Compassion and respect is important in charitable acts. There is a need to shift away from public displays that undermine the dignity of those in need.
Many people and families found themselves in need of basic necessities like food, shelter, and support during times of crisis like the COVID-19 lockdown. Many organizations and individuals stepped up in the spirit of humanity, providing aid where it was most needed. However, in a time when social media and public displays are prevalent, the practice of taking pictures of people getting aid has regrettably become more common, undermining the fundamental goal of charity.
I recently had a conversation with someone who shared a poignant experience. This person received food packets from officials distributing rations during the lockdown. A camera was quickly launched to record the event as the aid was given out. “Sir, I don’t need this ration because you are taking my photo,” the man said, graciously declining the assistance. He clarified that the thought of being photographed while taking charity made him extremely uncomfortable. The long-term effects were the source of the worry rather than the present. “What if my kids are recruited in this very office one day after putting in a lot of effort and getting jobs, and that picture is on the wall? Would they not be embarrassed to believe that their father accepted alms, a kind of public “beek”?
The conversation reveals a concerning trend. Giving, which is supposed to help people in need, is corrupted when it is used as a means of gaining attention from the public or for self-promotion. We deprive people of their dignity when we take pictures of them in their hour of need. In its purest form, charity ought to be about empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to assist others rather than about obtaining praise or admiration.
Self-respect and honour are intrinsically valued in our culture. Receiving charity is already a humiliating experience for many people, and the fear of being judged makes it considerably more difficult. These moments can become permanent signs of vulnerability when photographs are captured and possibly posted on social media or exhibited in public areas. The repercussions for recipients of charity might be extremely personal since they fear disgrace for themselves and their kids in the future.
We need to consider if it is really necessary to record every instance of kindness. Giving is supposed to be a silent, heartfelt act that aims to elevate rather than degrade. We transform these actions into spectacles by snapping pictures, which puts the victim in a situation where their dignity is violated. This behaviour is a reflection of a larger social problem in which it is becoming difficult to distinguish between acts of self-interest and true compassion.
It is our duty as a society to protect the dignity of those who are less fortunate. Empathy must be the foundation of acts of compassion, and we must fight the impulse to draw attention to other people’s hardships for our own or our organization’s benefit. Remember that the silent satisfaction of seeing someone succeed without expecting praise is the real worth of contributing.
A person’s dignity should never be traded for charity. Those who donate must be humble in their approach, realising that their purpose is to provide assistance, not to draw attention to the suffering of others. Giving comes from the heart, not from the picture. Let’s adopt a culture of silent charity, in which the influence we have on other people’s lives rather than our social media feeds is the only testament to our generosity. This is about maintaining the moral foundation of our society, not just about personal sensitivity. Let our charitable deeds be recalled in the future for their kindness rather than the embarrassment they unintentionally cause.
The writer is a medical officer at PHC Shargole, Kargil
By Dr Fazal Ul Haq Wani