Has My Life Brought Joy to Others?

I was probably ten years old when I first heard a song whose message has stayed with me:

Madhuban khushboo deta hai, sagar sawan deta hai.

Jeena uska jeena hai, jo auron ko jeevan deta hai.

Even at that age, the thought inspired me: a life finds meaning in what it gives to others. Over the years, I have come to appreciate how much those simple words ask of us.

The song speaks of a garden offering its fragrance and urges us to bring light in whatever measure we can:

Sooraj na ban paye toh banke Deepak jalta chal

There is something deeply reassuring in that line. We can begin with whatever we have. Our time, our knowledge, our care, or one opportunity offered at the right moment can make a difference in another person's life.

Today, when I think about the purpose of Avaada Foundation, that childhood inspiration returns as a question:

"Has my life brought joy to others?"

It asks me to consider what my presence has made possible for someone else. Has someone found courage because I believed in them? Has a family felt less anxious because help arrived when it mattered? Has a child been able to imagine a future that once seemed out of reach?

Avaada Foundation is one way of putting that belief into practice. We want the opportunities available to us to become opportunities for others.

Joy, in this sense, has depth. It can be the relief of receiving care, the confidence to earn a living, the freedom to learn, or the dignity of making one's own choices. Helping create the conditions for that joy gives purpose to our work.

My understanding of service begins with a simple belief: there is divine potential in every human being. Circumstances may prevent that potential from finding expression. A child may have curiosity but no access to a good learning environment. A woman may have ability but no opportunity to develop it. A young sportsperson may have determination but lack the resources to pursue a dream.

Our responsibility is to listen, understand those barriers and help remove them. The ability already belongs to the person. The effort, courage and achievement belong to them too.

Avaada Foundation supports education through school improvements, digital learning and transport that helps children reach classrooms. Its work also includes skills and livelihood support for women, healthcare access, environmental initiatives and opportunities for young athletes. These are different ways of responding to the same human need: a fair chance to move forward.

Consider what reaching school can mean for a child. A bicycle or a bus creates access to lessons, friendships and possibilities. Over time, that access can help a child ask a bigger question: "What could I become?"

Consider what an income can mean for a woman. Alongside greater financial security, it can bring confidence in her abilities and greater freedom in everyday decisions. Supporting that journey requires attention to whether a skill can translate into sustained work.

And consider a girl stepping onto a cricket field with the opportunity to develop her talent. The Foundation's support for girls' cricket in Rajasthan reflects a belief that ambition deserves encouragement wherever it is born. The hours of practice are hers. The courage to compete is hers. Our role is to help make that pursuit possible.

For me, service is a form of worship. It gives our values something practical to do.

The thought of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world as one family - carries a responsibility. Within a family, we pay attention when someone is struggling. We share what we can. We recognise that another person's well-being matters to our own.

That spirit must also shape how we serve. People deserve to be heard and involved in decisions that affect their lives. Every community brings knowledge, resilience and aspirations of its own. Our work should respect these strengths and help people shape their future.

We must also be willing to examine whether our efforts are useful. Good intentions need patient follow-through. We should ask whether children are learning, whether skills are leading to livelihoods, whether healthcare support is reaching those who need it, and whether an initiative continues to serve people after its inauguration.

Numbers help us stay accountable. Behind every number is a person whose experience deserves our attention. A programme should leave people with greater capability, confidence and choice.

This is also a personal reminder to remain humble. Whatever we build depends on the work, trust and support of many others. The opportunity to serve is something to be grateful for. It asks us to keep learning, accept feedback and remain present long enough to understand what lasting change requires.

The song's invitation to become a lamp is open to all of us. We can mentor a young person, help someone learn, support a neighbour through difficulty, or give our time and attention to someone who feels forgotten. A thoughtful act can make another person's day easier. Repeated with care, it can become a dependable source of support.

The words that inspired me as a child still give me a direction to walk in. There is always more to learn, more to understand and more that we can do.

"Has my life brought joy to others?" is a question I want to keep asking myself - and one I want our work at Avaada Foundation to keep answering through action.

May someone breathe easier, stand taller or feel less alone because we were there. And when we cannot be the sun, may we have the willingness to be a lamp.

Vineet Mittal, Chairman, Avaada Group