DATED – 30th April 2016

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan launched this charity – BEING HUMAN FOUNDATION in 2007. It works in education and healthcare for the underprivileged in India. Though I don’t know much in details about it, I certainly love the name! At times, you come across some names of people, organisations, NGOs, that you hear and feel WOW – what a name. For me, ‘Being Human’ is one such name. It brings a smile on my face.

Going a little ahead than the name, I thought – what is actually ‘being human’? Here are some that I came up with –

• Packing extra roti/rice along with the extra veggies you had after your dinner at a restaurant and handing it over to the needy on streets
• Picking up a stone from the middle of the road, that is obstructing traffic
• Calling up your near and dear ones on their birthdays/anniversaries rather than wishing them on Facebook, WhatsApp or SMS
• Saying a thank you to the liftman, who sits in that small lift for the whole day
• Hugging and making someone feel loved when they have just lost a family member
• Helping your mother / mother in-law an extra bit who is doing daily chores in spite of her health not being okay. She might not ask, but let’s go out of our way
• When a close friend is down due to circumstances, take him out for a dinner/ drive and give him some lovely moments. A change in routine might be magical
• Being a non-interrupting listener is the best thing one can do as a human being. Everyone wants to talk, but no one is ready to listen
• Parents having belief that they can talk their heart to their kids. It is shameful according to me, if parents get scared to speak to their own children
• Asking the helper in your office if all is well in his family
• Making a fellow human being smile when they look a little worked up/sad
• Offering Rs.10/- extra to someone selling toys on the road. It might mean a lot for them
• Not shouting on the waiter because he spilled some water on your clothes
• Passing on a contact to someone without any personal benefits, which can help him generate business
• Not getting angry on your people even if they have done a mistake. There are better ways to solve the issue, isn’t it?
• If someone is ill in the house, taking them to the doctor before they tell us to do so
• Respecting people simply because they are human beings, irrespective of their actions or words.

If we can become sensitive, I think ‘being human’ is not a difficult task at all. In today’s world, it seems we have gotten more attached to materialistic things, and drifted away from humans. We use humans for our advantage and adore things. This is the worst way to live, isn’t it? Not all of us do it on purpose; however, it is just that we don’t realise what we are doing.

‘Being human’ has nothing to do with being rich. In all the above examples, money might not be required. All it needs is an intention.

Vis-à-vis my life –

I see enough people wearing ‘being human’ clothes and accessories. Earlier when I used to see it, I would feel nice to be reminded of that name. Henceforth, anytime I see someone wearing ‘being human’ things, it will remind me – am I living like a human being…?

I must thank Salman for putting these two English words together. They make great sense to me. If individually every reader decides to become ‘human’, the world will be such a wonderful place to stay in. I would like to conclude by asking you – are you being human… ACTUALLY?

P.S. – Please feel free to share this blog as much as possible (no copyrights involved here). Let more and more people realise what it is to – be human actually! Let’s together make this world a better place!