January 30, 2007...2:23 pm
India Poised, and Disparity
There are memories; good and bad. Some of them are etched so sharply in your mind that you carry them to your grave. Recently, something happened which is nothing new for an Indian Metro but it send shivers down my spine. Delhi is cold these days and it is party season here. I was out with my family for a dinner at a posh hotel and on my way back at a red light crossing I saw a little boy not more than 6 years old, extremely underclothed, shivering and begging for alms. I was actually ashamed of myself for spending so much money on dinner and fancy clothes. I faced a dilemma. I was sure that if I give this boy something warm to wear, within no time he will leave that somewhere and will be back at the red light begging because nobody will give him alms if he is well dressed- or worse, it could be taken away from him by people forcing him to beg. On the other hand, it was difficult to ignore the sight of a shivering child. Is it my fault that we work so hard and earn a good lifestyle? If not, why do we feel guilty?
My heart is filled with pride when I drive on the flyovers built all over the city to facilitate driving on Delhi roads and I really felt frustated when there was a rickshaw-puller ahead of me and being a new driver I had trouble negotiating with the slope. This was the case till my friend brought to my notice the difficulties created by the flyovers for the hand-driven carts. We don’t have a choice we need better roads and flyovers but can something be done about these poor guys? “India Poised” and other such slogans fill my heart with joy but these sights dampen my spirit. We are proud of our achievements but are we doing enough as citizens to lessen this disparity?
3 Comments
January 30, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Touching post. In the pullitzer prize winning book “The world is flat”, the author says that unless India pulls up its socks to remove economic disparites, the so called economic growth may actually be counterproductive. Another Gandhi has to pop out from smewhere for these guys for a lasting solution.
January 30, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Your thoughts are so moving. Thanks for being so candid about the wrestling inside of you. The fact that you wrestle inside about these things is a reflection of a big heart. You are not only looking at one child but an entire nation. Thanks for causing me to wrestle with you about this issue.
My husband went to Nepal some years back and the pictures he came home with just put saddness in my heart. There was one of a guy who as a child had his legs tied together so that they would grow disformed. Looking at him and his suffering would cause anyone to give something.
I’m going to link you if that’s okay so that I am able to always be notified when you post again. I appreciate your thoughts!
love-
Sharla
February 1, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I am proud of the leaps our country is taking, inspite of some heavy odds against us…Then, I see a beggar and feel guilty, just the way you did.
Politicians can’t be expected to do the needful. I think the change that has to come will have to come from ordinary people like us, who feel and thus, hopefully, will do their own little bit. By joining an NGO or doing things on an individual basis.
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