Jitendra, Pawan & Yogesh
The stories of 3 people from 3 different states of India.
The stories of 3 people from 3 different states of India.
Jitendra is a native of Bihar, who migrated to Delhi 6-7 years ago in the hopes of finding better employment opportunities. He had 2 acres of land in Bihar, but the land couldn't make enough to feed the growing members of the family. Owing to lack of any kind of formal education or specialization in any particular skill set, he didnt get any job. So he started selling Papad made of Rice and Wheat. He sells 3 Papads at 20 INR. But on the day when Farmers from all the states gathered in Delhi for their demands, the same Jitendra was selling the pack of Papads at 10 INR only.
Pawan hails from Ranchi, he is just 22 years old. He drives auto-rickshaw for earning his bread and butter. I met Pawan when we took an auto from Andhra Bhavan to parliament street, and we agreed on 100 bucks for 3 people. While driving to Parliament street Pawan asked us the reason for our visit to Delhi, we informed him that we had come here for the Farmers March. He told us "Sir the conditions are deteriorating in Jharkhand too, there is no future in Farming and allied sectors. The whole scenarios is too depressing; the very reason why people like us migrated to Delhi. We used to work as farm laborers, but there is no work in farms". We discussed about many things like education, family, society and all. We handed him 100 bucks as he dropped us at Parliament street but he returned 50 bucks.
Yogesh is pursuing Masters in Economics in Delhi University. He is from Nanded district of Maharashtra. He is a son of a farmer. I met him in the protest and we discussed about education,native places, our interests and stuff. And just after our first interaction he offered- "Lets go for Lunch", I was amazed by his offer. It got me thinking- "I met this person 5 minutes back, we barely know each other and now the next thing, he is offering me a lunch, Was I really in Delhi ? Anticipating my supposed awkwardness he said "If you can travel all the way from Nagpur to Delhi just to show support though you are not a farmer, can't I do this much"
Back to the Jitendra, when I asked him "Why are you selling Papad at 10 INR ?" He said "These are all my brothers and sisters, I know the suffering they are experiencing, and if I am able to extend my help in this manner why should I not ? Everything is related, we all are dependent on each other, if farming system collapses the whole system will collapse eventually.
Pawan has thoughts on similar lines- "The farmers should do well, if we want to thrive as a society".
Pawan has thoughts on similar lines- "The farmers should do well, if we want to thrive as a society".
If people like Pawan and Jitendra who aren't (so called) educated much can understand the inclusiveness in society, where do WE as urban middle class fail ? I am really at loss to understand this. Do we really fail? Or do we 'choose' to fail ?
Great write up! And must say interesting title. Seeing people like you, is really like witnessing a ray of hope in the glumness of apathy today. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThe question you posed is really a pertinent one-'Do we choose to fail'?! The answer is not really simple but nonetheless I think we should try to dig deep for it, since doing so I think we would be answering our own conscience, if not anyone else.
Kudos again:)��