You probably think that she's been begging all her life;or you think that her children disowned her; or many of us living in this fast mechanical world who have absolutely no time to think about some battered old woman on the road would not even think anything, but I'm sure the lady would surely create a little sympathy in our hearts( if we still have one).In reality, most of us ignore these people, do not give any alms and just get on with our business because we feel, "there are so many of them in our country and i cannot give charity to all of them all the time". Well, i share your feelings too.
This incident happened about two years ago that has been pricking my conscience ever since.
It was a usual lazy Saturday when my dad made me to run to the State Bank of India in Annanagar to do some regular bank errands. There was an old midget woman dressed in rags. She was sobbing like a small hungry baby calling out to be lifted and fed. She cried so uncontrollably that it was a sight that could break even the coldest of cold hearts. She had a small utensil in front of her filled with coins. I understood that she was a beggar. I would have usually walked away minding my business, but on that day, i somehow could not.do that.
I walked up to her and by that time another beggar woman had approached the crying midget lady to comfort her.When we asked the old crying lady what had happened to upset her, she simply could not speak out.She spoke through tears and sobbing. She was not able to speak in sentences and we could only make out a few words out of her mumbling."hit","cheeks","that man","steal","assault".these were the only few words that we could make out from her gibberish.We took her water to drink to make her calm. She relaxed a bit and told us, rather told her friend( the other woman), what happened.
If i say that i was shocked,terrified,disgusted,outraged by what i heard, it'd only be an understatement.I was appalled to know that there are such men in the world. For a moment, i literally felt ashamed of being a man.
Apparently, the old lady was brutally hit, sexually and verbally abused by a man who also stole the money that she had accumulated as alms.
I had to run to the bank as they close by 12 on Saturdays.When i finished my work and came out, i saw that the old lady calmed down a little more.She was still gasping occasionally and was counting her money.And after she did, her eyes were lost somewhere.She watched a puppy play on he road and there was a smile on her face through the tears.That is when i realized that she still had a child in her.( Don't we all have a child in us always? ) But then she gasped again out of all the sobbing she had done.
I shed a tiny little tear and gave her five rupees.
After that i have visited the bank so many times.I never saw that old midget after that in my life. But i can never forget her innocent face. I can never forget her sobbing eyes that had so much pain and sorrow.I can never forget her beautiful smile that is worth a fortune. I can never forget the fact that an old woman was abused.And every time i think about her, my eyes well up.And every time, i see an old beggar woman, my heart goes for her and i cannot help but pray, "Oh god!Let nobody abuse her!".
There are so many NGO's that work towards rehabilitation of such people. I did not know much about those organizations back then.The next time you see an old lady begging, do not judge too much, do not use your brain a lot and do not be apathetic. After all, they are human beings who could not afford what we can.If you can help them, buy them food if you feel they would misuse the money. Or contact any of the NGO's that work towards rehabilitation in Chennai. IF you are TOO BUSY, don't think too much to give a rupee or two. I'm sure we spend hundreds and thousands on our footwear and apparel.A rupee or two from our pockets would not burn a hole in our wallets.And trust me, there's no better feeling that "GIVING"!
That incident changed a lot in my life and changed my outlook towards our economy and my life very differently.
We can all make a change!!Try to be socially responsible in the small way that you can within your means.
And quoting one of MJ's most popular songs here,
"There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space ,Make A Better Place...
Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying ,If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better PlaceFor You And For Me "
Do not be apathetic,indifferent and negligent about fellow human beings just because they live on the streets!They do not have a choice! You have a choice to not care or make a little change!
JAI HIND!
I walked up to her and by that time another beggar woman had approached the crying midget lady to comfort her.When we asked the old crying lady what had happened to upset her, she simply could not speak out.She spoke through tears and sobbing. She was not able to speak in sentences and we could only make out a few words out of her mumbling."hit","cheeks","that man","steal","assault".these were the only few words that we could make out from her gibberish.We took her water to drink to make her calm. She relaxed a bit and told us, rather told her friend( the other woman), what happened.
If i say that i was shocked,terrified,disgusted,outraged by what i heard, it'd only be an understatement.I was appalled to know that there are such men in the world. For a moment, i literally felt ashamed of being a man.
Apparently, the old lady was brutally hit, sexually and verbally abused by a man who also stole the money that she had accumulated as alms.
I had to run to the bank as they close by 12 on Saturdays.When i finished my work and came out, i saw that the old lady calmed down a little more.She was still gasping occasionally and was counting her money.And after she did, her eyes were lost somewhere.She watched a puppy play on he road and there was a smile on her face through the tears.That is when i realized that she still had a child in her.( Don't we all have a child in us always? ) But then she gasped again out of all the sobbing she had done.
I shed a tiny little tear and gave her five rupees.
After that i have visited the bank so many times.I never saw that old midget after that in my life. But i can never forget her innocent face. I can never forget her sobbing eyes that had so much pain and sorrow.I can never forget her beautiful smile that is worth a fortune. I can never forget the fact that an old woman was abused.And every time i think about her, my eyes well up.And every time, i see an old beggar woman, my heart goes for her and i cannot help but pray, "Oh god!Let nobody abuse her!".
There are so many NGO's that work towards rehabilitation of such people. I did not know much about those organizations back then.The next time you see an old lady begging, do not judge too much, do not use your brain a lot and do not be apathetic. After all, they are human beings who could not afford what we can.If you can help them, buy them food if you feel they would misuse the money. Or contact any of the NGO's that work towards rehabilitation in Chennai. IF you are TOO BUSY, don't think too much to give a rupee or two. I'm sure we spend hundreds and thousands on our footwear and apparel.A rupee or two from our pockets would not burn a hole in our wallets.And trust me, there's no better feeling that "GIVING"!
That incident changed a lot in my life and changed my outlook towards our economy and my life very differently.
We can all make a change!!Try to be socially responsible in the small way that you can within your means.
And quoting one of MJ's most popular songs here,
"There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space ,Make A Better Place...
Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying ,If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better PlaceFor You And For Me "
Do not be apathetic,indifferent and negligent about fellow human beings just because they live on the streets!They do not have a choice! You have a choice to not care or make a little change!
JAI HIND!
