This complicated system where we seem so immune to the lives of the labour class of our fellow brethren need not be that way if we sensitize our next-gen to their issues. Why do we shy away from acknowledging that they live such miserable lives? They live in temporary shanty, living in those holes, covered with waterproof material, braving all weathers, while we wait for the construction of the building to be over and get rid of them soon. Ever thought of their children? Moving from one house to another, living in those sheds in buildings being constructed by their fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts, while they look on at the rich settling in, their pampered children living luxurious lives. Do they ask questions? Do they aspire to change? Or are they like the roosters in a cage, who do not wish to break free even after the roosters inside watch their own being slaughtered right in front of their eyes? Yes!! The metaphor is picked up from Arvind Adiga’s novel, The White Tiger. I watched the movie based on this book. It made me realise the obvious, the servant/labour culture in our country. Do we treat them well? Do we think about what they would be thinking about their masters? Don’t they get ideas of outsmarting them? Is there any such rooster who has broken free, and made it to the other side?
Like in the movie, where the driver is ill-treated, often hit by the masters, abused and treated inhumanly, do we too have such feelings for our helpers? We have changed the term ‘servant’ to ‘domestic help’, in an attempt to be guilt-free of our helplessness without them. Do we really care about them? How many of us have gone to their houses and seen how they live? Many will say that they help, donate money to them, and help them out in their hour of need, as do I, but then what have we done to get them out of their misery? Too busy amassing and adding up our wealth to give them that sort of time.
So when an unfortunate incident occurs where the servant wants to break free from this hell and commits the crime of robbing their master of their wealth or their life, who will be to blame? The rich? The society? The politicians?
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. Be mindful.
What do the fat cats have to say?
MYSTORYMYWAY 