The Real Gold - Saina Nehwal

The Real Gold - Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal 'gifts' Girisha Rs 2 lakh from own earnings (Times of India, Sep. 7, 2012)
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal has announced that she would be presenting Rs.2 lakh to H.N. Girisha, who won a silver medal in high jump at the London Paralympics.  Saina informed The Hindu that she felt it was an incredible achievement by Girisha and deserved recognition.  “I am moved by his success and wish to donate personally the amount to him,”  she said.

Recently I read a story, a passage thereof I wish to share: "Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees." 

Saina, many congratulations. You have given the copper coin and led the way. Let's see what those with gold coins do! Though you won a bronze, your gesture of helping others is no less than a gold.  Gold is appraised by its purity.  You are evaluated by the purity of purpose. You have, more than all, won the hearts of the entire country. You have demonstrated that it requires a large heart, not a large ego. You have poked the guilt in others, other sportsmen in particular. 

You have set the trend!


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