Today, while talking to one of my closest friends, KaraN Gehani, my mind wandered to the profound significance of selfless giving. As many of you are aware of my passion for books and movies, our discussion led me to ponder over engaging narratives that portray the core essence of selfless acts and their profound impact on human connections. This prompted me to write this article reminding me of two compelling narratives, from distinct times and cultures, beautifully illustrating the essence of selfless giving and its impact of the fabric of human connection.
In the 1980 film “Aap Ke Deewane,” we encounter Ram and Rahim, friends entangled in financial hardships, who each make personal sacrifices to gift the other something very special. Rahim sells his cherish guitar which has broken strings, to present Ram with trousers that matches his blazer. Unaware, Ram sells his blazer to purchase strings for Ram’s guitar.
This echoes the timeless tale published by O. Henry in 1905, “The Gift of the Magi,” where Della and Jim, a young couple deeply in love but financial constraint, each sell their most treasured possessions to buy the other a perfect Christmas gift. Della sells her beautiful hair to get Jim a chain for his pocket watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her long locks.
In addition to these timeless tales, I couldn’t help but think of other works that echo similar themes. Books like “Love Story,” “The Note Book”, “The Kite Runner” and “Little Women” delve into the complexities of friendship and selflessness, while movies such as “Schindler’s List”, “The Pursuit of Happiness”, “It’s A wonderful Life”, “Pay It Forward” and “P.S. I Love You” showcase powerful stories of sacrifice and compassion.
TV series like “This is Us”, Oscar winning “The Elephant Whisperers” and other short stories like “The Necklace” and “The Last Leaf” further highlight the consequences of choices and the value of selfless acts.
My dear grandfather, whom I called Baoji used to say “No dharma is bigger than having compassion for all.”
I couldn’t help and just felt compelled to share these thoughts that came to my mind randomly. In my upcoming book “Overflow: Live The Life You Want” I delve into personal reflections on sacrifice and other themes close to my heart.