Charity for whom?

Every year, our local community serves thousands of needy families with health assistance, food, and toys.  In response to the increasing number of people living in North Bengal unable to meet their basic needs for food and warm clothes, this year a group of young people has launched a campaign to ensure that families can stay safe. This campaign provides food, warm winter clothing, and toys to some of the city's neediest households, reaching a large number of families at risk of serious health problems or housing loss this winter. They set a great example of making a difference in people's life by participating in this. Seeing them many other people in our locality have started something similar. But I was surprised seeing that this second group of collegegoers are pompously declaring their contributions to charitable causes. They are more concerned about whether it would be on TV or in the newspapers. A charity is only reasonable when you aren't expecting anything out of it. Declaring your contributions in front of everyone, bragging about it or uploading your pictures on social websites while doing it shows that you aren't doing it for community, you're doing it for yourself. I have been taught that "give alms with one hand and do not let the other see what you are doing", because in so doing you are ensuring that the reason you are charitable is out of charity rather than the desire to see other people admire you for your charity.

Atikur Rahman

Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka