Beautiful Smiles & Beautiful People
Once every year, the privileged amongst us are overcome by a vast array of emotions ranging from happiness, delight, anger, sadness, remorse, regret and everything beyond and between. On this day we’re forced to look back upon our lives and measure our achievements, we’re forced to look back and wonder where our time was spent and whether it was all worth the effort. This day is what most of us know as our birthdays. They form an important day in everyone’s lives. After all, it is this day that we were blessed with being born on this beautiful planet we call Earth. Despite its flaws and inefficiencies, it still remains the most beautiful form of life and the only higher power we can understand.
Depending on how privileged we are and where we lie in the financial spectrum of this society, celebrations can range from a simple cupcake someone special made for us to lavish parties with a river of champagne and a three foot tall cake from the best bakery in town, perhaps even bigger. There is no shame in either of these celebrations but often one tends to look upon the other and wonder either, ‘when will I have my river of champagne’ or ‘I’m glad I have my river of champagne’. The point is, the river of champagne is quintessential to a party !
Ever so rarely, somebody comes along trying to break across this spectrum. This somebody dares to break the barriers of social stratification which has been carefully crafted into our society, to keep privilege with the privileged and to keep the oppressed where they are, not letting them rise up. This is usually someone who cares enough to raise their voice and take a stand and prove to society that we need to conform to the notions of celebration set down by them. This someone dared to draw a circle beyond their friends & family to include within it more people than most of us could care for.
On the 21st of April, Dipanwita Chakraborty who is a Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability professional with The Cargill Foundation, decided to break this barrier and challenge said notions. She contacted us and asked if she could celebrate her birthday with the Sarvam family instead. Having been associated with us before and being familiar to the girls, we were more than happy to have her share her joyful day with them.
Her husband was kind enough to cook the main course for everyone, forty kilos of delicious chicken curry. We salute him for his skill, effort and for the bravery required in cooking forty kilos of chicken. We were also joined by their close friends and family.
The celebrations began with performances from our oldest batch of students. They set the stage on fire with the energy and vigour in their performances.
Their energy was contagious and as soon as their performance ended, everyone joined them on the stage. Everyone danced in sheer enjoyment of the moment. It was a beautiful sight.
Soon enough, the cake arrived and was cut as part of the celebrations. Dipanwita also gave return gifts to all the girls, Yoga mats essential for their practice and umbrellas to save them from the scorching summers of Delhi.
One might argue, is this truely a selfless act of kindness or is this a way to deal with the tidal wave of emotions we’re all hit by during our special days? Could this merely be a coping mechanism for the remorse and regret we may be fighting against? Is this merely self gratification?
Maybe it is, but it doesn’t matter. There is no true selfless deed. Any deed done with the idea or aim of being selfless is, by virtue, bound to provide gratification to its perpetrator. Does that mean we should stop such deeds entirely?
If a person finds solace or gratification in their act of kindness, it does not reduce the impact of their act but only adds to it as it ends up affecting one more person than originally intended. At the end of the day, we all have the obligation to be happy, and for some greater souls, an obligation to share it as well.
