Another brick in the wall

Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev simplified the code to earn a podium finish in the quest to reach the altars of unknown-yet among us- the omnipotent, the belief, the vie called God or Ishwar. He quoted, “Jato mat, tato path” that translates to an obvious but transcendental – ‘different opinions lead to the doors of the God, the ways may be different but all converge at the only option called God.’ Or to be put simply, a mathematical problem may be solved in a number of ways but the correct answer would be only one, and a probable probability would be that all the different but correct solutions lead to that answer only.

Applying or in that parlance of object oriented programming ‘extending’ the same concept to other fields of thought would reverberate similarly. How does a rational being react when served by a ‘child labor’ (this term’s exclusive usage rights lie with the developing or the under developing countries!!)? We all react in ways that may differ by the width of a hair- the commonality being we wish the child a better future or the same message works latently in our opinions or agenda.

Last Sunday, my friend Sohail and I were coming from Narayanpur (a place near Rajarhat, Kolkata) and decided to go for some Chinese; ‘Indian-Chinese’ of course- near Koikhali (a place near Airport, Kolkata). A paneer roll and an egg chowmin we placed as ‘requests’ and invariably a child (aged about 7-8 years) attended to these requests and then sat next to me. Out of sheer curiosity and courtesy I engaged him in a smaller conversation for a minute that is detailed below:

I:        What is your name?

Child:  Monirul Manna.

I:        Do you go to school?

Child:  I used to go to a madarsha till recently (pauses). But now I work here.

I:        Why?

Child:  In the madarsha they used to beat (showing his palms and knees that bore fresh bruises) severely if the lessons are not memorized as per the instructions. (At once The Selfish Giant by Mr. Ruskin Bond came briskly to my mind).

I:        How long would you work here?

(He is lost in the question and I eagerly awaited his reply. His face blanks afterwards and I got the reply.)

I:        Do you know the people who work here?

Child: (Pointing to one of the fellows) He is Chorrda (the youngest amongst the elder brothers in a Bengali family). He brought me here.

I:        Do they give you food?

Child:  They cook rice, vegetables, etc. (as surviving on Indian- Chinese would be a fatal act in the long run) and at times fish as well.

I:        Do they give you money?

(He chooses to filter the questions like a mature politician and his silence answers promptly.)

I:        Where are your parents?

Child: (He looked more than happy on being reminisced about them) they stay near Ghatakpukur (a place on the outskirts of Kolkata famous for fresh vegetables, but is a little filthy as well!!)

His Chorrda probably called him out and he ran away to listen to the instructions with rapt attention.

The objective answers or the stark face of the child brings to the front the demonic nature of the society that we’re dwelling in. Of course, it depends on which side of the fence we’re sitting (or standing!!)

Corporal punishment has been banished long ago yet its patrons are belittling its end. Government can only bring laws but it’s the responsibility of the citizens to abide by it (though all laws are not sane enough to be categorized as tolerable e.g. 124A). A certain theory that works wonders at one place may fair miserably elsewhere; theories are not mere medicines to resolve adverse situations- the attributes guiding their success vary extensively and it is their flexibility that suggests the efficacy and longevity of the proposed theory. We must not mock ourselves by treading off the beaten track to prove our point. 

‘Spare the rod, spoil the child’ is a no-taker and falls flat in its face. Is there a substitute to Love? I find none. What do we do when our planted sapling emanates dying signals? Don’t we initiate caring and tender measures to prolong its due ‘life’!!

We, human beings are benign and kind by nature- but some of our traits are quite submissive; we forget about our kindness- dominating traits follow and reflect through cruelty, hatred and other animalistic behaviors.

Action: We need ‘to work with’ the submissive traits- nucleate them- and make a career in them. And cruelty and its brethren gang must be given a ‘proper burial’.

[P.S.:  How does the Right to Education Act rehabilitates fellows like Monirul and his peers??  Simply mandating the schools to accommodate them would in all probability lead to a loss of whatsoever livelihood and the bread that they get. It is a choice between hunger and future. The individual decisions, though, would be heavily skewed towards the former!! And when the concerns are the lives of lakhs of children, it needs more than laws’ enactment- the need is the real action- sans reel magnanimous boasting and sledging on the television channels. (We) Join NGOs and other such organizations to pave a livable future for the marginalized generations- if it fills you with a sense of relief, happiness and satisfaction. Else the world is a big space to find the mind space elsewhere].