THE BEGGAR

 Beggars are a very common sight in India.They can be seen at all public places.Whether we go to the railway station or to a bus-stop,to a temple,a mosque or a church,to the burning ghat pr to a bathing ghat,we are sure to be pestered by beggars.They throng specially at religious places.Near sacred places and ghats they can be seen lining up in rows.Some will be found rolling on the earth,some sitting,some reclining,and some standing in various postures.Even at our homes,we are not free from these beggars.A number of them knock at our doors daily.Some of them are so obstinate that they would not move unless we give them something.

Unfortunately,in India, begging has become a profession with some people.They take to begging not because they cannot maintain themselves otherwise.They become beggars because they can earn money easily by begging is a crime.

A description of the various form of begging in India would be very interesting. Some beggars are simple. They stretch the begging bowl before us and demand aims straightway. Some try to please our ears with devotional songs. Some play on musical instruments. Some wrap their body with rags to show that they are lepers. Some try to show that they are lame,and cannot walk without help. Some play on our religious instinct.

Begging in India has got much support from Hindu religion. The Hindu look upon the giving of alms as a sacred and religious act. They give alms on the festival occasions,at birth and death,and during illness in the family,and even on the occasion of performing religious rites something is given as alms. The spirit of charity is no doubt good,But the giving of charity recklessly encourages inactivity and laziness. Charity must be made an offence in India, and the state must take care of all destitute persons.