CHANGE OF FORTUNE
I have come to the metropolis to attend a meeting. After getting off the train, I came to the platform. I am feeling like drinking tea, so I am going towards the hotel.
I went to the hotel and sat down. The servant brought a cup of tea and placed it on my table. I had just taken the first sip of tea when the owner of the hotel came and stood near me. He folded his hands and greeted me.
I looked at him with surprise.
He asked, "Didn't you recognize me, sir?"
Now I looked at him carefully. I started trying to recognize him. His face looked somewhat familiar, but I was not able to remember anything.
Seeing me silent, he said, my name is Roshan sir. You had bought me books eight years ago.
Now I remembered everything. And that incident of eight years ago became fresh in front of my eyes.
It was the eve of Republic Day. I was sitting on the lawn of the hostel and reading a book. Just then the hostel servant brought tea and said, "Won't you have tea today, Babu?"
I looked at Roshan. Fifteen-sixteen years old, beautiful
face, clean clothes, scarf around the neck, and slippers on feet. This was his attire.
I asked Roshan, "Tomorrow is 26th January Roshan. What will you do tomorrow?"
Roshan's face glowed with happiness for a moment,
then disappeared. He said, "What about us poor people on 26th January, Babu?"
"No Roshan does not say that. Tomorrow is 26th January, our Republic Day. Tomorrow you do this, wake up in the morning, take a bath and wear clean clothes. Then come here to work, and after work go to watch the 26th January programs."
"Okay Babu" Roshan nodded in acceptance.
I don't know why I started feeling pity for Roshan. I put my hand on his shoulder and asked- "Why Roshan, why did you start working at such a young age?"
Roshan took a deep breath. He kept thinking about something for some time, then said in a sad voice, "To satisfy the hunger, Babu. Father used to work in a cloth mill. His hand got cut by a machine, Sir. I was eight years old then. From then on, Babu, I started working."
Saying this, Roshan picked up the teacup and went out. I again picked up the book and started reading. But now I was not in the mood to read. I closed the book and went for a walk.
After having dinner in the evening, I came to my room and lay down. The leader of the nation's address to the nation was playing on the transistor.
I was thinking, that tomorrow is Republic Day. Now every child of the country is born free. Our constitution gives everyone the right to social equality. But despite all this, what do illiterate teenagers like Roshan who work in factories, hotels, restaurants, and gardens, carry loads and clean shoes? Helpless and resourceless laborers who become victims of exploitation at every step. They are forced to live a life like slaves even in independent India. They remain busy with work throughout their life to satisfy their hunger.
I did not know when I fell asleep in this dilemma. When I woke up in the morning, the weather was very pleasant. There was a unique joy all around. The rays of the morning sun were looking very pleasant.
After finishing my daily routine, I went to participate in the flag-hoisting ceremony. I was passing by the mess manager's room when I heard the manager's thundering voice - "Why did Roshan's son come so late?"
"Sir, I kept washing clothes last night, they didn't dry, and got late because of that."
"What work does your father do here?" The manager said twisting Roshan's ear.
I saw Roshan standing silently with his head bowed down. "Go and take this oil can. Pakodas have to be made." the manager said scolding Roshan. Roshan took the oil can and left and I went to participate in the flag hoisting ceremony.
After the flag hoisting, everyone made a plan to watch today's ceremony on TV. Everyone went towards the TV hall. I also joined them. When I was going towards the hall with everyone, I saw that the manager was beating Roshan badly. Roshan was repeatedly begging for mercy and pleading not to commit such a mistake again. But the manager was not listening to him at all.
On asking, I came to know that in a hurry, Roshan dropped the oil can, and about one kilo of oil Scatterd from it.
I said to the manager, "Stop it now, manager sahab. Will you kill the poor man for one kilo of oil?"
"You do your work, babu." The manager said in a harsh tone.
Feeling helpless, I went to watch television with everyone.
The leaders of the nation were giving speeches on television, "Children are the foundation of our country. The development of the country is possible only through their development."
On the other hand, the entire hostel was echoing with Roshan's heart-rending cries and my heart was being filled with an unspoken sense of guilt.
I got up and went to my room. After a while, I came to know that Roshan had been fired from the job by the manager. I felt very sad to hear this news. I could not sit still. I got up and came out to look for Roshan. Outside the hostel, Roshan was sitting under a tree and crying.
I stroked Roshan's head and asked him to keep quiet.
Getting my sympathy, he started crying louder.
After some time when Roshan became silent, I explained to him - "Look Roshan, you are a brave boy. In today's times, even staying alive has become a challenge. Crying and whining is of no use, work with courage."
If you had studied a little earlier, then perhaps you would not have seen this day. Nothing is lost yet. There is no dearth of work for those who work hard. If you lose work here, you will get it somewhere else. But remember one thing, Roshan, if you remain illiterate like this, you will be exploited everywhere. Therefore, along with work, you should take some time and keep reading and writing.
Roshan nodded in acceptance. I got him two books and a slate from there. Roshan was very happy to get those things.
Then I gave him a twenty rupee note and said, "Take this Roshan, this will cover your expenses for three-four days. Till then you find some work somewhere."
Roshan was not ready to take the money. I forcibly put the money in his pocket. He said namaste to me and went away.
I had come to the hostel to participate in departmental training. After a month, when the training was over, I left the hostel. In the meantime, I never visited there. The matter came and went. I had forgotten that incident and after eight years, the same crying Roshan was standing in the hotel.
I was thinking about many things. Then Roshan held my shoulder and shook me, 'Where are you lost, sir, the tea is getting cold.'
On Roshan's insistence, I had to eat many sweets and salty snacks with tea. After having breakfast, I asked Roshan, "Tell me one thing Roshan, how did you progress so much? All this is because of you, sir. The books and money you gave me became a boon for me." "How?" I was curious to know the whole thing. With the twenty rupees you gave me, I bought peanuts and sold them on the train. That day I earned five rupees. I thought that instead of working and getting beaten and abused, this was the right job. I started selling peanuts.
I had no place to live. I spent many days on the platform. Then I found a friend. We both rented a room. My friend had studied up to the fifth standard. I started studying with him at night. Your words stuck in my mind, so in two years I learned to read and write well enough.
In two years we had some money. With that money, I and my friend Rehmat opened a small tea shop here.
Slowly the business grew. Then with the help of the bank, we converted that tea shop into a hotel. This hotel is running well now. This change in my fortune was possible only because of education, so I decided in my mind that I would not let the people in my neighbourhood remain illiterate.
I have opened an adult education centre in one room of my house. Where I teach the people working in my hotel and the illiterate people of the neighbourhood.
I have also formed a labour union. Rahmat is its coordinator. I have decided that I will not let my other labourer brothers face the same atrocities that I have faced due to my illiteracy.
I was getting late for the meeting so I took leave from Roshan and left. But before leaving Roshan made me promise to come tomorrow.
Sitting in the tempo I was thinking that now the rays of literacy are slowly spreading. People are becoming conscious; now the day is not far when injustice and oppression will become a thing of the past.
