It is the Red Cross Day today, and it is indeed worth a mention because this community service mode is more than a century old. It was initiated to address the sufferings of the wounded soldiers during wars, and later, due to many man-made and natural calamities. In such grievous contexts, the Red Cross has always performed a sterling role.
Such exemplary social awareness is indeed an important aspect of the process of the maturity of a person as well as of a community, a society, a country, a nation, and so on. The Pani Foundation, for instance, has contributed hugely for the betterment of the much harried and harassed farmer community.
Recently i saw a video which showed, for example, the British Royal family participating in such a socially responsible activity. Prince William, his wife and their children, including the cute little Louis, were genuinely pitching in their mite there. The family was not there merely as show pieces for self advertisement and self promotion. Their genuine attempts at participation made the Royalty look relevant even today.
The scenario brought back a memory from the long lost annals of childhood. In the Arnyeshwar area where we lived then, roads were needed desperately. The entire community had pulled in the resources in the form of "shramdan" (such a lovely term, 'gift of labour'), and one Sunday afternoon, an approach road was ready.
I remember very clearly us, me and Raju, (as for Sanju, he was not even born then), joining Papa in this yeoman duty, and it continues to be a lovely memory. We were so very small, and yet helped in our own little ways, with Aai looking on. Incredibly indelible are such sweet remembrances.
Pratima@The "langars" , the community lunches, are yet other examples of democratic sharing which bonds communities together, a wonderful way of overcoming individual vanities as well, right?
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