Dynamics of Rikshaw Pulling

I never thought that something like dynamics can be figured out of rickshaw pulling. Rickshaw pullers belong to the creed of the most humble bread earners in India. They never seem to make enough money to make their both ends meet. Often found with skinny bodies with exposed rib cages, wearing a torn banian or shirt, sweating to pull fat lump of fleshy bodies sitting back , are often targets of exploitation and verbal abuses. Ironically they are never paid before so often rebuked for asking more at the end ,or literally over worked as destinations never seem to tally with before negotiations. Beginners or poor bargainers do not get their worth as the meters are not set on rickshaws. We find all the more scary rickshaws in Calcutta where they are literally pulled by men with no mechanical pedalling. The take off is very similar to aeroplane's. Same is the case with some of the South East Asian countries. The pathetic story of rickshaws ran widespread till eighties in India. Many good and bad things take place with changing times, one good thing that came into being is the sight of fewer and fewer rickshaws on Indian roads. Virtually they have disappeared in most of the south Indian cities. Thanks to the automobiles. We started learning new lessons of honouring human dignity.

But how could I imagine that I get to see them in busy streets of New York? I thought it was an exception. Yet again their presence in Sandiego made me to confirm my disbelief. A robust, healthy, white men pedalling the rickshaws, gleefully cheering every pedestrian doesn't seem to have a sense of inferiority or disgust for his job. He was able to navigate his rickshaw with least effort with healthy body in place. "You wanna ride?" I was asked by him "How much it will cost me to down town?" "Ten dollars". "No, thanks".I said as my upward journey by taxi cost me only five dollars. Few yards away an old couple got into it enjoying rickshaw ride with broad grin. It is very probable that rickshaw puller is a student doing it as a part time job, or it could be a person doing it for a pleasure or an extra income. I understood that the dynamics of rickshaw pulling are different here. We do not get to see ribs. Even the poor are well fed and look robust and fatty as they cannot afford eating healthy with lean meats, diet drinks, lettuce or some other grass. MC. Donald , the saviour is there at their footsteps.

Back to the story again, may be you need not feel sorry for taking rickshaw here ( if you can afford it). Interestingly I found many migrated taxi drivers who seem to be doing not too well. It was a pleasure talking to Ethiopians, Pakistanis, Afghans,Turkish, and last but not least a Russian. I was told about stories of Raj Kapoor's "Awara" being such a massive hit in Russia in olden times.. But I have a strong belief that myths remains myths for ever. Not withstanding my belief, the middle aged Russian asked me " Are you an Indian?" "Yes" I said . " We like Raj Kapoor, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi" what a surprise! I was unprepared to hear it in 2009 . Fables too are for real!

Dark night

While visiting United Nations building in NewYork I was truly happy to be one amongst few who could answer the question relating to "Earth Hour" posed by my guide. It is an hour when most of the global warming conscious countries plunge into darkness for a time of one hour by shutting off their power consumption. While I was answering my question I was mocking myself for answering that question so diligently since I come from a country where there are numerous earth hours a day.

It is truly an amazing experience to watch the down towns of New york or Chicago in the night either from sea or mighty Michigan lake. It is a feast to the eye to watch their skyscrappers lavishly illuminated,with mighty business houses who hardly work after 5 0' P.M. flood lit throughout night, may be to help a janitor to clean the office . A.C never shuts down, doors never fail to open, lifts never stop due to power failure, things don't get rot for lack of power supply in the refrigerator. Vending machines, gas stations, subways, they are never tired of continuous operations. Grand illuminations accentuate the architectural splendour of their monuments. Life of a commoner is not put to test by power failures. The productivity is not crippled by power crunch. What a great thinking and planning it takes to make your countrymen life so comfortable?

I read about South Delhi's resident's vows due to power failure for couple of nights. Children inconsolably crying, students with closed books on their laps, newly wed sitting holding hand in hand close to each other, old and sick sighing and gasping for a breath. It is not a new story. It is being played off and on all over the country 365 days an year. Life limps without power. Things get postponed till everything gets back to normalcy. Industries get unwanted power holidays and fail to produce. Critical operation in the hospitals are postponed to power supply hours. Interestingly V.I.P colonies don't get power cuts.

We are not too much concerned with global warming. Still we contribute substantially towards it's mitigation. A big question arises in my mind. We desperately need to meet our power demands. We have to improve our power situation. There is no second opinion on this. Ironically imagine a world where countries like India and others completely meeting their power demands, it is like unleashing a wild catastrophe to sink the world further.Hitherto we saved this world from food shortage by eating less. May be we are saving this planet by taking the sufferings silently. Thanks to the underdevelopment.Most likely we should be missing the bus forever.

End of An Era

I think I stand no where when I have to write about Michel Jackson with regard to the details of his life events and achievements, but one thing I remember vivdly is the day I watched him first on T.V. with his crazy number "Beat it". The young lad who looked incredibly electric, and swayed like a spark of light from the outer world. At one moment I wondered it was a women. That was beginning of of his saga as far as I am concerned. Before him music videos were never so enthralling. Never were they so amazingly creative. We frantically searched for his numbers till we found Thriller. The weird but precariously charming Michel frightened us with his energy. He was a new beginning.There was a new power, new melody, new rhythm, new swing, new step,new theatricality,like never before. Since then he was always on the top of our minds in concern with anything musical.He was an irresistible musician, dancer, and a showman. He convinced me that singer is never a singer alone in the modern era, but also a performer. The spark, the vigour, the flame , the passion, a unique stand alone quality which I sense in kinds like Bruce lee, Michel Jackson, I know it is not found in many. They are Truly gifted. They are born, not made.

His new frail look, growing ghostly appearance made me sick in later years, though his surrounding controversies never touched me, as I know any body at pinnacle of fame has to bear the brut of a throned crown. I do not remember to have heard any thing so flatteringly great in thirteen years, still I think it is possible for only Michel Jackson to manage to be on the top for so long albeit lack of any memorable creation in later years. We hear many weird stories about him but hardly any thing big enough to question his musical genius. Great is the man who inspires others to imitate or follow, typically characteristic of a legend. We see many around the world who wanted to be Michel Jackson by way of dancing or singing. I see his traits in many famed who came later on the stage. What can be more testifying?

Here is a man who wanted to fight his aging, but failed to fight his death. One way it is too painful to see him dying, one way there is a sense of complacency deep within that I have not seen him old. Many greats died young. That way they retain their charm and adulation. I hate to see him fading. Why should be a tear on my cheek ? A kind of heavyness which feels when you close a great book after finishing. For reasons unknown my hearts pricks when I realize that he is not around. It is not easy to die when you are still on fire. It does not happen to many.