Editorials
by Rajen Kumar
No Escaping Social Media
Running a magazine concentrating on issues of small and medium enterprises and managing with limited resources is a like living life on the edge. In this rush of meeting deadlines,...
More
Special Reports
Apr 2012EMRC, Brussels Associates with SME WORLD as its New Media Partner
EMRC has promoted business partnerships with the developing world and has organised dozens of business forums in key decision-making cities, such as Amsterdam, Rome,...
More
The Last Word
My Proud BPL Club
Rajen Kumar
Jul 2010
Jul 2010
I am proud of being an Indian, nay, a citizen of a billion plus strong nation-world's largest democracy. Unlike the teeming millions, I am a happy, an ever happy Indian, unmoved by the 'problems' of the day facing most. I am unshaken and unaffected unlike millions of my brethren, who may find living harder day by day.
They say, worsening economy is a global phenomenon. I have heard it from a thousand mouths, umpteen times. It makes me smile and pitty those unfortunate ones.
The ever rising cost of living (huh, what's this, anyway), hardly casts its ugly shadow on my life. Petrol has risen like our 'astra' missile, but I am undeterred. Water is scarce owing to depleting ground levels and has become costly. Believe me, I can have a heartful bath any time of day and as many times as I wish. Our public transport, rail, air and bus fares, has become unmanageable for many with their limited source of income, I can see. But I am unnerved. The cost of our domestic fuel - LPG - has risen like the acid gas but has failed to touch my life. It will never. The cost of textiles and clothing has broken million hearts for not being in their fashionable best. But it has never taken a smile off my lips. Yes, I can see common man reeling under pressure of rising cost of wheat, rice, cooking oil, pulses, vegetables and there's a long list. Their ration bills are becoming fatter by the day.
But I am happy as ever without a grimace on my face. Education has become costly. I don't care ? Now a days it is not even healthy to fall ill. Medicines' costs have pierced into everyone's heart. Going to hospital may cost you your fortune. But, take it from me, with my kind of excercise, most ills remain out of my boundries.
You may think I may be one those fortunate ones with abundant resources at my command. You may be wrong. I have no lucrative business inherited from my forefathers. I have no factory. I have no job so I don't draw any salary.
The pleasant fact is that I have no income, so to say. I live in a very remote, small village of India. And believe me, I live well with no problems, no regrets. I don't need cash or currency. Its of no use to me. Now you may think that I work for a millionaire who affords me everything. You are again wrong. I am absolutely on my own. How on earth am I so happy amongst the unhappy millions and so comfortable amongst uncomfortable millions? Who am I who is not affected by the suffocating cost of living ?
The secret of my constant 'prosperity' is that I belong to the biggest club on earth - the club of strong 400 million Indians. Yes, I am one of those proud Indians who are living below the poverty line.
Happily, I have no house. My daily meals come from nowhere and I hardly have as much as you have. My searching legs take me to far flung places across my village. The excercise keeps most ills at bay. On my way, I come across a variety of fruit bearing orchards, sugar-cane fields, gardens etc and so many hand pumps too. I fill my stomach to my heart's content.
I hardly need newer clothes. I make do with what I get from the village dhaba owner who uses my services sometimes in return for tea and used clothes. Yes, I have no family, so no house. I sleep wherever I feel like, near by bus stand, tea shop, railway station, so many places for me to choose from. I don't remember my relatives. I am alone, so no responsibilities or liabilities. I am a contended person and a proud Indian.
But I am worried on one score now. I overheard someone saying that our Government is so much 'concerned' about this club. They want to reduce its strength gradually and eventually finish it altogether. The very thought of it makes me scared and tense. I know if I am taken out of the club, I will be a sad man. All the worries will surround my hitherto simple life. Rising costs of everything will make my life a hell. I will be a common man of India reeling under all sorts of pressures. But why does our Government want to take happiness off the lives of proud Indians like me. I appeal to the Government to please don't take me out of the biggest club we 400 million Indians are so proud of. No one should doubt our integrity. We have not protested anytime. We faithfully offer our vote to anyone who hurls a simple smile at us. Ours is a most peaceful club. Let it be, for heavan's sake.
2 Comments >>
Dr. Sahai
01 Aug 2010 (02:45:23)
You have a very nice style of writing. Your heart is more visible in your writings, Mr. Rajen Kumar. There are in fact very few writers who express so vividly and so simply yet so effectively.
All th best to you.
Sanjay Singh
27 Jul 2010 (11:21:22)
A very nice column. Rajen Kumar is very right in his observations.
Our Achievements
- Winner of appreciation award for promoting SMEs in India.
- 1st ever Indian magazine to penetrate tier II, III cities & the rural belt.
- Industry Partnerships include CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHDCC, AIMA, ITPO, SME Network, Federation of Indian Micro Small Enterprises (FISME)
- Official Magazine Partners for several national & international MSME events.
More
The Last Word
More Learned than Educated, You were!
I was speechless. Rather hesitatingly I asked him, “So, what have you decided, Sominder ?” His reply was curt and candid, “I have told the doctors that I don’t want to live life as dumb. Only...
More
Contribute
You can also write for SME WORLD
We are looking for writers and experts to contribute original stories and articles. Send an email to smeworld@gmail.com with your story idea and lets get talking.
Some of our valued contributors are...