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Service: A Process of Our Culture 149
Huge funds are currently needed for the care of senior citizens
of America. However, in India, elders are very much a part of
the family, so the society does not have to bear the burden of
their responsibility. We have to apply thought to make this
structure more powerful and respectable.
Serving others is part of our basic nature. Have you ever
seen a dedicated place for giving grains and water to birds,
except in our civilization? We have this facility in every village
and street. We have always believed that man has to take care
of the smallest living being also. Leaving wheat flour for feeding
ants at ant-holes reflects our kindness to all living beings as
well as our inherent nature, which is a result of our cultural
heritage. There is a vast difference in the lives of dogs. Some
privileged dogs have access to air-conditioned rooms and cars
whereas some are kicked when they are hungry. Our country
has always had arrangements for a food corner for dogs. After
every family meal, dogs are given food. Serving others is part
of our nature and we should think about conveying this even to
the last person of the society.
Myths have been spread that nothing is good in our country.
The blot of slavery has been attached to us because we have
been slaves for a long time. Our age-old suppressed mentality
does not give us the courage to believe in our own positive
qualities. We have several superlative things to present to the
world, but we are afraid of doing so. For example, we believe
that we did not serve needy people till the missionaries entered
our country. On the contrary, you will not be able to travel twenty
kilometres without coming across a food centre which
distributes food to the poor. This shows our tradition of service.
There is a food centre near a hospital in Chennai or
Coimbatore, which has been started by a South Indian saint
currently living in Malaysia. His restaurant, which is better than
a five star hotel, serves food at nominal rates to patients and
their relatives. Respected citizens like judges and doctors
provide service here – they serve food and even pick up the
dirty plates, working till the end of the lunch or dinner session.
There is usually a long waiting period to get the honour of this