Anupam- The Dreamer

We often see the world from our own perspectives, infact we become used to it. Our upbringing, our values, our choices, our likings etc. influence our understanding of the world and of the things around us. But, if even for a short while we can see the world from the perspective of others, it can make a sea-change in our own understanding and even make it more meaningful, holistic and broad-based. If you are not interested in the perspective of others, this article is not for you. But, if you are, then here you go…

A few days back I went to a wedding of my good friend. During the baraat procession, you may have seen the poor people wearing the “royal” gold-laced shining dress with a cap on their head and carrying the lights on their head in a gamla-shaped container, and sometimes not even in this dress but in plain usual clothes. These people are connected with a wire hanging between each one of them forming a series which is powered by a generator running behind the procession. Now-a-days, the generator has been replaced by the batteries. Nevertheless, the role of the so-called “light-bearers” has been more or less unchanged!

They carry those heavy lights-gamla on their head, weighing about 5-10 kgs for around more than 2-3 hours till the time procession goes on. And, often I have seen old aged people, with frail and skinny body structure, sometimes women carrying their infants in the cloth hanging by their side, and sometimes even minor children carrying those heavy lights on their heads for hours. We cannot even lift a few kgs for a few minutes on our heads, but it’s amazing that such frail people carry so much weight for extended time periods. Poverty can make people do literally anything for filling their and their families’ stomach. Sometimes, they hold the light-gamla with their one hand and when it gets sore, they switch to the other hand. I was once punished in the school and was ordered to do “hands-up” for the whole period and I know what is the excruciating pain of keeping the hands raised for half-an-hour straight. So, for such frail people to do this thing day in and day out is nothing sort of a miracle for me.

Then, the light-bearers also have no “agency” to choose anything. They have to synchronize their pace with the procession, they walk when it walks, then stop when its stops, then again walk and stop and so on. They cannot complain about the weight, lest they will be fired-off their jobs. They have to take care that they don’t accidently hit anyone with their heavy “gamla”, so they walk on the margins of the roads. Then, they are surrounded by the bare naked wires with the cello-tapes covering the naked portions, so the risk of getting electrocuted in very real for them. So, physically and mentally, it is a very taxing job to say the least.

Now, what do they see and observe? That some people are dancing like crazy, that some people are happy, that some are well-dressed (which they cannot even imagine for themselves), some are filthy rich who brandish the currency like anything and throw it away like waste-paper. Sometimes, if the light-bearers are lucky, they catch hold of a few notes and feel very happy about it. They must be thinking about their own problems while doing their job like how to get today’s food, how to get home very late in the night, like feeling cold in the shivering nights, about their families, about whether they will be called for this “dihaadi” (temporary work) tomorrow or not etc etc.  I dont think they would be much interested in the fanfare because they are used to it. What they are most concerned about is their own basic needs.

Now, the quintessential question- what is the meaning to their lives? If we see from an outsider’s perspective, we see it as nothing. They are just like the cogs in the wheel who have to do their “job” because they are paid for it. And why should we be concerned about them, when we are too busy in our own celebration? But, if we see this from a little humanistic perspective, they are also entitled to some basic courtesy from us. I have seen some uncles ridiculing them and pushing them from getting too close with their “live” electricity wires or stepping on their shoes accidentally. I wonder if life wouldn’t have been so fortunate for them and God-forbid if they would have been born in the same family as that of “light-bearer”, what would have been the scenario? Imagining this alone will be enough to send shivers down your spine, leave about trying their job for just even one day! Just because life has been kind to us doesn’t mean that the light-bearers are any less humans than us. The life isn’t fair to all of us and they are on the other side of the fence. But, still they deserve kindness. What if we could do something for people like these to make their lives a bit easier? And if given the choice, will they like to do this job forever? The questions are galore and the answers difficult.

The light-bearer is just an example. You can imagine the perspective of a person beating the drum non-stop for 3 hours. But, one thing is in our hands, that is- To be kind! It costs nothing to the giver, but it can certainly do miracles for the recipient! It may not lift them out of poverty, but it can make them think that they also matter and there is also a meaning to their life. Just imagining the perspective of such people can help us feel grounded. And the best way to do that is to imagine yourself in their shoes! Some will think this is a ridiculous thing to do, because they are very privileged. But, if you could do that, your world will certainly look very different….

Till next time….