It can be said without the slightest conceit that such kind of institutionalised charity is rare in the

world – past or present. The Hindu tradition of dana or giving has no parallel, Despite all the
hardships of modern living, breakdown of joint family system and the destruction of the guilds by
the British, dana continues to this day. The ‘India Giving Report’ (2) by Charities Aid Foundation
(CAF) found 84 per cent of the 836 million Indian adults give at least once a year. The report, based
on interviews with nearly 9,000 people from across the country, says India has the potential to
become a global philanthropic powerhouse.