My office boy has a young baby girl who has just
begun to take her first few baby steps. On my way out, I see her hanging on to
the gates and making baby-like noises. She is an optimist; I have not seen her
cry. Yesterday on my way back from the supermarket, I bought half a dozen bananas
for her. The mother was surprised, it was unexpected.
At the supermarket, I remembered the choices I had
as a kid. We were just about “middle-class” but we had enough food to eat.
There were baskets of mangoes, litchis and five guava trees. There were biscuits
which I and my sister would hog over and sweets during every festival. Today these
choices are not available to 80% of Indian poor. The onion sells at INR 75/- a
kilo, tomatoes at INR 72/-. Barely edible rice is over INR 30/- A doctor’s
visit costs INR 250/-. Last year, over 17000 farmers chose to die rather than
plod on until their next crop-loss. Many more will die. The rickshaw-wallahs,
pavement dwellers, scavengers, municipality workmen, housemaids, office boys,
masons, carpenters, plumbers, and the rest of the poor, will all die. They will
die of hunger, or the sheer pressure to sustain life in Indian today.
The least I could do was giving the baby half a
dozen bananas.
Rajesh,
ReplyDeleteThe photograph you included with your blog today tells an important story. Everything about it is appropriate. The Indian flag in the child's hand is the perfect touch. Good thinking. Good eye.
Jerral
Tha pict cute but the story very touching.
ReplyDeleteAwesome touching story. Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteYes, we know there are people in need everywhere, but sometimes the harsh reality can jump up and hit you in the middle of your chest and almost take your breath. Everything is relative but it is still good to remember that you might have an easier time than the next person - and usually we can all do something.
ReplyDelete