Mathematically, giving should impoverish the giver. Many habitual givers however reiterate that they feel richer after giving. What can explain this apparent paradox?

For years, business schools have been teaching their students different ways of maximizing wealth. Only recently have some thought it necessary to also teach them ways of maximizing happiness – that wealth alone does not maximize happiness is now beyond doubt. If “giving” indeed increases happiness, should we not investigate if this should become a habit? In the conventional sense, giving means “giving money” or giving assets that can be converted into money. Why do we eliminate the possibility of giving something which is not convertible into cash – good wishes, for example?

The two streams of thought that have always had a profound effect on any human being are “religion” and “technology (or science)”. Everything that we do in life and all decisions that we take are in some manner connected to these two. Unfortunately they do not see “eye to eye” on so many issues, that they have often been compared to a set of parallel lines - destined never to meet. Let us examine what “religion” & “science” have to say on this issue of “giving”? But let’s pause a little first and analyze why these two major influences on the human race have to perennially disagree with each other.

Religion, or at least the way it is practiced by most, appears to be a mass of rituals – inspite of being so inherently rich in philosophy. This philosophy behind religious precepts is not considered important enough by the administrators of religion, to be explained to laypersons. So you have to accept that Saturday is Lord HANUMAN’s day or Ganeshji likes red flowers. How would you react if told that Ravana, the ultimate “rakshas” who was finally slain by Lord Rama, meditated for ten thousand years in order to acquire the powers that he possessed? Religion works on FAITH and the tacit understanding that awkward questions cannot be asked. The huge “brand loyalty” that a religion generates is the envy of many a successful marketing manager. Science on the other hand thrives only on someone asking questions. All progress that science has achieved can be attributed to this practice of challenging existing hypotheses in order to come out with better or more refined ones. While a religious head might take offence at a layperson doubting religious beliefs, a Nobel Laureate (in some basic science) would welcome deep probing questions even from a schoolboy. This basic difference, dear readers, is the main reason why both appear as parallel lines.

Surprisingly both religion and science appear to be unanimous that “giving” is indeed beneficial. Mahabharata has praised Karna, the greatest “giver” of them all. We all know the story of Anusuya, who was in a fix when the pious looking strangers asked her to serve food to them but in the nude. She used her powers to reduce them to children but did not refuse to “give” to them what they desired. Even Islam says that GOD wants his disciples to consider him naked and hungry and miserable so that they can “GIVE”. Moinuddin Chisti has propounded that developing the generosity of a river or the bountiful nature of the sun or hospitality of the earth is indeed the highest form of devotion. Hasn’t Mother Teresa said “Serve (give) until it hurts”? Science too believes that for every action there is indeed an equal reaction. Dr. Deepak Chopra’s studies point towards the fact that we must “give” in order to “receive” whether it is joy, respect, appreciation or love. So dear readers, “giving” (approved by both science and religion) appears to be an excellent habit to develop. Let us see how we can imbibe this to increase our happiness.

Try developing these six habits to become a compulsive “giver”.

• Be selfish : This sounds bizarre and the antithesis of “giving” but it isn’t. “Giving” is going to generate happiness for you and you alone & unless you are selfish, you won’t do things to benefit yourself.


• Practice and believe in the law of giving viz if you want to receive something, learn to first give it to others.


• Give without any expectation of returns to further improve the benefits of giving.


• Be detached – it helps reduce the initial pain which accompanies every “giving”.


• Learn the art of giving from women: Don’t they give up their entire identity after marriage, for the sake of the husband’s family? According to Indian culture, isn’t it the primary duty of the daughter-in-law to look after her husband’s parents even if it is her own parents who need her more?


• Remember the cause and effect relationship between giving and happiness: You do not give because you are happy; you become happy because you give.

"Mr. Prakash Shesh,the author,has done his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad after his Masters in Physics from I.I.T. New Delhi.You may send your feedback to him by choosing an option at the top right corner of this page."