A Path To Purpose

20 Feb 2025

6 min read

When Mahatma Gandhi told, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others, he wasn’t just talking about political freedomhe was speaking of a life devoted to something beyond the self. Years have passed, empires have fallen, but that idea lingers. People across the world still find themselves by giving to others. Some build, some heal, some teach, and some simply listen. But each one serves in their own way. NGOs, hospitals, schools, shelters - these spaces are filled with those who believe service is not a duty but a way of being. Its not just about charity. It’s about presence. A doctor in a rural health camp, a teacher in a slum, a young volunteer at an orphanage, none of them are “fixing” the world. They are simply showing up, time and again, believing that their presence matters. That belief, perhaps, is what service truly is.

The Many Faces of Service

A leader serves by making decisions that uplift others. A doctor serves through healing. A musician serves by bringing people together with their art. A volunteer serves by giving their time, energy, and presence. Whether at an NGO like Nirmaan, in a corporate office, or in a quiet neighborhood park, the act of giving is the invisible thread that holds communities together.

And yet, why do some It’s easy to think of service as something only a few special people do - those who dedicate their entire lives to a cause, living in remote villages or running large-scale projects. But look closely, and you’ll see it everywhere.

people feel drawn to service while others pass it by? Perhaps its not just about kindness. Maybe its about purpose. The teacher who quits a high - paying job to mentor underprivileged children isn’t just being generous - she is finding meaning. The engineer who spends weekends working with an NGO isn’t sacrificing his time, he’s discovering a part of himself that spreadsheets and meetings could never fulfill.

Service, then, is not an act of giving something away. It is an act of becoming.

The Unseen Heroes

At a Vocational Training Center run by Nirmaan, Ramesh (Name changed) stands before a group of eager students curious to learn english. He passionately teaches them the language. He says that it is his honor to make a difference to these women who are underprivileged yet committed for their transformation.

Across different NGOs, across different causes, stories like these emerge. Not of grand sacrifices, but of small, steady acts of service. Of people who don’t just wish the world was better but take small steps to make it so.

Nirmaan, like many other NGOs, thrives because of these unseen heroes. No headlines celebrate their work. No awards mark their contributions. And yet, without them, change would be impossible.

What Service Gives in Return?

Its a common assumption that those who serve are only givingtime, money, effort. But ask anyone who has ever been part of service, and they’ll tell you: service gives back in ways nothing else does. A young professional who mentors students realizes the joy of seeing someone else succeed. A retired teacher who tutors underprivileged children finds that learning is a two-way street. A doctor volunteering in a health camp discovers that healing isn’t just about medicine, it’s about connection. The world often measures success in what we achieve for ourselves, jobs, promotions and wealth. But those who serve know a different kind of success: one measured in lives touched, knowledge shared, kindness multiplied.

So the real question isn’t Why do people serve? but rather, What happens to us when we do? Maybe we find ourselves in the moments when we forget ourselves. Maybe the true reward of service isn’t in what we give, but in who we become. And the best part? Anyone can serve. Volunteer your time - mentor a student, visit an elderly home, or teach a skill. Support an NGO like Nirmaan - donate, spread awareness, or join their initiatives. The world needs more people who believe in the power of service. Will you be one of them?

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