I've heard many among us lamenting that our children lack the basic courtesies and they're brittle against life's harsh realities. While the apologists might have reasons to back up their stand, I feel that they're on a weak wicket.
Every year, there's a phase when school children call on their neighbours for donations towards charity. It's in their curriculum under the heading of social upliftment and I hope that it's backed up by community services and interaction with the 'less fortunate' in society. It's education by itself for the young minds and would go a long way when they get to deal with the problems of the downtrodden in society.
Children have been coming to us, over the past few days, for such collections and it's always a treat to interact with them as they innocently give new twists to the interpretation of the activity. Obviously, there might be competition among themselves to see as to who is able to collect the highest amount and judging from the amounts received - they frequently exchange notes and carry out spot checks of the collections made, to identify the liberal of the donors - make a beeline to the more benevolent donors.
Arunima, studying in class IX of a reputed school nearby, was at our door - she was the third child to call on us said Lekha - just as I came back in, from my customary walk. I was taken aback when the little one sweetly said that we'd to pay a minimum of Rs.20/- as contribution.
It was then that I told her that the amount to be donated was the sole decision of the donor and any amount given by him/her should be accepted in the right spirit. There's no question of grudges or making fun of the quantum of the donation, thereafter. I didn't want to be harsh on the child and desisted from saying that insisting on an amount would be akin to 'extortion' of sorts. Probably, she's not been briefed properly by her teacher, parents or elders or it could have been just the tactic of the kid to 'catch up' with her friends who'd, by then, collected sizeable amounts!
But children are innocent and they learn from their elders. Therefore, it's incumbent on each one of us to guide them on to the right path - by doing so, they'd acquire the right courtesies and will be able to take on the harshest of realities that life throws up!
Tailpiece.
In Kerala, there are times when you're stopped by people on the wayside with a bucket, asking for donations. If one's driving one's personal car, then they decide on the quantum of donation probably, based on the assumption that one's rolling on it because one can afford a car - glitzier the car, the higher the donations expected. They care a damn about one's car loan or the EMIs. And boy, one can incur their wrath if one doesn't measure up to their calculations(There have been umpteen number of cases in the past where motorists have had harrowing times)!
I wonder whether they realise the fact that such acts are tantamount to extortion.
And who said that it was only the misguided, ruthless terrorists who resorted to it?
Every year, there's a phase when school children call on their neighbours for donations towards charity. It's in their curriculum under the heading of social upliftment and I hope that it's backed up by community services and interaction with the 'less fortunate' in society. It's education by itself for the young minds and would go a long way when they get to deal with the problems of the downtrodden in society.
Children have been coming to us, over the past few days, for such collections and it's always a treat to interact with them as they innocently give new twists to the interpretation of the activity. Obviously, there might be competition among themselves to see as to who is able to collect the highest amount and judging from the amounts received - they frequently exchange notes and carry out spot checks of the collections made, to identify the liberal of the donors - make a beeline to the more benevolent donors.
Arunima, studying in class IX of a reputed school nearby, was at our door - she was the third child to call on us said Lekha - just as I came back in, from my customary walk. I was taken aback when the little one sweetly said that we'd to pay a minimum of Rs.20/- as contribution.
It was then that I told her that the amount to be donated was the sole decision of the donor and any amount given by him/her should be accepted in the right spirit. There's no question of grudges or making fun of the quantum of the donation, thereafter. I didn't want to be harsh on the child and desisted from saying that insisting on an amount would be akin to 'extortion' of sorts. Probably, she's not been briefed properly by her teacher, parents or elders or it could have been just the tactic of the kid to 'catch up' with her friends who'd, by then, collected sizeable amounts!
But children are innocent and they learn from their elders. Therefore, it's incumbent on each one of us to guide them on to the right path - by doing so, they'd acquire the right courtesies and will be able to take on the harshest of realities that life throws up!
Tailpiece.
In Kerala, there are times when you're stopped by people on the wayside with a bucket, asking for donations. If one's driving one's personal car, then they decide on the quantum of donation probably, based on the assumption that one's rolling on it because one can afford a car - glitzier the car, the higher the donations expected. They care a damn about one's car loan or the EMIs. And boy, one can incur their wrath if one doesn't measure up to their calculations(There have been umpteen number of cases in the past where motorists have had harrowing times)!
I wonder whether they realise the fact that such acts are tantamount to extortion.
And who said that it was only the misguided, ruthless terrorists who resorted to it?
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