The root of most altruism is selfishness, says cultural critic and philosopher Slavoj Zizek. So we do the minimum needed and are rewarded with moral satisfaction, a notion echoed by the ‘slacktivism’ of sites such as Change.org. This is not to say that our charitable actions, if carefully thought through and well-executed, don’t help others. Having a set of intelligent people ready to dedicate a good portion of their time to channelling efforts and providing relief is a rarity but that’s exactly what the organisation Pyaas is doing with their two-city gig series, Paani.
In 2015, Sameer Pathak, a 19-year-old studying at NALSAR (National Academy of Legal Studies and Research) Hyderabad, read about the farmer suicides in Maharashtra and felt shaken at the thought that there were hardly any efforts being taken to rectify the situation.
When the water crisis struck again this year, Pathak banded together about six other students to initiate some change. Together, they created Pyaas, an organisation that linked together four NGOs seeking to provide very specific solutions for diverse water problems in Maharashtra.
The initial plan was to have a charity event, Paani, in which artists would perform spoken word and poetry. The proceeds from such an event would go to Give India who’d match the amount raised and the channel the money to the affected areas.
However, when Pathak got in touch with Big Bad Wolf, the artist management label that he’d previously interned at, its founder Dhruv Jagasia found that other musicians and performers were volunteering their services free of cost; Paani’s line-up quickly expanded to include popular young musicians and performers from the city.
The Mumbai edition, this evening, will host talent like musicians Ankur Tewari, Sidd Coutto and Tejas Menon; comedians Amogh Ranadive and Kunal Kamra; and spoken word artists Harnidh Kaur and Shamir Reuben.
Each had their own reason for being a part of Paani but the general consensus was they wanted to be able to do what they do best while helping such an important cause.
“My parents came from a humble village in Maharashtra where I have spent a lot of time,” says Reuben. “To know that people there are going through such a hard time while I have it so easy is difficult. Privilege is a funny thing that way: you are born with, you haven’t done anything to earn it.” Privilege is a running theme in their motivations: the only thing that differentiates everyone else from the people affected by the drought.
“The act of hosting a charity event is itself the greatest exposition of privilege,” says Pathak. “The short-term need is for money but our primary motive is to create a dialogue and give the issue the coverage it deserves” he says, detailing how the issue only became a part of conversation after the IPL matches were shifted. “We are, after all, the ones dictating the conversation.”
Paani’s efforts and activities are streamlined and transparent: attending the gig costs Rs. 500 per person and the total collection is doubled by Give India. Each donor gets a receipt that is applicable for tax deduction and receives a customised mail after Pyaas does their follow up analysis a month after donating the money.
Additionally, antiSOCIAL, the venue for this Paani gig, will be contributing financially as well. If you can’t make it for the event, you could always donate to a specific NGO on Pyaas’ site.
Jagasia says, “We raised Rs. 34,000 during the Delhi gig and are hoping for a similar amount in Mumbai. It’s heartwarming to see that the youth of urban India are aware of this issue and are actively trying to help. I hope more people can do that: integrate what they do best with something that helps others.”
The Paani event will be held at antiSOCIAL, Khar this evening at 8pm onwards. Buy tickets at the door or donate money at Pyaas.org.
The author is a freelance writer
