God of Smaller Things

He is a road side cobbler; of around 40. He may be 50, but it doesn't matter. He occupies part of the pavement besides Mumbai's busy traffic. He sets up his stall every morning and winds up in evenings. After working throughout the day, he returns back to his home, somewhere on the outskirts of the city. He lives in a slum. His life is full of adventures, if you call it so. It has to be. The roads of Mumbai are not that boring after all. His life is dangerous too. It has to be. Be it the policemen, or the speeding cars, many can get in to endanger his peace of  working life. But perhaps it is less dangerous than the life he led in some remote village, the one which he left forever and came here to be a drop in the ocean of Mumbai. There he was like a less privileged, the fact proved itself everyday in his life. People of his own community were never considered equal to the rich and powerful in his village. But he has some attachment for his birthplace. He should have some. After all, each and every tree in his village and each and every goat in his village knew him. Why he left is another long story. Perhaps he could tell his story to you when Holi comes. The memories of celebrating Holi in his village linger in his inside. Every Holi, he feels nostalgic; some film maker should meet him at time and his story may turn into a film like Vastav. But he is happy most of the times. In this city, he is equal to all. Many Brahmins live in his slum, and they don't look down on him. His kholi is bigger than the Brahmins, who spread their stuff on the same footpath where he runs his own enterprise: papers on astrology, stones etc. He believes he is better than those Brahmins. He has reasons to think so. After all, he earns bread by working with his own hands. And they earn their bread and butter by making fool of others, by reading palms. Can a single mark in his palm change the destiny he made by his two hands? One astrologer had told him in his village that he would become a man of dignity one day worthy of sitting on a chair parallel to the upper castes. Some times he thinks he has achieved this by this time. He has reasons to think like so. When he gets a seat in the Mumbai locals, he sits along with many other people. And some among them must be from upper castes. He has achieved something in his life. When bomb blasts happened, he was on one such train. Thank God, the enemies of humankind where not on his train. He hates all who kill others. He should hate them. Why should they kill innocent people? Despite many provocations from some goons in his slum, he has never done anything like fighting. He cares for his wife and his children. Who will take care of them if he harms that Munna. There should not be any violence.

Today is a beautiful day. One old friend from his very own village met him last evening by chance. How could he meet him in this big city? He believes in fate. Last night, both of them shared the same plate, which was filled again and again by his dear wife. He was not sure if she would have something to eat after they eat much more than what was expected. But a day before, she had got some rice separated from spoiled corn from the shop next to their slum; she would prepare something. He and his friend had a chat late into the night. Not regarding his village, but about their future. His friend too is a cobbler. This morning, he has brought him to his stall, to teach him the tricks of his trade. This city is dangerous. Especially dangerous for people like his friend. So innocent and so soft hearted. He would teach him everything. But he will ask him to work from the opposite side of the same road. He has reasons for this decision. This part of the footpath is his domain. He should not make grants in friendship when it comes to profession. After all, he has made a good reputation for being a thorough professional. People come for his advice in his slum. He thinks professionalism is necessary. He should think so. After all, that chap named Dhirubhai has become richest man on his own, not like the rich in his village who inherit land and suppress others. He had watched the movie Guru with a friend who took him to a theatre. He always thinks how many people could be accommodated inside the cinema hall, if they were allowed to live in. Such a big building! It reminds him of the cold storage in the nearest town to his village, from outside at least. No house for him and such a big building here for fun! He could understand the story of the film. But he doesn't hope of becoming like a Dhirubhai one day. He should not be that hopeful after all. All he wants is a peaceful life for him and his family, and his son to get some permanent job with some government office. He likes government jobs. He has reason to like them. After all, he knows that government is richest of all. Government has all the money in this world and it can do whatever it wants. And imagine someday, the government becomes happy with the job of his son, and then it could give some rewards to his son. That would be so great! His daughter is his big responsibility also. He wants to marry her off with a person who doesn't drink. And it is very difficult to find one in the present times. Though she is still 11, he always keeps an eye on boys. It is a difficult task, he must start early.

He respects Ambedkar. He learnt about him when that Masterjee in his slum called a meeting last year. He told them how Ambedkar, despite being an outcaste became a Saheb. And he started liking Ambedkar from that day. See, he wears such a nice coat and a hat. He looks like a Sahab. And imagine, he was born in a caste lower than his own! He sighs every time he daydreams his son to become like Ambedkar. His son once brought a picture of Ambedkar from some newspaper. He asked his son to keep the picture in their shanty. Some times when he leaves his home for work, he salutes the statue of Ambedkar; several of them are installed in his slum.

He has installed two pictures in his stall. One is of Sai Baba. He respects him very much. When he was seriously ill in his childhood, his mother made a wish in front of Sai Baba's picture in their hut. And he became well in some days! He is God, He can do whatever He wants. His father too respected Sai Baba. The presence of His picture near him makes him feel safe. He should feel safe; after all a lot many things are running smoothly just because of God. He has sworn in the name of Sai Baba and people have believed him. Many times, when he had become completely broke, his wife has brought something to eat from Sai Baba's temple. He has installed another picture also. It is of Guru Ravidas Ji. He is like God to their community. All cobblers worship Him. Despite being from a cobbler's community, he reached divinity. All people, even Brahmins worshiped Him. Such a great feat He is a God.

Guru Ravidass ji the cobbler offereth prayer;

By singing such a prayer to God, for a single moment

He has turned from a lowly caste into an exalted one,

And all the four castes come to bow down at his feet.

His friend has come to have a chat with him. He just got off from his seat and both friends are talking now. A taxi passes on the road. A camera clicks. And you can see what it captured.