Not long ago I had known a boy, who with amazing eyes, used to see all the good things in life while he sat with his parents who had fallen on hard times. There were two worlds for him, the first being the world where people went to five-star deluxe hotels, travelled by jets or air-conditioned railway coaches and who had the pleasure of listening to music as they wished on their system, rather than be at the mercy of All-India-Radio.
The other being, one of 10-14 hours of power shortage and toiling away in front of the burning kerosene lamp and getting to eat rice, curry and sometimes only one vegetable preparation because the earning of the family that month has not been enough. Having only two sets of new dresses for the five-day Durga Puja while everyone else gets five sets for five days. So as the boy sat in the hot general compartment of the train his big eyes would dart across to the black windows of air-conditioned coaches and to the world beyond them. The little mind would start searching for the ways to attain the power to enter into the comfortable coaches. The old bengali refrain of "pora shuno korbe jay, gari-ghoda chorbe shey". Remembering it, the resilience would become stronger to travel the extra inch so that the chances of making it to the dream world becomes sure.
The grit for making it to "big city with blinding lights" became more and more strong. Simple parameters for measuring the progress for the "little boy" would be to aim for the city which has an airport with international flights, though, he would not be travelling but he would be contented by the reality of living in a city which has an airport. Whenever the "little boy" came to the city, he would go to his grandfather's home which was close to the airport, and whenever the sound of a roaring jet would be heard, he would be scampering up the stairs, to the terrace, in order to check whether it was a TAROM Airliner/ British Airways/ the grand dame -Air India or the boring Indian Airlines.
Visits to the Dakshineswar Kali Temple by the family meant that "the little boy" trudged along with his mother to offer his prayers to the goddess. While he was advised by the elders to seek blessings, for performing well in studies and being a good human being, he would secretly ask "Kaali" to end their hardship and give him the opportunity to experience the cherished world.
When the actual day came and the "little boy" became a young man he took the first flight of his life, which to him was a great achievement but for his colleagues another boring flight.
"Maybe this is the difference between a "small boy from a small place" and smart people from bright cities. The sparkle remains in the eyes of the small boy wherever he goes. It is important to keep the sparkle alive, may "The Mother Kaali" grants the sparkle to every little boy from every little place of the world.
The other being, one of 10-14 hours of power shortage and toiling away in front of the burning kerosene lamp and getting to eat rice, curry and sometimes only one vegetable preparation because the earning of the family that month has not been enough. Having only two sets of new dresses for the five-day Durga Puja while everyone else gets five sets for five days. So as the boy sat in the hot general compartment of the train his big eyes would dart across to the black windows of air-conditioned coaches and to the world beyond them. The little mind would start searching for the ways to attain the power to enter into the comfortable coaches. The old bengali refrain of "pora shuno korbe jay, gari-ghoda chorbe shey". Remembering it, the resilience would become stronger to travel the extra inch so that the chances of making it to the dream world becomes sure.
The grit for making it to "big city with blinding lights" became more and more strong. Simple parameters for measuring the progress for the "little boy" would be to aim for the city which has an airport with international flights, though, he would not be travelling but he would be contented by the reality of living in a city which has an airport. Whenever the "little boy" came to the city, he would go to his grandfather's home which was close to the airport, and whenever the sound of a roaring jet would be heard, he would be scampering up the stairs, to the terrace, in order to check whether it was a TAROM Airliner/ British Airways/ the grand dame -Air India or the boring Indian Airlines.
Visits to the Dakshineswar Kali Temple by the family meant that "the little boy" trudged along with his mother to offer his prayers to the goddess. While he was advised by the elders to seek blessings, for performing well in studies and being a good human being, he would secretly ask "Kaali" to end their hardship and give him the opportunity to experience the cherished world.
When the actual day came and the "little boy" became a young man he took the first flight of his life, which to him was a great achievement but for his colleagues another boring flight.
"Maybe this is the difference between a "small boy from a small place" and smart people from bright cities. The sparkle remains in the eyes of the small boy wherever he goes. It is important to keep the sparkle alive, may "The Mother Kaali" grants the sparkle to every little boy from every little place of the world.
posted by friendz at 04:50
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