Truth Vs Hype; And a appeal to my batch mates!!

This October, I had this opportunity to travel to Delhi. The travel was through train and we all know how exciting  a train journey can get. I was travelling towards north for the first time and very soon I started noticing the diversity that reflected in the way people dressed, the way they spoke, the varied food items, etc. etc. and I was on the edge on my seat, anticipating a great journey ahead. I started speaking to complete strangers and very soon they became friends. We started sharing experiences, food and of course, we talked about politics. “No. He is corrupt. He wont come to power” one would say, and some other person would counter this argument. All were trying to be political analysts and gyanis. It was going smooth. But then, I had very little clue that something was awaiting me and my attention. 3 incidents, back to back, startled me to the core.

1.   A 12 year old kid fled his home and boarded our train at Nagpur. The Reason being that he was subjected to constant abuse at home and he could not take it any more. He said, he wants to go to Delhi and study until he gets a Ph.D.

2.  Another kid, not more than 8 years of age, dressed fancily in torn clothes, with his face covered by a huge moustache drawn from a black eye pencil stepped in front of us. He had a cap, from the center of which a thread protruded. The thread had a mass attached to its end and the kid would turn his head violently to make it look like the blades of a helicopter, which many people liked. He basically tried to create a mini circus kind of atmosphere in the bogie, with his mom standing beside and beating the drums to give it a flavor. He walked through the length of the bogie and sang a popular Hindi number to draw attention. No sooner, his mom started the music, he started performing various tricks which included him passing through a small dia hoop. He would then go to each passenger to demand money for the “entertainment” provided.

3.   A very old man, probably in his 80’s came to me near Mathura. He was so thin that his nerves projected out of his skin. One could easily compare him to an anatomy chart. His eyes were all red. He was trying to maintain his balance in the moving train with a basket in his one hand, containing salt stuffed groundnuts. He came to me and asked me if I wish to buy a packet.

Each one of these 3 incidents took away my peace for that night. Does it not question the very values that we Indians boast about? Does it not reflect the state of India amid the hype of branding India as a country with great culture. This was definitely not the way we are going to realize vision 2020. Folks, we are living under this myth that we are progressing towards a brighter tomorrow. A society where we don’t care about children (tomorrow’s youth) , where we leave our elders to be on their own, where hunger and malnutrition is so prevalent and dominant, what kind of a society are we constituting??

In the first case, the child was so devastated that he went on to take such  a big step. He remained silent for most of the journey with his eyes wet. We finally handed him to RPF, Bhopal to deliver him to his family. God knows what happened next. In the 2^nd case, I saw a innocent kid who did all that his mom had taught. I took a closer look and realized it was the poverty and hunger that taught him what he did. He enjoyed it and it goes without saying, he was disguised. In the 3^rd case, I could draw a lesson; the will to work and earn his own bread. But having said that, I have absolutely no idea if this will was out of helplessness.

All these 3 events, although out of context to each other, teach us something in common. i.e. our responsibility to help the poor and the needy. We all are going to graduate this year and I am sure, all of us will be at some good position sooner or later. So let us pledge that, we will, bear expenses of educating at least 1 child until matriculation. We will, for sure enjoy this noble cause once we start it. Let us bring the difference in one’s life, the virtues are sure to follow.