From A Railway Carriage...
An hour and a half later than expected, the train was finally slowing down, pulling into the last stop; my stop, "Home"! As everyone tugged at the luggage they had stowed away and prepared to alight, I peered out the glazed window of my coach. There I saw them, lining the entire stretch of the platform (no exaggeration there mind you); the "Men in Red". These were no officials with red blazers, but your common Indian porters or 'coolies' donned in their red shirts and some in matching turbans, sitting on their haunches and waiting eagerly for the coach doors to be thrown open. I was traveling light so I wasn't going to avail of their services. However it got me thinking as to the different types of services that we have in our country and we tend to take for granted.
For instance, the domestic help who toils with chores in almost every house each day, for some even a cook to take care of the kitchen, the person who dutifully picks up your clothes each week and returns them all neatly ironed, the house keeping staff at work - who stock the pantry, ensure all our workstations are dusted each night, make the floors sparkle every morning and coming back to the railways, our coolies(some of then so frail) hauling all that luggage to make a living, the linesman who walks the length of tracks for several miles in each direction to inspect them... I could keep going on this way and yet miss so many people who we don't see and yet play vital roles in keeping the wheels of our society moving. The whole point of this thought was is there 'Dignity of Labor' out here? Having personally seen the kind of treatment meted to some of the aforementioned people, I am afraid to answer that!
I distinctly remember my first day back in the office. I happened to get in early and some of the house-keeping staff were still at some of their regular morning duties. Two men were cleaning the glass door to my wing and seeing me arrive they were quickly trying to get their equipment out of the way to not inconvenience me. Being in no hurry, I urged them to finish what they were doing while I watched. As soon as the job was completed, one of them held open the door for me. I thanked him as I passed by and did not miss the beaming smile he shot back at me! I have normally noticed the house-keeping staff to be quite shy.
A few days later as I was filling my morning cup of tea in the pantry I noticed one of the house-keeping staff come up behind me. I turned to face him and was greeted with a familiar smile and an enthusiastic 'Good Morning Sir'. A little surprised I returned the greeting instantly recognizing him as the same guy who held the door open. I wondered; did that recognition the other morning make his day? Maybe or maybe not! Either way I guess he felt accepted. His greetings and of some others have become ritual now. I think to myself that it doesn't take all that much to show courtesy and make a person feel important then. At least that is a start to showing some dignity of labor, right? Or should people wait until they realize that such services are luxuries outside this country? Oh and another qualm I have – being called ‘Sir’ by people twice my age :)
For instance, the domestic help who toils with chores in almost every house each day, for some even a cook to take care of the kitchen, the person who dutifully picks up your clothes each week and returns them all neatly ironed, the house keeping staff at work - who stock the pantry, ensure all our workstations are dusted each night, make the floors sparkle every morning and coming back to the railways, our coolies(some of then so frail) hauling all that luggage to make a living, the linesman who walks the length of tracks for several miles in each direction to inspect them... I could keep going on this way and yet miss so many people who we don't see and yet play vital roles in keeping the wheels of our society moving. The whole point of this thought was is there 'Dignity of Labor' out here? Having personally seen the kind of treatment meted to some of the aforementioned people, I am afraid to answer that!
I distinctly remember my first day back in the office. I happened to get in early and some of the house-keeping staff were still at some of their regular morning duties. Two men were cleaning the glass door to my wing and seeing me arrive they were quickly trying to get their equipment out of the way to not inconvenience me. Being in no hurry, I urged them to finish what they were doing while I watched. As soon as the job was completed, one of them held open the door for me. I thanked him as I passed by and did not miss the beaming smile he shot back at me! I have normally noticed the house-keeping staff to be quite shy.
A few days later as I was filling my morning cup of tea in the pantry I noticed one of the house-keeping staff come up behind me. I turned to face him and was greeted with a familiar smile and an enthusiastic 'Good Morning Sir'. A little surprised I returned the greeting instantly recognizing him as the same guy who held the door open. I wondered; did that recognition the other morning make his day? Maybe or maybe not! Either way I guess he felt accepted. His greetings and of some others have become ritual now. I think to myself that it doesn't take all that much to show courtesy and make a person feel important then. At least that is a start to showing some dignity of labor, right? Or should people wait until they realize that such services are luxuries outside this country? Oh and another qualm I have – being called ‘Sir’ by people twice my age :)
posted by Mel at 6:16 AM
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