• Landing Page
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Buy JNews
  • Login
Upgrade
The News Porter
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot
No Result
View All Result
The News Porter
No Result
View All Result

Kindness is a circle. We must make sure we keep the circle going by giving back & being helpful

When you come across kindness in any form, make sure you pay it forward and keep the circle going. Kindness begets kindness; there is no mystery or rocket science behind this

Punam Bakshi Mohandas by Punam Bakshi Mohandas
August 5, 2022
in Exclusive, The Blog Spot, The Wisdom Tree
1

THIS TOO SHALL PASS


A couple of months ago, I was in India, finally, after more than two years, an absence not of my making but rather, the fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a rather fraught time, as I was there to collect mum’s death certificate, wind up her bank accounts (always a mess) and clear out her cupboards, donate her clothes, etc. Not a very happy trip, as you can well imagine.

All this clearing up also involved a couple of trips to Kolkata, as I had to conclude my aunt’s affairs as well, who’d also passed away. Everybody warned me not to expect to accomplish anything on this India visit, as Bengali officialese is known for its delays. And Indian banks, of course, are infamous for creating hurdles for their customers.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained – and so I set forth to Kolkata with all hopes, all paperwork complete and present with me. Uh huh. Despite calling and emailing almost a month in advance, I hit my first snag when the relevant Kolkata Post Office (I was winding up my aunt’s account there) insisted on doing things their way, which was that I should go back to Pune simply to await an official letter from them and then present myself on their (non-existent) Welcome mat again! But, but, but…I expostulated. “Hobe na”, the dude said firmly.

What’s to do? I came back to Pune with my hopes dashed, to the sound of “I told you so’s” ringing in my head from cousins and friends alike. And then my indomitable fighting spirit rose to the fore! Was I going to be cowed by all this red tape-ism? Not on your life! So, I dashed off emails at random to the powers-that-be, namely, the Gods of Kolkata Post Office.

Believe it or faint, but Someone Up There sure heard my voice! Apparently of all those random emails I dashed off, one of them did the trick, coz I had the concerned Postmaster call me next morning rather anxiously, enquiring if I had “complained” to his superiors and assuring me of his best service. Within a week of my return from Kolkata, I had the magic letter in my hands. Of course, this entailed booking yet another trip to Cal, at the mindboggling amount of Rs 27,000 (WHY is domestic travel in India so expensive?) and another two days after that, my work was done. This was so sudden that I couldn’t quite believe it, even after the money was credited into the account.

Cue to the banks. Be it Kolkata or Pune, I received nothing but co-operation (apart from the Bank of Baroda manager at Pune who appeared to think of himself as some sort of demi-God and demanded to know how I dared to enter his cabin when his minions were sitting outside for the sole purpose of creating obstructions! Thankfully, the minions were more human)! Within the first couple of weeks of my stay, all the bank work had been accomplished rather miraculously; no mean feat at all!

Therefore, all the tension and grumbles notwithstanding, these anecdotes only serve to remind me of the goodness and kindness of strangers all around me. Each time I’ve despaired, there’s always been a helping hand. I strongly feel God’s presence in this. And I do make sure that I keep the circle going, by giving back and being kind and helpful as much as I can, without expecting anything in return. It costs nothing to be kind – and is worth everything to see a smile of gratitude on someone’s face.

Also, by the same author: What is Love? Do we fall prey to human foibles more often than not? – THE NEWS PORTER


The main/featured picture by Pixabay has been used for illustrative purpose only

Tags: BengaliCovid-19India newsKolkataKolkata newsThailandThailnd news
Previous Post

No to imported single malt: Under these trying circumstances, ’tis tough to be upbeat

Next Post

Folks, tell us who’s the best: Mohanlal or Mohanbabu?

Punam Bakshi Mohandas

Punam Bakshi Mohandas

Punam Bakshi Mohandas is a journalist and writer with close to 30 years of work experience across India, Dubai and Thailand. A nomad at heart, having travelled over 47-countries at last count, Punam is also a film critic. She was a weekly columnist for the Hindustan Times (New Delhi edition), Delhi Midday, The Financial Express, The Statesman and the Times of India (Kolkata edition). She is also the author of the book, ‘Fallen Angels’.

Related Posts

Bihar Politics Heats Up After Caste Census Announcement
Exclusive

Bihar Politics Heats Up After Caste Census Announcement

by Dheeraj Sinha
May 2, 2025
Backpacking through Bulgaria
Blogger's

Backpacking through Bulgaria

by Punam Bakshi Mohandas
April 28, 2025
Growing turmoil in Kathmandu amid calls to reinstate monarchy in Nepal
Exclusive

Growing turmoil in Kathmandu amid calls to reinstate monarchy in Nepal

by Nava Thakuria
April 10, 2025
The secular nationalist Manoj Kumar aka Bharat: A tribute to a doyen
Art & Culture

The secular nationalist Manoj Kumar aka Bharat: A tribute to a doyen

by Abhijit Sinha
April 5, 2025
Where are the children? The gritty story of ‘Adolescence’ reflects the ugly times we live in
Entertainment

Where are the children? The gritty story of ‘Adolescence’ reflects the ugly times we live in

by Punam Bakshi Mohandas
March 28, 2025
Next Post

Folks, tell us who’s the best: Mohanlal or Mohanbabu?

Comments 1

  1. Pingback: If Music be the Food of Love, Play On... - The News Porter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News Categories

  • Art & Culture
  • Blogger's
  • Books
  • Business
  • Cities
  • Diaspora
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Exclusive
  • Fast News
  • Foto Feature
  • Globetrotter
  • Health
  • History
  • Interviews
  • Latest News
  • Legal Angle
  • Lifestyle
  • Nation
  • National Panorama
  • Op-Ed
  • Page One
  • Photo of the Day
  • Politics
  • Premium Content
  • Press Release
  • Science & Tech
  • Sports
  • The Blog Spot
  • The Wisdom Tree
  • Travel
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • World
The News Porter

We are a small group of media professionals with rich and diverse experience in Print, TV, and Digital, in
India and abroad.

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Content

Tags

Art & Culture Blogger's Books Business Cities Diaspora Education Entertainment Environment Exclusive Fast News Foto Feature Globetrotter Health History Interviews Latest News Legal Angle Lifestyle Nation National Panorama Op-Ed Page One Photo of the Day Politics Premium Content Press Release Science & Tech Sports The Blog Spot The Wisdom Tree Travel Trending Uncategorized World

Recent Posts

  • Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago Becomes First Pope from the United States
  • After a glorious Test career, Rohit Sharma decides to hang up his boots; to continue playing ODIs
  • India Conducts Airstrikes in Pakistan Amid Escalating Tensions
  • A Week of Striking Parallels: Opposition Implodes in Australia as in Canada
  • What can a gorilla, our distant cousin, teach us about our own nature and evolution?

Copyright 2021 - The News Porter © All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Page One
  • Exclusive
  • Nation
  • World
  • Fast News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Diaspora
    • Health
    • Legal Angle
    • Science & Tech
    • Press Release
    • The Blog Spot

Copyright 2021 - The News Porter © All rights reserved.