Yesterday Vijay sent me a link to one of the threads on the Pagal Guy. Post number 53 read something like this –

"I've been a little pensive for the last couple of days. Loads of things bearing upon me, but then tonight was at my friend's place who came back after an extended weekend hike and trek. I asked him what he did in the last couple of days. He smiled and answered.

1. 2 x 6 hours treks
2. Drove a car in an empty parking lot
3. Flew an aircraft with the instructor sitting besides him.

Surely no mean feat for a Wharton dude eh .. This friend of mine is completely blind and is attending Wharton. If these people dont inspire you to be a bigger and better person - I doubt nothing else will. I take one look at him and I feel small. My worries are small, my concerns are small and heck my shortcomings are smaller. Run baby .. run.. ”

Hats off to the Guy. Incidents like these just reinforce my faith in a pledge I had taken log back – I had decided never to hand out alms to anyone at any point in time.
Since then I have always tried to help people not by money but by showing them opportunities or encouraging them towards earning a respectable living. A few incidents which I can recall, I would definitely like to share –

1. In 2004, Chandigarh, outside PT - Irrespective of the fact that I had polished my shoes 2 hours back, I get them polished again from a kid who requests to do that for me for 5 Bucks. I happen to be standing with a few friends whom I encourage to do the same.
2. Indore, café Coffe Day – After a hot cup of coffee, as Jassi put his hands in his pocket to hand out alms to a kid, I scold him and make him talk to clean my bike if he want to earn money. And he sincerely does so to my and Ravi’s bike.
3. I buy towels and even balloons on red lights which I always feel are better than handing out 2 bucks to a lady begging in front of your window with a child on her side.

There are two basic reasons for which I feel what I am doing is better than most of the people around me do –

1. It is a outrage (forget insult) to people like my friend in Wharton who overcome all odds to make a carve out a place for themselves in this world. I am not arguing that every specially abled person goes to Wharton. My simple argument is that whatever be the odds every man/woman must earn his/her place in this world. Inspirations are everywhere; we just need to open our eyes to it.
2. Handing out alms discourages people towards working hard.

Incidents and news like these strengthen my belief that I am working in the right direction.

Though this begging population in India is small (according to Indian census beggars are merely half a million) but if people like us can help them realize that their existence can only be realized through hard-work and not by their cries for alms; I am sure we can change the face of India and this world for better.