Octogenarian Shila grandma and her 'Never say Die attitude'

“I don’t go to bed without watching my favourite television serial at night every day”, smiles the beautiful octogenarian Shila Ghosh.

If you stay in Kolkata and frequently happen to pass the Exide, Haldiram area, you obviously wouldn't have missed noticing this old, feeble woman selling savouries on the streets of Kolkata. And, yes she is also quite popular on Facebook; by popular, I don’t mean she has an account there. But few posts written about her on this social networking site have gone viral and this is how most of us have known her.

I cross Exide every day because my office is located nearby and I also frequently purchase few packets of papad from her.  However, I never got an opportunity to chit chat with this old woman. Last Friday was different, I left office early and just before getting on to the metro, I decided to relish some roadside steamed momos to satiate my evening hunger pangs.  While I was delving deep into my chicken momo, I chanced to have a glance on the other side of the road and noticed that ‘Exide er Dida’ or grandma was sitting at her usual place but she had her left foot bandaged. I quickly finished my momo and crossed the street to purchase few packets of colourful papad from her. Little grandma smiled at me and said “I don’t have anything left; all the packets have been sold off".

I didn't know what to do, I wanted to help her out by purchasing few packets of papad, but now I was clueless. I had earlier read that she doesn't accept donations, so I was bit wary of offering her any kind of financial help.  So I decided to spend some time with her, I asked her if I could sit next to her, she gleamed with joy and welcomed me “You will sit here? Please come na”. Grandma in her white sari looked divine as the street light fell on her and then I instantly realized what it is in her which attracts everyone, including me. 

For those who are not aware, grandma commutes daily from Bali in West Bengal and changes two local buses to reach the Exide More. Yes, unlike others, she doesn't have the luxury or the comfort of enjoying her old age in peace. As life for her almost came to a standstill, when her son was paralyzed and he lost his job. In order to meet his medical expenses, grandma started commuting daily and earning her daily wage by selling papads on the pavement. Hope life would have been less harsh on her, but as she says " I came to this world with this destiny and I don't repent it. " It became impossible for her to manage the household expenses, when her ailing son left for heavenly abode and her daughter-in-law got bedridden few years back.However Shila Grandma like always with her grit and determination successfully crossed every hurdle in her life with her never say die attitude.

She always wanted to live a life with dignity and that is the reason she knew she would never beg on the streets. She braved all odds to run her family and even made her grandson learn driving who today earns his living as a driver.Grandma says that owing to the inflation in price of all the items and the unending medical expenses which her family has to bear, it is not possible for her to sit at home even.

Last week, her leg got sprained after she met with a bus accident, but things haven't changed for her, as you will still find her seated in her usual place every evening.

While conversing with her, I realized that she might be hungry; to which she politely refused and said she hardly manages to eat anything these days. I was quite amazed to hear her schedule after she reaches home daily. “I have only tea and paan and yes I watch Television before I hit the bed every day."  While this tête-à-tête was going on, there were several inquisitive people gaping at us trying to figure out what was going on, some even came and inquired about her health and the rest came to purchase papad from her, who had to return empty handed. While I was engrossed in the conversation, her attention diverted and she started fidgeting with her faded bag. She took out a Rs 10 note from a worn out purse and requested me if I could get her two zarda paan from the shop nearby. I didn't know what to say, simply looked at her in awe, refused to take the money and got her two zarda paan. I realized that the more time I was spending with her, it was getting more difficult for me to leave her and go.

Before leaving I gave her some money and to my surprise, she counted the notes, smiled at me and said "Today I will use this money while returning home.” I bade her goodbye, asked her to take care of her health and headed straight to the metro station. 

It’s my humble request to all of you, if you are in Kolkata, please do find some time and at least go and meet her once, she loves to have people around her. In case you plan to offer her any kind of financial help, please go ahead with it, as she is in dire need of money, more so owing to her deteriorating health condition and the rising medical expenses of her daughter-in-law. If you stay outside Kolkata and still wish to help her financially do let me know, we can surely work out something. J

Anna le lo..Anna Le lo...Rs 5 mein...

It so happened that my Delhi trip this month coincided with Anna's fast. Anna was everywhere....from news channels who were covering him 24*7...peaceful protest rallies...candle light march...turning off the power supply for an hour....giving missed calls to support his move...huge fan following in social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter..All these people wanted to convey only one message to the government that they with Anna Hazare.

I got to witness things more closely when I reached the capital on the 9th day of Anna's fast.

Some of my over enthusiastic relatives had asked me to visit the Ramlila Maidan once, so that I can boast in front of my children (who are yet to come) that I was also a part of this historic movement. I seriously couldn't figure out how my mere presence at the Ramlila grounds will in any way make me a part of this movement.

All I saw during these days were roads getting disrupted, snarling traffic, metros being shut and effigies being burnt of the politicians. It was like a Yo thing wearing the Anna cap...holding a flag and riding a bike...and shouting 'Vande Mataram'. I felt like asking these cool dudes..do they even know what the Lokpal Bill is all about.....

When I reached the New Delhi station this time I tried giving a piece of advice to the auto driver who was expecting me to shell out Rs 400 for a distance which would have not been more than Rs 100. These drivers were up to date with the latest trend as they were all in Anna caps, I so happened to ask one of them why are you wearing this cap when you are corrupted yourself. All I got to hear was 'Madamji suniye jana hain to chaliye..nahi to aage badhiye...”...All my samaj sudharne ki dreams got shattered when that autowala retorted in this way.

Finally on the 12th day, Anna called off his fast and I got to know that all the supporters have agreed to meet at India Gate on August 28th at 6pm. My friend who is from a TV channel was covering this event and I agreed to accompany her so that I can at least tell those relatives....my children won't get to read my name in their history books...but they will be happy that I was a part of the celebration. (without contributing or doing anything).

Supporters started thronging the place from 3 in the afternoon, in bikes, cars, vans and buses. All the TV channels were present at the grounds with their OD vans. Heavy police protection and it was under high surveillance.

The most interesting thing which i saw there was how Anna was being commoditised. Anna goods were in high demand and heavy bargaining took place..Anna batches were being sold for Rs 10..Anna caps for Rs 5...Painters charged Rs 5 for just using three strokes of our tri colour on either forehead or arms...Flags were being sold for Rs 50..wrist bands for Rs 30...I seriously felt like going to the nearest shop...buy paints of Saffron, white and green. At least I could have earned some easy money with which I could have done some more street shopping. (you know how irresistible they are in Delhi).

There were few who genuinely supported the movement and were present there. Majority of them had come for fun. They were busy clicking pictures in different posses with the flag for their Facebook profile picture. The crowd was super cheap who mainly came for bird watching and passing lewd comments.

Today i read in Mid Day that the bed which was being used by Anna for resting purposes, is actually a drinking hub for few locals there. They are happy that Anna's fast is over and they have got back their original drinking place.{We used to come here regularly to find out when Anna was going to leave. He may have enjoyed his 12-day fast, but it was a very sad time for us. We had to run helter-skelter to find a place to have a good time," said Mohammed Dilshad, a 27-year-old, who lives in the area.}-Mid Day.

I wonder which is the next trend which some will again follow blindly... and some genuinely.....


Pic courtesy: guardian.co.uk