Sunil Fotedar's Column

In September 2014, as you know, our homeland Kashmir witnessed unprecedented floods. Like so many around the world, KOA under Dr. Surinder Kaul’s tenure as its president, also initiated a funds drive to help our unfortunate brethren that were directly affected by these floods. KOA has all along welcome d any opportunity to work with other non-profit organizations toward a common cause , and is indebted to the following organizations and members, shown in Table 1, who came forward to contribute a total of $54,225.80 towards the KOA’s initiative towards Flood relief efforts and for India-outreach program : TABLE 1: Total Donations Collected Donors Amount SVB Foundation, Inc. $27,835.00 Children’s Hope India (CHI), Inc. $10,000.00 Shirdi Sai Parivaar $4,200.00 KOA Members $12,190.80 Total $54,225.80 ...

Background The KOA organization has its origins in the early social gatherings of several Kashmiri Pandit families in the Washington D.C., Maryland and Midwest. These families soon came to realize the importance of building a community structure which could include other families too in a bond for mutual preservation and growth. It was not until June 1, 1982 when Article of Incorporation was issued to KOA by the state of Maryland and on September 27, 1983 the organization was exempted from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As more families and members joined the founding group, the organization evolved to become a national outfit with regional chapters, documented By Laws, systems, and procedures as well as a non-profit status to better seek donations and pursue community actions. This changed in 1989-1990 when our community was forcibly and brutally expelled from our homes and hearths of our ancestral land as a result of intolerance and multi...

Spirit of Giving Google describes the word ‘Philanthropy’ as “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.”  Likewise, the 'spirit of giving' is what you choose to do for others without expecting anything in return. It may apply to those who are in a position to help. What you could do could be some monetary help, a gift, or volunteer to help that may not have any monetary value. It is about easing the pain and suffering of a fellow human being. Philanthropy and the ‘spirit of giving’ are fundamental requirements of practicing several faiths, but the actual practice are largely absent among Hindus, and Kashmiri Pandits are no exception. We do indeed donate to ashrams, temples and performs hawans but only to curry favors from God. Other religions, such as Islam, Christianity and Sikhism to name a few, have charities to which their faithful donate on a regular basis.  When I attended CMS Tyndale Biscoe school...