A Samarian from far far away

My job involved travelling to accomplish the technical requirements. So, my writing centers around railway stations, bus stands, conference hall, exhibition centers around India. Once I did visited Europe and worked one year in middle east.

Few of the happenings goes into my mind and etched forever. One such moment which happened in Delhi railway station is narrated below.

Many view India as a place where there are beggars, poor people living in huts, poverty, unhygienic condition especially in public places. Well I have to accept the truth, yes it is there. But we are also rich remember once our Mukesh Ambani was ranked on top of the world. Even today many Indian feature in the top list.
So we are both good and bad.

Well this is not about an Indian but a man from aboard who is an african.
I was in the train and waiting for the train to start and as usual my gaze is fixed on the platform. I saw few kids in the age group of 7 to 10 probably going around begging. Many ignored them including me. Because I am of the opinion that encouraging youngster in begging is a crime. This concept was etched into my mind by one of my best friend Edward who is now in USA.

I kept watching them for some time and then forgot all about them. I was moving around a bit as there is still time for the train to start. I bought news paper, magazine and some eatables. I returned to my seat few mintues before the train to start.

The Indian railways keep their time, and they start right on scheduled time. So I sat down and placed my belongings nearby and again looked out of the window.
To my great astonishment I saw a black man sitting along with those little kids (who were begging early). I do not wish to call them beggars any more. This black man bought some foods and the kids were eating it cheerfully. They were just a bunch of kids having their food cheerfully. This black man sat nearby and providing food which he should have bought from nearby vendor. He was treating them as their own kids ensuring they taking their food properly.

My courtroom started. The case Me Vs my inner conscious.
Once again my inner conscious accused me the charge sheet was filed.

1. Calling those kids as beggars?
2. Not helping them because I though it is a crime to help begging.
3. Some strange black man has more compassion on the poor people of India and why not you? (Yes Mother Theresa has done it earlier and you…)

My mind kept on accusing me for which I do not have any reply and I accepted that I am guilty (as usual).


These kids are taking food from a total stranger and I can see the happy faces forget the brand name of "happy meals". But I declared them as beggars who are nothing but a mole especially in public places. But they need food, shelter and cloth. My kids have and I also have it. So I do not beg or is that really true that I do beg. In a way yes, I do beg. My begging results as my monthly salary without which I cannot survive.

Suddenly my mind registered something else. One of the girl got hiccup and she requested water by hand sign. This black man opened his water bottle which looked like a mini cooler flask. He opened the lid and poured the water into the lid which also acts as cup.

He gave the cup of water to that girl. She took the bottle and took the water by sipping. After that she returned the cup and he gave some more water to others. They all took water by sipping. After that he took back the cup and closed his water bottle with it.

I was bit shocked by that. In fact I was replying to my inner conscious that I could do what that black man did. Buy some food for those who are in need of it. YES.

But giving my water bottle which is not a through away and is a keg. Offering the water; to the kids who live on the platform. Some unknown kid’s drinking water from my cup. Ok. But sipping. No a big No.

If at all I allow that I would have washed to head cup before closing my keg. But this black man did not show any difference to it. He closed his keg as if his own kids took water.

The train started to move out but my mind was left behind with the good Samarian who not only provided food but did it with care. Though it happened long back he is still living in my mind. I do not know who he is nor do I do not his country.

My mind declared one thing, that I saw a good Samarian in real life. This I contribute to that one guy whom I do not know.

THE STAR OF CHRISTMAS

Achronology: 006
Start Date: May 21, 2012
End Date:

Christmas the most wonderful time of the year. Yes that is one of the most famous songs which we hear, year after year. But do we really cherish Christmas nowadays. Well since I see the world through me let me bore through me to find it out.

Christmas unlike in Europe is not mixed with snow man, icy-winter, skating especially in South India. Santa has become the addition now as every carol troop now brings one Santa now. When I am young Carols were there but no Santa with a ho ho merry Christmas voice. But others are there. Christmas tree, star, balloons, decoration, cakes, sweets especially a long leave. What is more delightful is the pleasant weather especially in Chennai which normally hot and humid. During this time the wind is chilly enough to breathe easily. Still we were forced to wear sweaters. Everyone must visit Europe to know what is meant by a “Warm Welcome”.

Well it is really good jolly time to spend the day. Though the Television was there it was not a 24 hours broadcast system. I remember my old house with a wooden green colour picket gate. I normally swing by standing to and fro much to the displeasure of my Grandpa and Father. However I love to enjoy myself.
I can recollect the incidence but not the time. It was the Christmas Eve and I am swinging on the gate with great joy in my mind. I told myself that tomorrow is Christmas and you are very happy. My inner mind suddenly woke up (who called it and why did he wake up?) . It raised a simple, stupid question. What is the difference between today and yesterday? What is the difference between 24th of December evening and 23rd of December evening.

My mind tried to figure it out. Yesterday and today? Well nothing in and around me the same weather, same location, same swing. But today why should I feel happy? Christmas! Well why on 24th evening why not on 23rd or 22nd. Well no answer from my mind. I felt an emptiness crawling up deep in my heart. There is no big difference between today the 24th of December to yesterday. Why should I feel happy. In fact that emptiness crept up to a sadness and the joy of Christmas is lost forever. This is more like the kid who could hear the jingle sound from the bell that was presented to him by Santa himself (Movie) whereas his parents could not hear. He goes on to say that his younger sister who could hear it also fails to hear its sound later. But he proclaims that he can hear the sound till today.
Probably I am a grown up who can not hear the sound of jingle, believe in Santa. Well to be honest I lost the joy of Christmas for ever, even today it is an holiday for me. Does people look at Christmas this way or do we have others too.

Well to be honest again, I am downright pessimist I normally expect that a piano will wall down on my head every time I walk out. I just forgot how to live happily leave alone the concept of joyfully. I am in the middle of a crisis for a long time (I should write that about too). This is a normal crisis which everyone has “finance”. Like all I want to be very rich and very famous. So I entered into stock market which is good and bad. The worst part is that I entered into trading there it was bad really very bad. I lost and still paying the penalty.

It was close to Christmas in the year 2011 and I was a bit gloomy. As the joy of Christmas long lost I was going home from office through a friend’s bike. He drops me at a near place there by my travel time is saved more than by an hour. Though it was Christmas we did not put up the Christmas tree, Star and not decorated our house. This is not because of my financial situation, which is rather better and improving. My father-in-law passed away in that year as per some old (I trust Indian custom) for a year all the celebration will be put on hold.
Well no Christmas inside me and there is no Christmas outside too, especially at my home in terms of decorations.

Our factory lies on the highway from Chennai to Bangalore on the outskirts of Chennai. The place where our factory has some shops where you can take some snacks and tea / coffee etc. In this busy area lives a man who is without a home. I know his place he made a small hut using thrown away plastic bag, bamboos. I just wondered how he made that house of his own and for him alone. I do not have any property leave alone a house of my own. But this man has built a small may look shabby but a small house. Indeed he has a house built on a ground closer to a nearby factory. We cross that everyday and goes home. We have to come to the main gate which is facing the highway but local bus facility is not available. So those who travel by their own vehicle uses main gate. For those who commute by public transport choose the rear gate.

So Christmas came and gone. I took some leave and returned to office. Normally I come by bus so I will enter through the rear gate. The day went on with usual works and chaos. Like all day it came to an end. Myself and my friend Varadhrajan left the factory in his bike. We went through the main gate and took the service road which will run side-by-side to the highway. We need to make a “U” turn where this man lives. A man who built his own house with his own hand for his own.

As we neared something got my eye. I normally look at this house and took pity in him. In fact I compared him with myself and felt how fortunate I am (really!) What I saw surprised me. He made a typical Indian hut with a arched entrance. Right on top of that entrance there is a STAR, a Christmas Star. It is not new, must be thrown out by some one, or the wind would have taken it off from its original place. It has no lights, there was no other decoration. But nevertheless it is a STAR a Christmas Star.

I was wondering how this man has done it. Is it out of joy or is it just that it is available and hanged it on his home. I called it home now, because he paid a little more attention than just a place to hide from Sun. His shelter will give little protection against rain. But still I am unable to understand this presence of this STAR in a most unlikely place.

I do not have the joy of Christmas and I do not have star in me. My home now is only a house where we parked our belongings. True my father-in-law has passed away. I was wondering whether he will be really upset that if we cherish the birth of Jesus. In fact my kids expected us to decorate which my wife summarily refused. In fact I tried my best to change her mind and as usual I failed and resigned. My father-in-law is very affectionate to my kids. I really do not think that he would have objected to it. But as per the custom we do not have the STAR and the day of Christmas.

My thinking went back to that man who put up his STAR in the most unlikely place. A place which is filled with dirt material some of which stink a lot. But still there is this STAR. Well Christ himself born on a place similar to this one and was layed in a crib. The STAR of Christmas shines over that place where the three wise men from east reached.

After seeing the star I kept quite and my thoughts were rolling. The star remained and I continue to saw the same. I even pointed out that to the guy who took care in bringing me to my home / house in his bike.

I told him I going to write about this, in fact I told him that I wish to write for a long time and will start. He was the only person with whom I reveled my intention of writing down my life and how I felt.


So the man who built his own home felt that he needs something more than a shelter. Like our heavenly master who came down did not worried out about shelter but he cared for more than that. He came for us. Are we ready for him. Are we ready to place the STAR. To be honest, I still remain unworthy of it.