A day with Santa Ram: Hard life of a Migrant worker
Santa Ram is a young cobbler. He invited me to notedown his daily schedule.
6.30 AM: When most of us are in public parks or fitness centres. Santa ram also performs his physical fitness test. He walks from his home to his
place of
Work on feet. It takes him around half an hour to reach that place.
Getting up early is a necessity. His shanty does not have electricity connection and public toilet is always occupied. Therefore, he finishes his morning chores around four in the morning
Unlike us, he makes sure to avoid rash drivers and so-called V.I.P. vehicles.
7.AM: After reaching safely, he first prays to his god. Then orders a cup of tea that he relishes with stale chapatti (Indian bread). Unlike many insensitive souls, he shares a portion with baltu, a street dog.
Then next ten minutes are devoted listening to radio news. Like all Indians, he enjoys cricket and films.
8.A.M. To 12A.M:Soon, his valued customers start arriving. Some need quick boot polish, others expect to make amends in shoes, or sandals .He readily accepts these requests.
Most of them love to haggle. They know there are many of his ilk still searching for some work. Santa ram always keep a smile on his face. He believes customers are second to God.
He is liked because you can take with you any sandal or
shoes for a while. However, this facility is appreciated if your shoes are with him for repair.
In simple words, he works on around thirty to forty shoes.
Afternoon meal: He quickly finishes his meal. What else! But watery lentils, chapattis, and a piece of pickle. Here too freeloaders are ever willing to have their say. You can
watch him sharing it with others. Baltu is always the prized recipient.
For few minutes, he takes rest near shades of tree. Doctors advised him to take care after bout of Tuberculosis.
1 PM TO 3PM: Santa ram prepares a shoe for those who cannot afford branded shoes from some hotshot shop. This is quite risky because, he must show his ages of experience on these shoes. Most of the buyers belong to lower middle class. He shows his worker ship on his work and you are shown a new set of shoes
3PM TO 5PM: this time for customer, care. You watch number of people repeating the same sentence, it is not done. Why because Santa ram refused to accept what they pay.
However, most of them pay straight after showing him his stature.
5P.M.: - He gets to end his day. He has to visit local bazzar. His young daughter needs a new toy. He loves a lot. This is the only thing; he can do for her.
A question- you may wonder, if this is a work of fiction or make believe saga.
No, you can watch many Santa ram around us.These migrant workers are everywhere from teastalls, eateries to manual workers.
- Santa cannot have financial security because banks need some proof of citizenship.
- He does not have ration card because local food supply department states, he is not a permanent citizen of this city.
-He can never vote because he does not have Voter ID.
If globalisation and so called creative movement of internet means one world, one place, then what about millions like Santa ram!
Those who are part of pressure groups and establishments must adopt humanitarian oulook .
Why only poor parts of this globalised world. even some of the developed economies are being insensitive to migrant workers.
May be through my creative teacher, www.shvoong.com, Many Santa rams will not die unknown and unwept,
If some one is reading this article. Take it as a message from Shantaram.
( Appeal: If you ever come across a migrant worker from developing or underdeveloped world, please do some thing for him or her.)
Ashish Dimri, a freelancing Indian journalist wrote this article)
More summaries about the A Day With Santa Ram