Life Series: Colour exists
It’s a bus travelling from Chennai to one of the Western districts of Tamilnadu. A family belong to a upper strata of our society has occupied some of the seats and an old man who was around 50 years of old the head of this family occupied a window seat allotted to them. Now a seat in the aisle is free and that way the bus has reached the small town Chengalpaut which is next big stop after Chennai.
A man who is around some 35-year old got up in the bus and the ticket he booked was the seat next to that old man. He seemed to be a hard-working man. Due to that, his body was drenched with sweat. His color texture is black and his shirt is slightly shrugged and dirty due to the day’s work. As he went to take his seat near the old man, the old man started to shout that how dare they can allow a man of that class to sit with him. He started to argue with the bus conductor that he will pay for the next seat also but he won’t allow that man to sit near him. But that man seemed to be tired and don’t want to fight him. He said that I will sleep on the floor and didn’t made an issue with that. He got down by the morning still without any questions.
He slept on the bus floor even after paying for his seat due to our stupid separation in the name of caste. I can blame him also for standing up to his rights. But still our feel of hate is too deep that was getting passed from generation to generation. Here I have to say that son of that old man travelled with him and he didn’t said a word against his dad. He seated in front of his dad and he was a mere spectator. I accept that things are getting better in India but how fast is a question to be answered.
PS: Not able to post the review of digital fortress this week friends. Most postivitely my next post will be that on weekend 🙂
Straight Drive 
Me first 🙂
kanagu: YAY 😀
You have narrated the incident well, Kanagu. The person must be from outside Chennai and he seems to be an old man too. It is not that bad, here in Chennai or anyother city.
Just hope that these things will not happen in the future, Kanagu.
Still, I feel some of the co-passengers could have come forward to support the man who slept on the floor of the bus. This is the worst nature of the city-bread people. They just sit and watch.
kanagu: Thank you.. 🙂
Whether he is from Chennai or outside of it, it clearly shows the kind of society we are living in… differences accounts for nothing… 😦 in Chennai not many says it openly… but still it exists..
and who cares… al they need is pleasant sleep.. that they got…. we are narrow minded and I hope this will improve in future 🙂
Saritha, I thought I am first!
This time i am first for a change 😀
This is the sad part of our society.
His son didn’t say anything,what others in the bus are doing,papam that man slept the whole night on the floor and driver,conductor and other passengers didn’t say anything.
kanagu: True akka 😦
conductor came but still that old man is stern and that man left it just like that… 😦
This is indeed a sad story. I think the man should have insisted that he had a right to sit there, that would have forced the old man to move. The old man should have moved if he didn’t want to sit next to someone, but to insult someone like that because of his class is wrong.
kanagu: Yes.. he must have fought or insisted strongly but sadly I don’t know what he felt 😦
but still when the people with the mindset of old man behaved like that.. leaving if they don’t like 😡
Kanagu, That is so sad! You have written it so well.. What you say is right – ‘But still our feel of hate is too deep that was getting passed from generation to generation.’ People still have these deep rooted beliefs..
kanagu: Yes Smitha… people used to talk like that in home, we are superior to anybody and the kids who hears it thinks that its true… and it determines their acts in future
I can still understand that old man – he is from an older generation, but his son? Surely he could have reasoned and calmed his dad down? Or at least, switched seats with his dad?
kanagu: Obedient son 😛 😛
OMG… cant believe nobody AT ALL responded to it…
reminds me of the snippet i once read regarding racism… where a white woman protests on a plane for sitting next to a black man… and finally the airplane crew shift the black man to the business class because he had to suffer her insults 🙂 the audience gave that a standing ovation.
but unfortunately it doesnt seem to work the same in real life… 😦
kanagu: Thats the way our society is Ash…. 😦
in real, very few times those kinds things happen… sadly it didn’t happened this time 😦
Sad incident for sure…there are certain things that we Indians have not been able to change may be because we don’t have the collective will. We accept things and move ahead!!!
kanagu: True Smita… we find it easier to accept the things and move ahead, however it is 😦
That old man should have sat in his seat and made the other person leave the bus ! How long are we supposed to remain suppressed ?
kanagu: Bro, what are you saying??? I couldn’t understand.. are you supporting old man???
I second Nita’s view.
kanagu: ok..
that is so sad…
we are still separated by such deep rooted prejudices… and most of the time, the younger generation keep quiet because, sadly there is no point in fighting or even trying to reason with such people.
Totally agree with what you have said here 🙂
Very well written Kanagu… 🙂
kanagu: Yes Pixie… we are like this… separated by filthy things 😦
and his son should opposed this… then what he learned until now 😦
Heart-wrenching 😦 Its sad that even someone from the younger gen did nt stand upto it!
All we cn do is never do something like this and hoping against hope that other ppl learn their lessons too!
kanagu: Yes Swaram… its really sad and hope people will learn that these are nothing..
What wil such ppl do if they hv some critical illness n the only surgeon available rt then wud be from another caste????? Die instead of being operated!!!!!!!!!!!
kanagu: Thats real good example Swaram… don’t know what they wil do, if they face that situation.. I hope they will face that
They will accept it then,Swaram…Afterall, it’s his fruits of labour they are tasting day in and day out!
And nobody in the bus objected? Not his son, not he conductor, no other passengers… If the old man had problems he should have got up. I can’t imagine what justification to such people give to themselves… doesn’t their conscience prick???
kanagu: We are accepting things IHM.. thats the problem… nobody stood up and all are in their own comfort zones 😦
conscience.. they will ask whats that..
I remember when we were looking for an apartment in Chennai, we were refused many because we weren’t Brahmins and vegetarians…Finally, we got one in a Brahmin locality (Mylapore) in a building owned by Brahmins…They were very nice people and although they were vegetarians, they didn’t mind having non-vegetarian Kayastha tenants…We are still in touch with them…
kanagu: Thats cool Bones… there are few good human like this reminds us to hope… 🙂
and you came to chennai.. when??? have you liked the city??
These sort of things still happen…In Mumbai, there are “only Gujarati” buildings and Muslims are refused apts. because of their religion…Things are changing and hopefully in a few years time such problems won’t arise…
kanagu: Very sad to hear.. we are really really biased 😦
The old man should have asserted for his rights!! plain and simple! Aise kaise chalega! Damn!!
kanagu: 😦
Shesh 😛 limits I tell you……….. when will we be free…………
reminds me of the line “karuppu than ennaku pidicha colorru”…………… 😛
kanagu: True machi.. that comes to our mind 🙂 🙂
When will all this end?
I think an entire generation has to pass before a change in mindset happens!
kanagu: Yes Masood.. maybe another 66 years 😦
It is very unfortunate.But,let us not forget,it happens all over the country.Chennai is not a lone case.I have seen it happen in Bombay,I have seen it happen it Delhi.I will put the blame on our political system who have already divided the country on caste and religious lines.It will not end in the near furture
kanagu: I know Sir.. it happens.. all over our country.. thats the sad thing 😦
our political parties toys with it 😡
The old man should have been thrown out of the bus. What was the bus conductor doing?
kanagu: When that happened anna… we are biased, I say 😦
oh god.. and nobody responded at all? that’s sad..
kanagu: 😦
BTW, I have an award for you at my site. Kindly accept it 🙂
kanagu: Thanks AK.. I am happy to accept it 🙂
Hi nice blog….i add u in my bolg and can u add me in your blogroll
kanagu: Will do Sakthi.. thank you 🙂
I was irritated to read that vile, worthless scum like that old nincompoop still exist in this world 😡 Such filthy vermin and their ilk (of which there are plenty) can do humankind a favour by leaving this planet for good and rotting in hell where they naturally belong.
A bus from Chennai going to a western district, you say? That’s a bit surprising. While the filthy caste system 👿 has almost disappeared from the urban areas of India’s most urbanised state (now, more than 50% of the people in TN live in urban areas), there are still a few backward rural pockets where this stinking system still exists, but they are districts beyond Madurai.
kanagu: I believe that these things are all passed from one to other in home… actually we tend to believe what our parents and when he has heard that they are better than others.. these kinda things will happen for sure…
but hopefully, I believe we can get rid of this soon…
Cha, how could one do this to a hard-working man?Sounds idiotic….V Sad that none in the bus stood up for him…This is utter rejection!!
kanagu: ignorance is a part of us Savitha 😦
There are two things I infer from this situation: The old man is totally fed up with life that he thinks that at least being in a class or caste alone should give him an upper hand. The hard working person pities the old man and thinks let at least that thought give him some comfort! and sleeps on the floor. I am sure the hard working person would have slept well, and sleep would have deluded the old man.
Destination Infinity
kanagu: I don’t know whether old man would have slept or not…. but I am sure he wouldn’t learned from his mistake..
but then as you have said, that hard working man, would have left because of courtesy…