I have been trying to understand one thing - does education and civilisation go hand in hand. We all are educated but are we all civilised? This brings us the basic question --what is civilisation? Mathew Arnold said civilisation is the humanisation of man in society. I liked this because it is simple and easy to understand. Are we humane enough to be called civilised? Here comes the confusion. We are happy enough to earn loads of money, to spend as we wish ,the borderline between neccessity and luxury has been abolished. With the click of the mouse we can send hatred against somebody or something to hundreds of people.We are happy with ourselves but not bothered about others. Suddenly someone mails about somebody's illness asking for help we may respond. But what about doing something for the society. Society does not mean only the people around me in the office or friends. Society includes people at large even though they are unknown to me. But why should think about others when they are not known to me or they have not done anything for me for what I am today. I have studied hard ,burnt many a candles at night and so on and on and on. But this is a biased thought focussing only myself. Right from the time Iwas born upto what I am today I have grown with the help of many besides my parents. When I started to enlist the the names of people starting with the teachers of my school and then the domestic staff,some seniors in the locality, and many more from who I got some help or the other I was astonished to note that without their help on that particular time things could have gone wrong. Many are no longer alive, some are lost somewhere , I don't know their whereabouts. They all belong to the society. Can I pay them back? I want to.
Why not do something for the society? Why not do something for others? I don't have time. I go to the hospital 8AM and after finishing my evening clinic come back home at 10PM. Where is the time? Moreover I regularly pay income tax,that means I am already giving a big share of my earnings to the govt.It is the job of the govt to look after people in the country. But this thought somehow did not satisfy my conscience. If I can save a miniscule of my earnings say 0.1% of my monthly earnings to create a fund and join hands with like minded people the potential is tremendous . I thought of Melinda Foundation. Many HIV patients are getting free medicines and seeing new hopes of life. I have actually seen their recovery,their smile,their confidence.A few years ago it was all gloom for them. I can do something for the society without cutting short any of my luxuries. Without crticising the govt or political parties I felt satisfaction criticising myself why this thought did not come to me before. It did not come because I was busy with myself only. But that is not humanisation of man in society.