You Are Great, Bhai: A Heart-Wrenching Covid Walkback Tale of Courage and Hope

This was a heart-wrenching tale I narrated exactly one year back in May 2020 during Covid lockdown.

 Now again we are back to Covid showdown....all due to people's stupidity....Are we heading for another futile lockdown....?

You are Great!🔥

I had got down enroute to Devanahalli for attending to nature's call and was pondering the empty highway. It was lockdown time and I was on way to the hospital.

I saw a group of about 10 -15 young adults, obviously labour class, slowing straggling down the highway, carrying bags and worn out backpacks, trudging along in the hot sun. I also saw a few of them carrying small children swung on their shoulders wrapped with shawls.

I could not help stop one of them and ask them in Hindi, bhai where are going  in this lockdown?

An young chap, worn out with care and worry, answered, saab we are going to Chattisgarh.Amazed, I asked, by walk? Yes Saab, he answered simply.

He continued, we are workers who had come to Bangalore to work for the metro project. A contractor had promised good salary and so we came with great hopes to Bangalore.

 Suddenly, this karona thing came n work closed down. The mistry refused to pay any money. We were struck in our sheds for one month, managing with little money we had, cooking n eating. Now the money got over, we have nothing even to eat. We begged the Govt to help us but everybody shooed us away Saab. Trains, buses are also stopped. Saab we will die here in hunger.

So we decided to sell whatever little articles we have n walk to our villages in Chattisgarh. At least if we succeed we will be safe in our villages. Either way we will die if we stay here, he replied in simple Hindi.

But man, I replied, you may die walking more than 1700 km in this hot sun, with very little food and exertion. Either way we will die Saab if we stay. Better to try to walk home. At least we have a chance, we may reach our villages, he said with a sad grin.

I was overcome with sadness. What a pitiable human situation! God must be really cruel, I wondered.

I asked Kisen, the young man who spoke to me. Bhai, could u not have saved money which you earned here? Saab, he said, I worked here since one year. I sent whatever I got to take care of my wife, my one year old daughter and aged parents who are sick. Last month, I worked like a donkey all night and with little extra money which I earned,  I purchased a cellphone, so that I can see my little daughter,  parents and wife on video. Saab, is buying a cell phone a crime? All I wanted was to see my little daughter he spoke sadly.

I was struck by his question. Is dreaming small, small dreams a crime for ordinary people? How can some people have all the riches and wealth and for some people, eking out a living be so tough.

I saluated the spirit of these people, who despite impossible odds, wanted to walk 1700 km and reach their village to be with their families. Despite the unbearable situation, Kisen and his batch accepted the situation fully. He blamed no one and cheerfully reconciled to his fate.  What a spirit,  these people had. What a philosophy of acceptance.

They had small hopes and dreams in midst of their hard life, and accepted their situation with a calm resolve and resignation.....

I folded my hands with tears welling in my eyes, said, please take this money I have, try catching a truck to our village. May God protect you. Reach your villages safely.

 Kisen touched my feet. Bhai saab, God is great! No Bhai, I vocalised from my heart, you are Great!  God will take care of you. Go in peace...