Yesterday i.e. 2nd May 2011, I had one of the most moving experiences of my life. For the first time in my life I actually wanted to be slapped, and slapped again, and slapped again...again...againnnn...
The evening started uneventfully as I sent each of my 6 teams from the Supreme Court's Commissioner's office to map the homeless across various parts of Delhi as part of the Delhi Homeless Shelter drive. I decided to accompany the team travelling to North East and East Delhi. After a few locations we reached Shahdara Flyover and stooped on the curbside to talk to the homeless living under the flyover. As I approached the first family with my team...I heard a loud shout...AYE ROOK!! I stopped in my tracks to see an old woman walking furiously towards us. Almost as a defence, I said out aloud that I am from the government and that was it, the woman turned more furious than ever and threatened to get violent, telling us to go away all the time. In the meantime, some other homeless sensing trouble, shooed her away and asked us to sit down and ask them whatever we wanted.
While my team got busy asking questions, I was intrigued by the old woman sitting alone on a stone at a distance...something pulled me in her direction and I gingerly walked forward aware that any moment a stone may come flying at me. As I approached her I tentatively said "Amma" and sat down beside her and started asking her why she was so angry...after many proddings when nothing worked I told her that to tell me her problem as a son and not someone from a government office. This seemed to strike a chord with her and words started tumbling out...
Before being reduced to her current state, she lived in a chawl in Seelampur and when the new metro station and flyover had to be built, a top politician herself had promised her that she will get a 50 yard plot of land, 10 thousand rupees and a ration card as compensation. That was 10 years ago, she still has the papers but they never materialized into a plot of land or even the small amount of money. She used up all her savings trying to run from pillar to post to get things done and finally was reduced to the status of a homeless. Last winter her husband died of cold under that very bridge and her son also died due to disease. Now she is alone and mentally unstable and the only thing she hates more than life is the word government.
At that moment sitting beside her, I could do nothing but touch her feet and say sorry...from my country, my government from my side for being so helpless. I asked her to slap me to get the anger out of her. I really wanted her to...slap me and slap me hard for what I represented and what had failed her...I wanted to be slapped again, and again...again...againnnn...
The evening started uneventfully as I sent each of my 6 teams from the Supreme Court's Commissioner's office to map the homeless across various parts of Delhi as part of the Delhi Homeless Shelter drive. I decided to accompany the team travelling to North East and East Delhi. After a few locations we reached Shahdara Flyover and stooped on the curbside to talk to the homeless living under the flyover. As I approached the first family with my team...I heard a loud shout...AYE ROOK!! I stopped in my tracks to see an old woman walking furiously towards us. Almost as a defence, I said out aloud that I am from the government and that was it, the woman turned more furious than ever and threatened to get violent, telling us to go away all the time. In the meantime, some other homeless sensing trouble, shooed her away and asked us to sit down and ask them whatever we wanted.
While my team got busy asking questions, I was intrigued by the old woman sitting alone on a stone at a distance...something pulled me in her direction and I gingerly walked forward aware that any moment a stone may come flying at me. As I approached her I tentatively said "Amma" and sat down beside her and started asking her why she was so angry...after many proddings when nothing worked I told her that to tell me her problem as a son and not someone from a government office. This seemed to strike a chord with her and words started tumbling out...
Before being reduced to her current state, she lived in a chawl in Seelampur and when the new metro station and flyover had to be built, a top politician herself had promised her that she will get a 50 yard plot of land, 10 thousand rupees and a ration card as compensation. That was 10 years ago, she still has the papers but they never materialized into a plot of land or even the small amount of money. She used up all her savings trying to run from pillar to post to get things done and finally was reduced to the status of a homeless. Last winter her husband died of cold under that very bridge and her son also died due to disease. Now she is alone and mentally unstable and the only thing she hates more than life is the word government.
At that moment sitting beside her, I could do nothing but touch her feet and say sorry...from my country, my government from my side for being so helpless. I asked her to slap me to get the anger out of her. I really wanted her to...slap me and slap me hard for what I represented and what had failed her...I wanted to be slapped again, and again...again...againnnn...
Corruption is a symptom of disease. Your effort to help is like putting some ointment to the wound. Ill system will never let you do out of boundaries. Within system you are welcome to put ointments. Best of luck.
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