Dividend payout
“One should know when is it enough“, a statement made by Dr Neeraj Saxena in a KBC show, and quitting after winning Rs.3.20 lakhs, and even when he had 3 life lines in hand, and a solid chance to win much more amount, has shaken up all the well heeled people. With this gesture, he did two things. One, he admitted that a sum of Rs.3.20 lakhs won by him is enough, and he is happy with that and he doesn’t longs for more. Secondly, he also felt that his quitting will give a chance to other contestants, who were there, to try their luck. Both off-shoots of his extraordinary decision are remarkable and unparalleled in the known history of our generation and has become a trend setter. Salute to him for having such a cool and a balanced head on his shoulders.
But nonetheless, that did also stir up an internal dialogue within all well meaning people too. What are we all talented, gifted and successful people doing ourselves? When is it going to be enough for us?
Every investment, when turns out successful, has a dividend payout obligations. Are we paying that, when God has vested in us some special talent, or we find ourselves, for no apparent reasons, in lucky spots and earn name fame and money because of being beneficiary of God’s gift?
It is said, “ Success in any venture depends upon the grace HE (God) extends. With HIS grace, all our moves turn out to perfectly well coordinated, HE keeps us motivated, shows us the way through obstacles and doesn’t allow us to crumble when the going gets tough.
The legendary human computer, Ms Shakuntala Devi , cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, versatile M S Dhoni, the king of Bollywood Sharukh Khan etc are some of the most well known names who are God gifted people. When they earn money from a gift God vested them with, I believe most of such gifted people are paying dividends (contributing to social cause) on the investment God made on them.
In fact, all talented and gifted people, instead of boasting about their success, and using that for personal aggrandisement of self in name & fame, and in spreading the boundaries of their empire, have to ask themselves that vital question with which we started, viz., “ when is it enough for self?”.
Nothing wrong in building empires, except that the focus of life of such gifted and extraordinary talented people, and who already are known as celebrities, have to dedicate their life’s earnings for social cause and in uplifting the lesser-lucky brethren. Such famed talented and gifted people, after having earned all the name and fame, have to, at some stage of their life, become God’s custodian of the money they made, or they are still making, and use most of it towards repaying back to the society. I am not saying that such celebrities are not doing that. With their example, I am trying to invite other gifted and talented people to rise to the occasion and channel their name and money for wider social purposes.
In this context, I have another name to share, of internationally renowned Senegal footballer Sadio Mane. Having being signed up recently by Saudi Pro League, and having earned huge money over the years, he is transforming his village into a city. He has constructed a $260,000 school, the Lycee Moderne Bambali, a $3,00,000 hospital, a Mosque, is constructing a Post Office, and is providing 4G Internet facility in his village. However, his charity does not stop there. He provides $75 per month for families in the poorest region in Senegal, and during each Ramadhan, each family in his hometown with about $84. Isn’t that motivating and encouraging?
In the recently published report on Indian philanthropist, happy to know that Indian celebrities also donated Rs.8,783 crore in FY 2024. At the top of list is Mr. Shiv Nadar, with donation if Rs.2,153 crore, which works to almost Rs.6 crore per day, followed by Mukesh Ambani (407 crore), Susmita & Subroto Bagchi (179 cr.), Rohini Nilekani (154 cr.), Zerodha’s Nitin and Nikhil Kamath (120 cr.) among the top 10 donors. Krishna Chivukula is said to be the new entrant, with a donation of Rs.228 crore to IIT Madras.
Isn’t that amazing, and surprising too, when we do not find our hot favourites cricketers and Bollywood stars, and other well known industrialists among this list. May be all such celebrities are also doing their little bit for social cause, but, if they and if we pause, and ask the same question, “ when is it enough?”, who knows that changes the direction of their life, and who knows we may have the highest number of philanthropist in the world, with highest amount being channelised for social cause.