Caring and sharing comes so easily to the poor
Anyone who has observed the scenario in Tamil Nadu, during the summer time, would find any number of small establishments selling what is called as "koozhu" in Tamil. This is nothing but a mixture of some overnight cooked and fermented food and a little spice added to it or something similar, made out of ragi.It cools down the entire body and refreshes anyone who consumes it. It is often sold for Rs.10 for a small tumbler, which is used to serve the dish to another glass or brass tumbler. Very recently, I had to stop my vehicle near one such shop, as my friend said he would come to the spot to discuss something.
My friend took much more time and in the meanwhile, an elderly couple approached the vendor. They said that they do not have the money, but within a week, when their son would give them the money, they would give the money to the vendor. They even gave the house address, some one kilometer away from the shop.
Immediately the vendor pulled out the tumbler and offered the dish to the elderly couple, saying that they do not need to pay at all. If they passed that way, they could pay, but if they are not able to come out, they can forget the money. She also said that when one dies, he or she does not take anything with them!! This last sentence has been repeated in thousands of Tamil movies and is a phrase that is often heard everywhere.
Philosophy, particularly of the religious kind, is often talked about the rich class. They talk utter nonsense and seek to entertain only a particularly caste and community about how superb their forefathers where. This same community has at least two members in various parts of the world, and their living standards are very high, particularly in Tamil Nadu. In fact, the costly retirement homes, where the monthly rent is around a lakh of rupees for two people, in Chennai or Coimbatore, for a luxury accommodation and food and even medical care, is dominated by this community. They have two members as Union Ministers as well.
But the poor vendor sought to exhibit the best of caring and sharing. This is exactly what makes a difference in the end. We all fight with all out might. We are so jealous of someone or try to dominate others through some hook or crook. But the poor masses have their own ways of being alive, and they often care and share among themselves. We should learn from them.
Well, the particular upper caste community, do have the fermented food in comfortable environments in posh hotels, at least in the big cities, paying Rs.100/-. This is the difference between the rich and the poor.
