Present sense

You must be a gifted person to choose the right gift. Not for nothing
it's also called a present - it should adhere to the current trends.
And weigh in the number of occasions that have burgeoned. Previously,
there were only birthdays and wedding days. But now mother's day,
father’s day, friendship day, Valentine’s Day. Hardly a day goes by
without some such nomenclature. You should be really inventive and
innovative to match the gift not only with the occasion but also - yes
you guessed right - your purse.
Some people have a vision and a generation is benefited. Like Ratan
Tata. He saw a struggling family of four on scooter, pondered over it
and came up with Nano.
Not all are so altruistic. Many people think twice what they get in
return before making a present. They give a small amount but
uncharitably insist on a host of names - father, mother, grandparents
- to be mentioned in the list of donors.
Gifts play a big role in diplomacy too. For e.g., gifting a panda by
the Chinese. It wins over a country.
Many people consider life itself a gift. Pity then those who end it
abruptly - in a fit of emotion. Though the suicide of the Tunisian
cartman gave birth to Arab Spring, ending one's life is unacceptable.
However, even after death some people live in others’ memory - when they gift
their eyes, kidneys etc.
But not all gifts are acts of friendship or kindness. When the king
gave an elephant to the courtier, he is saddled with its maintenance.
A costly affair. He can neither neglect its upkeep nor can he get rid
of it.
A big gift packet need not reflect a person's large-heartedness nor
should it necessarily contain an expensive article inside. Sometime
ago, the groom was presented a big packet. When the newly-weds opened
it, there was another packet in it. And another and another till it
became a small one. When the final packet is opened, in the presence
of wedding guests, it consisted of - to the embarrassment of all - a
condom. Pranks of youngsters!
Not all gifts need to be costly either. Tirupathi laddu. Costs
nothing but you are sure of getting your work done.
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its
donation, says a proverb. Blood donation ranks in it at the top.
Many people are endowed with various gifts - gift of gab is one. You
can sweet talk your way to success. Gift of imagination. See Rowling.
Howling all the way to bank. Nothing new in her books esp for those
who read Chandamama. Children have a gift of fantasy. But it is
smothered now-a-days by over-ambitious parents who swamp them with
various tailor-made activities. Running them from one class to another
and ruining their creativity.
Like everything, the art of gifting evolves. When my dad and mom
married, my dad was given a cycle. A big thing at that time. Now in an
Andhra family, I saw a golden razor presented at the engagement
itself! While some people request you not to bring any gift (may their
tribe increase) - your presence and blessings are in themselves one -
there are others who started giving gifts along with the wedding
invite. A box of dry fruits, chocolates et al. Some repulsive people
expect gifts both when they come to your house or when you call on
them.
A friend always bought local ghee but presented it to our professor
claiming it to be from their farm - pure. Since the professor knows
not to look into a gift horse's mouth, he accepted and rewarded him
too. But you better check the horse - Beware of Greeks bearing gifts -
lest it should turn a Trojan one!
A word of praise is also a great gift. Tell your wife the food is good
or her dress is gorgeous, you will receive a return gift!! A wise
lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the
giver, goes a saying. But not so with the wife. Esp. during Diwali.
You should gather what your neighbor is giving his wife and better
match yours with it!
But the best gift is showing concern and kindness. Share what we have
with the orphans or at the old age homes. No need to dole out
expensive gifts. Spend time with them, tell stories to children and
hear stories from the elderly. You are blessed.

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