My son's eight year old
friend found a twenty rupee note lying on the road and immediately
declared, 'This goes in my piggybank.' My son meanwhile felt it is not
really his, so it would be morally wrong to go with the rest of his
money in the piggybank. After a heated argument with 'finders-keepers'
vs 'this is stealing' I was called in to suggest an appropriate
solution. It is not easy being an authority on these issues, more so
when - 'Why don't we google and check', was also one of the options
suggested, which I quickly scuttled.
Strangely, I have never found any money lying on the road - of course partly due to the fact that I am careless, and probably one of those people who drop some of those notes which others eventually find. But that set me thinking, 'What would I do if I found some money?' I would not put it in my piggybank as it just seems fundamentally wrong to keep money which is not rightfully mine. I would probably donate it, that way at least I would live with a clear conscience and it would/could (should one hopes) be used for a worthy cause. Though, as the kids helpfully pointed out - 'But mummy who will come to take a twenty rupee donation?' I could also give it to one of those (unfortunately) all pervasive traffic light beggars. But that would be wrong and it would seem like I am condoning something wrong. Another quick, seemingly right and convenient option would be it handing over to the apartment security. In my apartment, jewellery or money accidentally dropped is reported to the security who return it, if they find it. But given the triviality of the amount who would report it lost and who would return it. However, I could just give it to them as my charitable 'chai-paani' gesture. Or I could just take the easy way out - leave it lying on the road - let someone else get lucky or unlucky - depending on the way you see it.
Anyway, the latest update is, the money is in the friend's piggy bank. His grand mother said it was perfectly right, since it is his money now. My son meanwhile has declared his friend is likely to grow up and become a 'wrong person.'
Strangely, I have never found any money lying on the road - of course partly due to the fact that I am careless, and probably one of those people who drop some of those notes which others eventually find. But that set me thinking, 'What would I do if I found some money?' I would not put it in my piggybank as it just seems fundamentally wrong to keep money which is not rightfully mine. I would probably donate it, that way at least I would live with a clear conscience and it would/could (should one hopes) be used for a worthy cause. Though, as the kids helpfully pointed out - 'But mummy who will come to take a twenty rupee donation?' I could also give it to one of those (unfortunately) all pervasive traffic light beggars. But that would be wrong and it would seem like I am condoning something wrong. Another quick, seemingly right and convenient option would be it handing over to the apartment security. In my apartment, jewellery or money accidentally dropped is reported to the security who return it, if they find it. But given the triviality of the amount who would report it lost and who would return it. However, I could just give it to them as my charitable 'chai-paani' gesture. Or I could just take the easy way out - leave it lying on the road - let someone else get lucky or unlucky - depending on the way you see it.
Anyway, the latest update is, the money is in the friend's piggy bank. His grand mother said it was perfectly right, since it is his money now. My son meanwhile has declared his friend is likely to grow up and become a 'wrong person.'
