Interaction with Manoj Kumar

-

 

A few weeks ago, I took a taxi from terminal 3 of New Delhi airport to my home; as usual, I started interacting with the cab driver. Manoj Kumar[1], He was an interesting person, from Bihar working in the taxi business for more than a decade, he belongs to a socially agrarian family, and he has sufficient agricultural land, on which he & his getting crops, mainly paddy/wheat, and they are also able to get a modest yield of Dalhan/talhan[2] .

I have a particular interest in agriculture and agrarian society, so I had a deep talk with Manoj, and subsequently, both of us discuss politics & society. He was particularly upset about the freebie schemes of the Delhi provincial government, I can sense, his irritation and anguish, from where he was talking. He tried to explain to me that; government should not provide any things free of cost to people. 

I tried to offer my argument about the freebies, and why the government should take care of people's requirements. I shared my expires of taking education from a state-run school/college/university. In addition, I asked him about his education and his family's education. He shared; he too had his education at a government school, which was quite good in quality as per his version. However, he is sending his kids to a private school somewhere in Bihar, which is costing him money. He also agreed to better health facilities should be provided in our existing government hospitals, because the cost of health is increasing like anything.

Why this whole debate on the freebie are irrelevant? When it comes to state responsibilities to provide education, health, and other social welfare for people of their county. Yes, these things/ diabetes are becoming or being made irrelevant, when everything or anything is being handed over to the corporation. The unrealistic price of medicine or other essentials was skyrocketing or unreachable for the people.

Manoj Kumar now shared about his working conditions and the income from his job. On inflation, he tried the justified current dispensation, with the argument of the government has nothing to do with the rising price; he was citing the Russian- the Ukraine conflict. He also shared that, his income has thinned due to the high price of fuel and at the same time, the taxi fare in Delhi has not increased in propionate to the rise in fuel price. Here I strongly agreed with him. He reacted to me, Sir why are you agreeing to rise the fare of the taxi; this will cost you more for travel. I calmly responded to him, Manoj bhai, we should not think or act only for personal benefits, there are some things called vivek[3]. I explain to him, why we should not only think or advocate our self only. There are other people or groups, who need our support and solidarity, as you need to advocate your genuine voice for an increase in the fare of the taxi.

It was interesting and truthful interaction with Manoj, even though I did not agree with him on many points, I admire him for his honest interaction with me. He dropped me at my place safely. With Big thanks… I offered him to come for tea but he said he has to report quickly at Airport.

[1] This is a dummy name for the privacy of the driver

[2]  Oilseeds and lentils

[3] The freedom & power to make decisions by yourself without any influence

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

lock down story

-
Image
  Couple of weeks ago, I went to nearby electric repair shop in my neighborhood, because my emergency light is not working. The technician, looked the all parts of light carefully, meantime I was trying to understand his situation during lockdown, he shared in those days his shop was completely shut down like others, I hesitantly, inquired about his livelihood sources and how he had managed his day to day expense? He shared, sir there was no option but I had to sell fruits in the streets, and that was the only source of survival for him and his family, after unlocking he is only able to earn around 30% of income, what he used to earn before Pandemic. After almost 20 minutes, he said he will not able to repair my light. I offered him money for his Labour but he refused to take and gently responded Sir, I haven't done your work, how can I take money, I tried hard but he was reluctant. With his gesture and dedication, I was thoroughly impressed....
Read more

Why I Believe Birsa Munda Remains Relevant For Indigenous Identity Around The World(15 November 1875 – 9 June 1900)

-
Image
Birsa Munda was an indigenous leader and a folk hero, belonging to the Munda tribe who was behind the Millenarian movement that arose in Jharkhand during the British Raj. This made him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. Birsa Munda is named with great respect as one of the freedom fighters in the Indian struggle for independence against British colonialism. His achievements in the freedom struggle became even greater considering he accomplished this before he turned 25. Birsa’s devotion to his people was such that he was almost revered as God by his followers. By the time he was in his 20s, his activities in present-day Jharkhand had already begun to worry the British establishment to a considerable extent. He was finally caught by the British on February 3, 1900, when he was only 25 years old. He died soon afterwards under mysterious circumstances on June 9, 1900, at Ranchi Jail. Indigenous people from the rest of Asia or Africa hav...
Read more

Prof. Rizwan Qaiser: My teacher friend and mentor (1960-2021)

-
Image
He was not only my teacher but mentor, guide, and one of my great admirers, for what I have been doing after finishing my study? That was his personality, he was never hesitant to give respect and dignity, no matter who are you? What kind of relationship is with him? My personal connection with him was far before I meet him personally, I am basically from rural India, where I studied till my graduation, we had kind of serious news reading habit in our family, and my father also guided us to read the editorial pages including writing on social or political issues. Those days, Rizwan Sb, used to write for Hindustan, Hindi, since, I was a regular reader, that was interesting for me to understand the social-political aspect of the marginalized social group on which he usually writes. When I got admission in MA- History in 2003 at Jamia Millia Islamia, that was transformative and dream comes true for me to study at Central University, at the same time I was very nervous in the Capital o...
Read more