India is a country of extreme contrasts. On one hand, we are almost out of the 'developing countries' list, while on the other there are thousands of children on our streets that go to bed hungry at night, while alost 3000 won't even make it through the night. And while that is happening, precious food resources like milk, oil, and money that could have fed these kids gets poured down on stone statues by God fearing people.
The sight of begging kids has always bothered me. But now that I have a kid, who I see almost loose his mind when he is hungry, makes it even more personal.
The sight of begging kids has always bothered me. But now that I have a kid, who I see almost loose his mind when he is hungry, makes it even more personal.
This picture, posted on Facebook, especially struck a nerve. Both J and I felt that, the little one even looks like our baby. The Gods are our patents. And if that is the case, will I ever be happy, if my baby was crying away with hunger, and someone was bathing me in food? Then how can Gods be happy with the same? I need to do something to get the food/money to these hungry mouths. God forbid, if there is ever a situating, a worldwide natural calamity, something devastating, that lands my babies in a situation like the ones in the picture above, I want to feel like they will atleast have food. I don't want to add to the list of things that people do. I don't want people to give to god and then give to these kids. I want them to give it to these kids, these flowers from God's garden as they are called in my native Marathi language, knowing that it is infact reaching the God. I need them to feel the same satisfaction/ happiness/security they feel in giving to God, knowing that they did what was needed of them. I know that I am talking about a massive change in outlook, which is usually very difficult to bring about. That is why this needs to be done in conjunction with the temples. Either have a deal with the temples, which I doubt if the priests would be willing to let go of a major chunk of the hundi, or separately collect the donated food items; or have booths right outside temples, which I am afraid would simply be ignored by most devotees. I would like suggestions. I would like to hear from some hardcore devotees out there.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1517098
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/02/16/10424930-indias-hunger-shame-3000-children-die-every-day-despite-economic-growth?lite
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1517098
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/02/16/10424930-indias-hunger-shame-3000-children-die-every-day-despite-economic-growth?lite
