Of Human Bonding and the Power of Small but Kind Gestures

The ‘distance’ between a human being and being human is really long. Nonetheless, some manage to cover it effortlessly. Edhi Foundation, the Pakistani NGO, which sheltered and raised the deaf-mute Geeta drew all-round appreciation recently. This fairy tale story has a match in India too. Not long ago, the family of Madhava Reddy of Nalgonda district in Telangana was in the news for bringing up a Muslim girl, Farzana, and marrying her off in style. The surprising thing is neither the Pakistani NGO nor the Reddy family ever tried to convert the girls under their care to their religion.

There are still people, who stand by values, pluralism and tolerance. Such stories of love and care lift the spirit and reassure that all is not lost with humanity, especially at a time when the debate on intolerance rages on. Selfless acts like these come as a breath of fresh air. But I strongly feel, and many will agree with me, that the common man is still fair and unbiased and turns a Good Samaritan in times of crisis.

Despite the climate of hatred and distrust sought to be created by politicians of all hues, humanity survives. People love to share and care. There are any number of instances of mutual love and understanding shown by people of different faiths. After all, religion is there to bind and not dissociate. I know of a Muslim friend, who received help from his Hindu neighbour when he suffered a heart attack and had to be rushed to hospital in the middle of the night. Similarly heart-warming is the action of a Muslim family in protecting the lives of their Hindu neighbours during a communal riot in Hyderabad’s Old City.

Respecting diversity and celebrating individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love. Instances of such sterling qualities of head and heart come to the fore now and then — reinforcing our faith in humanity.

In day-to-day life, most of us have experienced kind gestures shown by people rising above the considerations of faith — especially during travel time, one can see fairly regularly utter strangers going out of their way to accommodate fellow passengers.

During a recent journey to New Delhi, I was witness to a man giving up his lower berth in the train to an elderly woman although he himself was not too well. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. One shouldn’t underestimate the power of small gestures — a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment. They make a profound impact and affect people positively. After all, we are not born for ourselves alone but to be useful to others.

Too often we come across people lending a hand to push a stalled car or helping someone with a flat tyre. Drop into any hospital and there are scenes of people consoling distressed souls with a hug or a kind word. It doesn’t cost much to do little acts of compassion which go a long way in removing misgivings while making the world a better place to live in. There are any number of shining examples of such pure love and great benevolence across the country.

During the month of Ramzan, Hindu shopkeepers making room for their fasting Muslim clients to pray and offering dates for ‘iftar’ are common in Hyderabad. Such gestures are reciprocated by Muslims during the annual Ganesh procession in the city. But unfortunately, the media glosses over such acts and highlights only the conflict points.

As an anonymous wit said quite correctly three things are important in life: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. In a world full of people, who couldn’t care less, let us be someone who couldn’t care more.

- J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The New Indian Express

Dated November 23,2015.