As Indians, we are probably the most strange people.  We have braved wars, droughts, inflation, corruption, worst of times like floods, and what have you.  We have braved every single calamity that has come our way and we have have emerged as one of the fastest growing nations of the world, thanks to rising middle-class incomes.

Yet, are we basically compassionate?  The very fact that the gap between the rich and the poor is so wide and, becoming wider day after day, is a real cause of concern.  So so much, that the previous Central Government even tried to push a legislation through  -- Indian Corporate Organizations need to compulsorily contribute a fraction of their profits to the society in the form of some tangible contribution to the local community.

Be that as it may, we do see a huge decline in values all around, and we seem to be blissfully part of the whole game.  For example, we have now assumed that corruption is a given, as we do not hesitate to take part in it at every single given opportunity.

For example, it is a well known fact that some rich families in India, spend as much as one crore of rupees to secure a seat for their sons or daughters in some medical college under the "management quota".  We can very well imagine the attitude of such doctors.  They are one hundred per cent commercial, and simply exploit the poor patients day in and day out.

We spit on roads, use plastic as if there is no tomorrow and generally treat the poor as children of a lesser God.  For those who are employed as domestic servants, we do not think it is wise to give an annual increment of just Rs.50/- per month, to those unfortunate souls.

What we need is some basic change in attitudes.  We need to be more compassionate and contribute our might to those who cannot afford even the basic minimum facilities.  

For example, the rich classes -- most of whom are employed in the IT and IT-enabled services -- who happily blow up anywhere between five to seven thousand rupees on a weekend party, should collectively offer two blankets to each poor person sleeping on the pavements of our cities.  The money can be easily mobilized.  

Those with deep pockets can visit the old age homes and donate whatever they can.  The rich managers of the Multinational companies can mobilize some resources, for example, in the form of free computers, to be donated to each Government School.

It is not that these things are not happening.  It is just that what is being done is not enough at all.  We need to wake up and do something more concrete.  We need to ensure a balance in our lives and ensure that the poor are slightly better off than as of now. 

Let us wake up and do something.