I scoured Facebook today to see what people were posting for our Independence Day (I am going to call it I-Day). And it should have made me smile to see the Happy I-Day wishes. Strangely enough though, it didn't.
All I kept feeling as I thought of I-Day was that we have failed those who brought us independence. And possibly pushed a lot of people much below or at least into the same deep trenches that the colonial British had them in. Of course, it didn't help that I was listening to patriotic Hindi songs on Gaana.com's loop, which kept switching between the Mr. Bharat mold and telling the world how unique India is!
But as I read the Assam Tribune every day (I often rely on my husband for any non-Assam news), neither happiness nor success screams from its pages. Instead, I see violent uprisings in my home state as people demand separate states, or a steep hike in the price of onions that roundly beats inflation. I read hollow statements that the state and central government make about border conflicts that are claiming young Indian soldiers as they do absolutely nothing to save these lives.
And I find myself searching for the happiness in our independence.
As I step away from reading about my country, and back to my life in a well-functioning, rich land, I often feel like I have cheated my country. Be it the great super-subsidized public higher education that I received and definitely did not pay back fully or the fact that any volunteering I do, does not directly help someone back home, I find it tough to accept that I can't do more to give back.
Among the few things that I can do from here is to contribute money. And since I find it hard to ask others to donate to a cause I believe in (I would probably stink at fundraising), I was thrilled when I realized that my (awesome) employer matches donations to non-profits of the employee's choice. You can donate up to USD 1,000 and they match it fully. So, last year, I got a full match for donations to four small NGOs based in Guwahati, Assam. NGOs, which were far from the big boy scale and for whom this money made a serious difference.
I thought that some of you who struggle with how to help people back home may want to explore options like this with your own employers. Big companies are much maligned (and sometimes for good reason) but they also have the enormous power that comes with size. Be it the amazing power of employee engagement and volunteering or good ole' cash.
End of the day, if you can work with the system and still do some good, big isn't that bad at all. It definitely makes it possible for me to make things a little more right. And maybe some day, help bring that happiness back into my I-Day.
All I kept feeling as I thought of I-Day was that we have failed those who brought us independence. And possibly pushed a lot of people much below or at least into the same deep trenches that the colonial British had them in. Of course, it didn't help that I was listening to patriotic Hindi songs on Gaana.com's loop, which kept switching between the Mr. Bharat mold and telling the world how unique India is!
But as I read the Assam Tribune every day (I often rely on my husband for any non-Assam news), neither happiness nor success screams from its pages. Instead, I see violent uprisings in my home state as people demand separate states, or a steep hike in the price of onions that roundly beats inflation. I read hollow statements that the state and central government make about border conflicts that are claiming young Indian soldiers as they do absolutely nothing to save these lives.
And I find myself searching for the happiness in our independence.
As I step away from reading about my country, and back to my life in a well-functioning, rich land, I often feel like I have cheated my country. Be it the great super-subsidized public higher education that I received and definitely did not pay back fully or the fact that any volunteering I do, does not directly help someone back home, I find it tough to accept that I can't do more to give back.
Among the few things that I can do from here is to contribute money. And since I find it hard to ask others to donate to a cause I believe in (I would probably stink at fundraising), I was thrilled when I realized that my (awesome) employer matches donations to non-profits of the employee's choice. You can donate up to USD 1,000 and they match it fully. So, last year, I got a full match for donations to four small NGOs based in Guwahati, Assam. NGOs, which were far from the big boy scale and for whom this money made a serious difference.
I thought that some of you who struggle with how to help people back home may want to explore options like this with your own employers. Big companies are much maligned (and sometimes for good reason) but they also have the enormous power that comes with size. Be it the amazing power of employee engagement and volunteering or good ole' cash.
End of the day, if you can work with the system and still do some good, big isn't that bad at all. It definitely makes it possible for me to make things a little more right. And maybe some day, help bring that happiness back into my I-Day.
This really resounds with me on several levels. The point of giving to small NGOs or such is one, I really appreciate your sensibilities.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sujata! Am so glad you took the time to share your feelings :)
ReplyDelete