Independent

How can one define Independence and being Independent. This is definitely a word which will transform into various meaning and measure in accordance to the understanding one has or have to this word. It may differ according to one's experience in life and may add a gist to it.

In this post I would be focusing on such aspects which touched my heart and opened a new meaning to me. Once again traveling through the memory lane.

This is the era of 70s and 80s. Online shopping and door to door delivery may be the new concept today,  but I  have experienced this door to door delivery concept in my childhood itself. " Chawal wali" (Moni Maa) She was called thus. She was the one who used to bring sacks of rice to our home every month. As I had mentioned earlier my family was huge with extended members thus consumption of food too was in large quantities, and, as such, Acchan had arranged for regular supply of the commodities. (Moni Maa) was a drak fragile lady with a pleasant aura. She used to adorn saree in traditional bengali way. Clean bright starched cotton saree.  Her presence was a pleasing to the eyes. Amma too loved her presence. Moni Maa was a monthly visitor to us. She would come to our house for delivering the sack of 🌾 rice.  Along with  rice she would be carrying her harvest of vegetables and eggs too. So we used to get  some fresh farm picked vegetables to relish. She used to stay in the outskirts of the city and would travel all the way to the city in train to deliver her goods. She would arrive early in the morning by 7am and would sit down for a chit chat for hours.  Amma would come to know about the outside world and updates of her village life and about other harvest etc through her chit chatting. She will spend hours sitting in our terrace doing small chores thus helping Amma, lighten her burden that day. Amma used to give her food and tea. Sometimes she used to pamper us with an oil massage and would comb our hair, singing  songs. The famous viral song 🎶" Bade loger beti re lamba lamba chool🎶 which was booming now days was the one which I had listened very very early during my childhood days from this " Chawal wali" it's actually a folk song. She would be brimming with joy, while  singing out these songs to us. After finishing all these chores, she will measure the required kilograms of rice, needed by Amma, and would transfer the same to the large storage drums. She would take leave after getting her payment from Amma. Thus almost a whole day would be spent by her in our house with a good exchange of talks on related things. 

On those days I never used to give heed to these people who would be visiting my house. It was just normal to me. Amma and her buddies was the name given by me. I never used to realise their hardship. It was only when I started working did I knew,  that no matter what; all other persons/ people out there on the road, whether big or small is all, into earning their livelihood and living. This famous song "lamba lamba chool" brought into my memory the "Chawal wali" and her hardship, and me into a new realisation. To get her life going she was into this duty of selling rice all the way from her village to the city. For she knew very well that she can earn more in the city, rather than in her village. Wasn't this, her independent thinking, wasn't she capable of nurturing her family. Wasn't she enjoying a free spirited moments while visiting houses and chitchatting. The most important part of all this was the decision made by her to do something for her family, instead of begging for alms. That's real independence and being independent, I would say. The independence to think, to act, and to survive. I feel really proud thinking now, that, she though being an illiterate was able to keep track of account of her goods and selling, and thus helped her family from starving and begging.

Education gives us a more way of dignified life and way of thinking, no doubt.  But I salute all those people out there, who all are putting efforts to make a living with what ever abilities and capabilities they have instead of relying on begging and looting. To me this is being independent and independence.

Now time has changed with new level of technology and education. People have understood the importance of education and are giving importance to studies and also into living a dignified life. More and more people are into working and earning. Better independent thinking whether you are a men or a women has transformed the world and countries into  growing nations.

Free your self  and be yourself.

xxx...............xxx............xxx

Pic courtesy: Google images