I was in Delhi for my magic workshop, the so called metro city and the capital of India. Where everything is just so fast that it’s really a tough and challenging task to pace with the fast growing and demanding lifestyle. Talking about the quality of living, Delhi certainly is one of the top cities in India. But still, about 49% of the population lives in slum and they are scattered all over the city. Poverty is at every corner.
One evening, I was just wandering around looking for some local street food joints. I could see a bunch of slum kids roaming here and there, approaching passers-by, staring at the food in their hands. They were struggling to convince folks that they’re really hungry and can’t buy for themselves. Typical slum they were. Lack of cover on their mucky bodies and barefooted.
I advanced towards a momo stall. Grabbed the tasty and hot momos and found a bench. Just as I rested, two kids from the flock approached me and with their actions I could perceive that they’re asking for the momos to eat. Their looks and eyes melted me. I first tried to give them little money but, to my surprise, they refused. Seemed that they only wanted stuffs that could be eaten. So I got them both another plate of momos. There was nothing to understand anything else. The fact was, they were hungry because they are poor of a metropolis.
Well, in contrast to Delhi, this same scenario is not so same when we talk about Patna. Definitely the most urban city of Bihar but is nothing when compared to Delhi. Let me tell you the same what happened with me in my home town. My friend and I went out of a movie theatre. He asked me to wait outside until he brings the bike from the parking. As we all know, Patna is also overpopulated with the slums. You can find a slum settlement after every turning and since it was a movie theatre, it was usual for them to roam around. One slum girl walked to me in a very absurd manner asking for money to eat and all of a sudden a bunch of slum kids gathered around me demanding money. They were all pushing me, making sounds and fighting among themselves. This infuriated me and they got scattered. Again that girl came and asked for money and I finally got convinced. But I thought it’s better to give her something to eat than to money. Moreover they were asking for money to eat only and that’s what made me think so. There was an egg vendor who was also selling boiled eggs right in front. I took her to him. Two more joined her, but I felt all right let them also eat. Though these slum kids tried to persuade me to give money instead, I opposed. I then asked the vendor to give them all eggs, of the amount, I was paying then proceeded.
My friend came and I sat back. Just when I looked back to ensure whether the vendor was doing his job or not, to my surprise, all I could see was that those innocent and hungry looking slum kids snatched the money I had given to the vendor and ran away making faces. This was truly a shocking scene for me but I could do nothing and moved on. Another similar incident I remember when a I asked a panhandler to wash my bike in return of what I would give or pay him, he left in disgust.
This forced me to ponder deeply. Were they actually hungry? Or were they just pretending so that they could get the gelt? Did they value money more than eating? If so, then why? Slums in Delhi cannot afford a living. Cannot afford food. Cannot afford clothing. That’s maybe because its the capital city of the country, a metropolis. All they care about to get something in their stomach so that they can live another day and do not die out of starvation. They are poor in real sense and begging was not their choice but compulsion. Whereas in a comparatively small city like Patna slums dwell for a better livelihood and begging is their choice not a compulsion. So this was a basic difference between the slum of a developed metropolitan capital city and an urban city where life is not as competent as theirs. Where poor is not exactly poor because food is not such an issue like in big cities.
Still I won’t say that they chose begging out of happiness. There could be other ways, in fact there are other ways. I say, lack of education and over population are two interconnected and main reasons for this. It’s not something that government should be blamed. Government always tries and works towards its citizens and always thinks for their betterment. These people are also citizens and we should not think that government is overlooking them. We must understand that it’s a difficult task and a slow process which we surely will overcome by time if we keep our faith in government. Adding to this, we, as educated people, also need to give our best to help the society in every possible way one can. Blaming government won’t do, helping government would do .