We think we know something, know what we are doing. Ideas of good and bad. We even decide actions based on such principles which are not very principled, and yet they guide us in our everyday life. I usually feel no one should be left out, what one gets , all should get. And if there’s something I’m worthy of, it should be with everyone. If someone has served me food, I’ll try to get a chance to serve them next, or do a service to repay.
I was at the Narayanpur Collector office for the final round of a fellowship. I had my morning upma and coffee and left for the place, a little anxious. I was reading the outcomes of my presentation made and visualized from the dataset that was provided to us by before as an assignment. I was so involved in it, when the snacks came in. A guy wearing harinet and gloves came in, and gave us a plate, with a samosa, a vada and 2 biscuits in it. Initially I thought I wouldn’t take it, since outside fried food makes my stomach upset, and could have made me more anxious waiting for interview and other activities scheduled during the day. But I also felt hungry quickly, and there was no lunch here. At work, 3 people bring dal and a bhaji each, and we have a blast, a feast usually. I have had so many new Bhajis that I didn’t know existed before this year. Lal Bhaji, Bohar Bhaji, Semi etc. They all are so delicious and healthy I feel good from inside while eating it.
Anyway, since I was not going to get this, I had the vada and then waited for a while. Then I thought it was just lying on the table, and the worker might have to come inside and pick it up. To make it easier for him, I took the plate, went outside, asked the guy who served it where should I throw it. He paused for a second but then showed me the dustbin. The activities continued and then we had a break again. During that time, I saw some candidates still had their plates with them with some food items on them. The worker with the hairnet came back in and took the remaining plates away. Until then I was feeling I had done the right thing, took the initiative and disposed off of my waste myself. But then 5 minutes after this, when I stood up and went outside to use the restroom, I saw the guy with the hairnet and the 2 women having samosas from the leftover plates. I was so shocked. I was at a loss of thoughts. So many things were at play. One that they didn’t get what we got. Apparently they dont get it at all. Then they had to eat the leftovers.
They were waiting , suppressing their hunger and desire, probably everyday, only that today it was visible. Of course there are guests everyday, and they see it everyday, but get what remains after people like us, mostly more important than us. And I was stupid enough to think that I’m doing a good thing by picking up my trash and making it easier for the people working there. I felt so bad and that I should have listened to him. Maybe he cursed me when I went to throw the plate, but like in everyday life, he had to see stuff that was precious to someone being thrown away in the trash because it made someone else feel that it wasn’t good enough. My only learning from this is, never waste any resource, and no resource is bad. It is always important to someone. And I wish that there comes a day when the hairnet guy and those two women have their own snacks plate and they decide what they wanna do with it. Throw it or store and use it later by giving it to someone who knows its value.
iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteering 