The social menace of Begging
Begging for alms has now become a business proposition of huge magnitude atleast that is what now we understand through columns in news papers. Beggars are everywhere, in your neighbourhood, in trains, in buses, in Government offices, in pavements, on roads and they are as ubiquitious as god himself. It is realibly learnt that beggars are there even in communist countries who swear by egalitarianism and in capitalist economies as well. from Victor Hugo's Les miserable to O Henry's Cop and the anthem, we have read about a variety of beggers. Begging is perceived to be part of Indian culture and tradition along with Sadhus, Snake charmers etc.
Begging for alms has been prescribed even in our vedic texts which advocate for human detachment from earthly pleasures and articles. Our ancient sadhus earned their food through Biksha - even Adi Sankara and Lord Shiva himself took to biksha. One of the many names of Shiva is Bikshadana. A Pure soul who prays for human welfare never aspires to store anything for tommorow leaving it to the mercy of god and for the present takes to Bhiksha. But the present day begging is different. It has become a means of living without any investment except that one has to forget about self respect and dignity.
Sharad Joshi once wrote that there are no beggers in Sikh community. I checked up with a Sardarji who confessed that they are indeed beggers amongst Sikhs who are fed by Gurudwaras as a part of thier social obligation. Even our hindu ethics prescribe poor feeding through various means including donation to dharam salas which provide free food for all who require it. Other religions also prescribe poor feeding as a means of salvation and attaining the feet of god. Usually those who are helpless due to physical handicaps, those who are orphaned early in life take to begging. Now there are voluntary organisations which take care of such distressed people but they collect huge amount of donations from noble souls and some of them are mired in controversies. Christian missionaries attend to the helpless but they are charged with proselytisation efforts by Hindutva outfits.
Probably this blot on our society should be attended to. Our Governments did not care about eradicating this . Atleast one CM in independent India attempted to cleanse this menace. Mr.Karunanidhi started Beggers rehabilitation sheme in 1972 but the came a cropper due to official apathy.
The chatter of coins in a begging bowl always remind me that I have been part of a system which created un equal distribution of wealth that some of my brothers and sisters have taken to begging in order to survive. It is high time we draw a blue print to eradicate this social menace
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