On Society

Is it possible to bring peace and prosperity to a society with an organized effort ? Can an organized effort bring about change in a society ?

The Invite

"Why don't you hang out with him more?", she said to her son, "Maybe you'll gain some knowledge from him." Without stopping, she turned to me, "You guys should study together more often. Where do you live? Our house is right near school, come anytime you like." "Yes beta, we always tell him, look at the topper in your class, see how he gets those percentages. Why can't you. You should get good percentage marks. Ask him how he gets them", said his Dad turning to me. "You teach him a little bit. You are so intelligent. I am sure he'll do well in your company. You know, he works really hard, but somehow doesn't get the marks".

My new friend had been asking me to visit his place, it was so near to school. Today both the parents were home.

The System

One fine evening a few years ago, three of us waited for a cut chai at a tea-stall. Old tea had run out, new was being made. Our conversation meandered it's way to the system. How the lowest suffer the most being uneducated. How hopeless things were from their perspective. How spoiled the politics was, eating away things meant for these people. Could anyone, could we do something to change it ? "Once I finish my internship, I will attempt for the IAS", my friend said. Not for from us, a middle-aged man sat squatting, hands on his turban. We guessed he was a daily laborer, as that area was usually the place where people came from neighboring villages every morning, to find work. He too waited for the tea. "Look at him, I want to do something to help these people. I believe if I have the power, I can atleast do something, somewhere. A peeli-batti, lal-batti is that power".

I met him last year, at a common friend's place. I knew he worked for a government office. His sharpness had been replaced with rotundity. He taxed the poor and wealthy alike, I heard, to make ends meet.

a few lines a day

Starting today, I will attempt to write a few lines a day, for a few weeks.


Type. Delete. Type. Delete. That's how first few lines have gone. Somehow I stumble to a start. Yesterday, was one of those days when I was feeling worn out. When you are in the grip of such thoughts, you never remember that tomorrow will be a new day. You feel stuck. And yet, as I walked in to work today, I felt the warmth of the sun liven up my spirits. A tree swayed gently in the morning wind. I noticed birds chirping nearby. A few moments of silence later, I felt well. Yesterday's feeling of being stuck had disappeared. Today was a new day.