CONTRIBUTIONS OF A KIND
(From Salute to Life – Sudha Murthy)

My friend Mythili works with an NGO. She is a fund raiser smart and talkative; hailing from a middle class family. One morning she called up asking me to accompany her to the house of a very affluent person a lady who was well known in the city. Mythily had been approaching this woman for a donation, At last the lady had agreed to meet Mythili in her farmhouse forty kilometers away from the city. Mythili was a little hesitant to go alone and so she asked me to accompany her.

We reached the palatial house. It was built on a huge twenty five acre plot and was surrounded by a beautiful garden. The house was built in the traditional cottage model. There was strict security and we were asked a number of questions. Only after confirming our appointment over the intercom did the guard let us in.

Though it had a rustic look from the outside the house was gorgeous and modern inside. The lady of the house was sitting on a swing hung by shining chains. Both Mythily and I felt very uncomfortable because the most important things in life the smile and warmth were missing here. Mythily talked about the NGO.After an unbearable silence she said Give”Give your papers to my secretary. I will go through them and get back to you. Our balloon of enthusiasm was picked by that answer. After all she could have said this over the phone. We drove back all the way, having half a day’s work.

  

I met Mythilu a month later at a school opening ceremony where the same would be donor was the chief guest. I asked Mythily about the donation.

  Mythili took me aside and told me in hushed tones. It is very difficult to get money out of her. She is ready to spend any amount of money on herself but she thinks ten thousand times before giving money to charity. You know after I wooed her for a month she finally agreed to give Rs.10000/- on the condition that we invite her for this function as the chief guest put her photo in the paper and give a press release about her.

( When I see pictures of such ladies appear in newspaper I feel as a Society we  encourage such groups and remain the same as such are the groups dominate this society as a whole. Gain?? Yes for egos and for the limited four walls of their much proclaimed wisdom and newspapers publish any such pictures against payments  and when money is available from different sources it is easy to get such pictures published. People of India have really lost their sensitive feelings for such public gimmicks and the people who involve in such activities.)