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| Katy Perry is not poor, She purposely dint wear anything that day. |
One day a beggar came begging to my house with an infant in her hand. My Mom said "She comes every week, give her a rupee”. But instead, my sister called the beggar and offered her a job. She will have to clean the house and wash the dishes. Herself and her child can stay in our outhouse and can dine with us. She will be given a monthly salary of 2000 rupees.(Which is very a nice money in a village, My mom was a high school teacher and she earned 4500 rupees.) and also, the child will be sent to school.
The beggar woman reluctantly said "OK" and she said that she will come tomorrow. She was never seen again.
* * *
"What is poverty?" I questioned some of my friends.
Most of them answered "it's no money in the pocket", Some answered "it’s the lack of basic necessities.", And a few '(wanna be different)s' said "It's the lack of opportunities.
The UNO and the World Bank were no big different from them.
"Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money"- Wikipedia.
"Poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity"- United Nations Organization.
"Poverty is living on less than US $1.25 (PPP) per day"- The World Bank.
Thank you for skimming, because the part I want you to read is here-
I would define "Poverty is an attitude!" It is a mind-set, a convincing feeling that convinces someone that "this is enough for me." or "this is my destiny." It is a matter of self-esteem.
Let me explain. The beggar women although she was given a non-speculative source of economy, healthcare, food security and a shelter. She refused to work. The reason is plain and simple "They got very used to 'not-to-work'. This is the point. They don’t really urge to move up, and they are pretty comfy in being what they are. Whereas, the Rich on the other side, are obsessed with money. And they are always busy on thinking how to make more money. The More you think of making more money, the richer you become. This is the secret. The reason- why rich get richer and poor gets poorer.
Once a poor starts dreaming of managing a billion dollars! He will at least die as a guy with a decent income. But there are exceptionals like Dhirubhai Ambani, Carolos Slim Helu and Warren Buffet. They dreamt of managing a billion dollars, and they are managing a billion dollars. Such is the power of their dream, their perseverance and the way they created opportunities. Don’t tell me, the poor lack opportunities. If they really yearn to be rich, they will create their own opportunities.
The good part is, if poor man dreams of becoming a billionaire, At least his grandson or great-grandson will become one. Because "like father, like son." I Am not kidding, Robert Kiyosaki's Best seller and All time Financial advice book "Rich dad Poor dad" talks all about this thingy. Once the attitude is sowed inside the son, it begins to grow!
Solution?
I don’t know any solution for poverty. But, I got one for beggary.
[Parable- If someone asks you to run 1 kilometre. You might finish the circuit in 5 or 6 minutes. If a mad dog is after you, you might finish it in a minute or two. If its tsunami, you will do it in less than a minute.]
Simple, if we all stop giving them alms. And hopefully, If there is no manna falling. Work becomes a necessity (dog-run scenario)!! and beggary comes to end!. So, to solve beggary, first we must create employment opportunities for illiterate freshers.
BUT, if i had published this before two or three centuries, i would have been excommunicated. (Worst case scenario- crucifixion). Because, all the religions except Atheism is against my idea.
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| Ravi Varma's painting |
- Zakāt is one of the five pillars of Islam. (Zakāt is giving alms to poor.)
- The Bible- "Rather, give as alms what is inside, and then everything will be clean for you!"-Luke 11:4 "Give to anyone who asks"- Luke 6:30
- In Hinduism, they call is Bhiksha. Bhiksha purifies your soul and reduces your sins according to karma belief.
- In Buddhism, Alms are given to the poor and to the monks to nurture laic virtue and to ensure the monastic continuity.
I don't know. Do not show compassion to a beggar next time. Thanks for reading.
If you have any solution for poverty, or any better solution for beggary. OR if you think the whole idea is crap. Please feel free to comment below.
nice work dude !!! but al times this might not work ,because even educated person will become rude if he/she don get what they want from others . in that case , most of the beggers will be uneducated so they don most of them willnot have broad mind to think what to do next . so there is a chance of indulging them in robber , murder etc etc .. so finding solution for this v can quote "theruda na paarthu thiruntha vittaal thiruttai olikka mudiyathu "
ReplyDeleteYes i agree..n No i dont...
ReplyDeleteBro, u n me nt takin a rickshaw ride,nah, that's not gonna curb cycle rickshaws 4m delhi, u n i start leading 1 person on hw 2 get an auto loan(of course you need to bribe d bank,well dats a whole diff ball game) makes a lil change,talkin 2 ten, 2 may end up in an auto...givin opportunity 2 10 beggars 1 may accept n dat 1 may lead 2 another...bt not feedin them is a personal discretion dude. well if he is fit n healthy..nah, u dont, u talk him out of it..if they r challenged,or old..feed em, giv em some money,bt still open their eyes to opportunities..1 person changing is a big hit,trust me, word of mouth is still the best advertisement..altogether its a good read,d parable is pretty awesome,kudos if its from ur head..bye nw..take it easy...
We had a discussion bordering around this in our reading club - we were discussing this book called THE HELP. The poor will always be with us. Poverty in the material realm is easy to identify because of its measurable manifestations. We are humbled in some way and made to rely or depend on others to hold out our hands and plead for alms. Our emotions are sharpened by our ability take give and take. I would say that the one who is not will to receive is as poor as the one who do not have the capacity to give
ReplyDeletesuthan, first of all, a really well written piece with plenty of food for thought.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, i do agree with most of what's written, though I have to say that giving alms is more of a reflection on our hearts rather than an encouragement of unemployment.
ur last line, while easier said, difficult to carry out, for all the softies out there *especially kids*. but i agree with you, teach a man to fish, and you feed them for life. i dont know how it is like in india, maybe education plays an important role here? the one thing i completely agree with you is, if a man wants to make money, he will create his own opportunities. it was a fun read. :)
Couldn't agree more with what you've said. When I have to work my ass of to make a living why should I spare money to someone who isn't ready to do the same.
ReplyDeleteI might have sounded a bit condescending, but like you said the only thing we need to ensure is that they are given opportunities. Making a living with the resources provided to them is in their hands- if they aren't ready to work it isn't our problem.
BTW, you just called Atheism a religion. Remember that punch-line I said a year back? ;)
@AnAnD
ReplyDeleteThanks dude. I thought about it! And i totally agree with you. In this case we need a very powerful police force. Police who can’t be bought by bribe. That is again like a cold day in hell
@Rathan
Yes! You and I not going in the rickshaw will not change the scene. But when all of them in Delhi refuse to go, it will change. Let’s start it with you and me. And the loan! The Government and many non-profits are willing to loan budding entrepreneurs. But, there is seriously no use if I give a lakh of rupees to a beggar in the subway. He will buy marijuana and tea for one lakh! Or he will go ludicrous! Unless, If he is ready to manage one lakh.
@Benedict G
True. Eradication of poverty is kind of Utopian. And what you say is pretty new. I will take in and chew :)
@Sabrina
Thanks Sab. You know! I see these beggars in the streets with their kids, nudging us with the utmost pity faces. That melts our heart, and I give them money or I buy them food. Because, if we believe in fraternity and if we consider it's our brother and sister who is begging! We would give everything we have to help them. But, what is hard to digest is, the kids will grow with the same attitude. And for , they become malnutritioned too.
This is the Government's responsibility to take care of these Children and their parents(According to Convention on the Rights of the Children by the United Nations.) A powerful Institution must come with the knowledge of this attitude problem. The Government must have a separate ministry for inclusive development.
@Gouthaman Karunakaran
:) Yes, If it is a matter of attitude, one should pay for their bad attitude right? :P and Yes, thanks for making me understand that Atheism is a religion :)
Having lived in India for 26 yrs and living in USA for 14 yrs, I see the state of being poor (termed as poverty) is relative to context. If you look at the word 'poverty', in way the definition given by Wikipedia, UNO and WB are okay. They mean poverty in a face value term. I think what you are trying to skim is the 'state of being poor'. State of being poor is an 'outcome' of a choice, an action or a condition or a situation. So in way I agree with you. But you have to take case by case, you cannot paint with one single brush. Mostly, it is an outcome of choices. Rarely situations like oppression, lose of ability to perform/work, depression can also catapult one into the state of being poor.
ReplyDeleteIndividuals or corporations/org or government can promote opportunities which can alleviate the state of being poor - if one has chosen to take some action (opp. of your beggar story).
On giving alms, do it case by case. Agree some like to be a pan handler always - no responsibility, no accountability, no tax, raw cash :) Sadly that is their choice.
Suthan, nice article with a catchy picture ;)
ReplyDelete@ Bro and Berlin. are you both the same person? :o
ReplyDeleteyes, dude :)
ReplyDeleteThat's really awesome.. I always feel that that's the same case for the proliferation of old-age homes in our country. It is a sign of growing insensitivity towards elderly aged people by the younger generation, but we support them by alms on the name of compassion and sympathy, which is really making the situation worse. Your approach to poverty and the way you perceived poverty is really interesting & commendable. Thats how sociologists are distinctive!!!
ReplyDeleteThank You Dhiyanesh, Acknowledging me as a sociologist is the greatest compliment I can have :)
DeleteGood one.. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Dilip :)
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