Beggary........And Begging!!!!

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea”

Well… I was at NFC yesterday. As it was my friends birthday party and he was to give us a treat. All the felicity turned to dismay when I saw little girls and boys (not one or two…around 15 of them) begging. I was standing along with two of my friends when a girl with an amputated leg came dragging herself to us and asked for money rather begged for money. I usually do give money to children in the busses and trains when they play their harmonium or sing as a reward, but this was different. While my friend started exploring her purse for money, I stood their gazing at the girl….whether or not I should give money to her. I don’t know what stopped me at that time. I thought a lot…… my mind was quite upset about the whole thing. I went blank at that moment; the only question that was occurring to me was… “Should I or Should I Not?” The whole way back home I kept thinking…….what could be done for such destitute children????

Is begging wrong??? After all it can be due to anything but personal choice.

if begging is wrong/bad then what’s right??....and if that’s right then who will do it for them???........where can we play a role????

Everyday we see a number of children begging on the roads and we just turn our backs on them by saying, "What can we do?" How many times have we waved our hands to push aside little kids on roads, in front of malls, shops, red lights.....and where not???? We call them beggars……..............

Some even draw conclusions that these children’s parents don’t wish to earn for themselves and hence they put forth their children to do the business....... is this you think?????

Ok accepted!!!!!!

Thinking they are beggars..... And they don’t deserve your money........you don’t give them any!!!
Next what????
Next day u again see the same child begging!!!!
U again wave him/her away!!!

How many times would u do this????

U feel contended of the fact ...... thank god!!!!.......i have stopped a child from being a professional beggar and one day this institution will stop if each one of us stops giving money to these beggars.

Really???? Do u really think so?????
THINK AGAIN!!!!!!

By the time this institution ends (fingers crossed on that which I hope…. Will)….hundreds of thousands of kids would have died by that time…… or would have chosen the wrong paths!!!!!.....

What and who is responsible for this?????

Have you ever given a thought that what compels such children to beg even in the extreme weather conditions? We watch them daily raising their little hands before strangers and most of the time they are screamed at.

Isn’t it possible that these little beggars are just another group of harassed victims? Or worse, the ugly face of a bonded life.

I have come across many people who try to convince me to the best of their convincing skills to stop me from giving them money.

and the reason they gave me ……” they think there’s a gang of beggars constituting of the trainers and the beginners.....and these trainers put forth their children to do the begging......and at the end of the day these trainers collect money that each and every beginner has managed to pull up………..and give them a meager amount as commission.

And when the beginners are not able to collect money for a day….they are beaten up black and blue….not given food……water…anything!!!!....and who knows they are victims of more serious punishments…….hurting them in some or the other way!!!!! “!

And henceforth, one should not give money to them.

I read in a recent newspaper article informing more about this social evil where a representative of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, “The child beggars are part of a forced beggary racket. They are trained how to carry crutches to appear disabled on road and later paid Rs 10 or 20 as commission out of their daily earnings."

There are gang leaders that include females also, who keep a check on the beggars so that they could not steal the money. Or if children are found doing so they are serious consequences for that.

So this is the story behind YOU not giving money to these beggars???

Okay…it may be possible that the group of children that representative came across may have had those traits. But it’s not fair to conclude that this is the sole reason of children begging.

That’s set!!!!?????........ Does your perception about the “beggary” thing end here?????

Or you are trying to find a new justification of the whole idea??????

Just by putting up a silly excuse or story, u can’t famish little children.

Where have they gone wrong???...they are just doing what they have been taught!!!!

A beggar’s life is far more tragic than we can imagine. Standing at traffic signals, begging for that elusive rupee or two in exchange for a flower or a balloon in extreme weather conditions can be anything but personal choice.

"My uncle takes away my daily-earnings and arranges food for us. We are four sisters and all of us work at this traffic signal. Though sometimes people are kind but sometime they are very rude. Many a times we find people gazing at us in a bad way. I don’t want to go to school. It doesn’t pay. I sell flowers at times at this traffic signal, but my sisters beg for our ailing mother’s treatment," said 14-year-old Anita (name changed) near Moti Bagh traffic signal.

Most begging children don’t actually have a choice. They just have to work irrespective of fever or any other disease. Teenager girl beggars suffer the worst. Be it a lorry-driver, auto-rickshaw driver or the notorious traffic policeman, all look at them with bad intention. And, the poor helpless girls cannot do much about it.

For some, the bonded beggary is the cost they pay after running away from their native land. But for others, it is the last choice to avoid a threat to be made a prostitute or served before any pedophile (adult who is sexually attracted to children).

People will still oppose me saying ….there are schools…why don’t their parents get them join there???.....or they can work somewhere!!!!!.........at least they’ll earn!!!!

If they really had that much brains……..they would not have been found begging….SIR/MAM.

I don’t understand as to why people hesitate giving money to people who really need them???? Again few days back I was traveling in a bus when a poor person carrying 2 granite sort of flat stones boarded the bus at Noida mod and starting singing LORDSAI hymns!!!!.....it was searing afternoon!!!...though the weather here is very bad…..his way of singing the hymns really comforted people …I can clearly see it the way people were softly tapping their hands and feet. But when it came to giving a reward for the same, nobody came in front!!!!...everybody was peeking here and there whether the people sitting next, behind, beside them were giving money or not! If they are, then they too would too pull out something for him. Why that hesitation???....

Are you giving something to the undeserved??????....then why that shame????

He made you feel better, didn’t he?? If he hadn’t then….. Accepted!!! Nothing goes to him…..but that wasn’t the case!!!! Then why???

What’s the difference between Saif playing guitar in his recent concert……and little girls playing/singing some filmi or bhakti songs on tune with harmonium in the buses?????

Aren’t they doing the same thing????......one is on a grand scale and one consisting of few people.

Why we appreciate Saif but not these kids???...... Both are doing so to earn their bread…aren’t they????

I can go on and on with this topic……finally never reaching to the conclusion as to what I(We) can do for them!!!!....

All I can appeal here that….. Just for a second not thinking about a why’s how’s of them begging…..believe what you see!!!!

There are occasional beggars, who are in the daily wage business and take to begging when the going gets tough. Sociologists say that the problem of begging exists due to the absence of organized system of charity.

More than our money, these little beggars expect compassion towards their tragic lives so that they could be rescued from this vicious circle of poverty and pain. They are helpless and seek public support.

This summer’s is going to be really terrible for every being…..and I know you would agree with me!!!!

If you don’t wish to give money, don’t!!! Instead give them a treat…..buy something for them to eat, drink…..!!!!

I am not asking you to buy something superficial!!

Show them your love!! Show them you care!!!! I am not at all saying promote begging!!!! But for the sake of humanity, brotherhood, don’t just shove them away!!!

Next time you visit Mc D or any other restaurant please if you can spend an extra Rs 20 to bring a smile on a face..!!!!! it hardly makes a difference in your budget!!

There are children dying out of hunger. And in this scorching heat people are dying of heat, thirst!!!! HELP THEM!!!! HELP THEM in whatever way you can!!!

By God’s Grace you have all the basic amenities in life…Food, Clothes and Shelter ….which you’ve received even before asking your parents. Please help them!!!

Go through these.......

speechlesss.........




just dumbfounded......



reality.....

what am I upto

No I am not up to anything. Cause I know whatever one does for this situation it is not enough. All this hurts, some feel guilty, some simply do not want to face this dreadful reality, some are angry. All this happens, I mean the reaction because we all have a very sensitive mind. But what about those people who in a way create such situation. definitely such situation are also created by different means like WAR, RIOTS, HOARDING MORE THAN WHAT IS NECESSARY AND FANATICS CREATING TERROR IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, LAND, CASTE ETC ETC.

IS THIS NOT A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.

A realization....

Hi, I know it’s been quite a long time I have put up anything on my page………..

well, for better!!!

After a lot of thinking ….. i thought of writing in for some REAL issues...

Issues thought by everyone…….. but only a few take some action on it!!!!

Issues that have constantly been in each one of our minds …….. but only a few have the nerves to do something about it…..even if it’s in one’s own way..!!!!

Issues we see, feel, hear, sense every day of our lives, but are never too hard hitting for us to be sensitive about.

Issue’s that have raised questions on the very thought of human existence!!!

Issues we are ashamed of……. But too timid to talk about!!!

Have u ever thought about it????....... if yes, then pen it down!!!!

I seek to utilize this space for all things I can and should communicate to the world. I always wanted to voice my opinions but then never understood how??? There are many unanswered questions that violently are churning up in my mind….. seeking for answers. I hope penning down some of my questions, thoughts, will help me calming my inner self…… as sometimes we do get the answers of some of the mind boggling questions once we start talking and discussing about it. This blog apart from just a routine record of what takes place in my life goes beyond that.

So that’s what I intend; to discuss the not-so-normal contours of life; issues which we would otherwise not care to recognize or acknowledge. Art, the new intellectuals, the human mind, the battered society, to listen to voices that resound with helplessness and regret, the deepest turmoil of myriad emotions in a humans life, and above all the real reasons for our ‘existence’.
If this seems too much (or too boring) for you to handle, think again. All these might just be the issues we see, feel, hear, sense every day of our lives, but are never to hard hitting for us to be sensitive about. In short, I would like to say…. this blog is a soul stirrer, and a brain worker.

GET INVOLVED, FEEL WHAT YOU WRITE AND WRITE WHAT YOU TRULY FEEL FOR.

A Incessant pain..

A storm is churning violently,

deep within my mind;

its' rage has become a torment,

festered with pain and time.

A dam of pain and heartache,

holds back the mighty flow;

of an anguished river of tears,

that were cried many years ago.

A pain that can be felt,

but cant be touched;

A pain that is known,

but cant be explained.

A pain so fierce,

that i go insane;

The unknown pain,

that clutches my heart;

and burns in my soul.

The unknown pain,

that clouds my mind

and devours my every thought;

The pain of broken promises,

broken dreams;

The pain of separation,

scared of whats going to happen next.

Pain,thats unheard of;

Pain, that's not seen.

Due to all of my sorrow,

I shed tears that no one sees;

pain that falls as rain drops,

upon the whithering leaves.

No one has ever listened,

to my broken hearts' lonely call;

nor ever has seen my tears that flow,

yet never seem to fall.

11th november,2003........

It was a chilly winter morning. I was quite nervous that day, and the chilly winds only added to it.
It was my first year of college. I was all prepared for the big day. After all it was the first inter-college singing competition of my life. I was participating for “solo light music” category. With the blessings of elders I left for college.
Normally, one would find it quite hard to even stand in the local buses during the morning hours. Luckily, I managed to get the window seat in the 543 DTC bus.
As I made myself pretty comfortable at the window seat, a sense of happiness and assurance filled me, that I could probably get some more time to memorize the lyrics of my song.
Though I had practiced the song a lot, rehearsing it in front of my teachers, and the singing society’s coordinator, yet I was not confident of the song .....rather…. myself!!!
What if I make a mistake on the stage?
What if I forget my lyrics?
I can’t let down the faith entrusted upon me by my teachers and colleagues…..

With all sorts of horrifying and discouraging questions boggling up my mind, I entered the college. As I made my way to the basement which was the “Abode of our college’s cultural society- THE HYPERIONS (as we call ourselves)”, I paused. I recollected myself, clearing my thoughts.

My friends greeted me, but one person from the crowd walked up to me with a charming smile on his face, and said “Hey Anu, don’t worry, everything’s gonna be fine”. This person was no other but our culsoc’s(cultural society’s) co-ordinator…Mr. Prashant Srivatsa...a person whom I adore the most from graduation….
That was the time I felt a sense of relaxation. My confidence level, all of a sudden touched its pinnacle.
I practiced one last time along with the guitarist.
Finally we packed our stuff and got ready to leave for our destination …….. “GARGI,DU”.

On reaching Gargi we learned that the competition which was supposed to be starting in another half an hour will take another 2 hrs. I was totally exhausted and vexed up by the rigorous practice sessions, so I thought to take a break and I diverted my mind to what the other members of my group were doing. They were having a gala time, not forgetting, a guitarist always plays the role of a saviour.... as he/she can always rescue people from boredom to real good music and entertainment!!
As we enjoyed the songs played by our guitarist……time flied away. Soon the competition was about to start.
Now yet again as the clouds of tension surrounded me, I soon learned a very shocking fact that this year Gargi has witnessed more than 60 participants.
Everyone in the culsoc were amazed at the figure….cos it was the first time Gargi witnessed such a large number of participants.
My fellow friends…tried to boost me up, but deep down their hearts as well as mine we knew the task has become more difficult than thought….and I hardly have any chances to win the competition.
All the time I had only one thing going on my mind…. “my chances of holding a rank in the top three….was impossible. That too an amateur like me who has had no training in music and who has no experience of performing in front of such large audience…..the game is over”.
I can recall each and every moment, as one by one the participants were coming on stage and gave their best….and then the entire hall would echo by huge roars of applauds.

I was so scared that I didn’t prefer to stay in that hall.
Had I been inside the hall, I surely would have had a nervous breakdown, I was so scared.
There was too much pressure on me…..not created by anyone else but by my own self…for the sake of rigorous practice sessions I had gone through, missing my classes for that day!
All that was there in my mind now was to perform really good, convincing myself with the fact that winning always was not so important. I was going to face a large audience. After all I don’t want to be dumbstruck on the stage, making a fool of myself.
As I waited for my turn, the tensioned prevailed.
Finally my name was called…..
I regained myself, chanting The Almighty’s name, I walked up to the podium. The Guitarist and I, we exchanged some glances, wished each other luck. That was the first time I was so close to a mike, I could feel it. I felt great holding it. As I adjusted the mike, I wondered if I can take a one quick look at the audience. I recalled individuals who had been with us in BITS, pilani’s annual fest …and then I saw my team members hooting up for me….
At that moment, taking a deep breath and with a forceful smile on my face I introduced myself :
“ Namaskar, main anuradha , P.G.D.A.V(M) ki chathra apke samne Ashaji dwara gaya hua geet “ Roz Roz Aankhon Tale” prasthut karney jaa rahi hun”.
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From that moment till I ended the song, I can hardly recall anything that was going on in my mind. All I can recall was that as I ended my song….the entire hall exploded with applauds which lasted for at least 30 sec’s.
I got off the stage and as I was taking my seat, I heard a voice from behind, I turned around with astonishment, the voice said “great voice, nice song”. Thanking him with a smirky smile I turned around and it didn’t take me long to realize he was the same person who qualified for the finals in BITS….and since then I had a serious crush on his voice. I was on the 9th cloud. And he, praising me was a very special moment for me…
My team members appreciated me for putting up a good performance…and then we all headed for the canteen as we were really very hungry. There were still 30 more participants to perform after which the group song competition would take place, and that could have easily taken 2 hrs….so we thought of filling our stomachs in the mean time.
While all that time, I knew and I convinced myself with the fact that with such talented and adept singers in front of me, who have sung some very good classical numbers, I held no chance.
So, cheering up myself with the thought that my performance and the applaud will indeed form an everlasting moment in my life, I geared up myself for the group song which we were about to perform……

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Just minutes before the results, our group occupied some seats…and waited for the results for the group song to be announced…because we had less hope of winning in solo singing…..
I knew I can’t make it, but Deep down some corner of my heart solemnly said, “there’s always a hope, after all my performance was not so bad …”
With these things running in my mind……the judges announced the third winner…it wasn’t me!!!......hopes weakened…..

I had crossed my fingers. They announced the second winner….it was some guy of another college….I lost all my hopes!!!
That’s set!!!
I had lost all hopes….I was depressed…..felt a big disappointment…..a failure…..I couldn’t hear anything…tears were about to roll down...when all of a sudden…I heard my name….coming from a distance …..echoeing in my ears…… I raised my head and before I cud realize what had happened , my team members jumped from their seats…..and lunged towards me….arms wide open!!!..
Hugging me, patting me!!!
It didn't take me long to interpret….what exactly happened!!!
I was thrilled…….and tears just rolled down my cheeks…..tears of happiness……..”YESSSSSS…….I MADE IT”……I was repeating it to myself!!!!!...... I recoiled in disbelief. The feelings…..it was a triumph :) ….i won a major battle there!!!!
I was declared the winner…….FIRST PRIZE!!!!
I lack words to describe my feelings at that particular moment.

November 11th, 2003……………..has been registered in my diary as one of the most memorable days of my life, which I would cherish till eternity!!!

From that day on…..there was no looking back…..i kept bagging prizes….
I had an opportunity to sing one last song during our college’s fest in final year….in which again bagged the first prize.
The song will forever remain close to my heart…”Roz Roz Ankhon Tale”…


Winning this competition, proved as a big turning point in my life. It boosted up my confidence level……and taught me “we cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore” ,and we too are indeed worth of all the good things in life!!!