Conversations with the Mahatma: The Golden Boy

Namaste Gandhi sir. Forgive me for disturbing you but, you see, I have no one else to talk to. Raju Uncle tells me you are a great man and still exist somewhere he is not sure of. I do not dare to question him further since he is sleeping most of the time. Mother tells me he is a drunkard, tough I am not sure what that means. Maybe that is what they call people who sleep a lot.

Oooh. I am so sorry. I have not told you who I am. I am Sonu or the golden boy. Mother tells me I will earn a lot of money some day. I sit at the stairs of the railway station. People put coins in my bowl, which I give to mother so she can feed us. I heard some people call me "Bhikari" or beggar. Could you please tell me what that means? Mother tells me I am an earning member of the family. It makes me proud when mother holds me in her arms and talks to me like a man. I feel responsible.

I get bored most of the time just sitting there. So I draw figures in the dust. Raju uncle tells me I have got art. He promised to teach me to paint once I grow up a bit. I can then draw on the pavements and earn more money. Maybe then I can have something else to eat. I am bored of the same tea and bread that we have; morning, afternoon and night. The other day some good person gave me a chocolate. I had never tasted anything so good earlier. I split it with my sister who earns on her place at the top of the railway bridge. I only pray to God that more such people come along everyday.

You know, Raju uncle tells me you were a very learned person, that you freed this country from the clutches of bad people. I really found that amazing. You must be like "Bhima", the mythical hero mother tells me about. You don't look that powerful but I am sure you have a trick or two in that stick of yours. Did you really do it? Raju Uncle complains most of the time about the state of the country. I don't blame him. He is old and is drinking some foul smelling water most of the time. He tells of the days when he fought the Angrez and about the visions they had for the country. I don't understand much of it but I think he has no one else to talk to either.

Sometimes I see children dressed in bright clothes, pulling wonderful toy trucks and I get a small sprout of a wish within me. But I do not complain. You know, even if I had fancy clothes they wouldn't be of much use in all this dust and sweat would they? I told mother just once about the toys and she made me a wonderful truck out of a cardboard box. But I am not allowed to play during work hours. Mother says if people were to see me playing they would not be interested in giving me money. That's ok with me. I play on into the night since there is no one to stop me!

Well that was the happy part of my life. Not the reason that I decided to get in touch with you. You know lately there has been this new kid who seems to have landed out of nowhere. He is older than me and always snatches away the money that I earn. Yesterday when I tried to stop him, he hit me hard on my cheek. I could not stop him since I am not as strong as you. Later in the day Mother said I while cleaning my nose that there was a red color in it. It will heal I am sure, but the pain was unbearable last night. Raju Uncle then told me one of your stories. How you had put out your other cheek when the bad guys had slapped you. Didn't it pain you? Were you able to sleep at night? You really are a super hero. Some day I hope to be like you. I am like you at least in your style of clothes and hair. Mother must have been very impressed with you as well.

See already I feel much at ease and you have not even spoken one bit. Somehow all my pain seems to have vanished. There was just one question I had to ask you before I go back to work. Did you also work at the railway station? I have to ask because there seems to be so much similar between us; apart from the clothes and hair. You have also been a strong man and someone who fought against injustice. Hence I had to ask that question. I have been here all my life. Mother says I am four years old now. And next year I will be a man. Were you here in the same station?

It is time to go back now. I don't want mother seeing me talking to you or I will be in for a good shouting. I am sure you will talk to me tomorrow. Thank you for listening to me. Maybe tomorrow you will let me in on your secrets of your power and teach me some tricks with that stick. Hmm, I will have to find a stick for myself at night. Bye.