I cross three junctions on way to work every day where the migrant workers congregate in the morning, hoping to be picked up for work for that day. This happens between 7.30 and 8.30 am everyday except Sunday. By about 8.45 am the prospects of getting employed for the day recedes and some would have to return their shelter.
I noticed two men walking back form one of the junctions, having not been hired for the day! They convert a body language of being cast down! Most migrant workers get hired two or three day in a week unlike in the Pre-COVID period almost all had a job assured.
The burden of living is upon people in a startling way. When I go to the vegetable market, I get a sense of the cost of going up even for vegetables. A weekly shopping of vegetables would cost three times more than what it was last year.
The body posture of these two men is symbolic of self resignation! They live without a wind in their belly!
I notice this when I pass by the liquor shop every day. The number of people waiting to buy liquor has gone up! Is it not because of their need to overcome the heaviness overcoming them with unfulfilled aspirations. When more people turn to alcohol to subsist, the society has lost its soul. Where are the social support systems in place!
The Prime Minister of India is preoccupied with his political success and building a new block of buildings in the parliament street in New Delhi to perpetuate himself! It took death of seven hundred farmers for the farmer's protest to bear fruit. It was because of loss of a few by- elections for the party, which according to the media, has made the prime Minister to roll back the three agricultural bills passed a year ago. It all seems to be inconsistent with the Gandhian philosophy of life, work, democracy, governance and society. The former chief Minister of Punjab currently going after the primer Minister to align with his party after having been in congress for most of his political career is another paradox, where self pursuit of success is paramount to the current political lime light in India.
I have not felt at any time in the last forty years disillusioned with the political culture and democratic values in India. But I am almost there now! Excepting for an occasional light of hope the honourable Supreme Court of India provides through its wise interventions, where is hope left for an ordinary citizen!
I admire the way Ms Priyanka Gandhi is becoming a voice of the bruised and hurting people in India! Is that enough to save us from a calamity of death of values in public life in India!
I feel sorrowful about the way the orthodox Church and Jacobite church are now in the public domain to fight it out for property! The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church factions are in dispute in the court of law over whether the priest ought out face the altar or the congregation when celebrating the Eucharist!
Where is the Church when people are hurting! For whom is the church! Is it not a gathering of pilgrims, called to live by the vocation, ' not to be ministered unto but to MINISTER !
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment