Our student’s group called Study Circle is a group of students who always stride for betterment. They search new ideas, new dimensions for all old traditions. So, in the line was New Year’s Day and we had to find the best and feasible mode to celebrate it. We democratically chose to share our merry time with children of railway station.
For the same, we reached Patna railway station at about 2:30pm. Well known Social Worker Ms Dorthy was with us she took us to a band of boys who were living on platform edge. They were the children who had achieved their goals. They earn for themselves. They are proud of their living hood. They live on platform day and night, when any train stops on the platform they rush in different bogies, collect the bottles of water, refill the bottle with ordinary water and sell those bottles to the general bogey passenger at 5 rupees per bottle. By this, they earn good amount of money that varies from 100 rupees to 300 rupees a day.
We interacted with them for nearly one and a half hour. Collecting the bits from different children, we grab a lot of information about them. They are mainly children who had runaway from their homes for one or the other reason. Rajesh, one of the bottle sellers, said that his parents insisted him to study, which he disliked and so he left his home and joined the im-mobile life. There are also some children who are alone in this world. For them, their friend and family are their group. It was amazing to know that some of them were living on platform since 5 or 6 years of age. The age that is meant for playing and enjoying, at that age, they earn their livelihood. They are guardian of their own. No one is there to guide them. As a result, nearly all of them inhale toxics. Thinner or nail polish remover is the common drug used by them for the vapour they inhale. It is easily available at shops. The shopkeepers without considering humanity sell these articles for their own profit. As mentioned earlier, they earn 100 to 300 rupees a day, which adds up to 3000 to 9000 rupees per month. This the sum for which millions of Indians just dream. And those kids and teenagers earn easily. This amount is sufficient to spend a happy and comfortable life. Only a guiding mind is needed. But all the money is wasted in cards and toxics.As noted from their behaviour and with interaction I found that whatever was their living condition they were very much happy. The reason for this is that they are always tension free. They believe in the theory of live for today, plan for tomorrow and party tonight. They never eat anything uneatable as rag pickers do. They enjoy chicken and rice for just Rs 10 in hotels. At night, they play cards. When they wish they even go for movies. Among those, there are many talented children who have no opportunity to show their hidden talents. One of them was Arman Kohli, about whom I think was an unsharpened diamond. He was capable of singing Hindi and Bhojpuri songs and even dance on music. The steps that he took and his face expression were unbelievable. It was hard to believe that he was not a trained dancer. He was 8 or 9 years old of age. He belonged to Jharkhand. On the platform, he was not alone but with his elder brother having same profession.
Though platform is their habitat, they are not inhuman with behaviour. They also know how to respect others. They also have shyness. They are capable of showing hospitality. It was amazing to see that Arman bought biscuits for us, as we told him that we were his guests. I was ready to distribute the biscuits among them but they insisted us to share the delicacies and that request was not refused.We distributed New Year cards, toffees and warm clothes among them. I don’t know whether they were going to wear those clothes, as after getting the clothes, one of them murmured “isko bech denge” (I’ll sell it).
When I was returning, I was heavy hearted. They were much more talented than a common student. But still that was their fate. One thing I concluded that they are better than many, better than those who earns by wrong means, better than those who beg for their living. At least they are not depending on others. Never they disturb anyone. They meddle with nobody matter. There is only one fault in them and that is use of toxics. I don’t know about other members of group but I was proud of myself seeing smile on their faces, which resembles the crescent; crescent of love and cooperation that we got from them.
SHAHBAZ
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