Practise benevolence
It came from newspaper reports that a celebrated Indian minister travelled in the economy class of the plane while on official visits. The present Congress chairperson also did the same thing. Then came the news of a young MP who travelled in the general class of the train. When fellow passengers discovered him beside them they became overwhelmed and commented, is not he our leader Rahul Gandhi? Yes, he did what is expected from dedicated true leaders of the people.
Let us see what gain is achieved from this deed of austerity. Persons doing this earned admiration, confidence and trust of the people. The government got money that has been saved which can be employed in other beneficial purposes. It is to be noted that they are entitled to executive class with many other facilities for comfort. By sacrificing some comfort they have shown wisdom and broadness of mind. The gap between leaders and common people has narrowed down and widened the understanding between them and thereby a bond of brotherhood developed and that elevated them to a very respectable position.
According to William Godwin: A virtuous man will teach himself to recollect the principle to universal benevolence as often as a pious man repeat prayers.
I now want to put a story of a poor garments worker who was not aware of all these events, nor did she know what austerity and benevolence mean. Rahimunnessa, a divorced poor woman, used to work as maidservant in the house of a professor. Afterwards she worked in a factory for a long time. What she earned she kept it with her employer. She saved Tk 5 lakh from her earning. When asked what she would do with that money, she expressed her desire to donate it to any institution engaged in common man's service, particularly to hospital. She died in a road accident in 2006. The professor gave the money to a diabetis hospital fulfilling the desire of late Rahimunnesa. Her benevolent deed will remain as a great example to stimulate our hearts.
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