Starting April 2005, I have spent lot of money on things which I could have easily avoided. Be it lavish only Auto [No bus] daily rides to office, biweekly Hot and Crispy at KFCs, buying anything at malls (thanks to the CCs) or frequent Flight tours (could have been restricted to train), money was never a matter of consideration for me. I have enjoyed all those ventures and had fun. Seriously, no repentance for any of them.

Now many things have changed and last December (2006) had a strong impact on me. After many years of reluctance, I had to land at my ancestral village, a small village in East Champaran. Taking pride in hosting Gandhiji’s first Satyagraha and also known for birthplace of Animal Farm fame author George Orwell, East Champaran (district of Bihar) is still far away in providing basic amenities to commoners. Compared to last time (some 10 years back), many new changes have come in people’s life but still much needs to be improved. Ten years back there was no electricity supply in our village. Now it has come but only for 2 hours in night, that too with low voltage. Casteism is as strong as before. People with so called lower caste are still unfit to avail many basic facilities. The then few landlines have transformed into cheap friendly mobile phones [thanks to lifetime free offers].Majority of the things were perturbing but had in fact very little effect on me. Anyway it is their ignorance and ill habits and they rightly deserve their present condition. If other places in country can do remarkable progress why can’t they. Moreover I was not going to stay there so anyway I should be bothered. But my selfishness does have some limits and I knew that somewhere I was wrong. The condition of children really made me sick. They were still going though the old conventional upbringing. Village school has got a new building but I doubt if the quality has improved since last time. Parents still don’t give enough importance to education and nutrition wise also children live in unhygienic environment. I know majority of them are very poor without land. Problem is not with the fact that they are currently in this condition. Problem is the fact that they have accepted the so called fate and are not willing to make any effort in right direction. Many times I am confused if they know right direction. I am telling this because the few educated villagers also still consider their daughters as liability and which finally ends up with early marriages, big families. This is true with so called educated, global urban India also where many well to do people do not hesitate in asking for some 1 Crore dowry and that too as their right. But unlike cities, girls in village have no say at all. All Facts were plain and I knew them beforehand but meeting them face to face was quite painful, embarrassing and that filled me with guilt. Painful because almost everyone who was suffering belonged to My village, embarrassing because now and then I will be introduced as one who has many places in world and guilt was obvious – Have I done any single thing to make a difference in anyone’s life? When I joined my second company there was an option of monthly contribution of some Rs 500 for some Child Welfare. I did think for some moment but eventually like many of us decided not to contribute. So, if I can’t make such monthly contribution and can have thousand rupees worth Hot and Crispies per month what’s the big deal? After all it is my money. Finally it has become a big deal now. Not that I have stopped hanging out at KFC but have started diverting funds at some meaningful ventures.

Samsung India (SISO) has associated itself with Child Welfare Ashram called “Geeta Ashram”. Its monthly program of visiting ashram caught my attention in June and one fine weekend I landed there. Situated near Mysore Road, ashram hosts about 50 children. It provides them shelter, food, stationery and takes care for their studies. Meeting them and interacting with them is one of the best experiences I had. I could not understand their language but the innocence on their face, the hope in their eyes and the talent (dance, play, sketches) did say many things to me. We can make difference in few lives. No need go in a big way step by step will do. After that there is no backing out. Apart from the known sites and organizations, if you know some NGOs in Bangalore which are helping children especially girls, please let me know. Moreover we can also make small group and can venture helping them in the best possible way suited to us. So, interested people please pour in.