aog Archives | Art of Giving

Peace is earned, so preserve it

The word peace holds a huge significance in our lives. One main reason to observe International Day of Peace is to strengthen international ties to solve worldwide problems, including the protection of people. In collaboration with the United Nations, the Art of Giving initiative has set up a range of initiatives to expand the word about a range of themes that are the focus of the International Day of Peace. One of these important motives is the protection of people in their habitats, communities, institutions, and places of work.

Each person in this world merits the right to live a free and secure life without fear, abuse or neglect, irrespective of their age, gender, or ethnicity. The central way in which we can develop the protection of people globally is to reduce violence which is prevalent across the globe. Violence is a threatening problem globally that affects numerous people in society and has a long-term impact on future generations.

Peace doesn’t come cheap. Our ancestors have fought for peace. The best example is Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology. From the beginning, he knew that the world needed a revolution, but this time the revolution had to be non-violent. Never in the history of mankind had there been a revolution that was led by the agenda of non-violence and peace. We as Indians should be proud that we have led the non-violence way. Now it is time to preserve the peace that we have got.

At AOG we promote the idea of anti-bullying, spread messages of love, hope, and respect to create change that will be sustainable for future generations.

The act of providing free education to COVID deceased families

The ongoing pandemic has caused tectonic shifts in all sectors of work-life, be it education, health care or sports. The COVID-19 virus has infected millions and has caused chaos across the globe and in India. Though Odisha still falls under the category of states that have managed to control the infection, yet, the virus has stirred up panic.

Dr Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT, KISS and Art of Giving, has always shown extraordinary humanitarian feats in the time of abnormal problems. Be it- doorstep delivery of food, free supply of books, distribution of cooked meals to migrant labours and poverty struck families, feeding stray animals or establishing India’s first COVID Hospital at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences- Dr Samanta has been on his toes when it comes to serving the society.

Recently, KIIT University has pledged to incentivise and extend aid to the families of the COVID deceased. Dr Achyuta Samanta, KIIT has resolved to provide technical and professional education absolutely free of cost to the children of the COVID deceased. Children of the COVID deceased victims can apply for various mechanical and vocational courses of KIIT-DU, including ITI and Diploma Engineering. Preference for free admission will be given to children belonging from BPL, SC, ST and SCBC categories for two consecutive academic years: 2020-21 and 2021-22. This selfless motion by Dr Samanta makes KIIT the only university in the world to extend such humanitarian gesture to the families of the COVID affected families.

Nurturing the Art of Giving: Azim Premji, the Philanthropist

Last year, in March, the billionaire chairperson of Wipro Limited- Azim Premji had added to the billions of dollars worth he has already donated by committing 34 percent of shares in his company – worth 7.5 billion dollars or 52,750 crores.

It is surprising and welcoming to know that India’s most generous citizen is no accidental philanthropist. Azim Premji isn’t the kind of man who gets up one day and stricken by conscience, decides to give away a part of his wealth to charity. The art of giving of his fortune was as meticulously analysed through as the making of it. Admittedly, Premji seldom does anything unplanned. This is a patron who is way ahead of time and calendar. Even the idea in 2001 of establishing a charitable foundation, which is now backed by a trust valued at $21 billion making it among the five most significant grants across the world, took over six months of studies with officials who would be running it.

The outcome was the Premji Foundation which today trains thousands of teachers across 50 districts in six states, such that students can be taught better in government schools. Its impact cuts across the domain, straddling pedagogy, education policy besides of course the mechanics of philanthropy and is the reason why Nandan Nilekani, chairman, Infosys Ltd. calls him “a giant figure”.

Between 2001 and 2019, Premji granted Wipro shares worth nearly $12 billion in a staggered manner to the endowment, making him the highest financial donator of money in India. Like our hon’ble founder, Dr Samanta, say,

“Money can bring you happiness if it is spent for others.”

Premji’s unique greatest legacy that he has passed on to the corporate world is philanthropy. He lives an ordinary life, giving away a lot in donations. This shows that wealth does not always have to go to the family and can be given to charitable causes.

KISS breaks historic record, Spreads oral hygiene awareness

The largest AOG community of the world lies in the Heartland of the greatest philanthropic temple- KISS Foundation. Celebrating November 7th every year as ‘National Tooth Brushing Day’ KIIT, KISS Foundation, collaborated with Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry(IAPHD) and Colgate Palmolive India Limited to break the Guinness world records for – “most people brushing their teeth simultaneously at a single venue”.

On the occasion of National cancer awareness day, twenty-six thousand KISS Foundation students brushed their teeth together. This humongous feat didn’t just become a new world record but the biggest oral hygiene campaign in a long time. Statistically, 20 per 100000 population are affected by oral cancer which accounts for about 30% of all types of cancer. Over 5 people in India die every hour every day because of oral cancer.

Awareness becomes the step towards bringing about a change. Awareness builds a sense of connection to the problem and the ways we can find a solution to it. We finally become pursers of a healthy future. Oral Hygiene has long been ignored by the people of India despite the widespread damage this has created.

In an aim to ignite the spark of awareness, 26,382 KISS students brushed their teeth. This movement has become a drive towards discussion, debates and talks about oral hygiene and cancer in particular.

Muthayya Vanitha

Women behind the Chandrayaan-2 Mission:

Chandrayaan-2, India’s Moon mission, has been launched from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this mission was led by two women scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Muthayya Vanitha, Project Director, was leading the Chandryaan-2 and on the other hand, Ritu Karidhal was working as Mission Director. On the other hand, Mission Director Ritu Karidhal was earlier working as Deputy Director of the Mars Mission. This was the first time that women power is heading this much of highly important ISRO mission.

GSLV Mk-III-M-1 is carrying three robotics to the Moon on 22 July 2019 at 2.43 PM IST. It consists of a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed in India. The main scientific objective is to map the location and abundance of lunar water.

Muthayya Vanitha & Ritu Karidhal have been associated with ISRO, for the last two decades. Before this, they were part of several launches as well as the advancement of sub-systems for satellites. ISRO has earlier had women project directors for the launch of communication and other satellites.

AOG Philosophy

Art of Giving is all about creating an unconditional and sustainable abundance of love, peace and happiness and contentment for others through gestures of kindness and generosity. It was founded by Shri Achyuta Samanta on 17 May 2013. The key to peace and happiness lies in unlocking the Art of Giving in each individual. It is a not-for-profit initiative for spreading, supporting and promoting the practice of the art of giving around the world.

VISION:

To bring together the sense of peace and happiness among people of all ages, especially children and youth through genuine acts of giving back to the society by the practice of empathy and compassion to the distressed without any discrimination.

MISSION:

To make people aware and spread the philosophy of the Art of Giving across all sections of human society worldwide through activities of sharing love, care, compassion, wisdom, knowledge, skills and talents.

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