July 20th, 2008
I’m Giving Away Everything I Own and Here Are the Twenty One People Who Want It
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I had announced a little over two weeks back that I’m giving away everything I own to one lucky reader of my blog –
In the first week of August, I’ll walk out of my house with two bags or three. I’ll give away everything else I have to one lucky person, for free.
When I say everything, I do mean everything — all my furniture, all my soft furnishing, all the electronic goods in the house, all the utensils and appliances in my kitchen, all the clothes, books, and DVDs I’m not carrying with me, and miscellaneous other household items.
The first week was slow and only two people asked for my belongings. Perhaps, people were suspicious of the seriousness of my offer. Perhaps, people were waiting for someone else to ask first. In either case, it was probably a symptom of the premium our culture puts on being self-reliant, on being able to not ask for help.
Blue from Washington DC wished she was in Mumbai, so that she could pretend that my stuff would allow her to have a grown-up living space and help her feel like an adult.
My friend Namrata explained about how she would my stuff to her father, mother, brother and maid and keep the books and DVDs for herself.
Then Hindustan Times published an interview with me last Sunday, and dozens of people wrote to me with stories on what they would do with the gift of my household (and my house).
In a beautifully written post, ad man Phish called me a modern day Chris McCandless and explained how he would make friends with the little nooks and crannies of my apartment.
Second year engineering student Piyush wrote in to say that my belongings would fit in perfectly with the new house his family is moving into.
Dean also wanted to divide my belongings between his family members and keep the DVDs for himself.
Management student Apple Jain told me that he wanted my management books, and little else.
Dr. S D Sharma invited me to visit his house to see how well he takes care of his own personal articles.
Dr. Leo Rebello suggested that I gift my belongings to an orphanage in Madh Island, so that the sixty odd children who live there could have e better life.
Siddhu told me that his mother would be delighted with new furniture and he would love to have my books, DVDs and bar glasses.
In a touching post, final year engineering student Anand wrote that he would sell off my belongings to arrange for his college fees.
Bheenee wrote in to describe the very unusual film club she wants to set up using my DVDs.
Meera wrote a post to tell me that she also wanted to gift my belongings to her sister and her parents.
In a touching e-mail, Alok wrote about how my gift would help him and his wife set up their household.
In a beautifully written e-mail Nandita suggested that she would find a story for each thing I give to her, and I could use them in my book.
Gurudutt told me how all his savings will be invested in his solar energy venture, and how my furniture would fill his empty house.
Surajit Basu explained that he would use my books to start a network of circulating libraries in housing complexes.
Sister Sheeba and Sheena wrote in to say that they would gift my house to their parents.
Falguni wrote in to tell me that she wanted my house so that she and her two sisters could get married.
Kavita e-mailed me to tell me that she wanted to borrow my books for a year and then return them to me.
Class eleven student Manthan came over to my house one day to tell me that my belongings would help him finish his studies.
And, finally, Preethi wrote a comment to say that my household belongings would help her and her husband fill up their newly purchased house and make it home.
In all, nineteen twenty one people have asked me for my belongings, and many more have written in to tell me about their own life experiences. I wish I could get to know each one of them intimately, sit with them and listen to their stories, but, as always, I’m running against time.
I have to choose one of them by the end of day today and I don’t know how to decide. I’m hoping, then, for a flash of inspiration, or, maybe, divine intervention.
