It's Called Poverty My Friend...

When taking a walk or driving through the city, often I silently and assiduously observe my surroundings. It gives me an odd pleasure, and sometimes I see things that no one else would notice, and it makes me happy that I get the chance to experience the world around me. None of these happenings are very significant in any way, in fact they're generally small things, like a half grown pup barking as if it's the leader of the pack, or a group of small kids dancing around a water pipe, or even just the absurd manner in which a black bird with a ridiculously long tail flies. Often I wish I could always carry a camera around with me, for there are so many moments I would love to capture forever. Yet along with the things that make me happy, I also come across moments that depress me, and one of the most common things that depress me happens to be poverty.

Just the other day, we were walking to class, and as we passed by the small brick houses, if you can call them houses, of the construction workers, I saw a small boy crying, and an old man holding the boy trying to quiet him down, and somehow I could tell the boy was hungry, and it made my heart ache as I heard his wails. Long after we passed the child, I could still hear his screams of agony, and I wondered why people are allowed to live in such conditions. The conditions they live in are inhuman, and it's really sad that not much is being done (or maybe even cannot be done) to help bring up their standard of living. It still haunts me sometimes, the cry of that hungry boy, and the sad look on the old man's face.

It's really easy to ignore the poverty around us while we live in nice houses and go to college and get a chance to make our lives, but what do these kids out on the streets have? Most of them land up being no better off than their parents, and for that matter of fact, probably worse off. Many may be capable of having a better life but never get the chance to pursue it, and it's almost shameful that there's no proper manner in which to inspire them or give them a chance at a better life. I know, it's really easy to blame the government, and I also know that maybe the government cannot do much, but certain rules should be passed to bring up the standard of public schools, and grant scholarships to students below the poverty line. Every child born deserves an equal chance to make their lives.

Sometimes I see workers and old men walking on the streets, and I feel so sorry for them. Then I say to myself that I shouldn't feel sorry for them, because at least they have a job, at least they earn something, even if it's not much. There are so many people in our country who aren't even able to do that much. It was a book, The City of Joy, which made me realize that just because these people are poor doesn't mean they aren't happy, nor does it mean that they deserve pity. Yes it makes me sad when I see so much poverty around me, but I have learned not to pity them, for they are probably stronger-willed than most of us, and strong will deserves no pity.

I do hope that someday I'll be able to make a difference, even if it only affects a few lives, for saving even one life is a really big thing. I really hope that over time this disease called poverty will be lessened, and more people get the chance to have more choices to the kind of life they want.