Life: As I have seen it!!!

"Life never gives you all that you want. But it will always give you everything that you need". I had come across this statement in one of the books I was going through back in my childhood days. Those days, I always used to wonder, whats the difference between a want and a need ? Slowly, I started growing. I had my own encounters with life. It has been a lot of learning all the way long. And the subtle and evident differences between want and need started bringing a more important meaning in life.

I recently was in Mumbai. One thing about Mumbai that has always impressed me, is its fast lifestyle. People dont even have time to breathe properly. And in that kind of a state, its really great for outsiders to go there in search of careers and settle down, adapting to the lifestyle. Frankly speaking, after seeing the day of a typical Mumbaiite, its difficult to even compare it with other metros I have seen. Whatever it is, I would like to share some of my observations here.

Just imagine the scenario. The scene is just outside the very busy Borivali station. Around evening time. The traffic on SV Road is simply horrendous. Too many vehicles, too narrow a road. And on that narrow road, petty shopkeepers and shoppers too!! Just imagine the case of a BEST bus driver on that road. Whole day, he will be very busy trying to find his way out of traffic as dense as this one at many places all over his allotted route. And just imagine the case where, some pedestrian makes a mistake, because of his hurry and comes under one of these buses. The people around will simply jump and literally kill the driver. They will never even bother to find out the fact. The poor thing, is simply dead. I simply pity these people. Just compare the his life with that of a taxi driver or an auto driver. Whenever some passenger is happy or satisfied, they end up giving something more to him that his normal fees. They have more friends in the society. But that's not the case with bus drivers. How many of us have ever tipped a bus driver?? Just give it a thought. Does he really deserve that treatment?? That's not the situation occurring in Mumbai alone. It happens all over India. This is just an example. People may argue saying the bus driver has a fixed pay whereas an auto or a cab driver doesn't and all such rubbish things. But the fact is end of the day he is a human. And in a very thankless profession. So its all the more evident that we respect each and every profession in life.

No profession is bad or deserves to be treated badly. Be it the scavenger or the rag picker. Be it the maid or the car driver. Be it the electrical lineman or the plumber. Be it the soldier who fights for us in the war or someone who internally protects our society. Be it the the person who digs graves for the dead or the mechanic at the nearby garage. It may be something strange for us. But for him, its a way to earn his living. Just imagine the situation when your newspaper doesn't come in time in the morning. Most of us cant even empty our stomach without reading the newspaper. Just imagine the case where the drainage is blocked, and the person is on strike!! Can you ever imagine going and cleaning it?? So the fact is simple. All the professions are equally important for society to live in harmony. Respect everybody. For whatever he is doing, he has some self respect. And he expects to be respected in the society.

How many of us have not come across small children begging near traffic signals or public signals?? How may of us have not seen children under 14 working in restaurants?? How may of us have not seen children under 14 working in restaurants?? I am sure everyone has. But how many of us have ever tried helping them?? We just shoo away such kids who are begging and just ridicule children who are more often than not, cleaners in restaurants. I have always tried to answer one question. Whats the mistake of these small kids?? Why are they deprived of their childhood happiness?? Would we not like to go back and live our childhood again?? Why don't we act when such a thing is happening around us?? Some of my friends say, I only ask questions!!! Have I ever looked for a solution?? Frankly, I have never really found an answer to it. According to my observations, the first and the foremost observation in such a problem is simple lack of awareness and nothing else. The people under consideration(rather their parents) simply go on producing kids, knowing nothing about how to handle them in future. They know nothing about contraception and all. Sadly, very few people in India have tried thinking about that. And the only solution to that is basic education to people. Though the Govt. is doing a fairly decent job by making primary education compulsory. But how may are really getting the benefit of it?? And mark my words, unless we educate people, the country is not going to develop.

All these developments, economic booms, technologies, comfort are all okay. But what is the point of having technology, which will not help the poor get two square meals a day?? Whats the point of having so much of economic growth, when most of the people do not have access to basic health care?? And in the end, when we are not able to do something good for them, that's when things start falling against us. That's when people start resorting to anti social activities. These people are easy targets of terrorists and militants. Many a times its very easy to emotionally control them. As a friend was telling me, the terrorists don't have to bother sending people to execute a ploy here. They only have to send the arms. Rest all is available internally.

Frankly speaking, all these economic growth and technologies have only increased the gap between the rich and the poor. All that I have seen these days is only the trailer. I believe that the real movie is yet to unfold. One of my friends was recently telling me, In life, in order to move ahead, you have to necessarily step up on someone, push down someone and move ahead. You have to be cruel. But then once you reach the top, and a comfortable position, you should not forget to help all those who you have stumbled along the way. Nice logic, I should say. Initially, I was just thinking, why life treats everyone like that?? My cousin always says "Nobody dies virgin. Life screws everyone". Why can't there be peace and harmony all along?? But as I have grown, I have found that life is beautiful too. But then, in order to realise that beauty you should have the beast. In order to value the good, there should be evil. Maybe that's one of the laws of life, which cant be questioned.

On the concluding note, I would like to quote what one of my professors had to suggest each one of us, on the occasion of our passing out from college. "You may become very successful businessmen or entrepreneurs or leaders one day. I am sure all of you will indeed. But all that is waste if you fail to create a balance between three things in life. First is the place/company/organisation you work for, second is the family/people in your life and finally the society that you live in. If you fail to do that, you can never become a successful human being!! In the end, you will be known for what you have done or tried to do for the society!!" That day, those words seemed a bit heavy. But now, almost two years later, the entire puzzle seems to be finding a meaning. Indeed life is beautiful. Its our duty to make it beautiful for the others too.

Cheers!!