Anna and I live in a rural setting, our cottage surrounded by a colony of residents who are artisans, craftsmen and workmen in small scale industries and vast stretch of rice field in the front, converted into a rubber nursery to export saplings to Malaysia.
Having been used to an ordered life and rhythm, I noticed while visiting a rural area in North India, the life in that village is lived with another rhythm. During the ten days when I went out for walks in the morning, the daily sights on the street was similar on most days.
On one day I noticed morning walkers, children and teenagers, cyclers, two children gathering drinking water from the refrigerated potable water supply source in the village, a woman gathering handful of vegetable probably some legume from the bush on the fence of her house, and adult walkers in traditional and contemporary attire !
The last scene of a woman setting out to walk form her home and sitting to rest, after her effortful walk with her upper part of the body bent forward and needing support with one hand on her knee to walk, caught my attention. One group of walkers stopped to have a conversation with her. From a distance, I got a glance of the nearness that the walkers shared to share in her difficult health status.
The last scene above, told me about the way rural life is still lived with participation in the lives of others. The neighbourhood spirit of mindfulness is palpable.
A doctor living and working in a local hospital told me how a neighbour offered money at no interest for the treatment of a man who was bitten by a snake, who needed two weeks of hospital stay with ventilatory support. He was a farmer and his family was dependent on him. Although it might be about two years before the loan is paid back, the neighbour's goodwill gesture to tide over a crisis, was a gesture which is uncommon!
The politicians speak a language of self-perpetuation. The chief minster in the state where we live is accused of corruption charges. Yet, he is not ready for investigation! One case against him has been dragging for several years, with judges alarmed by the repeated plea of postponement for hearing the case in the court.
Amidst such a climate, where the highest office of the state is under suspicion of corrupt practices, to find people, who without counting the cost, help neighbours in need, is a sign of the ground of social morality we still are left with.
The morning scene on the street at dawn in a rural community in north India brought me back to the reality of people moving forward amidst the ordeals and challenges too heavy for them to bear. The message of human resilience is illustrated from stories of endurance and generosity of help.
While returning after the walk, I remembered an incident, when Bartimaeus, a beggar who was blind, shouted for help, when Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Those with Jesus 'sternly told him to be quiet'. But Jesus stopped and asked him to be called. He 'casting his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus' to receive healing of his blindness (Mark 10:46-52).
I pondered on the two mind set, then and now. Those who want to 'by-pass' those in need and those who are open with their hearts and hands to care and help!
The rural India is no where in a wellness path for the 'have nots' ! They are the majority in rural India. The migrant workers from Orissa, Bihar Bengal and Assam are the work force in the farms and factories in our area. They live as displaced people, denying their families of their presence and companionship for securing their economic prospects.
The photographs above, of people at dawn on their walk in the street, symbolise me of their uncertain pursuit in life!
I wish, more people would carry them in their hearts!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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