Don’t we have enough?
A tiny moment of realization
The Moment
As a regular habit, I read the daily newspaper. The hard copy of the newspaper each morning, not the online. Still old school. Love the smell & vibe the paper carries with it and I read an article about a daily wage worker in my country, in the capital of India. The simple, yet selfless life he leads.
Gist & my Reflection on the Article
Trapped in the circus of life, there was this man who worked selflessly in the city while his whole world as he considers is the village he hails from.
Seems like one such brother in India has managed to bring his story to light on how laborers in India celebrate the festival season. Honestly, I felt here is no different from a lof us out there, who don't celebrate festivals with family, but themselves or just with the presence of 1–2 people! Perhaps this could depict a sad view of India, but I think it needs to be heard — a story of a poor man!
As of late in the afternoon, he was alone in his Delhi home. It was a roadside camp, which he set up based on the area he was assigned. He works as a “water pump” operator & is a seasonal job he has acquired for himself.
The person’s temporary house has a low roof, impossible to stand up straight. He was sitting with his legs crossed on his perfectly ironed bedspread. All such homes show at least some glimpses of daily living. But this residence is empty. where is the toothbrush, dinner plate, his belongings?
When enquired, he mentioned his meager belonging are placed in his friend's house, a little farther distant from his place. Since it rained overnight, he had to come work in this location & this happens often so he does not carry his things around.
Again probed about his family & he says he talks to his family over the phone every time & drives his loneliness away. While his family — wife, kids, parents & sister stay in his village. He gives away a significant part of his life’s earnings to them while he stays in the city living a nomadic life.
There is no sense of resentment or remorse, only a deep sense of duty, a purpose & an intrinsic sense of responsibility towards one's kinship.
At the end of the chat, the person comes out of his tiny yet comfortable abode, stretches out his arms & legs & says his goodbye!
Life Lesson
Routinely migrant laborers from rural India migrate to the bigger cities, not with a desire to improve their own lives, but to earn enough & improve the lives of their loved ones. Sometimes I wonder if the same generosity & spirit, to share everything one owns selflessness can ever exist in urban lives, where we often witness being caught up in their own lives & advancing on their own terms.
Sometimes I think we never have enough. Even though we are fortunate to have a roof over our head & enough money for our meals and for covering the basics. How much do we think about the impoverished? Donate things to them or buy them new things? Or give away things we don't need?
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