Celebs talk about their Compassion Day plans

On Compassion Day, celebs tell us where they want to bring happiness today, by giving, not just charity, but their compassion
I’ll find out where he lives, to leave ration at his house
Singer Shibani Kashyap has been sending supplies to a madrassa that teaches children for free, and today, she’s going to spend some time with those kids.
She says, “A friend told me a about a madrassa where a maulvi teaches around 15 children free of cost.I got to know that the children there don’t even have basic necessities. So, I gave them blankets during the winter, rice and aatta. It upsets me to think that things like a meal, which we take for granted, are still a luxury for a lot of people. For kids especially, proper nutrition is so essential. I plan to visit them on Compassion Day and spend some time with them. I feel giving money to someone is not enough, what’s more important is to really provide for them, in ways like education, food and quality time.”
The providing for also extends to other needy people in her neighbourhood. “I used to see a handicapped man sitting outside my building under a tree on that special kind of bicycle. He wasn’t begging, so I didn’t know if I should offer him money. One day, I just approached him with home-cooked food. I could tell from how he was eating that he hadn’t eaten in days. That’s how it became a regular thing. He doesn’t come everyday, but when he does, I give him food. I don’t know where he lives, but today, I’m going to find out where he lives and go to his house to give him basic daal, rice and aatta, so that he can manage his meals on days when he doesn’t come to our building.”
Imran Zahid, who trained a visually impaired girl to be a radio jockey, who is now an anchor on AIR: Guneet came with dreams to me. She is visually challenged, but her voice is very good. Unki awaaz sun ke laga ki woh passionate hain. Aise logon se paise lene ka mann nahi karta. She knew what she wanted to do in life. I just helped her as a catalyst in achieving that. I also keep providing her numbers for voice-over opportunities, whenever I find any. Today, if she’d like to, I’ll meet her. I’m always in touch.
Vidyut Jammwal, who trains street children in martial arts: A friend of mine told me about an NGO for street children that she supports. I visit the centre as often as I can and train them in basic martial arts, so that it gives them a boost to pursue it further with time. It’s amazing to see these kids follow your lead and their instinct as well, to ensure that they put their best foot forward to face every opponent. I think it isn’t something we should find time for. Rather, it should be something we work the rest of our lives around. These aren’t 'noble' or 'compassionate' acts, but are actually our moral obligation – to ensure that we use our strengths to strengthen the being and livelihood of those, who are maybe less fortunate by the ‘worldly’ definition.
Mohd Nazim, lead actor of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya: I’ll be meeting cancer patients and will spend time with them today. I think the biggest act of compassion is when you bring a smile to people’s faces. I plan to spend a few hours playing games with kids and talking to the elders. Cancer is a disease which breaks a person physically and emotionally, and if I can manage to bring a few moments of happiness, it will be worth the effort. Two-three years ago, an old lady in Chandigarh who had cancer, who happened to be my fan, told me, “The doctor has said I have only six months to live, and two months have already gone. I want to live and see my grandchildren, but that’s not possible.” It was then that I decided that I’ll try to make those people smile, who don’t have much time left.
Inputs from Saloni Bhatia, Piyali Dasgupta, Aanchal Tuli, Tarini Peshawaria, Nitisha Kashyap and Jyothi Prabhakar