A few months back, as said by the vegetable vendor Mohanettan, I peeped into my neighbor's green gate to check for a man named Ramaswamy. I expected a middle aged stout man who can clear the courtyard, but the man who greeted me looked old. There was a guilt arising inside and I asked very politely, "Can you please come and help me to clean the place?" He gave a nod, saying yes. Next day morning around 7.30 , this young - old man came home with his very own dagger and started his work. I got down to help him and he gave a serious grunt and said, "Move aside! I am doing this same job since thirty five years. I did the same when your grand uncle was here. No need of your help."
So that was how I know him. He lived in the one room outhouse of my neighbor, broom their courtyard at five in the morning, watered their plants, guarded their house, brought vegetables for them and smiled innocently whenever we met. He told me his story like many other Tamil migrant laborers have told before. He was from Royalpet in Tamil Nadu. Thirty five years back he came for work to Kerala. Then his family was in Madras. But sooner, as he said, came the tall buildings with boxes that gave jobs to many and our house was demolished by the government people. "They gave us 1000 rs", he said with an unforgettable grin. "Then I took them here, my wife and four children. My wife died some eight years back. "
Now he lives in Calicut with his four sons working as laborers. I was supposed to complete the story. But every morning a man came and took money from him. Next time Ramaswamy came home, I casually asked about his sons. He said, "my three sons are happily married. But my youngest boy was a drug addict, now recovering. still he is not normal. So i give him money for food every day, a forty rupees. He is married and have a son. My grandson is in tenth standard this year. He will pass and I go and meet him once in a month. I get a salary of 2000 rs every month and when i go for labor like these they too pay me well." I was taken aback. My neighbor's home is not just a home. It's a bungalow and for the money they pay, nobody will stay and do all these jobs. He has no complains, "i don't have money to find a home. here i can sleep with less worries." He never said, "they are exploiting me."
May be this is the reason why my garden has plenty of flowers, plantains have plenty of bananas and all the trees are just happy! He loves his work, so does the plants. He hate it when I leave them behind for days. He can't just stand the injustice humans do to nature. Why do man cut all the trees, he asks angrily.
Today evening when he came, I asked whether his grandson passed the exam and he replied in his usual innocent smile, "Good to know you passed the exam. Now you have to go to college, lle?"I smiled and said yes. It was the wish from a man who inspires me every day. I didn't want to explain and say, "no i am asking about your son." I loved his wish which has nothing to do with me right now. Why should I spoil his mood saying, I passed my tenth some years back! I love this wish that came late and with a special smile.
He has no sandals, no power glasses to read, no mobile, not even a cycle. But he has passed the most difficult exam. There are many who complains about a lost past. This man is in no hurry. He has little time to complain and more time to entertain.
A man, in his seventies earn money to look after his grandson. Yet he smiles at his problems and greets the fortune called LIFE.
Not every man can be a Ramaswamy. Each and every day, he can complaint about things around. But I have never seen him doing it. He works with love. What else can inspire a human life than seeing such a man every morning. May be the true spirit of life lies in between his toothless grin and the innocent smile.
