Appreciate those who are trying to live a respectful life

My father always tell me that when he was young, he never sat in a rickshaw, and preferred to walk instead. This saved him money and was good for his health. One day, while returning from market, we saw rickshaw pullers staring at people who were hopping on battery- operated rickshaws as these are faster and cheaper.

To my surprise, my father suddenly got into a rickshaw. When I asked him why, he said, “They are able-bodied men; they have opted to work hard rather than indulging in heinous acts.”

His words reminded me of similar scenes at vegetable and wholesale markets. Suddenly, I was full of respect for these men.

In an age in which they can easily fall prey to immoral ways of making money, they choose to work hard to make ends meet. One day, while coming out of a metro station, we spotted a man sitting with a weighing machine. All of a sudden, my father was keen to know his weight. This time, I got the point. I am sure we all have seen singers in local trains who ask for money after they are done with a song — they, too, have skills they are selling, and shouldn’t be confused with beggars.

We are happy to pay for expensive branded clothes and things, but bargain with rickshawpullers or vegetable vendors. Don’t you think some responsibility rests with us so that their noble way of living continues? We might help them by not looking away, giving them the respect they deserve, and sometimes if our pockets permit, help them without hurting their self-respect.