Mangalore: Beyond What Meets the Eye - Amar's Journey of Pain, and Dignity
Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 24: We come across a variety of people in need of money for various reasons - they might have lost their purse, might be in a difficult situation or may simply be financially poor. We seldom go beyond what meets the eyes, but a glance into their lives will reveal a different story altogether, as it did with a person I met recently.
I happened to this young man who seemed decent, educated and from a good family. He approached me and asked for a job. "Sir, could u please help me get a job? It is urgent, and it doesn't matter even if I have to work as a cleaner in a hotel or a bar. I don't want much, just Rs 800 to reach home. I am ready to work just for a week also," he pleaded.
His request surprised me. Here was an educated man ready to work as a cleaner just to earn Rs 800...I decided to dig in deeper. A couple of couple questions, and the story poured out. What happened to him was nothing unusual, but the situation that it put him in just goes to show the apathy of the police and what an ordinary person has to go through in such situations.
His name is Amar Singh (23), son of Sanjay Singh, a resident of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. His father was a doctor and also a businessmen. Tragedy struck six months ago, when the car his parents were travelling in slipped off an icy road and fell into a gorge, killing them both and leaving Amar all alone.
His father left him a huge property with 75 acres of land and a flourishing business in growing apples. Having inherited all the property, he became a rich man overnight.
He had been pursuing his fashion technology course from Gurukul University, and had to appear for an exam in Sharnur, Kerala. He came to Delhi and from there to Mangalore by flight, and from Mangalore central railway station, he caught a train to reach Sharnur.
He had two bags, one with his clothes and the other with his return air ticket, laptop, iPhone, Rs 35,000 cash, Punjab National Bank card, voter ID and importantly, his exam hall ticket.
He booked a train ticket in the sleeper berth (S2), seat number 17, in Chennai-Ednore Express, with depature from Mangalore at 6:50 am on September 15. With his two bag and loads of dreams and hopes of a bright future, he began his journey.
He had never imagined what was to happen just a few stations before his destination. A group of four boys entered the train, beat him up badly and fled away with the bag which contained all his documents and money. Nobody could catch them, and Amar was left helpless and penniless. They had even badly injured his right hand. All he had left was his bag of clothes.
After he arrived in the Sharnur Junction, he lodged a complaint with the railway police, and as usual, the police assured him that investigation will be made and his things would be returned to him.
Strangely enough, the police told him to catch a train back to Delhi, and that he need not carry a ticket, as no one would ask him. Believing the police, he did as they as they said, and caught a train to Delhi without a ticket.
However, as the train was about to reach Mangalore, the ticket collector learnt that Amar was travelling ticketless and told him that he would be jailed if he didn't alight in Mangalore. Puzzled and deeply troubled as well as hurt, he did not want to beg for anyone's help. He was sure no one would believe him either.
Instead, he looked around Mangalore in search of jobs, including in bars, shops and hotels. Finally he reached Garodi Sri Brahma Baiderkala Temple, where he was treated well and all arrangements were made to send him back to his house. He was given Rs 1500 in cash and was dropped at the station, where he caught the train back to Delhi.
Amar's story perhaps happens everyday to someone or other. In fact, Amar is one of the few lucky ones as he still has all that his father bequeathed him. The four boys who looted him may have sold his laptop and iPhone and spent the money royally, or perhaps they might have had a story of their own that forced them to commit the crime. When we hear such stories, all we need to ask ourselves is, what if we were in his place?