The first two pictures, which I copied from the internet open source, are the proposed building complexes currently built to house the new Parliament House of India, the Prime minister's residence and offices connected to the government of India at a huge cost.
When the government of India is hesitant to subsidise the cost of the COVID 19 vaccine or help state governments substantially to fight the pandemic, there is resentment amongst a section of the civil society about this extravagance, at a time when we are not half way through the pandemic wave! A civil suit is currently in the honourable Delhi High Court to ask the government to postpone the expenditure on this construction plan and focus on restoring the livelihood of millions who are suffering on account of the pandemic-many who lost the earning members of the family and millions of low income people subsisting adversely.
The news of the government asking the builders to speed up the construction of the Prime Minister's house was circulating in the media yesterday. I too felt disturbed by this contradiction- a devastating need on one side and extravagance on the other side!
This was upon my mind yesterday, when I was driving home after work.
Near a village, I noticed an older woman with a head load of firewood which she would have gathered, along with a bag hanging from her hand! She would have gathered the firewood from the road side; the bag might be containing the provisions for her evening meal!
Seeing this sight I stopped to watch her walk the distance as long she was in sight! When she passed by my parked car, she was humming a melody. That was a surprise which made me tearful!
I was overwhelmed by the thought of Jesus of Nazareth speaking about a God who provides for the birds of air, even though they do not sow or reap or gather!
The contradiction between the affluent mind set in the imagination of the political leaders of the nation and a woman living from the provisions that she finds from the way side became a startling reality for me to ponder upon.
The Metropolitan, Rt Rev Dr Philippose Mar Chrisostam, who was laid to rest yesterday at 103 years of age, seems to have had an interest in rearing sheep, fowls, rabbits, love birds, etc in his post retirement phase of life. He did that to give away these income generating animals and birds to those who needed an extra source of income. He lived thinking of others. HIs wish was that he had no bank balance to worry about!
The contradiction of thousands dying every day in India and the pandemic of Corona continuing to spread in the community and the Prime Minister of India seeking his own comfort using public money is a striking malady of the century!
I came home rattled by this thought!
I came home to find that our cottage was leaking in three places, which reminded me of many thousands who live in leaking houses because they have no resources to mend it. Anna and I have an income to repair our cottage! This too is a contradiction that I need to respond to in a charitable way!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo- first two pictures form the internet sources)
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