A man lives for himself. He thinks and aets to make his own self secure. Comfortable and happy. His natural instinct of self-preservation makes him behave in this way. But he becomes truly human only when he tries to make others secure, comfortable and happy. To go beyond one's own self and serve others is social service. Such statements as ?To serve humanity is to serve God? and ?Service before self?. Bring out the importance of social service.

Social service is a duty. From birth to death, individual man goes on receiving things from social. He is in debt to society. It is clearly his duty to pay up this debt, to return what he had received of course, the debt is so heavy that it can never be fully paid up. Social service is a way of giving back to society a tiny portion of what one has taken from it. The world is full of poverty, disease, and suffering. There are opportunities for social service everywhere. To raise a fallen man is a social service; to help an old lady out of a bus is social service; to take a blind man across a road is social service. Such acts puts sunshine into a dark life.

There are many inspiring example of social and humanitarian service. Florence Nightingale, the Lady of the Lamp, gave a new turn to nursing by her selfless service to the sick and dying. Madam Curie dedicated her life to the task of making science serve mankind. Domien died a leper in the service of lepers. Albert Scheweitzer gave up a bright career and spent his whole life serving the ailing in French Equatorial African. Jean Henri Dunani founded the Red Cross organization but died a poor man. Badan Powell, though dead. Is still serving the world, though the boys scout Movement. Even our self-interest should make us serve others. For we rise or fall with our social. Individual happiness depends upon social happiness. If every one tries to make everyone else happy, everyone will find himself made happy. If we all stop throwing banana-skins on roads, no one will break his bones through a banana-skin.

Finally, social service is a great educational discipline. It lifts us out of our petty selves. It elevates our minds, hearts and spirit. It is spiritual training. It makes our lives richer and fuller. It gives us profound spiritual satisfaction and makes us really and truly happy. There is no greater happiness than the happiness that comes to us through the happiness of others.