Saturday, May 19, 7:13 pm

The Man on the Road: Exploring the Unexplored

Posted by on Jul 17, 2011 | 10 comments

For this girl dreaming is far from reality. Dreams are often left 'behind'

The idea of writing about ‘The man on the road’ came naturally, says Maitreyee, who joins The Sip of Life as our new columnist. She says, “Some of the most compelling, beautiful and bizarre stories unfold on the road. The everyday man’s struggle for existence, his tenacity and the beauty of the stark is what is absolutely fascinating”. She will be writing for us every month in her column, The Man on the Road.
As I walked down a road, on one evening, my eyes suddenly fell on a girl. She would be hardly  6-7 years. She was playing on a sand dune, next to a building about to be constructed, with her baby sister, who would be about 2 years. As I walked along, looking at her, she suddenly got up, took the baby in her arms and stood looking at the horizon, oblivious to me, people and the world around her. I wondered what it was that she thought of. Dreams of a good home, marriage, financial security, or maybe two proper meals a day? As I nudged her and asked her permission for a photograph, she seemed surprised that I had asked her. The child in her gurgled..very happy to be clicked..While i fumbled with my camera, I saw that she had positioned herself in front of the gates of a posh school…The board outside of which had the picture of a healthy and happy child..the words there read read  ” Give your child a fun filled reason to play, discover & imagine”..Indeed..if only….I thought as I clicked how many thousands like her out there..And how many more yet to be born in those dark shadows of uncertainty.
Maitreyee B Chowdhury is a Bangalore based creative writer and poet. Apart from being a professional web content writer, she is the author of two books on poetry and regional films in India. People watching is a compulsion for her. She is fascinated by ‘ The man on the road’. She can be contacted at maitreyee@thesipoflife.com

10 Comments

  1. Rahul Gupta /

    Very unique concept!

  2. Kirti Sharma /

    There is nothing as important as man on the road! Well done Maitreyee

  3. Sapna /

    What a piece!!! Simple yet captivating, touching and involving

  4. sushma pradhan /

    Years… such a sight would perhaps never even bother to be noticed. But now when I am a mother myself, in every child I see my child. My heart bleeds at their distress…
    What do I do? How to make a difference… there have been times.. when I have stroked their hair… brushed their cheek… smiled with them…. held them… made them sit on my lap… Even washed them clean.
    It may look strange to others, as if I care… Its my little effort just to let them know… We are one… I understand you little one.

  5. sushma pradhan /

    Years ago… such a sight would perhaps never even bother to cross my knowledge. But now when I am a mother myself, in every child I see my child. My heart bleeds at their distress…
    What do I do? How to make a difference… there have been times.. when I have stroked their hair… brushed their cheek… smiled with them…. held them… made them sit on my lap… Even washed them clean.
    It may look strange to others, as if I care… Its my little effort just to let them know… We are one… I understand you little one.

  6. Ramesh Kumar /

    We must write about the common people too as Ms Maitreyee is making efforts which we all must appreciate

  7. Julia George /

    It’s so nice mam! i am touched you thought of writing about those who are otherwise not written about, not even looked at

  8. Samya Khan /

    Hey i just stumbled on this site and loved this column. Its too good. Would wait for more to come

  9. maitreyeechowdhury /

    Thank you all :) Regards Maitreyee

  10. Naresh /

    I think most of us can spare a warm smile that can light up people’s lives. Of course we all can do more, and some DO an awful lot more to the people in the fringes of our community. I recall an effort in my community where a bunch of young, interested people got together to teach kids of construction laborers a couple of hours each day.

    We may not be able to give these children much, but treating them with dignity is possibly a great beginning.

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