shape the prosperity of India’s micro, small and medium (MSME) organizations with limited credit history by delivering finance.  Indeed, millions at the bottom of the pyramid are worthy of more credit, and financial assistance than that is offered to them currently. Their righteousness is beyond doubt and their altruism is unquestionable. They are more deserving than what corporate norms make them to be. I have detailed my ringside observations about the Indian way of doing business in a different blog, which you can read here.

It is time that we open our purses more generously to them.