I see...

The tinkling of bells of her anklets was audible much before she could reach the Father's office. Father Francis had been removing his glasses and keeping it at his desk after a tiresome day. While he was still rubbing his eyes, he sensed from a distance that little Shubhra is around. Even before turning back he guessed that it was her.

"May I come in Father?", said charming Shrubhra excitedly.

Father Francis' office was a big room. His vintage desk was towards the right corner behind which were three many wooden cupboards with transparent doors, queued next to each other. Piles of documents and files were locked up in there. The desk was almost empty after his day of work that involved calculation of funds for the orphanage, records of new children joining them, grocery, stationery, staff records etc. The other corner of the room had a piano, playing which was his favorite past time along with a rocking chair.

"Yes, my child. What is bothering you?", smiled and said Father Francis.

"Father, what is the meaning of my name? Everyone in the class kept asking today?", She uttered heftily.

Father laughed, "why is that so urgent, dear. I will answer this some other day? I am tired."

"But you said you will answer all our questions any time we ask." Shubhra looked down and replied sadly.

While she was about to return, Father Francis walked towards her, stopped her, held her little hand and carefully sat her on the rocking chair.

"Shrubra means white, my child" replied father politely.

The corridors were quiet and unruffled at this time. It was the time when children would have finished their "Thank you God" prayer and retired to slumber. Only a few lights in the corridor were lit up. The ticking of the giant clock in Father Francis' office was clearly audible.

After a pause, Shubhra continued, "What is white? Something yummy, or something that smelled good, or something as soft as the Christmas cake, or beautiful music like that of your piano." Her brows rising up and down while she asked excitedly.

Father hesitantly answered "That's.... that's a color. White is amongst various colors that paint this universe. It is the most pious of them. White is..."

He abruptly stopped and stood worried about her subsequent question.

"What is a color? I know alphabets, words, sentences,... flowers, fragrance, countries... oceans, trees but.... not colors. Did Sister Rosy forget to teach that to our class?" She uttered without a pause, emphasized on all the related topics she learnt in her current grade.

The six year old Shubhra who was blind since birth and an orphan since she was 3 days old. She was a dear child at the St. Mary's Orphanage. She was found at the gate of the orphanage in white clothes and her face was fair as a ball of cotton. Hence, one of the caretakers, fondly called as Shanti Maa, named her Shubhra.

"There is no escape", thought Father.

"Well, I will explain to you what are colors. But promise me you won't ask further.", dictated Francis.

"Okay Father", the curious lad smiled.

"Fine...", sighed Father.

He walked towards the other end of the room, and sat in front of the piano, paused, closed his eyes and started playing a soft tone. With the music playing in background, he recited playfully-

Seven are the colors,

But hundreds are the shades,

Green is for prosperity,

Happiness and spring,

Green are the leaves,

Grass and plants,

Blue is for cheer,

Water everywhere,

Blue are clouds,

Sea and cold ice,

White is serene,

Peace and clean,

White are rice,

Pigeon and teeth,

Yellow is bright,

Energy and sunlight,

Yellow are sunflowers,

Fire and turmeric powder,

Red is stark,

Fear and attention,

Red signals attention,

Danger and blood,

Brown is dull,

Chocolate and coconut,

Brown is wood,

Dirt and mud,

Black is absorber of colors,

No moon night and absence of light

Hair are black,

Bat and cat

Rainbow is beauty,

Earth's lovely bounty,

Rain and light combine,

seven colors at a time,

The arch in the sky,

Pleases every eye.

"And my child, before I bid you good night, remember that the world is full of colors, and I have shown them to you with my eyes. Never be upset of not being able to see. Smile, because you are born, you are loved and your senses are stronger than those with eyes."

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Author Interview: Satyendra Dhariwal

Satyendra Dhariwal is an author who lives only for writing. He was born in a remote village of Rajasthan and loves to write on vivid subjects. His way of storytelling is something from which you can't escape. His stories clutch your mind right from the beginning and don't leave you even after finishing the read. Other than enthralling and enchanting the readers, his tales give ample amount of food to their brains in order to grow them beyond limits. Along with writing novels, he also loves to write poetry. His novels are always comprehensive to the 'core of the ocean.'...and what can be told about a person in a short biography. He just wants to remain a writer and serve you till life. But in order to fulfill that you need to buy his books more and more.

We interviewed him after his new book "The Involute Dunes" (English) / अव्यक्त कामल (Hindi) was released last month. Here are a few excerpts.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

I belong from a remote village (near Pilani) of Rajasthan. Now, education!! This is where people think I am joking whenever I answer this. Well, I have studied till 12^th (10+2). It was not that I did not want to study further, it was a play of fate; I lost my father just after my schooling. And now I have my mother, wife and a younger sister in my family.

Tell us about your book.

This book is epic, seriously an epic desert saga born in the age of Kali. I don’t have enough space here to tell the comprehensiveness of this book. It is not about one or few things, it is about everything. By keeping this in mind, let me give the overview of the book (which again is not sufficient to capture the essence of the saga) – “There were the tales of legends sailing in the air of Jaisalmer, legends of the forgotten warriors, rulers, of people; of the forgotten empires; legends of the forgotten beauty until this volume. We have read many epic volumes from the previous ages but here is the epic saga of the age of Kali filled with abstruseness of the desert land.

We are in the eleventh century and India is called ‘The Golden Bird.’ Islām is a newly born religion and is spreading its pinions with rapid velocity. These are the times when Indian rulers are fighting amongst each other. So does the Jaisalmer and Mārwār. But there is another huge nation which is eying upon India. The ruler of that place wants to reign over India. He wants to make Jaisalmer his Centre because Jaisalmer lies on the famous ‘World Silk Trade Route’ and is the connecting link between the Western and Indian trade.

This is the tale of two generations. The tale of magnificent desert land and golden city. The tale of a huge empire and two little Kingdoms. Tale of  bravery, politics, friendship, lust, the tale of war, tale of love & hatred, of faith & deception, tale of importance and futility, of establishment and ruination; and overall, the tale of Salvation.

It is more than a book and even more than a motion picture and is an irresistible read. Welcome to ‘The Involute Dunes’, a timeless description of the timeless people and places.”

Tell us about your other books.

My previous book was titled ‘An Immortal Story: a tale of tolerance beyond limit’, which was released in April 2014 in Jaipur by Ayush Books. By the way, I am giving it for free on my website (involutedunes.com) for a limited time as a promotional gift for my dream project ‘The Involute Dunes.’ [You can also download the FIRST FIVE Chapters of The Involute dunes completely FREE from there.]

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

I am a writer certainly by choice. I want to reach my books out to the whole humanity. I was an avid reader since my childhood (now I don’t read much). I read everything with interest, no matter what the subject matter, topic, genre, category of the printed material was. I wrote in school too but only when provoked. But the real turn came when I heard the story of a mythological movie and thought that I can write better. I began to saunter in the verandah of my house and within half an hour I cooked up a story, a novella rather. That was the beginning.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

I was, and I used to read whatever I got my hands on. There was nothing for which I can say that I liked that kind more. Now, I don’t read much. But my taste is not bound to any particular thing.

Which is your favorite book and why?

Favorites change with time and circumstances. But there is one book for which I had thought, alas! if only I would have written that book. And that book was ‘Madhushālā’ by Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

Who are your favorite authors?

I have read Munshi Premchand more than anyone else.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I don’t do anything except writing. So there is no scope of managing. But, when I start writing I go into a kind of shell, into solitude, so that I can immerse into the world completely that I am creating.

What does your writing space look like? 

My writing space is a plastic chair, sometimes my bed, sometimes it may be under a tree, it can be a open roof; sometimes I bolt myself inside a room for hours.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I think almost all writers overcome this phenomenon by themselves, naturally, with time. I can’t say if it is writer’s block but I feel fear whenever I finish writing a book that I have completed this now, now what next? Would I be able to write one more or not? This is the only thing I fear. Else, I am never short of creativity whenever alone. The hardest part is to finalize the topic, the theme on which I will write. Once it is finalized, then I make a rough outline and just that. I don’t make plots, details etc. before writing. Most fun part of my writing is that even I don’t know what will follow in my story; and what twist & turn it will take ahead. It flows, just flows as if I am telling and story to myself; or I can also say as if someone is telling me and I am writing smoothly.

What motivated you to write this book?

This book is set in (imaginary) Jaisalmer, and I feel that I have some special connection with this desert land. I see a different kind of beauty in that desolate land. Apart from that I wanted to convey something to people, wanted to tell the things which are lost. I wanted to give ample amount of food to the brains of people in order to make them grow to understand ‘All That Is.’ And I think that God has helped me to convey that through this mesmerizing tale of Timeless people and Places.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

It took me 10 months to complete the first draft. But as a whole process it took me two years to complete this in both the Languages.

What kind of research have you done for the book?

My whole life is a research and I have put a large part of that in this book.

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

There is no such story, but it took freaking four months before I finalized the Title (The Involute Dunes) of this book.

Why should we read your book?

Jaisalmer and 11^th century,  isn’t it enough. I don’t want t give any spoilers, it is available for just ₹ 39 on my website (involutedunes.com), just go, get in, and dive in to experience the Involute Dunes, believe me it will come out to be a saga you have never read before. A world of dunes containing the beauty of desolation and a story never heard before.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

Yes, involutedunes.com. Please visit. You will get my previous novel for FREE there; and you can buy The Involute Dunes at dirt cheap price there. Still not sure, okay, you can download the FIRST FIVE Chapters completely FREE from there and then decide whether to buy it or not.

What advice do you have for budding writers?

No matter what you get in response, no matter whether you get published or not, never ever stop writing. It is for yourself, not for others. It will make you, the true you. It will keep you alive, keep you evolving. Please keep writing, no matter what. Writing is bliss in disguise.

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Author Interview: Connie Payne and Patricia Kutza

Here we are, with another interview, of authors Connie Payne and Patricia Kutza. They have co-authored "Don't Get Me Started!", which was published in August 2016.

Who are Connie and Patricia?

We are a bi-racial San Francisco Bay Area-based team (Connie is African-American and Patricia is Caucasian).  We are also related - Connie is the niece of Patricia and we have known each other for 46 years. We bring to the making of our book over thirty years of experience in the education (Connie) and telecom/journalism (Patricia) sectors.  

Tell us about your new book.

     

      A new model for etiquette –that goes beyond traditional etiquette –is needed to keep our public-behavior-wheels turning smoothly. Without it, daily life will continue to be a mine-field where people stumble culturally-- creating the impression that they are ‘culturally clueless’. In The Don't Get Me Started! Toolkit Strategies for a Culturally-Challenged World we offer a toolkit of skills for skillfully assessing and responding to the many challenging situations you may encounter in this rapidly changing world. 
     So whether you are playing games online, using a ‘gender-free’ restroom, sharing a picture on Facebook, conversing with friends in a café, applying in person for a new job or hosting an intergenerational event – you will be able to determine how the rules have changed and act in a manner that assures more successful outcomes. Being ‘culturally-clueless’ may not land you in jail…but it could very well make you less competitive in the job marketplace, less admired among your peers and less respected within your family.

Tell us about your other books.

Based on the feedback we received during our initial book tour we have published workbooks for 4th-5th graders, middle-schoolers  as well as adults that key off of the principles that we talk about in our original book.  These books are called:  "The Don't Get Me Started! Toolkit Jr. Workbook (for 4th and 5th graders)", "The Don't Get Me Started! Toolkit Workbook (for grades 6 through 12)" and "The Don't Get Me Started! Toolkit Adult Workbook."

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

We wrote our original book over a period of 18 months.  Both Connie and Patricia have been writing for years - Connie wrote in her capacity as an educator and Patricia wrote for her corporate career as well as her parallel career as a freelance business, technology and lifestyle journalist. 

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

We both enjoy the give and take of bouncing ideas off of each other. Sometimes we challenge each other's assumptions - that's when using our toolkit comes in handy in order to make these conversations fruitful and not divisive.

 Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

Connie:  Romance novels and historical fiction     

Patricia:  Many different type of magazines, newspapers. 

Books: Favor autobiography. . 

Which is your favorite book and why?

Connie:     "The Giving Tree: (Shel Silverstein)       

Patricia:  "100 Years of Solitude" (Gabriel Garcia Marquez) - For its compelling weaving of mystery, literal exposition and magic.

Who are your favorite authors?

Connie: Terry McMillan, Connie Briscoe, California Cooper, Amy Tan, Jerome Dickey         

Patricia:  Jeffrey Toobin, Gloria Steinem, Barack Obama

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

We both have very busy lives:  Connie loves to spend time with her grandchildren and keep in touch with her friends from her teaching career.  Patricia runs a monthly jazz jam and boats/fishes with her husband.  We both work hard to carve out family time.  It's very important for live/work balance. 

What does your writing space look like? 

Both Connie and Patricia have home office space. Patricia's is not as tidy as Connie's.:)

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Connie:  Tends to resolve these blocks by concentrating on other activities. 

Patricia:  Tends to 'power' through it.

What motivated you to write this book?

Through the many family gatherings, we have attended over the years as well as our individual experiences, we have noticed a growing disconnect between common sense-based behavior and clueless behavior ---this cuts across generations and nationalities.  We think that the rapid growth of technology, evolving gender identity, and shifting generational and ethic differences is making many people feel disoriented.  We passionately believe that our toolkit of skills, if practiced regularly, can help people feel more engaged and grounded due to better decision-making.  

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

18 months with many stops/starts and detours along the way! It's also been exciting in ways that we didn't anticipate starting out.  We now also market a game show based on our book and currently present it at workshops and other venues in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

Being ‘culturally-clueless’ may not land them in jail…but it could very well make them less competitive in the job marketplace, less admired among their peers and less respected within their family. Being clueless is not irreversible - but it takes will power and the belief that while practice may not 'make perfect' ...Practicing our toolkit of skills will produce more satisfying outcomes within a very short period of time.

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

As John Lennon like to say "Life happens, when you are busy making other plans."  Both of us had to deal with family-based challenges (illness, death) that made an impact on our publishing timeline. When one of us felt overwhelmed, the other tried to keep the momentum going.

 What kind of research have you done for the book?

We used both primary and secondary resources.  We also were able to draw on two lifetimes of personal experience.

 Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

Absolutely!  When we started noticing the type of 'clueless behavior' we mention earlier in this interview, we would turn to each other and say "Don't Get Me Started!"  It became our mantra and eventually the opening words of our book title.

Why should we read your book?

For a fresh take on what we think is a critical challenge everyone faces in this world today:  How to be respectful and inclusive to each other when the forces advocating disrespect and division are so amplified.  How to sustain the belief that the use of critical thinking is not just a luxury - it is an absolutely essential part of staying engaged and 'culturally tuned-in.' 

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DGMStoolkit1/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/dgms_co/

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfd-HI1gPW3X5v85fD3A07Q

What advice do you have for budding writers?

Stay the course!  The process is a marathon, not a sprint.  Look for ways to keep you inspired and motivated during 'dry' spells.  They will come, but eventually so will the rain and a new period of growth and rejuvenation. 

·      Where can we buy your book?

The Don't Get Me Started! Toolkit - Strategies for a Culturally-Challenged World is available on Amazon as well as Barnes-Noble:

Amazon:  

https://www.amazon.com/Started-Toolkit-Strategies-Culturally-Challenged-World/dp/0692705716

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dont-get-me-started-toolkit-strategies-for-a-culturally-challenged-world-ms-patricia-kutza/1124451753

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Book Review: The Myth of Hastinapur

Book Title: The Myth of Hastinapur

Author: Rahul Rai

Publication Date: May 2018

Edition Language: English

Genre: Indian Mythology

Pages: 229

Firstly I thank the author for sending across a copy of the book for review. This is a debut novel from author Rahul Rai. It is based on Mahabharata. I am a fan of Indian Mythology and esp. Mahabharata. Mahabharata is a kind of epic which you can read and re-read numerous times. Still you won't feel satiated with the knowledge pearls showered on you. I am always curious to know more about it. I have read various versions of this epic from the perspective of various characters. Also, I've read a lot of online material about facts and myths of the epic. I have watched a dozen of TV shows on this greatest epic of our history. Whenever a story is told and retold, it eventually gets modified based on the perspective of the story teller. This makes it even more interesting. Mahabharata is one such story.

The feat of the great war of its time, was it justified? The whole clan gets ruined by the end of it, except for a handful of people who very lucky to survive.

How is this book different from other versions of Mahabharata?

• Unlike other versions, the author simplifies and segregates the epic is multiple chapters.
• The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are very good.
• At various points it is more of an analysis of the epic, the conclusions drawn out of various events and what could have happened instead.
• One great thing is that it has various narrations or conversations of such characters which were never even thought of having existed. Like, conversations between soldiers fighting from separate parties but friends in personal life, maids working at Hastinapur palace, etc. 
• You also find Bhishma and Ved Vyas pondering over their mistakes. You see Duryodhana talking about dharma.
• I always knew about Ashwatthama but never knew about him in such detailed manner as depicted in this book.
• Drona and Drupad's enemity is known to all those who know Mahabharata, but very few know about their friendship and how it transformed them into blood mongers for each other.
• People know Pandavas as one entity, or know the famous ones- Yudhishitir, Bheema and Arjuna. Hardly anyone talks about Nakul and Sahadev and their story. We never talk or read about their qualities, their relationship with their step brothers and the insecurities that their maternal uncle had for them. This book talks about their testimonies too.
• The injustice that happened with Hidimba and her clan for no fault if theirs. The sacrifice they made by being mere pawns in the war between the Hastinapur family.
• The story of Krishna's son Samba and the doom of Yadava's kingdom was less heard of.

Remember, each character in a story has his own story too. This books succeeds in narrating stories of a lot of such characters who have been sidelined in the history.

Although, like I mentioned there are various versions of Mahabharata and that, each version narrates events in its way. Hence, the facts are often intentionally or unintentionally tampered when they reach us. They are affected by the knowledge, perspective or research of the story teller. Same is the case with this book. Since I have read various versions, I find certain deviations here, but that is what I call story telling. That is why they call it "myth" or "mythology"!

To read and understand this book, you must be having some prior knowledge of Mahabharata. This is because, the style of narration is not sequential in terms of the order of the events, which may confuse someone who does not know about it. However, the chapters are segregated in interesting and logical manner. Such way of narration also shows up the hard work that the author has put in and this does not let you put down the book throughout. 

The language is pretty good, usage of words and grammar are very well.

Overall, I like the book and would make sure I read it once more. I recommend it for all those who have interest in Indian mythology and want to dive into various aspects and perspectives of it. I rate it 4 on 5.

(PS: the reviews expressed here are based on my personal reading experience, and do not intend to defame, derate or 

degrade the sale or vice-versa for the book.)

If you are an author and want your book to be reviewed, drop an email at bookreviews@mansiladha.com.

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Author Interview: Angel A

Angel A is a world traveler who shares her insights and experiences of global culture through narratives that are compelling, inspiring and insightful. Mary Poser is Angel’s first novel. Her passion is to explore our inner world as revealed to us through the challenges, triumphs and revelations experienced in our outer world. Here are some excerpts from her interview.

Tell us about your book .

Do we willingly sabotage opportunities for true love and happiness? MARY POSER is an exposé of self-inflicted suffering. On the surface MARY POSER is a fun and frolicking love story. Underneath this is a message of hope and inspiration for anyone who feels stuck in a vortex of anxiety and self-harm.

There's troubled love in Music City, USA. Despite deeply entrenched obstacles, Mary falls for a visiting Bollywood director, Simha Das. A near-fatal car crash leads to questions about who or what intervenes to save her. There's a proposal, but Mary must reveal a dangerous secret.

Tell us about your other books.

Film script: Le Saut de L'Ange (2011) Trinity Productions. See www.angelsleap.com

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

I'm a writer by choice although I feel I am more of a story teller than a writer. Writing is just a means of telling a story.

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

Favorite: The bubble. There's a story inside a big bubble. The bubble isn't events lined up in a story. Its all the events and ideas for the story just floating around in the bubble.

Least favorite: Trying to arrange the bubble elements into a story line.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

I'm more of a film watcher. I read sporadically. I love poetry and fairytales.

Which is your favorite book and why?

I don't think I have a favorite book. The books that influenced me the most were non-fiction: The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. These books shaped my understanding of how our stories and define us.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I' often volunteer in community centres and I'm a keen outdoors person. There's plenty of family time for me as the writing is usually at some ungodly hour in the night.

What does your writing space look like?

I write a lot in cafes.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I'm 'a gusher'. No problem with that. (Haha)

What motivated you to write this book?

I experienced relationships where self-sabotage was a leading factor. I wanted to talk about this hidden behavior.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

It took 6 years. I wrote the script first. The book, being my first, was a laborious process to flesh out. Rewarding though!

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

The reviews thankfully say what I was hoping for. People are genuinely moved by the internal and external struggles of Mary and the essence of relationships are claimed to be viewed differently by some readers.

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

Finishing!

What kind of research have you done for the book? 

I spent a lot of time in Nashville!

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

Mary Poser is a play on words for mariposa, which is Spanish for 'butterfly'. Additionally, in the book, I define a poser as, 'someone who seeks social approval by mastering stereotypical behaviour'. So there's a lot in this title!

Why should we read your book?

What I love about the arts is that the finished product is a gift from the artist that can be accepted or rejected by the public. I hope you and your readers accept my gift to you, but it is up to you.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

Yes, it's at www.maryposer.com

What advice do you have for budding writers?

Go for it! Don't wait for anything to be perfect. The story reveals itself as you embark on the journey. So, like life, make it about the journey and not the destination.

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The Joy of Seeking

Inspired from a Quora post on the same topic. 

Just imagine you woke up one fine morning, some stranger comes to your house, celebrates their birthday, cuts a birthday cake, you and the other family members are instructed to encircle them and clap mechanically while singing the birthday jingle. The happy-go-lucky person smiles and enjoys, is being pampered and dressed up like a prince or princess. You blankly stare at them. You are bestowed with chocolates and food of their choice. Unwillingly you consume that. You are entitled to shower good wishes in return. What do you feel from inside? You get suffocated with the realization during every such celebration that you could have been in their place, but you are not. Your birthday could also be celebrated like theirs, but no, you are different, under privileged. You are supposed to be an onlooker, a part of their celebration. They bid you bye and add another scar to your little innocent heart, and you curse your being.

This is a trend these days that to inculcate the joy of giving in the new generation, parents take them to the orphanage to celebrate their birthdays. Definitely it is a good way to induce morals and philanthropy in them. Already, the kids these days are brought up in a nuclear family structure and that too most likely as a single child. This means they are segregated from the joy of  caring and sharing. They are so much pampered that they get everything they ask for. This way they do not understand what being deprived of something means.

Apparently, taking them to orphanage for birthday celebration incorporates a sense satisfaction by sharing their happiness with the less privileged ones.

Unfortunately, it has become a fashion wherein we overlook the other side of the coin. 

How great it is to feel glad assuming that you are spreading happiness, to choke someone's conscience on the pretence of charity! Should we celebrate our birthday with them or their birthdays with us?

Happiness is a relative concept. What satisfies you might suffocate someone. 

"No one becomes poor by giving." - Anne Frank

I have seen people doing acts of charity and then posting pictures of the deed on social media. In doing so their prime focus is to accumulate publicity and enduring unfair "profit by giving". Do noble cause such that even your left hand mustn't know that right hand has done it.

If we merely think about using our earnings for our family, we are no different than an animal. Even an animal protects and provides for its family. I assume that if you have got resources enough to read this post, you surely have enough to help the underprivileged. If not money, share knowledge, contribute towards their education or like. Knowledge multiplies on sharing, unlike wealth! And as they say, "Give a man a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed them for a lifetime"

Remember, the hand that gives is the one that receives. It's a saying in Hindi "देने वाले का हाथ हमेशा ऊपर होता है, और लेने वाले का नीचे " ( The giver's hand is always above the receiver's hand).

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