Born with a bowl
(True Story of a beggar child. This is a True account of a beggar whom I met one day. This is not some thing bizarre but shows our insensitivity!) Do not ignore me- I know when I am near you want to shoo me away but still I need your attention. I am chintu,born in a good family but I lost my parents when I was born.
My auntie sold me to a tout for little amount. I do not blame her because she had no other option to survive. Tout sold me to a gang of beggars .
Learning differently: Like young kids go to schools, we are also trained how to beg. We are taught who is potential client, how to avoid cops, where to find prospective clientele.
At first, I refused to learn the wrong ways but after being beaten days and nights, I understood my lessons by heart.
Begging for survival: People do not know that we
beg for survival. If we do not beg, harsh beating waits us. My gang
members for not
doing what I was
asked for have beaten me repeatedly.
Wonder what I was asked! –I was asked to sleep with male members, bring drugs from dingy lanes, and earn enough.
No means death: I know what it means to say no! My partner Dalchand once said no to a senior and next day we all
saw his body near a main hole. I have kept that in mind.
I wish: At times, I also want to enjoy a normal life but I have no options. Even if I try to get out of this filth, I know I will never make it.
There is an old saying that beggars are not choosers. I have to put up with what I am going through.
I know: All doors to the out side world are closed for me. I know my fate. I know some day; I will die unnoticed and unloved.
I do not believe in God: Why shall I believe in some eternal power that has shown me the worst. I saw all the wrong doing in name of devotion. People are willing to donate hefty sum of money to god men but why can any body ignore his so-called creations. I saw so many rich persons trying to ward off ill luck by feeding us but no one cares if We are sick or need education and love.
(In case, you feel for these street children, please donate to some genuine N.G.O. or raise your voice against this
SOCIAL A.I.D.S.)
Ashish Dimri, A freelancing Indian journalist wrote this article
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