111) A Farmer's plight

At the time when there is debate of retail revolutions and malls springing up like nobody’s business, I thought of taking the “other India” view.

I first met Asha, still in her 30s but already haggard and her hair is turning grey and wrinkles starting to mar the face. Her story:

“I have a son and two daughters to take care of. My husband goes from village to village in search of work and hardly earns Rs 200 a month. My plight has been reduced to that of a beggar. Why should we go through this hell?

We have the title for two acres of land, but there is no land in reality. Five years back the government had decided to give us two acres of land in Ladda village (SANGRUR) for cultivation. But till date, we do not have possession of the land.

We were ready to toil and cultivate the land. It is not for any profit, but just to feed ourselves. Every day, I go to the mukhiya (head of the village) and beg and plead with him to do something so that we get our land. He just chases us away and threatens us. He gets angry and irritated whenever he sees me.

I had dreamt of educating my children, but now it is even difficult to feed them. I have been fighting for the past five years, but there is no respite.

There have been many nights when our entire family has gone hungry to bed. I do not want to beg on the roads to support my children. We are not demanding for anything illegal. I am only asking for my right. The local representative only makes promises, but the moment he is out of sight he forgets about it.

Tell me what am I supposed to do? Where do I go? This Janadesh rally was my last resort. I came all by myself for this rally. My husband is back at the village, taking care of the children. There is no way that both of us could have come for the rally. Our children would have starved to death. But now I am determined and won't give up until our problem is solved.

In a faraway Mumbai, Amitabh Bachchan called in his lawyer and was checking out of the legality of his land procured when his friends were in power.

There is one India which sweats and toils and another to enjoy its fruits. Who said feudalism is dead?

One lingering thought as the brave woman bids good bye: 'My plight has been reduced to that of a beggar'.

Now tell me, who is the real hero? A celluloid one mouthing inspiring dialogues on screen or the one bearing the scorching sun and fighting hard to live another day?