Street Sweeper by BR Raksun (read aloud books TXT) 📕

Street Sweeper

BR Raksun

"The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life."                                                                                                                                      - Plato

If you wake up early in the morning, you can see the street sweepers. These are the people who sweep the streets before you wake up from your early morning sleep. They sweep as you sleep. They are not lazy. They never look here and there. They are mostly work oriented and their job is sweeping. They have intent expression on their face and they clutch the long broom in their hands, sweep the streets.

William is working in the city college. He uses to get up before sun gets up. So he comes out of his house for early morning wind, blowing smoothly. He stands on the patio, looking down in to the street. He saw that boy as usual.

He is in neat uniform and his job is sweeping the street.  He is an untouchable boy of around fourteen or fifteen years. The broom is in his hand, if not William may think him as one of his students. William read that more than 160 million people in India are considered Untouchables tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure and untouchable.

Once, they are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, wear shoes in the presence of an upper caste, or drink from the same cups in tea stalls. They are called untouchables. In those days, merely walking through an upper-caste neighborhood is a life-threatening offense.

William liked the boy. He came down and stood at the main gate of his house. While the boy is sweeping the road before his house, William looked at him. But the boy is busy in his work. He did not gaze him.

"May I know your name?" William asked him.

There is a little bewilderment in the eyes of the boy.

"Sir! Ramdeen..." The boy replied.

Ramdeen has no disorder hair. His hair is thick, black and well combed. He looked smart. He gazed in wonder in to William's face.

William asked something about his family. He answered with great sincerity.

Ramdeen's father, grandfather and grand grand father.. all are sweepers. This profession is ancestral to him. He has one sister by name Rupali. She has stopped her studies by elementary school. He has to do the familial profession. He is not unhappy for the job he is doing.

"This is the bread and butter giver for my family, sir" Ramdeen said.

****

William likes India. He came from England two years back. He wanted to do something that can be good for society. He knows that the roots of education may be bitter, but the fruits are very sweet it gives.

"I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. Some people unable to go to school were more educated and more intelligent than college professors" says Maya Angelou. This may be true. But, we need total guidance which is available from education only.

William convinced Ramdeen. It all happened in the early mornings while he comes to sweep the streets.

"I cannot leave this profession. My family has living with this." Ramdeen said.

William knows that Ramdeen is right and he should not disturb his profession.

"I know. You must work and earn sweeping like this. What people think about you?"

He looked in to Williams eyes sincerely.

"I know sir. You don’t, what they. All are not alike. So I don't care about that."

"How many days or months or years, you will bear this?"

"As long as I live…because, it is hard to bear harsh things in the beginning. When we are used to them, nothing will be more uncommon."

William tried his best to make him interested in education.

Ramdeen slowly got an intense desire, ardent affection, or enthusiasm towards education. William showed him some ways to get education without going to school or college. For buying books and paying exam fees, William helped Ramdeen.

****

William is going back to England in few months with happiness.

One day Ramdeen came with a cover.

Nobody knows, he stood first in IAS from the university. The news spread like a wild fire. The college arranged a farewell party to William before one day he is leaving India.

The college principal introduced Ramdeen and the silent work of William in making him like a gem.

Students and lecturers wondered to know that an ordinary sweeper is now IAS officer.

We are always students, not masters. We have to keep moving forward with getting enlightenment. If you are living like a frog in a well, you are responsible for your future.

****

Text: Sunkara Bhaskara Rao
Images: Sunkara Bhaskara Rao
Editing: Sunkara Bhaskara Rao
Translation: -
Publication Date: 06-17-2015

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