Some of the Happiest people in the World?

Today, we were shown a video on the lives of textile mill workers in Jarimari, Mumbai. You know it reminds me of the ‘Blood diamonds’ from Africa? I don’t mean to sound drastic… But the plight of those workers in the unorganized workers denied a permanent job and a fixed salary (imagine having workers who demand to be allowed to work… For how else will the meals for the day come? ) is heart-wrenching…

Now many mills are being closed. OK. And now they want to demolish the colony of their slum-like constructions to expand the Airport nearby. Many of them have spent their lives’ earning to put up that shelter.

Most of them live with the uncertainty of not knowing where the meal for the day… for themselves and their small children will come from.

To me, that redefines what is important. Somehow, my own strife takes on a new dimension…

They are like the unseen and quietly forgotten underside of a process that has long-since forgotten the morality of rewarding best the person who does the basic job. I have long-since felt that there is a wrongly diminished priority given to those people who clean and cook for us… For the services they provide are something so integral to us… Can we do without them? Nope…

I don’t think the answer is to make out Corporations that ‘function for profit’ as the sole cause of this inequality…

Now, I have an interesting thought that may give a fresh perspective to the lives of these workers. I have always felt that some of the best experiences in Life is to know yourself in your best possible ways… :) And I have also seen that toughest times bring out the steel in you… :) Hence, when I think of the brave men and women in Jarimari… Who I think actually embody the spirit of India, with a smile to give even though they do not know where the next meal will come from; and that resilient attitude which says that ‘there is a beauty even in the way I live Life’… and to sincerely believe that ‘tomorrow will be a better day!’ is a spirit that something that each of us to strive to find in ourselves each day. :)

They are able to know themselves survive in the worst of times… And see the strange inevitability of Life (I don’t know if that makes sense!) It’s a strange sort of cynicism that makes them go on… No matter what! To me, that seems like a very happy and fulfilling way to live. Yes, their limbs ache from the work they do at the construction… And they sometimes go without 3 meals a day…

Now we suffer from aching limbs when we jog after too long a gap. :)And sometimes find the need to diet. :)
To be honest, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this dichotomy… :)

There is actually little difference between us as humans. :) However, their needs are so basic… I think they have a much better understanding of what constitutes happiness than we in our more secure life… Personally I think it takes more to make me happy than the 3 meals a day… Im not sure if that’s the best way to live, either… :)

Look, they feel the love… They have the feeling of togetherness… While sometimes we can feel lonely in a crowd, am I right…?

Hence, when I stand back and take a look at the two worlds… Im confused…Certainly, they have much left wanting in basic, material needs… But they lead a life that is far richer in contentment… and honesty.

So remind me again… Who am I feeling so terrifying sorry for?

Rajeswari