The God-men are going to jail, standing at an arm’s distance away from each other. Like a train of toddlers being lead to the school bus that will take them home. Only this one takes them behind the bars. First goes the Guru ji and then follows his family tree. Babas are turning traitor to millions of followers who thought them messiahs descended upon Earth to deliver them from their intentionally committed evils. In the meantime time, the Trustees are laying low or holidaying in other countries. And the homely Swami ji teaching us breathing on national channels also seems to be aestivating in cooler climes. The donation boxes are being buried underground till further notice, with a secret ‘Shh’ marked on them in black ink. And for humble sinning souls like me, donating to God-men’s charity to ensure myself a place in Heaven is fast becoming a non-option.
Exactly so with adding to temple coffers and earning some blessings in return. Already jam-packed with devotees as well as the white coin boxes they bow their heads to, temples are too congested for meek ones like me to brave it out and elbow my way to the front, where the ...
See, I never even noticed! Next time I get asked by the chap in a funny cap to donate, I am going to ask him a couple of questions! After all, I want to reserve for myself some choice real estate in Heaven, not some sidey location behind the ganda nullah.
ReplyDelete(Note to myself : Must try Cocoberry next time)
So Heaven has ganda nullahs? :D
DeleteThanks for reading, Rickie.
I learn't this the hard way once, and it was a facepalm moment for me..so no donations for me, but yes, i keep small eatables with me, which i give to poor kids, no one else gets a rupee out of me!
ReplyDeleteI do the same. :)
DeleteThanks a lot for stopping by!
This has been going on for quite a few years now... and the store that you mention pops that question even if your bill happens to be 141. I have not been attentive in other stores and shops... but it seems this has become a pesky practice.
ReplyDeleteArvind Passey
www.passey.info
Pesky is the word, Arvind sir. I have come across this phenomenon only recently. Perhaps, they have started asking the question recently and were deducted my very valuable Re 1 coins on their own before. God knows! Just doesn't fit my idea of charity.
DeleteI have started saying 'No, thank you!' :)
Thanks for reading.
My answer to this question is always NO, because I have no clue as to whether the store actually keeps track of the money deposited in these boxes and whether it actually reaches the charity advertised. Instead I make donations to charities that I feel are worthy enough and are doing a decent job.
ReplyDeleteExactly my point. While, for the sake of satire, I portrayed myself here as buffoon in order to comment on aspects of society which irk me, I have never said a 'yes' to such questions. My charity works very differently.
DeleteThanks for reading, Jairam. :)
Really? I've never encountered anyone asking to put 1 Re. coin in charity. Is this a Delhi thing? So was this why you were asking us that question. Your point is very valid. This is a scam, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt could be a Delhi thing. If you ask them what it is about, they call secrecy their 'company policy. Please meet our manager.' Manager walks in in a tie and says this is how it is, madam. You are welcome to take your coin home with you if you want.
DeleteThis seems like a scam to me. Thing is, if everyone starts questioning they will be bound to answer. No one bothers. After all, izzat ka sawaal hai, What is Re 1? Bigger than our 'izzat'? :)
Thanks for reading, Rachna.
I have come across this and most recently at Oxford, CP and I said yes, not giving it much thought!! :(
ReplyDeleteIs it? Wow. So it is more wide-spread than I thought. Hm. If one starts, others follow close behind it seems.
DeleteThanks for reading, Aditi. :)
Terrific piece of writing. The practice of seeking donations at the checkout counter is common here in Canada. Nearly everybody pays up. Folk live with a sort of guilt feeling here, their hearts bleeding all the time. The irony is that they don't much care about how that dollar will be spent. They don't have the time for that. :)
ReplyDeleteIn Canada too? I see. Perhaps, at coffee shops here it is a foreign import then, just like the flavours of coffee are, and their prices. One thing is for sure - no one really bothers about where it goes here either. Who has the time? :)
DeleteThanks for liking it, Spunky! :)
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