Chez Moi

Read the Mad Momma’s post on others’ take on the changing face of India. Made me feel something indescribable. Cos I have been guilty of some of the things listed there, especially the ones about the treatment meted out to people in a lower station of life. Whilst most people I know label the house help as “servant”, my family always made sure none of us used it. They were always “the helpers”. They were never treated like dirt, as they were elsewhere. I have always heard them speak to the older maid we had at our place using the respectful “neega” rather than “nee”, in deference to the old ayah’s age. 

But I have also seen that few of the maids appreciate the difference. I have often seen the guy who has his mobile ironing station outside our house treat my folks with contempt, though he comes to them palms outstretched for handouts, loans etc while being deferential to those who barely even glance at him and boss him around. Go figure! 

Anyways, the point of this post is something the mater said to me on the phone today. She was telling me about the new dog walker they’ve got, one who arrives in a gleaming Yamaha motorbike, with the ubiquitous cell phone clipped to the waistband of his bermuda shorts. He parks it outside the walls, calls out a cheery “hello aunty” to my mum, takes Robin for his walk and on his return, hops onto his bike and disappears in a trail of dust. He hardly looks any different to my brother, save for the sunnier disposition! 

Likewise, the two men from the Blue Cross clinic that come to bathe the dogs every fortnight. Smartly dressed, they finish their jobs professionally, are courteous, polite and well-mannered, provide value-added services like checking the dogs’ coat for any signs of fleas etc and holding off an outbreak at the start by coming armed with a ready supply of basic creams and lotions. And yes, they are of the motorbike-cell phones group too. 

That might not seem too much to you but it gladdened my heart to hear these. Especially after reading about the gated communities in Gurgaon and the shantytown outside and the disparity of the situation, these little things like the dog walker looking no different to any other person gives me hope that him and others like him will not be left out in these boom times. 

Small steps? Maybe. Too little too late? Possibly. But a positive, nonetheless. 

Edited to add: A chance comment by Mallika of Eve’s Lungs reminded me of two ‘cases’ similar to the ones she listed. One is that of an auto wallah near my parents’, who sends his kiddies to a regular CBSE school - not the corporation school but a proper English medium one, so they can have a shot at the good things in life. The Indians among us know what a massive deal that is! And how did I forget the leather / shoe repair guy up the road who put both his boys through Engineering college! I was gobsmacked when I took my leather jacket to the guy to repair the faulty zipper and learnt the chap who fixed it has a BTech and was due to start a job with Infy a fortnight later!!