Yesterday, I headed toward Sahara Mall to pick my laptop that I had given for repair ages ago. When I drive alone, I always listed to FM. It is full of Valentine’s Day stuff these days. Some poor soul from somewhere called the RJ and said he would be alone on V Day, as he has no one special in his life at this point of time. The RJ was all gyan. Go to a nice place, and pamper yourself, etc.
Next, at Sahara Mall, they had this stupid apple tree and some such stuff going and a TV crew covering it. I have no problem if they make hoopla about the Valentine’s Day.
I wonder, did the TV crew notice the pavement outside the mall? This is how it looks, pretty heart wrenching, to me. I am inside the glass enclosure and I see all gloss. But as soon as I come out, I also see a lot of grime. And that puts a dampener on my thoughts and the spending spree.
A few of you may remember my first experience with a 100 rupee note that in most cases cannot buy a large shampoo bottle. It probably cannot buy a branded lipstick too these days? But it can buy food for ten people on a roadside food stall.
So, this time around I saw a family of three, mother, daughter and son. They are garbage pickers and they looked extremely weary. The girl, who must have been 12 to 14 year old, was sitting on the seat of their garbage rickshaw. Her brother was sitting on the heap of the plastic and must have been 5 to 7 year old. The mother’s face was lined and full of worry, it is very difficult to put an age to it.
I asked the girl in Hindi, if I can buy food for her? She was speechless but her mother nodded her head. I said I would buy it for the other kid and her too. We again went to a roadside stall and we waited for the food to be ready. The mother told me, she would like to carry away the food and this was the first time she clearly opened her mouth. She could barely speak Hindi with a thick Bengali accent. In fact, the word ‘polythene’ was the only clue I had as to what she was trying to say. All the while when we were waiting, they had a look of disbelief on their face. I moved on after handing them their food. I did not have the heart to ask them for a picture.
A little ahead, these two kids started begging for money. I told them I would buy food. I don’t know if they did not understand or what, they said no. I started to move ahead. Then they called me back and very timidly asked if I would buy a Pepsi for them! I bought one bottle between the two. I don’t know why they asked for Pepsi. Two other girls asked for a packet of chips. May be, they are part of organized begging and were not hungry. They have left me with a nagging doubt but I do not have the heart to judge two such small kids. And which kid does not want a Pepsi or chips? My total bill till now was rupees 75, 45 rupees for a meal for three, 20 for a bottle of Coke and 10 for a packet of chips.
Side story 1: A young lad at the stall from where I bought the Coke (they had no Pepsi) said Aap kahan inke chakkar mein aa gaye (why are you bothering with them?) I mumbled a reply that I do not want to give money, as I am not sure if it would remain with them.
Side story 2: As I interact with kids and others on the pavement, it attracts a lot of attention. After buying the packet of chips, as I was moving on, a driver (witness to all this) sitting on the railings in front of the DT mall spitted aimlessly and it landed quite near me. For the first time in my life, I heard someone apologizing after it. He shouted after me, “Sorry madam!”
I went inside the Metropolitan mall later. I went into Tommy Hilfiger and Marks & Spencer outlets (more out of curioisty than a genuine desire to buy and a first of sorts), looking for a long coat in the winter sale. At the Hilfiger shop, I told the sales staff, they had by mistake put an extra zero in the price tag of the coat. The guy laughed a lot. That damn coat was priced originally at 12,000 (you read it right) rupees! M&S had a similar price. I bet they pay less than this amount as monthly salary to the doorman they employ.
So, coming back to the Valentine’s Day, do go out and do spend a lot and have a nice time by yourself or with your special friend. But if possible, spend 75 rupees on the people outside the mall.
I have made a mental note to buy stuff first for people who are trying to sell something or make a living in any way and not simply begging. But for kids, I will buy a Pepsi or Coke any day.
And before I sign off, read this interesting article from Gonomad, by Mark Helyar on his experience with street kids in India.
organized begging is bad, for everyone except the organizer..
Agreed Poison agreed, but in my limited capacity, all I can do is no to give money and buy food or stuff. Or donate money to charity!
Hmm…a fairy descends from the sky and distributes goodies to the poor, hapless street children :-).
Wow1 your blog is awesome. I am making plans to visit India some day & this is all so interesting. I’ve made some good Indian friends w/blogging. I also think of beggers here in the U.S. & one of my New Years Resolutions was to give to them. The ones I see have signs on the side of the road ‘will work for food’ ‘Homeless vet’My philosophy is that once a gift is given & the money or food or whatever leaves your hand it is not yours to speculate, anymore. It ruins the giving if you can’t let it go. The truth; life is hard for some peopleThe truth; Some people are taking advantage of charity.The truth: Usally, we don’t know one way or the other what they are up to.so if you make a choice to give in this way. You have to be able to let it go.Sorry to be going on & on but is an interesting subject.
P.S. thanks for the link to Mark Helyars’ site.! 🙂
I always carry a packet of biscuits when I’m on the trains [here in Mumbai]. Though I’m against giving money to street children [might end up in the wrong hands] – food I’m quiet sure will end up in their stomachs.Many people I know want to paint beggars as a syndicated nexus of some kind. But sadly most of them are just hungry children in a hard world.
First of all, I really love this post because it’s too often the case that we turn a blind eye and fail to notice the suffering at our feet. Plus, it’s easy to tell ourselves, “Oh, these beggars are just going to buy alcohol,” or, “They’re just pretending to be really poor.” Here in the U.S. there is no excuse for having a homeless problem, but we do, especially in the big cities. Like you, I can’t help but buy food for people who often seem like they could use a good meal. I’ve never had a person not be grateful for a hot dog and a coke, and it costs practically nothing for me!P.S. I love how you illustrate your posts with great photographs—your blog is a real pleasure to read, Mridula.
We were always happy to give the kids fruit or buy them food instead of giving them money and they always seemed really happy to get it. It’s amazing how they come out of the woodwork when you’re standing at a stall waiting for their food. We were buying ice cream for one boy and there were six waiting by the time the first cone was made!I think it’s great that you make the effort to help where you can. So few people seem to bother. Thanks for the link to Mark Helyar’s article — very interesting.
Mridula, you’re post was warmed my heart. Thank you for caring about these people.
It’s interesting to see that you’ve made a post on this topic. The pictures are very gripping. As much as I appreciate what you did, am just wondering if we are having a sense of complacency when we do such things. I’m not suggesting that’s your motive behind what you did, I’m asking a general question. “Ok I gave the child some food, now I should feel good about myself, I’m not one of those cold, apathethic and arrogant people; I’m a good person” – I’m afraid if our concerns stop right there. I think we need to truly honestly see the relation between we being rich and they being poor; the thin and winding but definitely existent causal chain that connects one man’s feast and another man’s hunger. The fact you helped those people is a healthy change, and if similar consciouness rises to the fore in all others, beggary would eventually become fictive.On a different note, I had talked about a different breed of beggars hereI talk about beggars very often, the following is one of the conversations that I had with my friend (I’ve replaced my friend’s ID with ‘My friend’)myself (3:40:22 AM): there is no such thing as hard earned money, because working hard doesn’t always ensure moneyMy friend (3:41:18 AM): what they meant was what ever money there are having doesnt come frm mere luckMy friend (3:41:37 AM): they had to ‘work’ for itmyself (3:41:44 AM): but again we need to define what ‘luck’ ismyself (3:42:17 AM): I was lucky I was born to my parents who were rich enought to educate me so that I can “work hard” to earn moneymyself (3:42:50 AM): Luck or the result of a random outcome is where everything beginsmyself (3:43:22 AM): if they want to say it, fine, after all that “work” one puts in to making that money, he/she sure deserves to say itmyself (3:43:45 AM): but I would be happy if they have this fact ingrained in them, the fact that they had the chance to “work”myself (3:45:14 AM): that kind of view would instill more respect for the ‘less fortunate’ onesmyself (3:45:21 AM): from beggars to thievesMy friend (3:46:02 AM): beggars and thieves are the less fortunates one or the handicapps?myself (3:47:50 AM): I did include them, but since you ask the question. Handicaps are less fortunate and very few disagree on that, which is fine. I expect the same kind of considerations be given to other deviants too.My friend (3:51:16 AM): did u exhaust all ur means before becoming a beggar or thief?myself (3:52:31 AM): I think it’s unfair for us to ask them if they tried every other means (thieves, leave them out of the equation for the time being)myself (3:53:00 AM): it’s their judgement out of frustrationmyself (3:58:25 AM): that’s debatable, am not condoning begging here. Or trying to say that ALL beggars turned to begging because they were forced to do somyself (3:58:44 AM): but I expect people to have that possibility in mind, and not act like they are way too superior to themMy friend (4:01:10 AM): looking at the scenario, sad to say that begging has become another careermyself (4:02:07 AM): oh yeah, it is. People living in state welfare are no better than beggars or beggars are no worse than people living ins state welfaremyself (4:02:14 AM): the Government does the begging for them or takes the responsibility to serve them right. myself (4:02:52 AM): such a system would atleast provide better living for their young onesmyself (4:03:47 AM): beggars are born when the state or the society doesn’t think of them as their responsibilitymyself (4:04:32AM): when they blame the individual and just him for all his misfortunes
ridiculous man! what are you trying to prove bu putting up all these pictures?? Want to applauded for doing what is each one’s duty? U sound like a beauty queen….get a life!Do what you have to…dont blow ur own trumpet please!
Amirt, thanks for the compliment, writing about such things fetches extreme reactions, like your’s or like the anonymous guy in the end! I do not deserve both :)so if you make a choice to give in this way. You have to be able to let it go. L>T thanks a lot for giving me sane advise, really appriciated. Akshay exactly why I like to buy food or stuff. I am also not sure where will the money go, if I give it.JB thanks for sharing your pespective. I agree with your sentiment that there should be no excuse to have homeless problem in such a rich nation.Lily that is the reason I write about such things once in a while, because very few people seem to bother, including the media. Thanks a lot for sharing your views. Teri that is the least and the smallest ting I can do.Suresh interesting thought process. Thanks for sharing. I too wonder what if I did not had this ‘education?’ Where woud I be? I said in te post “I do not have the heart to judge such small kids.” I said elsewhere, I will keep doing small insignificant things, till I can do something better.Anonmyous, the pictures jarred you? You have every right to disagree with what I say. But name calling, why? Please do not tell me what to right and what not to right. I value my freedom to say whatever I want to say, and to live my life exactly as I want to. Any problems if I completely disregard your advise?
Anirudh, the reason for writing was the slight doubt that emerged in my mind about the begging rackets, when the kids asked for Pepsi and chips rather than food. But I think I will go with L>T on this one.
Anon, get a name man/women. AND IF all of us are doing our duties, they will not be out on street. And apart from getting a name, check into a mental hospital. You need this severely and urgently. And if you are getting personal, ready for the same.
Those malls look very sophisticated and modern, and I guess the problem people have with countries like India, is seeing so much new wealth coexisting with the wretched poverty. But there is no easy solution. I personally don’t give either food or money to beggars, because that perpetuates the problem and doesn’t really solve anything. Better to give to a soup kitchen if you want people to eat, and in the U.S. a lot of churches and community centers have soup kitchens.Dependence can be a huge issue when dealing with poverty, when we give foreign aid to Africa instead of engaging in TRADE, then it creates an entitlement where they expect the West to come build all their schools and clinics. Food dumps are said to destroy local farmers, who can no longer sell the crops they grow at market for a profit, so I’m against that type of “charity”.That said, when I travel I DO buy the crafts that people try to sell on the streets, and I also give to street performers since they are providing a service for my enjoyment. I commend you for bringing attention to the issue and I agree that if we can all spend so much on frivolous stuff for Valentine’s Day then we can give to the poor, but I think it’s important to focus on a more effective solution than doling out handouts.
Mridula,I agree with what you did. But I wonder why you wrote this post. It does not seem to say anything new. Everything you said here, you’d said in your first post on a similar issue.
Anirudh, L>T left a comment above :)Crystal, nothing comes to mind that sounds like soup kitchen here in India. As I said before, till I can figure out how can I contribute significantly, I will continue doing small things.
L>T?
Interesting topic, the same is the case in Kerala. I too prefer to buy them food, instead of money.
Your post reminds me of Amartya sens quote “There is nothing false about Indian poverty, nor about the fact – remarkable to others – that Indians have learned to live normal lives while taking little notice of [their] surrounding misery”. I can’t help but wonder how true.
Aarya, nice to know you think alike on this issue.Kamesh, thanks a lot for the quote, I needed to hear something like that.
thanks for this post, mridula.
It’s hard to beleive these pictures were taken in the same place – just inside and outside. WoW. I agree that purchasing food is much better than just giving money. I live in a place that has quite a few beggers and there have been times when the offer to purchase or give food has been turned down because they would prefer the money for drugs or alcohol. I don’t want to support that habit, so I still think food is the way to go. If they refuse, then that is their choice.
hey guys..I agree and disagree with most/all of you!!I mean its great that mrids you decided to buy food for them and not pay them.. and i always did the same.. This also seperated the syndicated guys from the actual ones whom “a HOTDOG & a COKE” would make happy!! But as late as this December i realised the point Suresh tried to make.. I got affilaited with a charity.. Ran the Mumbai marathon and made sure my Company Contributed Rs.10,000 for each participant that ran from my company, made sure that atleast 50 of them showed up..(they didnt eventually but we closed at 28 ppl running) for the Mumbai Marathon. And it was a great feeling.. I Guess you guys in Delhi have that Chance now and next year and the year after.. Lets now shift gears ..and if we really wanna help there are a lot of ways.. Watch my blog..and when i get the time i’ll post something on this real soon but…till then get the “Goonj” Link and my Snap from there..cheersParahttp://para-blogs.blogspot.com/
Hmm… good one. I dont like giving money either. Buying food for them is highly appritiated. But, when thinking a little more ahead, buying them food for 1 time is not going to solve their hunger or way of living. There should be something more serious done to this situation. To turn their world. Cos how many people can we buy food, and for how many times? Just thinking what can be done about that.
Uma, I admire your writing so much, it is great to see you in my comment section. Thank you for stopping by.Mo, thanks for your comment. I have started doing this recently and had a doubt about the begging rackets, but then, as you said, if they refuse food the choice is their’s. And the pictures are really taken inside and just outside the mall, I know the difference is glaring.Para, thank you so much for sharing your effort. Have you written about it? You should, every little bit counts and I think spreading the word around is also important, you never know who decides to take the idea ahead, so do write a post about it.Zeon, as I said before, till I can’t do anything better I keep doing trivial things like this and having a conversation around it. Me too thinking, but till then, I will keep spending that hundred rupee.
Thanks .I guess you make lot of sense .you find it everywhere. you go out of your house and there you have one man pulling another for his living in a rickshaw. I guess everybody understands but have no idea how to go about helping them . giving them money surely is not going to help them . So what can anybody do
Vijay, thanks a lot for your comments. I agree I am not doing much, but I am sure till we figure out how to do big things, we should keep on doing small things too.