Yesterday,it was our Independence day. The day came as an extended holiday,as the day before was a Sunday. I got up early and attended the flag hoisting ceremony in our estate. My hubby,didn't even bother to attend. It seems,there were many like him,as we were too few in number where the event took place. People got up late,exchanged pleasantries,went for a special shopping,ate chicken in the lunch and enjoyed a nice afternoon's nap. I had to watch the lazy habits helplessly,because every time you can't nag somebody about what is right and what is wrong! At least I myself don't want the "nagging" tag,already I have one "Reserved" and another "Snob" tag in my store!
In the evening,when I was talking to my mom over the phone,I came to know that she met with a minor accident today. She twisted her ankle in that process. How would this happen? She told,today our maid didn't come,so she was doing the household work when the phone rang. She was coming almost running,when she slipped and fell down. Oops! Then she remembered something. She said,
"I want to tell you something which I came across. It's shocking."
"What was that?" I asked.She thought for a while,then started to tell me.
"Well,you know,Putul (our maid) didn't come,so I was finishing off the pending work. Then a lady came to see whether Putul has come to our house or not. She works in this lady's house,too. Today she is absent,this caused so much inconvenience to them. This lady was fuming in anger. She was calling her all sorts of names,so I tried to pacify her. I told," Arre,behenji, just spare her for one day. This is Independence day,after all. She is independent to take a leave according to her wish,as I assume. May be she was waiting for this day to express her independence.........." I said jovially. But it infuriated her beyond imagination. She scorned," This laborer class also need leave? No wonder,when people like you also support her,they will soon start dancing on our head!" I felt quite embarrassed and said, "No,I don't support her way of taking sudden leave without informing us,but.............."
This encouraged her,no doubt. The lady exclaimed, "Thank god, that means you also get problems if she doesn't come,isn't it?
"Of course I do,but........."
"Then you only think,the house is remaining dirty beyond explanation from last night. Who will clean the utensils? We ate Ghee rice last night. All those plates are slippery with grease........you only tell,can a decent human being even touch that? The table is full of used pots and plates, floor is not swept, the whole house is stinking...........who will get us rid of this filth?"
"Well,can't you manage for one day as I am already doing?" I proposed in a weak voice,because I had no matching words against this kind of thickness. She looked at me as I have offered her something very offensive. She blurted out," Are you out of your mind? Being a Brahmin lady,how I will touch that? It's the work for servants,how can you expect me to do that? No wonder,those many degrees and a job also didn't teach you anything....." saying this she stormed out of our house. I sat there numb,almost wounded with her accusing words! Now tell me,how do you feel about such kind of superiority complex"?
What shall I say? I felt amused and angry at the same time,feeling equally sad also. What a pity! After so much progress in every walk of life also few people can't come out of the age-old class consciousness. What if the maid doesn't come for one day? Is it written somewhere that a specific group of people can't do so called "dirty" works? In any scriptures? Any holy books? No way! This is a humiliation to another human beings,nothing else. The caste division was based on the nature of work in the ancient period,not on skin colors or any other difference. But slowly,it became a tag on a specific group of people,and higher caste people used it as a weapon to stigmatize lower castes. Now a days,such kind of work division doesn't exist anymore. But few people still cling to that pre-historic beliefs in order to humiliate and boss over other people. What would happen if today,Putul would get a chance to get educated and get a nice job? I am sure,then this lady would show her respect. The basis of the superiority complex is quite feeble now,it's not wise to beat one's chest to prove himself/herself superior than other. Not the cast division, but exceptional work proves the superiority. My solution is,let the lady clean her own filth. When she created that,she can clean it too! At least,Putul can enjoy her independence for one day!
