What do we envisage when we hear the word beggar? Very obviously a dirty looking, skinny, handicapped, invalid fellow with his palms outstretched to us. Probably many more adjectives could be added to our imagination. We always come across them especially on a train journey but seldom do we pay attention to them even if we are generous enough to throw one or two penny at them. But in one of my train journeys, this one beggar not only caught my attention but even made me brood.
Well, I was on my way to Kolkata. The train stopped at one small station. Amidst all the hallaballoo of the vendours, suddenly came a voice that made all the passengers of my compartment to turn around. A blind, petite man with an underdeveloped arm was thumping his “dafli” and was singing the lyrics “shukriya shukriya dard jo tumne diya”(thank you god for the pain you gave me). The rhythm of his thumping was perfectly matching the ebb and flow of his crystal voice. It seemed that each note of his voice was experiencing the pain of his life. But he was smiling and singing and thumping without sacrificing the melody. His voice, his expressions and his music was in perfect sync with one another but were unable to hide his agony. There was a stunned silence except his echoing voice.
He stopped singing and everybody resumed their chatting, eating, and reading, but I couldn’t help myself from brooding over that how we keep complaining about everything in life without realizing that there is a tougher life from which we have been spared. But what about unfortunate people like this blind beggar…..instead of complaining, he was thanking God.
After finishing the song, he outstretched his lean palm to everyone. Some gave him, some chided him and some treated him with apathy. Finally, he came up to me and I gave him two rupees. He gave me blessings and moved out of our compartment to another one and started singing again. I could hear his faint but melodious voice and thought- Was my two rupees worth the extraordinary talent of that unsung hero?
Well, I was on my way to Kolkata. The train stopped at one small station. Amidst all the hallaballoo of the vendours, suddenly came a voice that made all the passengers of my compartment to turn around. A blind, petite man with an underdeveloped arm was thumping his “dafli” and was singing the lyrics “shukriya shukriya dard jo tumne diya”(thank you god for the pain you gave me). The rhythm of his thumping was perfectly matching the ebb and flow of his crystal voice. It seemed that each note of his voice was experiencing the pain of his life. But he was smiling and singing and thumping without sacrificing the melody. His voice, his expressions and his music was in perfect sync with one another but were unable to hide his agony. There was a stunned silence except his echoing voice.
He stopped singing and everybody resumed their chatting, eating, and reading, but I couldn’t help myself from brooding over that how we keep complaining about everything in life without realizing that there is a tougher life from which we have been spared. But what about unfortunate people like this blind beggar…..instead of complaining, he was thanking God.
After finishing the song, he outstretched his lean palm to everyone. Some gave him, some chided him and some treated him with apathy. Finally, he came up to me and I gave him two rupees. He gave me blessings and moved out of our compartment to another one and started singing again. I could hear his faint but melodious voice and thought- Was my two rupees worth the extraordinary talent of that unsung hero?
5 dew drops on the rose:
All I can say is that after reading it, I had Goosebumps............now you know wat I felt. Keep Writing............
Love,
Simran
sigh! abhi... we haven't seent even one thousandth of the pain this life can inflict
Well similar experience Ma had while we visited Sriranganathswamy temple at Srirangapatnam. Ma came in with us but her legs started aching hence she sat near the stairs. We went inside to perform pooja and parikrama. She was sad thinking that even after coming to the doors of god, she could not perform the pooja. Suddenly she saw a young man walking on crutches towards the entrance. He was walking with great difficulty. Ma could associate with his pain and realized how lucky she and we all are who are gifted with good health.
being in medical profession I personally feel that people with some physical malformations adjust themselves with the nature and accomodate accordingly.Your feelings are really touching.Hts off to you..
Thanx Amvani for sharing your experience with me.
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