Aarti is in her mid 50’s if not in early 60’s. She came and settled in Mumbai when she was in her 20’s, with 3 kids and a couple of cloths that is it! She worked as a domestic help, her husband did different jobs. They taught their kids lived struggling with the ups and downs of the city. This struggle for them was “life” a survival stint.
When I think about spiritual solutions to many problems, I have not thought about life from their level. At that level of existence survival itself is a blessing. Survival is the whole objective of life. When I am writing it I feel, the place is changed but we are still living in a jungle where animals are struggling for survival! The reasons are different though.
So, our protagonist survived in city. Of course, one of the kids spoiled himself but other two are graduates. The best thing about this struggle is – one owns a house at the extreme end of the suburban city. Well, where is the house is not a question, one must be proud of the growth in 30 years from few cloths & nothing much to two graduates & a house in Mumbai – commendable!
This is what I like about capitalism (no not entirety of capitalism!) – work hard and reap the rewards. I like the concept of financial freedom. Aarti and her family is still trying to get in the zone of financial freedom (even many of us).
Aarti Amma has taught many lessons – one of them is hard work and other is managing relations. Both need a consistent practice, I am on it.
Image for representational purpose, source Shunya’s notes
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4 Comments
rummuser · June 29, 2014 at 11:56 am
80% of every town/city’s population in India consists of Aarti Ammas and their immediate families. Their support systems is mind blowing and so are their value systems. 10% of such people lose someone, usually the husband or one son and rarely one woman to addiction, usually to alcohol, but now increasingly to drugs. Such families go through total dysfunction and it will break your heart to see such families. Despite that, they come up and become part of the upwardly mobile and aspirational citizens of India and they get my total and unqualified respect and admiration. I will always be ready to help them if approached. I have two such persons in my life one who has been part of our family for the past 23 years and one for the past 16. Both attended my son’s wedding and the bride and the groom touched their feet and took their blessings. That is how much dignity they command in our home.
If we can give them the same level playing ground that the better off among us get in terms of education, they can run rings around the likes of the Ambanis. Here is just one example – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarathbabu_Elumalai
Yes, we can learn a great deal from them about grit, persistence, familial values and most of all dignity of labour. In terms of other relationships, they will teach you to yield. If you can learn that, you will conquer the world, though not necessarily in the material sense.
KRD Pravin · July 1, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Completely agree with you uncleji on the qualitative points you made, on quantitative points 80% seems little higher side. Also, many command and deserve respect, not necessarily all
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