I have adopted this title from somewhere. I call it a "Morsel" because this experience is something we need to chew upon. And why it is tasty follows:
First of all, our plan did not go as per our ideology. The kids were never made to realize that they should not accept anything they had not put any effort for. And ingraining this attitude in them is very important. This way, they will start respecting the efforts of the people around them, and more importantly, realize the true worth of their own efforts.
Second, the parents have started taking our efforts for granted. This is not an issue of our ego, but such an attitude affects our activities adversely. It is impractical for us to hang around with the kids a lot of time, and at the end of the day, it is the parents who decide for the kids. This attitude begets inactivity on their part, which once again, defeats the purpose, as then, the education of the children may not be sustained once they leave IISER Mohali.
And finally, the best part, the part due to which the morsel is tasty, is the reaction of the parents and children when we gave them clothes. Some of them were happy, but many of them retorted and complained that they would not have bought such filthy clothes for their kids. This is what happened- it is a fact. So next time when you go around their slums, remember- how ever their living conditions maybe, they have self-respect. They may come to you asking for donations, but then they expect something "worth them". So before closing, let me tell you where we went wrong, and for that, let me tell you my favourite joke (as my father told me):
There was a bus driver who went around his usual path. One day, a big fat man boarded the bus from a stop. The driver asked him for money of ticket, but he simply replied,"Big John doesn't pay!" The bus driver, a small man could not gather courage to argue, and so remained silent. This went on for a few more days, with the big man replying,"Big John doesn't pay!" The driver was very distressed due to the situation. So he joined a gym, built some muscles, and one day, decided to confront the big man. And once again, when he asked for ticket and got the same reply, he rudely retorted,"Why doesn't Big John pay?". The big man replied,"Because Big John has a Bus Pass..."
All I mean to tell you is that before going out to solve a problem, first make sure if there really is a problem. This was applicable in our case.
First of all, our plan did not go as per our ideology. The kids were never made to realize that they should not accept anything they had not put any effort for. And ingraining this attitude in them is very important. This way, they will start respecting the efforts of the people around them, and more importantly, realize the true worth of their own efforts.
Second, the parents have started taking our efforts for granted. This is not an issue of our ego, but such an attitude affects our activities adversely. It is impractical for us to hang around with the kids a lot of time, and at the end of the day, it is the parents who decide for the kids. This attitude begets inactivity on their part, which once again, defeats the purpose, as then, the education of the children may not be sustained once they leave IISER Mohali.
And finally, the best part, the part due to which the morsel is tasty, is the reaction of the parents and children when we gave them clothes. Some of them were happy, but many of them retorted and complained that they would not have bought such filthy clothes for their kids. This is what happened- it is a fact. So next time when you go around their slums, remember- how ever their living conditions maybe, they have self-respect. They may come to you asking for donations, but then they expect something "worth them". So before closing, let me tell you where we went wrong, and for that, let me tell you my favourite joke (as my father told me):
There was a bus driver who went around his usual path. One day, a big fat man boarded the bus from a stop. The driver asked him for money of ticket, but he simply replied,"Big John doesn't pay!" The bus driver, a small man could not gather courage to argue, and so remained silent. This went on for a few more days, with the big man replying,"Big John doesn't pay!" The driver was very distressed due to the situation. So he joined a gym, built some muscles, and one day, decided to confront the big man. And once again, when he asked for ticket and got the same reply, he rudely retorted,"Why doesn't Big John pay?". The big man replied,"Because Big John has a Bus Pass..."
All I mean to tell you is that before going out to solve a problem, first make sure if there really is a problem. This was applicable in our case.
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