Once upon a time there was a boy who was travelling by train. His destination was Palasa, Andhra Pradesh. Just like any other day, the train was crowded. If one will look into the train, the only thing he/she will find is people. One can say that the train is like a big moving village. Each compartment is like neighborhoods. The AC coaches can represent the bungalows of the rich while the general coaches are small over crowded huts. But this story is not about that boy or even about that train. It is about an old woman whose life was witnessed by that boy that particular day. Three old women were waiting for the train at the station. They must be some 50 or 60 years old. All were tribal women. You will be amazed to know that some 23 percent of population in Orissa is tribal.
Let’s move back to the story. So these women were waiting for the train while carrying woods on their heads. They were just looking like small ants carrying big sugar pieces. One can get amused by looking at those women carrying those big bundles of woods. Finally, the train arrived and the movement of people increased in the station. Many were getting into and out of the train. But those three women are still waiting with their woods. After some time the crowd disappeared and the women tried to board into the general coach. At that very moment, something happened which proved that India can never leave its inequality (both social and economic) behind. The people on the train just threw the bundle of wood outside and ask the women to get off the train.
These women belong to a small village which is some 15 km from the station. Every day, they were coming so far from the village, only to collect woods, which they can sell in the market and from that money they will support their families. Most of the days, they are being harassed by the people, which leads them to walk the entire distance. Just imagine a sixty year old woman walking 15 KM, everyday. Impossible, we, the 20 year olds can’t walk such a distance and they are doing it. And don’t forget that big bundle of woods, which the woman carries on her head. It’s not that the people who stopped the women from getting into the train were some powerful rich guys. They were also poor people who travel by general coaches. May be they are getting exploited by some people somewhere. But their conscience never stopped them from harassing those old women. It’s the story of India.
Forget the 9% GDP growth, the 60 odd billionaires, the Indian companies acquiring properties all over the world or the royal weddings and bollywood glamour. The reality is the vast inequality where the people earning $100 a day exploit those who earn $2 a day. Even the $2 a day guy also harass those who are coming below him in the socio-economic hierarchy. You can call it the vicious Pyramid of Indian inequality which poses as the biggest threat to our democratic set-up. One might ask where is the boy who witnessed all? The boy was a silent spectator and remained one for the entire time. Right now he is sharing his experience with all of you. Call him a coward, as he himself believes, what he did that day is an example of cowardliness.
Regards, Tapan
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