This morning something happened on the pavement that not only disturbed me but also set me thinking a lot…
I was on my way to the local shop with my daughter to buy some insignificant groceries…on my way there I spotted a person lying on the pavement and what caught my attention were the flies swarming all over him like a moth is attracted to the fire… For a minute my heart sank when I saw this pathetic sight…then I slowly observed the things around him: a smashed utensil on a ragged cloth, few archaic coins… the first thought was to drop a coin myself but I have always been against giving money and would rather get them some food.
This time around was no different…I bought the stuff I needed from the shop and then got a packet of pav (for the uninitiated, it’s the poor man’s bread in this part of the world where I live) for this vagabond. To be honest, I was feeling a little happy that I didn’t give in to the temptation of giving him money and moving on. Few minutes later, I found myself standing in front of this hobo, handing him the packet I had bought. The man looked at it, gave it one disapproving look and kept it aside!! I asked him what happened… in the most unflinching manner he said. ‘I don't want to eat this’.
I was initially not just shocked but angry! How could he refuse what I gave him! Seething with anger, I kept telling myself on the way home that beggars can’t be choosers! After a while when I calmed down, something struck me.
Why can’t a beggar have the right to choose? Just because he does not have the opportunity to get himself what he wants should people deny him his right to choose what he wants to eat?? Why did I have to impose my choice on him? Maybe if I had given him money he would have bought what he wanted to eat. Yes, I am also aware that they also buy things like liquor and beedi (local Indian cigarettes) and waste the money…
But what the hell, it’s his life and he has the right to lead it the way he wants to.
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5 comments:
" Why can’t a beggar have the right to choose "
.. thats his business .. he chose not to choose .. :)
The posting caught my attention in a spur of a moment and I chose to respond. I really appreciate the endeavor to put down the smallest incident that shook the alive spirit in the frustrated cosmopolitan being, who has seldom a chance to intervene and make a difference in the lives of the downtrodden (Apologies for using this word, may be the readers may not agree to this terminology either)
When I further try to reflect on the situation, what appears to me is the complex state of ideologies in today’s world, ranging from concepts of charity, philanthropy, communist, socialist and the capitalist ideas. (none of which can give a complete solution to the human crisis) And caught in this web are people like us who want to meaningfully contribute and bring about significant changes in lives of beings in the third world. (physically, socially and emotionally). Emotionally because for a moment thing, if the same person in his similar state had a smile on his face and felt happy, your response may have been different. Or might be he has long discarded the emotions related to content, happiness and bliss.
The emotion of anger that arose in the situation (in him as well as you) might have been less due to refusal of your choice (the pav), but more due to inability to impact the situation in that short course of time! And for a moment think, if the rights perspective that we are debating could come from him and he says he has the right to continue being in the current state, then what are our responses to the situation?
So then what do we do? Feel good that we tried to make a change and help him? Or just say it’s his right to chose and we can do little about it! Or go back and say it’s a hard hard world? I don’t have an answer either. May be he has!
These beggers are forced to beg , there is a big begger Mafia out there who use them to earn money. But you did the right thing .. Cheers to you
This is my first visit to your blog and your post has really set me thinking... True, everyone has a right to choose. But, not many are in the correct position to choose properly.
Seeing ppl lead better lives than him may not make a beggar work hard to lead a better life. But, once he has been made/forced to lead a better life, he may realise it's full benefit. The choice he chooses after tasting a better life is the correct choice. Mabbe what I am trying to say is something like a child may choose not to go to school. But, though forced to do it, he realises education's worth after completing it, when he reaps its benefit.
Everyone has the right to choose. A small piece of advice or a helping hand to influence the choice may help.
hi, this is the first time i am reading your blog and amazed about your writings,esp this incident which sets you back to think differently.At the same time,i don't have any comments to say about the man, but i would like to cheer you up for all the possible ways to make significant positive changes. love you.Keep going,the sky is not (Y)our limit.
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