Vegetable vendor Nagaraj says he was in Delhi when ex-PM Indira Gandhi was assassinated

By H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana

For me, talking to my flower seller, vegetable seller, fruit seller, milkman, autorickshaw drivers and maid to know about their family and their attitude towards life is of best human interest. Comparing their lives and attitude with our lifestyle and outlook is fascinating and always a humbling experience. 

We, so-called educated, live in a life alienated from the reality and take pride in ourselves as being rational, logical and of a scientific mindset. These people live a simple and contented life with their belief and customs. They have no hang-ups and I always find them cheerful. Not for them the politics and they are content if they have two square meals a day. 

Even during COVID-19 pandemic, they go about their work serving the society without complaining. I do not find in their countenance any trace of despondency and neither do they complain. 

They go about their work like Karmayogis with whatever they earn which must be quite reduced these days.

It is not as if they do not have problems. But their philosophy is simple — to live for the day and for the moment. They go about cheerfully doing their daily work to make a living. 

Unlike middle class people who have their own houses and have the luxury of getting up late and enjoy reading a newspaper over a cup of coffee, these people do not have this luxury.

Rain or shine, many of them have to get up as early as 3 or 4 am. If you prod them, you will find many of them are full of talent. Let me give you the story of a vegetable seller.

His name is Nagaraj — lean built with thick spectacles. Every day he comes on his bicycle to sell vegetables. I was amazed to know that he is a bundle of talent. He is a polyglot knowing six languages — Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu, Punjabi  and English. 

As a young man, he was in Delhi selling vegetables for 20 years and now at 58, he is continuing the same profession in Mysuru. 

Married in 1987, he has four daughters of whom two are married and two are employed. He lives in Janathanagar in a rented place. 

He is interested in cricket and reels out all the popular names of cricketers. He remembers 1983 cricket match between West Indies and India which India won. Nagaraj says he was in Delhi when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed. 

This reminds me of the famous composition of D.V. Gundappa (DVG) and the English translation of its second stanza is reproduced below: 

Like a jasmine flower in the forest; opening its buds in silence,

Happy in spreading its fragrance all around; remaining anonymous behind the leaves,

Without pride, self-effacing and experiencing a sense of fulfilment.