Rough streets of the world
If your are in India and in Delhi you cannot ignore the number of people living on the streets. Their entire lives are spent on these busy and rough roads where nobody has time for them. They are the visible invisible, whom we like to ignore and pass on. The traffic signals are the most difficult to negotiate as here they throng and ask either for a rupee or would like to sell you a product of Rs. 10.
This phenomenon I have also faced in Dhaka where I worked for couple of years, and as I could not refuse a 8 year old girl selling flowers bought 5 dozens of tube roses and walked home feeling like a flower truck and the funniest part was that my room mate too had done the same thing at another traffic light as a result of which our house was over flowing with flowers and we even had to store some in the loo! But we had a very filmy feeling and sang songs in Bollywood style to make the most of it.
Sometimes I have ended up buying dozens of unwanted pens and incense sticks just to help out. I still remember a slip of child selling her wares to me and the line which clinched her the deal was "Didi dekho yeh likhta bhi hai" which loosely translates to "See these pens do write afterall." After such a punch line nobody will have the heart to turn her down. As a result I bought 20 of those pens. But I have never ever used any single one of those pens, don't even know where did they disappear. But what I remember always is the twinkling eyes and a broad smile and that is more than enough for me.
These incidents are part and parcel of our daily lives, there is a lady whom I meet everyday at the traffic signal and exchange a smile and some how her resilience makes me happier and I sing my way to work. If in all her adversities she can maintain her dignity and show general compassion for her fellow beings it makes me try a little harder. Her face makes me say good morning enthusiastically.
This is just not a phenomenon which can be observed in India or Bangladesh, it is the same in Dublin, New York. Just read an article by Marian Keyes about her friend Paul who used to live at her door step in Dublin. And how she was tormented by his presence mainly as she had felt she had to give him money whenever they met and finally Paul spoke up and said how she does not need to give him money whenever they met. An easy acknowledgment of his presence would do, she found out Paul was looking for a human interface and not remain an invisible quantity to her. She went on to mention how there friendship has blossomed over the years and even though Paul still likes to stay on the street he does make an effort to socialize with Marian whenever she is in Dublin and their friendship endures. Marian has gone on to donate large sums to charity from the royalties that she receives.
The reality is there are millions of people all over the world have been forced to live on the streets due to poverty. The MDG goals remain only on paper and not much has been achieved in reality on the ground. But sometimes we can help with a shared smile a thoughtful gesture and a try to become a voice for their cause. May be collectively much can be achieved but the individual support also makes someone else's day tolerable, and I think that is a great way to start your day.
This phenomenon I have also faced in Dhaka where I worked for couple of years, and as I could not refuse a 8 year old girl selling flowers bought 5 dozens of tube roses and walked home feeling like a flower truck and the funniest part was that my room mate too had done the same thing at another traffic light as a result of which our house was over flowing with flowers and we even had to store some in the loo! But we had a very filmy feeling and sang songs in Bollywood style to make the most of it.
Sometimes I have ended up buying dozens of unwanted pens and incense sticks just to help out. I still remember a slip of child selling her wares to me and the line which clinched her the deal was "Didi dekho yeh likhta bhi hai" which loosely translates to "See these pens do write afterall." After such a punch line nobody will have the heart to turn her down. As a result I bought 20 of those pens. But I have never ever used any single one of those pens, don't even know where did they disappear. But what I remember always is the twinkling eyes and a broad smile and that is more than enough for me.
These incidents are part and parcel of our daily lives, there is a lady whom I meet everyday at the traffic signal and exchange a smile and some how her resilience makes me happier and I sing my way to work. If in all her adversities she can maintain her dignity and show general compassion for her fellow beings it makes me try a little harder. Her face makes me say good morning enthusiastically.
This is just not a phenomenon which can be observed in India or Bangladesh, it is the same in Dublin, New York. Just read an article by Marian Keyes about her friend Paul who used to live at her door step in Dublin. And how she was tormented by his presence mainly as she had felt she had to give him money whenever they met and finally Paul spoke up and said how she does not need to give him money whenever they met. An easy acknowledgment of his presence would do, she found out Paul was looking for a human interface and not remain an invisible quantity to her. She went on to mention how there friendship has blossomed over the years and even though Paul still likes to stay on the street he does make an effort to socialize with Marian whenever she is in Dublin and their friendship endures. Marian has gone on to donate large sums to charity from the royalties that she receives.
The reality is there are millions of people all over the world have been forced to live on the streets due to poverty. The MDG goals remain only on paper and not much has been achieved in reality on the ground. But sometimes we can help with a shared smile a thoughtful gesture and a try to become a voice for their cause. May be collectively much can be achieved but the individual support also makes someone else's day tolerable, and I think that is a great way to start your day.
Comments
Suddenly there after 4 months there was a call from Rafiq as he had my friend's mobile number and he could after all make that famous one call that you are allowed to and was safely brought back to Delhi.
Rafique is a personality, easy charming and extremely friendly, in the prison too he had made friends with the drivers and had learned to drive. We were so happy to see him back in Delhi after this experience. He is still picking rags but is also trying to put himself through night school and we hope very soon we can get him a license and he can find a job as a chauffeur.