A precious coin and generosity

Mahatma Gandhi was on an expedition to collect funds from various cities and villages for Charkha Sangh. He went to several palaces and reached Orissa. He had organised a meeting in Orissa. He requested people to offer funds for the Sangha and gave a speech. After the speech, a very old woman with bent back, faltered clothing, white hair, dry and shrunken skin got up. She was trying to reach the stage and requested volunteers to allow her to reach Gandhi Ji. However, the volunteers stopped her. Yet she fought with them and reached Gandhi .

She touched the feet of Gandhi Ji. Then she took out a copper coin kept in the folds of her saree and placed the coin at his feet. Then the old woman left the stage.

Gandhi Ji very carefully took the coin. The man in-charge of the Sangh asked Gandhi for the copper coin, but he refused to give it.

"I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," the man in-charge said laughingly.“Yet you won’t trust me with a copper coin,” Gandhi said, "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands. If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn’t mean much.”

Yes, the coin was just the only thing that the poor old woman possessed. She did not even have proper clothes and seemed that she could not afford for good food, still gave everything she had.

It was the greatest offer ever made. That is why Mahatma held the coin preciously.

We may have tons of wealth, but that doesn’t make us generous. Offering a helping hand when we have nothing or very little wealth makes it all the more valuable.

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