Dirty crevices of reality amidst wonderland

When I was in Qatar as a child, I attended school here at Ideal Indian School. It was a very good school at the time and still is an excellent place for many kids of South Asian origin. Throughtout my five years at the school, I came across one quote each and everyday. On the inside of the front cover on all our textbooks was a box with an italicised quote in it, it was titled Gandhiji's Talisman. For all intents and purposes it was a daily reminder to our young minds of how we should look at the world no matter what our own situations were. It taught me how to come to terms with bad times and how to appreciate the better ones.

The talisman roughly said that whenever you doubted your own abilities, whenver you felt too full of yourself or even when faced with indecision, you should always think about the people that are doing worse than you in this world. It is is those people that truly put everything that is happening to you in perspective. If you're going through a bad patch in life, someone else's story can be a poignant reminder as to how good your life really is, as to what blessings are bestowed upon and what you have taken for granted. The same is true when someone feels too full of himself or is going through a good and lucky patch in life. Its important to not let it go your head and sty grounded, keep in mind that there are many in the is world that cannot afford the luxuries you can and one should stay humble under all circumstances.

Having said that, I confess that such thoughts have been on my mind lately. While I have waltze3d around shopping and being happy about my upcoming job, I have also had a chance on reflecting how some people live in Qatar. There is a strata of people in thsi country that chooses to and indeed comfortably affords to pay 6500 QR. just as a monthly payment for their BMW X5. On the other side of teh spectrum, there is a vast group of people that work 12 hour shifts six days out of seven and still earn just 500 QR. a month. Iff you speak to any Nepali in this country, it would become clear to you that almost all of them are living off pittances, they continue to support families back in Nepal and spend the most meagre sums on themselves. Honestly, how much can you spend on yourself when all you make in a year is 6000. Just six thousand a year. Thats less than 2000 dollars a year. Can you imagine? I have met many a guy working in a small cafeteria willing to lay his heart out on a plate. tell his story if only someone will listen. Its sad. I never have any idea what to say to them. What can I say? I am one of those people that these folks can only stare at.

I am tempted to end this post here. I have no idea what to say. Is it my fault? Should I feel guilty for having a tie collection worth someone's two-month salary? Or is better for me to blame society, teh system that supports such living standards and such crass disregard for those who form the basis of society here? Should I blame their luck, or should I blame their educations? Is it because they are unlucky that they find themselves in this position or is it because the world always needs to have someone to step just to make our days brighter, just to make our lives easier?

I feel dirty when I see someone yell at a guy in a cafeteria. This man runs around for thirteen hours everyday, for what? For 500, maybe even less in some cases? For some guy to walk in once a day and speak nicely to him, for someone to treat him like a human and not a dog even if its only once a day? I've made some good friends at a few places around myushouse. I don't think its my friendly nature that attracts them, not even my regular business because let's face it, they don't see any of the profits. I think what makes them like me is that I am someone who treats them differently. they are not dirt to me, and I would never think about raising my voice at them even if my tea is two minutes late or my water is not cold enough.

It disgusts me what this place does to its downtrodden. Trodding on them further is not a sign of greatness, just because you give them enough to live does not make you the bigger guy. In fact, it shows how small minded you really are, and how insecure you are in your position of power - a sure sign that a noveau riche mentality is prevalent in the society.