Editorial : Generous Indians !

The report ‘How India Gives 2025-26’ published by the ‘Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy of Ashoka University’ has been released. It throws light on the charitable mindset of Indians. This report underlines the innate tendency of Indians to give. Importantly, this charity is domestic in nature and amounts to an estimated Rs 54,000 crore every year – such a massive scale. This means that not only the ultra-rich or the rich, but the overall middle-class Indians contribute significantly to this charity. Western media portray India as a poor and backward Nation. Although India is progressing in many fields, a negative image of India is painted, faults are found and criticised. Wealthy Western countries that provide assistance to India project it as though they are doing a great favour. For all of them, this report is nothing short of a slap.

The tendency to save

In India, from very ordinary families to upper middle-class families, there is an innate tendency to save money. Therefore, Indians save as much as possible from their earnings and deposit these either in banks and offer a portion in the temples. Some offer it to spiritual organisations. Compared to this, the tendency to donate to social institutions or NGOs is less.

Abroad, large sums are donated to big social organisations and church-related NGOs. These very organisations later come to India and work against Indian culture, prepare incorrect reports about India and create hatred against Indians. Since large amounts of donations are received from abroad in the name of social aid, some so-called social organisations in India repeatedly approach foreign donors and secure hefty amounts for themselves. Later, however, we learn of these organisations showing their true colours and working against Hindu culture, Hindus and India.

Despite not having official permission to receive foreign donations, the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANiS), accepted them and committed the grave sin of severing Hindus from their religion and defaming Hindu Dharma. In the Godhra riots, Teesta Setalvad’s organisation worked to blame Hindus, and later their falsehood was exposed.

The falsehood of Christian organisations

Christian organisations are at the forefront of institutions receiving donations. They create an impression as though they alone do a lot for humanity. In the name of protecting humanity, they start hospitals, schools and colleges, and later use them as a cover to convert Hindus and prevent them from practising their Dharma. The reason for taking note of NGOs and Christian organisations in the context of charity is to refute the narrative that no one in India is charitable and that only Christian organisations work for humanity.

Another important point in the report is that a higher percentage of Indians regularly donate – whether food, clothes or goods. Next comes donating money and then giving personal time in service. Even among those who earn only Rs 4,000-5,000 per month, half of them donate. Among them, 90% consider this their religious duty. This shows how deeply rooted the tendency of generosity is in Indians. Rather than someone donating a large sum once, the one who donates regularly, considers it his religious duty and comes forward despite limited financial capacity, is certainly superior; this tendency is found among Hindus. Such charity is not widely discussed. Media highlight only those who make huge donations or give expensive gifts; therefore, regular donors are not noticed as much.

When Kerala experienced a flood-like situation, a small boatman saved many lives without charging money. So that people stuck in water could board the boat, he used his back to help the elderly climb in. Later, the Mahindra Group honoured this boatman by gifting him a newly launched four-wheeler.

On social media, many such individuals in India are seen caring selflessly for the elderly abandoned by their families. Many of these elderly are disabled; yet, they are looked after by such service-oriented organisations. These service-minded individuals are neither wealthy nor from the business class; they are common people who have come forward on recognising the prevailing situation. In Delhi, a woman has been seen performing the last rites of unclaimed dead bodies according to Hindu religious rites. The assistance rendered by ordinary citizens in India is astonishing to the world; thus, in social service too, Indians are in no way inferior.

The important point here is that donation should always be given to the deserving. In India, there has been a tradition since ancient times of donating to temples and religious institutions for this very reason. Kings and rulers also donated to temples, Saints, Sages, Gurukuls and seats of Saints. At present, since lakhs of temples in India have been taken over by the Government, donations offered by devotees with faith are spent by the respective Governments on improper purposes. In many Government-controlled temples, ornaments and money offered to Deities have been misappropriated by administrative officials. Yet these corrupt officials have not been punished. Anti-religious elements also have an eye on the money and property of Hindu temples.

In Tamil Nadu, the anti-Hindu State Government plunders temple wealth and uses it for other purposes. This too is misappropriation of the offerings given by ordinary Hindus. People spend from their own pockets to undertake pilgrimages and visit temples, and voluntarily donate for the facilities provided there. Through such deserving charity, Hindus have benefited in their lives and have had positive spiritual experiences. Therefore, their tendency to donate increases.

It is important to note that this tendency to give to others has arisen among Hindus due to religious reasons. It is equally true that today’s India and Hindu culture stands because of charity and sacrifice.

The assistance rendered by ordinary citizens in India is astonishing to the world; in social service too, Indians are not inferior !

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