While Rachel was having her piano lessons, I had an hour to browse through whatever magazines and periodicals I could get hold of. What caught my eye this time was an article on Philanthrophy and women philanthrophists in particular.
Mrs Rohini Nilekani, the wife of tech-giant Infosys Technologies' cofounder Nandan Nilekani has been generous in donating to multiple causes for the betterment of her people in India. Mrs Nilekani is touted to have donated more than $40 mil over the years. The project mentioned in the Forbes Mar 2010 article wrote about how one of her charities - Arghyam ('offering' in Sanskrit) had helped a group of villagers to build toilets... something that most of us take for granted to be part of our homes!
I also liked the comment "We were so middle class to the core, and we had the typical denial attitude towards money". However, she was also able to realise that there is something of a different scale that can be achieved with money. I must say this is money in the right perspective.
My aim in bringing up the kids is that even with the little (pocket money) they have, they will learn the art of charity. I have noticed that whenever Lunar New Year comes along, St Luke's Hospital will issue hong-baos for the children to think of the less fortunate and to share their hong-bao collection with the hospital. While the quantum from the kids are insignificant in comparison to the expenses involved in running a hospital, the act of caring for people will help them to be more appreciative of the blessings they have.
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment