SANSKAAR OR SON’S CAR

The serenity of the sea represented the countenance of a child, only to be perturbed by an occasional spur of waves. The sun melted down in its infinite vastness only to be raised again in its full vigour the next morning. Such was the angelic view from the balcony of Mr. Ved’s residence at Marine Drive in downtown Mumbai. His building was one of the privileged one’s whose lighting was a part of the prestigious Queen’s Necklace. Mr. Ved was a successful businessman and a devout householder. He lived a happy life with his wife Gita and son Kewal. They were blessed with every material comfort that can be wished for.

A day at Mr. Ved’s residence began in sharp contrast to the divinity outside his balcony. Even today, the house was already bursting with Mumbai energy. Gangu Bai (Bai is a colloquially used term used to refer to house maids) had just arrived and it was work at full swing. Such maids become the most sought after persons in very well to do families like these. Gangu Bai didn’t live far way. She was just a bridge crossing away in a small chawl ( A chawl is a system of residence peculiar to the Girgaon region of South Mumbai wherein many small rooms are arranged in parallel lines each accommodating a family. Some of these exist even today). Such sharp differences have long been a feature of many a city.

However, there was a marked discomfort over her face today and ought to be. She had requested for a Rs.100 increase in her salary in order to meet the increased expenses of her son’s education who had recently graduated to class 8. This request had met with a lot of reluctance and resistance from Mr. Ved’s family. It had also turned into a heated argument between the employer and the employed. Just as this was happening the other day, an enthusiastic Kewal broke in with his emphatic result of his board exams. He had secured 76% in the recently concluded 12^th Std. Examinations and was on his way to joining St. Peterson’s College, one of the cities most plush college. The first thing he did on reiterating his result was to remind his parents of the car they had promised him in return for his good result. The Gangu Bai plea was soon forgotten and joy set in the family. Mr. Ved even called up the dealer for delivering the car they had chosen long back. The education of Gangu Bai’s son’s seemed to be dipping down now as the drowning sun!!!

Though the characters in the above incident were fictitious, we know that such cases are innumerable in real life. The Rs.100 which would have given the light of education in the life a poor woman's son was not relevant but the happiness of their son in receiving the car worth lakhs was. This story has been written with some imaginative skill and some harsh real life experiences. We as a society need to start thinking of this widening divide in our country. Education is the shortest bridge between the two and needs no more explanations. It’s time when people like Mr. Ved realize their social responsibilities and the power bestowed in them to make small differences which could add to a big impact. It’s time we start thinking, what is important “SANSKAAR” or “SON’S CAR”

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Chetan Bhadricha
This story has been written after inspiration from the book, “Maanni Vaat”, by Sonal Modi which is the Gujarati translation of “Wise and Otherwise” by Sudha Murti. Though I may not be as good as them in writing on such topics, I hope the message has been conveyed.