https://csim.in/conversations/Conversations_September%202011.pdf

Shobha and Anand had a mixed culture marriage. The wedding was to be held in Chennai as Shobha’s parents lived here while Anand’s parents dwelt in Delhi. Both the families differed 180 degrees in their views on religion and rituals, and so the couple decided to handle the wedding arrangements themselves.

The mandap was beautifully decorated and both the bride and groom looked their best. After the wedding ceremony was over, the guests congregated to congratulate the couple. All of them had one thing in common—huge gift packets. Some of them took over an hour to get their turn to wish the bride and the groom. 

“I think we would need two cars to transport the gifts that you received today. It is going to be tough for me to sort this out,” remarked Anand’s mother Manju. 

Exchanging smiles, Shobha and Anand replied in chorus,” “No worries! We shall help you out.”

The guests were getting disbursed after lunch and Manju ensured that each of them collected their return gifts. 

After the rituals were over, the couple seated themselves amidst the gifts and took turns to open each one of them. “Can I open the first gift?” requested Shobha. She grabbed the packet near her and spent the next five minutes to unwrap it. “It is a wall clock! We can put it in our room,” she expressed. Next was Anand’s turn. “I have a wall clock too!” he mumbled. 

After sorting out over half a dozen of wall clocks, many sets of cutleries; picture frames; and others, Shobha found an envelope that caught her eye. She paused for a moment and not wanting to make any more wild guesses, opened it. 

Noticing Shobha turn quiet, Anand caringly asked, “What happened to you? What did you find in that envelope?”

Pausing a moment, she replied, “There is a gift certificate for a free eye surgery that has been given to a visually impaired girl to mark our wedding day.” 

“It must be Visu. He is known to make such gifts for occasions,” he said cheerfully with an attempt to bring back the smile on his wife’s face.

Holding back her tears, she quipped, “It is a lovely way to start our life together. I never knew that you had such wonderful friends.” 

Both Shobha and Anand were immensely pleased that their wedding has made a difference to someone whom they never knew. 

Two years passed quickly for Anand and Shobha. Having purchased an apartment in Chennai, they were now planning to organize the housewarming ceremony. “I hope we will be able to manage this event. Guess I should ask my friends for help,” said Anand. 

Shobha remembered the gift that Visu gave for their wedding and said, “Yes! I would need your friend’s help. Not to help in organizing the function per se, but to help us in sharing the gifts that we would receive.”

Anand could not comprehend what Shobha’s thought was. Sensing this, she clarified stating, “There is an organisation called Bhoomika Trust that coordinates gifts for people who are in need. It was through them that Visu had made the donation towards free eye surgery for a child on our wedding day. Let us invite the Trust representatives for our function. We can request our guests to share their gifts through them to those who are in need of.”

“This is a brilliant idea. Let’s do it!” said Anand. 

Shobha was mightily thrilled that her suggestion was accepted. They started to work on the event invites and included a subtle note: ‘If you wish to gift, we will give you an opportunity to share it with someone who would value it more than us.’

The day of the housewarming arrived bright and clear. Shobha and Anand welcomed their guests with a warm smile. After lunch, Shobha announced to the guests: “We have Bhoomika Trust representatives here with us. They have set up a stall for ‘True Gifts’. This is an initiative that coordinates gifts for those who are in need. You can gift to one among fifteen organisations that are listed with them. The minimum value of a gift is Rs. 200 and you have the option of choosing amongst 100 types of gifts. Please do visit them before you leave.”

Guests were curious to find out what gifts they could offer. Few were eager to be the first to make the gift. After the guests had made their choice of gift and made the payment towards it, True Gift volunteers issued a gift certificate so that they can present it to the intended recipient of the gift. 

The guests thanked Shobha and Anand for having given them an opportunity to know about such a wonderful initiative to share their gifts, and disbursed with a sense of satisfaction. 

“It was interesting to see the guests quickly browse through the options they had, and spontaneously offer their gift for a cause they chose. I was at first apprehensive if this idea would hurt the sentiments of my friends, but was wrong. We had over 200 guests who chose to donate to 10 organisations. Few of them have even said that they would like to do this at the time of their next domestic function,” said a proud Shobha.

Jayendra, Founder, Bhoomika Trust (www.bhoomikaindia.org) said, “Not knowing what to gift someone on a special occasion is a dilemma that people often face. With this in mind Bhoomika Trust set up ‘True Gifts’—an initiative that links donor contributions with needs of NGOs. Through a careful selection process NGOs are enlisted in this initiative and their needs are included in the True Gifts Wish List”. 

“The gifts encompass various categories such as education, health, differently-abled, women, children, and the elderly. Sample gifts include sponsoring an outing for special children, gifting a dialysis treatment, supporting the cost of milk for one day for spastic children, sponsoring a special lunch for children living with cancer, supporting a child’s education, etc.,” he concluded. 

Through True Gifts, occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and remembering loved ones can be made more meaningful by touching the lives of others. 

Come, it is now our turn now to share a gift!