The Art of Sacrificial Giving

An integral part of society is its cheerful and sacrificial giving “where the left hand is totally unaware about what the right hand gives.” However we are self-centred most often and disregard others when they are in need. Some acts of kindness are done just for publicity. But it is our duty to cater to the needs of people in the lower strata of society with kindness and compassion. Sacrificial giving is about giving up something for someone else and it is a selfless act which does not expect anything in return.

On 30 September 2009, Father Davis Chiramel, a philanthropist, popularly known as the ‘Kidney Priest’ hit the headlines by donating one of his kidneys to save the life of an electrician named Gopinathan from Vadanappally in Thrissur, Kerala. Father Chiramel on hearing about the sad plight of this poor man who had no financial support, decided to donate his kidney. Father considered this act of sacrificial giving as a God-given opportunity to serve the poor and needy, following the path of Jesus Christ “to serve rather than be served.” After the transplantation was done at Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Gopinathan, the recipient of Chiramel’s kidney, led a healthy life and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Father Chiramel, who he described as a ‘Good Samaritan’ who worked selflessly for the society with noble intentions and actions.

Father Chiramel’s humanitarian concern and support to the poor and needy in a multi-faceted society was a motivation for elite personalities like the famous playback singer, K J Yesudas, who is now an Ambassador to the Kidney Federation of India (KFI). Another industrialist, Kochouseph Chittilappilly (Founder of V-Guard Industries), was the first donor to KFI, when he donated his kidney to a truck driver, Joy John.

The pandemic has beaten down people from different stratas of society but it has been worse for the underprivileged who do not have proper access to primary necessities like food, clothing and shelter. On 5 October 2020, 59-year-old Father Chiramel launched a cloth bank to collect used and decent clothes for resale at very low prices for the underprivileged. The amount from the sale will in turn be used for distribution of free food packets to the poor.

Father Chiramel is a living example of the need for all members of society to share a common concern for people in need and to act with empathy rather than sympathy in order to create a selfless society. Let us follow the example set by Father Chiramel in sharing God’s blessings for the benefit of our society without disparity.