The Case for Charity

Let us start with a small thought experiment here

Your route to work takes you past a shallow pond. One morning you notice that a small child has fallen in and appears to be in difficulty in the water.  The child is crying in distress and it seems is at risk of drowning. You are tall and strong, so you can easily wade in and pull the child out. However, although you'll come to no physical harm if you rescue the child, you will get your clothes wet and muddy, which means you'll have to go home to change, and likely you'll be late for work.

In this situation, do you have a moral obligation to rescue the child?

Most people will agree that it is "yes"

Okay, now suppose that there are other people walking past who would  equally be able to rescue the child but are not doing so.  Does the fact  that they are not doing what ought to be done mean that you're no longer obligated to save the child?

Most people will answer this as "No".  Some people being immoral does not have any effect on my personal morality and obligation.

Degree of Uncertainty:

Let's imagine that there is some  uncertainty attached to the situation.
You know you're not going to come  to any harm if you attempt the rescue, but you can't be sure  that your efforts will make any difference to how things turn out.  It is important to be clear about the precise situation here. You have good reason to suppose that your intervention will bring about a better outcome than would otherwise be the case, but you can't be sure about it. The question is - does this element of uncertainty mean you're no longer obliged to go ahead with the rescue attempt?  Most people will say "I am still morally obliged to attempt the rescue"

Enter the Indian Scenario:

• Two million children in India die and turn into statistics every year. That's about 6,000 deaths everyday
• Malnutrition is more common in India than in Sub-Saharan Africa.  One in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India
• Malnutrition limits development and the capacity to learn. It  also costs lives: about 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are  attributed to malnutrition.

Source : UNICEF

The Argument

That children are dying in some far off district in Bihar or UP and not in front of your eyes in the shallow pond is of no difference from a moral perspective.  The Moot point is children are dying and we as a society and nation can save them by diverting our resources towards them.  Expenditure, resources and efforts can directly save lives, if not all, atleast some of them.

There is no difference between the thought experiement and scenario in India which relates to Hungry children dying a preventable death from malnutrition and curable diseases

Therefore there is a strong case for Charity not just as a matter of generosity towards the poor and the weak, the downtrodden and the helpless but on the moral front as a moral duty of a man witnessing the death by his ones own eyes.

Lessons I learnt from life (part 1)

1. There are no half measures in life.
You either give your 100 percent or fail. Failure is a default position when you do anything purposive or respectworthy.  Only full measures lead to success.

2. Pain and sufferings are very important part of success, they make your success worthwhile.  When you push yourself there is little you cannot achieve.  And when you finally achieve them, it makes you worthy of it.

3. You can do anything if you stop trying to do everything. Focus on one at a time.  You hit water if you dig deep enough almost anywhere.

4. No one gives a shit about you your ideas unless its approved by some big body or authority.  Recognition is important.  

5. It takes time for results to show Have patience but work continuously.

6. Women don't date losers so doesnt the world. The world that celebrates winners is hard on the losers. Learn to cope up with it.

7. Respect is more important than love. Love is fleeting sense of vanity. It is Respect is long lasting virtue.

8. Its not just what you know.  Its mostly whom you know that matters. Build network.

9. Life is cruel and unfair.  Just get used to it.  Hey wait but rules are clear and the same for all.  

10.Trust your own judgement over others. Your judgement works best for you.

11. Judge people but keep your judgement to yourself. It is impossible otherwise to manoever through this world without judging anyone.

12. Share your confidence with others but keep your fears to yourself. Do not spread negativity around.  How are you is a greeting. No need to explain your stomach troubles.  

13. Respect your time and others time. Do not fritter time, its the stuff that life is made of.

14. Let logic rule your life. There is no other way to live more meaningfully.

15. Learn to accept failures. Avoid the justification trap.  The weak is afraid to recognise failures. The strong embraces it and has courage to face it.

16. Your health has no replacement. Work on it or get sick and die early.

17. Its not really crowded at the top if you can only reach it.

18. choose cynicism over fundamentalist positive attitude. Atleast there is pleasant surprise each day.

19. Lastly be humble, a lot was achieved even before you were born.