Monday, May 30, 2005

But why do you do that ?

I am an IVF specialist, but I also run a free patient education library in Bombay. This is called
HELP - the Health Education Library for People
and has now become one of the world's largest consumer health library.
This is a free service we provide, because we believe in Information Therapy and that patients need access to information, so they can get the best medical care for themselves, in partnership with their doctor. We spend a lot of money on running the library ( space rental, books, staff salaries, electricity and so on) and a question many people ask us is - Why do you do this ? What do you get out of it ? Everyone feels we must be having a vested interest, and they simply cannot figure out what it is !
I am surprised at how naive they are. There is so much pleasure in doing good and helping someone else with no vested interest ! Isn't that what life is for ? All religions teach the same thing - do good to others - so why can't we put it into practise in our own lives ?
I am financially well off, so why shouldn't I put my money to good use now in my own lifetime rather than donate it to some charity after I am dead and
gone ?
And why should I wait to do good after I have retired ? I live by the philosophy, "Live Rich, Die Broke". Sure, I don't drive a Mercedes, but why do I need to ? One of my friends asked - What's your ROI ( return on investment) ? All I can say is that the emotional income I get is incomparable !
It's sometimes hard to explain to others why we run HELP, and I used to do my best in the past to do so. Now I just feel sorry for them, in that they have not experienced the pleasure which comes from giving to others with no axe to grind.

3 comments:

  1. The peopel who askes this question that why u are doing such a thing in first place, i feel sorry for them, because they don't understand the whole idea of life, i presume for them money is everything. Material world has made them totally inhuman.
    That's what is called the conditioned soul.

    You are doing a fantastic job. I wish we had more noble and genuine people on this planet and contribute to the socitey and humanity in either way.
    Also, i had a suggestion that you integrate yr blog on yr website, that way peoople will know more about yr views. The one who comes to yr blog or yr site.

    Good luck for yr future endeavors and feel free to contact if i can be of any help to you.
    Rajesh should be able to you help in
    that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Sir,

    First of all let me congratulate u and salute you for this. I have been to couple of doctors - MBBS to MDs to DMs for consultation, but I found "consultation" missing. I hope people will learn from you and follow your steps. Atleast, instead of fancy files , platic covers and letterpads, consultants can provide a coupple of 50p photocopies to start educating the patients.

    Wish you all the best.

    Santosh
    http://www.newsmotto.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Dr. Malapani,
    i myself face the same question while running www.chintha.com
    Facing this question, feeling sad... i normally don't answer it. One day everyone with realise it themselves.

    Paul

    ReplyDelete

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