Serving the world with love and cooperation, you will find your own true Self. As you help those in need, selfishness will fall away, and without even noticing, you will find your own fulfilment.

 – Chancellor Amma
 

“I learned about the true joy of giving when we recently organized Vastrasamman at our campus,” shared Shreesha Kashyap, third-year student of B.Tech. (Electronics and Communication Engineering) at Amrita’s Bengaluru campus.

Shreesha was part of the student committee that organized the event Vastrasamman or giving respect through giving clothes. The students came up with the idea when they read about similar efforts organized elsewhere, in newspapers.

A total of 279 blankets was distributed to campus workers that included housekeeping staff, gardeners, mess workers, plumbers, college bus drivers, security staff and others.

A special meal was also served; this was the students’ gesture for acknowledging the workers’ service to the institution.
 

The event was organized as an initiative of the Prerana Club, a community outreach association of the campus.

“This the first time an event of this sort was conducted on campus,” shared Sreesha. “In the past, Prerana Club members have collected old clothes and donated to NGOs.”

“We are doing our part to bring back the culture of giving in our country,” he added smilingly.

As Shreesha travelled back home in the college bus that evening, the bus driver expressed his happiness and gratitude for the students’ sweet gesture.

“I was so touched by the comments from Driver Uncle,” remarked Shreesha.

The event was organized on September 30, two days before the country observed Gandhi Jayanthi. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandhiji had remarked.

Amrita students were certainly making the change they wished to see, beginning with themselves first.

“The events objectives were realized – those who are more fortunate understood the need to care for those less privileged and that they have a responsibility to initiate a positive change,” noted Shreesha.

“Next we will contribute to the cleaning efforts in Sabarimala as part of the Amala Bharatham Campaign and thus continue to serve,” he added.
October 18, 2011
School of Engineering, Bengaluru