I go to Ramakrishna Math almost every weekend. And Usually I walk from there to the nearest bus stand, which is about two km far from there. It takes about half an hour. On my way I always noticed a man sitting at the same place (he has no legs). He never asked anything from me. But he would always look at me and smile. I returned the smile. Then one weekend I went up to him and we had a conversation. He told me that presently he is having some problems but his ‘ATM card’ would come on Monday and then it will be all fine. And that a Tiffin-wala comes and gives them Tiffin which costs fifteen rupees. I could not hear most of what he said because he was feeble and had few teeth but one thing that was striking is that he kept smiling and did not complain about anything. Nor did he ask for anything, instead in fact, he asked me if I had taken lunch. I had eaten and had got some lunch for him too. I gave to him and left.
What struck me most in this episode is that although he was old and frail he was not resentful at all.
When I think about it now I think what experience he must have gone through? He is old and has no one to call his own, yet he lives and smiles. I believe given an opportunity nobody would choose to be a beggar. When someone is hungry for days he can but only beg. To have respect and love is a very very deeply rooted instinct which simply cannot be suppressed permanently. With encouragement and help it is always possible to see a positive change.
