Graffiti!

Inking

Inking

Charcoal

The Unknown Indian

During one of my journeys back home in our precious 'Indian Railways' , as usual i was staring out of the window, music in my ears and absorbing every bit of what i see. Suddenly i realize i should buy a professional camera, this was when the train slowed and it was crossing a station, a really long one.

The board read Phagwara Junction, just behind the board , sun was setting and i had a zooming out of its view. I turn my head look at the platform so  much stuff happening silently, some sadhus talking , 3 boys look at the train and smiling, some kids waiting and wondering what is happening and their families in the endless wait of the train, a couple at the other corner, they are close and the guy is younger, she was smiling and the train stopped with a jerk putting my focus on two sadhus. one of them was bathing with a cloth tied on his lower body and the other was done with his bath, he displayed an attire typical to the word Sadhu, a white super loose kurta and a dhoti, he seemed to be very comfortable, he was not wearing anything on his head and had long hair, he might have just had his head bath . Surprisingly he had a comb too and was untangling his hair, i searched for his turban there it was on the pillar, washed and getting ready to crown him. he was not aware of me noticing me, i wonder if he was then he must have not done things so naturally, he then took out took out a steel glass and a packet of food which was tucked safely between his blanket kept for next winters. he opens the packed and safely gets his wallet out and puts it into his kurta's inner pocket without letting the other sadhu know! Oh! His street smart skills and the horn blows I stare at him and I realize his entire life was in those 2 thailas and a blanket he had, he was homeless and i wonder after how long he had his such a luxurious bath.

He was just one out of millions of such sadhus in India. Either the situation or the desire, whatever the reason may be of their being, they know how to find happiness. the little happiness in having a bath on the station. For him nobody was looking at him in such a public place. He was so habitual to ignorance.

We aim for big shot lavish bungalows Jacuzzi and what not! I don't say that owning such things is bad but these things matter the least, just imagine this man had NOTHING like NOTHING. I cannot even imagine of surviving this way.

Now he may be a fraud but unknowingly he let me believe in happiness and he became the hero of this article.