We often talk about courage. Do we really get what it means? What is involved in it?
Courage lies in dealing with the zillion daily tasks that have to be done every day – (nothing spectacular, but then beauty does not lie in the spectacular, but in the pattern created by daily duties and chores accomplished…)
Courage lies in taking head-on the responsibilities of adulthood…
Courage also lies in the creation of a happy home…
To this end, I was fascinated by the courage people bring to the demands of earning their living. We do not know them. We do not even think about them. They are the nameless, faceless people of our city…And yet, what they do helps in making our lives that much easier and better.
These brave people turn whatever they get to their advantage by their sheer grit and perseverance. Knowing they are often not in a position to choose, they take whatever they get, and create work opportunities for themselves, as well as for others. They work hard to support their families and dependents. And, in spite of all hardships and challenges, still manage to clothe their family well, ensure that the ladies have a little jewelry, educate their kids, put them on their feet, marry them off when it’s time, and have and give their families a good time - their self-respect, self-esteem and self-regard, high!
They never say die, and never give in…
Today in Cal, there are any number of micro, small and medium industries working out of the shells of the factories in Howrah and elsewhere. There are people who give ‘jobs’ to the durzis in Metiaburz, and sell the finished products in their niche market. These ‘jobs’ range from the latest fashions, to embroidery, to hosiery, to whatever else you can think of that comes out of a sewing machine…There are industries that make clasps for the new scaffolding that is made out of sliding pipes; cardboard boxes for shoes; umbrella handles; school bags with canvas; yarn with recycled material left over from the durzis and cloth merchants….the list is endless…
There are sales people who work for big names in Bombay, out of their homes. All the company needs is a godown for the goods ordered. So, no fancy office, no overheads, at all…just a laptop to communicate with the bosses and send in orders, and a godown!! If engineers are required to fit things, when there are a certain number of orders, they fly down for the time required to set up the equipment…
Do we even think about these things???
I was zapped when I went to Chandni Chowk – everything but everything but everything your mind can ever imagine is available, from nails of different sizes to fairy lights… May not be branded stuff, but then this is what the brand names buy and put their brand stamp on anyway…
True dignity of labor, and true labor with dignity…
………………………….and…………..what courage!!
