Poverty needs no introduction to India and Indians. We see it around us all the time, so much so, that we have developed a kind of immunity to it. We cannot help everyone, I understand, and thinking this, shrug our shoulders and move on. I would not go about defining it, its well defined and well understood even by those who are not subjected to living a life of abject poverty. We all employ servants at home (thank god for poverty, we the people of the third world would say) at paltry wages. My maid washes our clothes for Rs.300.00 per month (approximately 7.00 US Dollars), a cost we all know much lesser than operating a washing machine for the period, and mind you, it does not have a fixed load, unlike a washing machine again. This is one of the better salaries that a decent employer would pay. And we are just two people at home, so it is actually an excellent salary because many servants are employed at much lesser the cost for larger families, the average Indian family size is about five people, in a regular metro city. This is an example of cheap labour employment. We are not yet speaking of the expenses of living in a large city. We consistently complain about our ‘meager salaries’ and the large cost of living. We draw a salary of a few lacs per annum and yet are broke (sic) because we cannot afford the expensive luxury wining and dining and designer items we hanker after (sic)! The truth of the matter is, it is a consumerist world and we do not wish to be left behind. How these servants manage to manage their basics is beyond the bother of our fashionable lifestyles and sounds good on the fiery ‘jhola brand’ journalists or khadi flaunting politicians, who also do not bother or care a fig really, as long as they can speak well and enjoy their martinis and wines along it and oh yes please, the kebabs should be well done, that’s how we all like it!. While we speak of ‘inflation most evil’, we would widen our eyes in horror, if these very same servants would ask for a raise. And then get back to complaining of ‘these servants really too much trouble nowadays’ talk.
I am affiliated to the cause of fighting child prostitution through a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) called ‘The Ahwaan Foundation’ through which we try and build awareness of the issue, try and rescue some of the children trapped in its throes from amongst the hundreds and thousands who may never be rescued and several of whom may never reach childhood. Then we have plans to rehabilitate and reintegrate them back in the society. The root cause of child prostitution is nothing but intense and abject poverty, where prostitution, though not easy money, seems a much better and easier avenue to the parents as well as often to the small children as well who are employed in it. Poverty so intense that sexual abuse seems lesser! When you look at the children, some are as young as five years old. I look at the children in my family and shudder, some of us, even as adults are treated like small children and fussed about. The world outside sometimes scares me. Yet we walk through it everyday and could be least bothered as long as bellies are full and desires increase everyday.
Despite the ruined shanties the poor call their homes, it is no less beautiful for them or any less sacred than what our homes are for us. Despite misery, they smile and laugh, even more than us, and show a far stronger belief in God. They have strong community lives which we sadly lack as we are get richer and prosperous, monetarily. The women suffer terrible abuses and still stick with their men, alcoholics who beat them and rape them, yet they are happy together.
The world indeed, is a strange topsy turvy place, and sometime in the moments before I sleep, I am in a reminiscent mood and I wonder with a book on my chest; indeed Gibran is right in his profoundness and beauty of thought!
“How can I lose faith in the justice of life, when the dreams of those who sleep on feathers is no more beautiful than the dreams of those who sleep on the earth.”
At least for a day, even when we do not give alms or money or charity, we could be more charitable and kinder to people, who are less privileged than us, for want of money, without being condescending. Let us please, include at least one poor person we see or know in our prayers, at least for a day. God may listen to us for a change.
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