Sheeba Singh

Of all the things we seek on average in our lives, inspiration and lessons come to us in ways we never expect them to. Sometimes, it is the words of a stranger, others, its a movie that moves us to tears. More often than not, its the great inspirational leaders of the world that stir our cores. We lean back and go, ‘wow’ and vouch to take those lessons with us no matter what. And, somewhere along the lines, we do turn back to those words, and those lessons allowing ourselves to learn, and grow in a way which makes us proud.

But, lets not forget, that life ultimately is just what we choose to make of it. We too, think and know we have lessons we can pass on. We lecture our siblings, our parents and friends on what we think (or even, know) that they ought to hear. In all of this, however, we forget to listen to the air around us, and the people with stories to share too. Yes yes, I know what you are thinking. ‘I, Listen!’.. And hats off to you for it. This is a piece about the one time where I couldn’t get past a certain incident, so I went back for more- as the true writer that I am. Everything around me conforms into story to be told. And that is EXACTLY what this is about.

On a recent trip to India, while hanging out with my brother and some of his close friends in the middle of the night, laughing to randomness, I found myself intrigued by a few minutes of a ‘transaction.’ We parked the car next to the curb where an old man sat, cross legged. My brothers friend mentioned a certain brand of cigarettes and I looked out the car window as he reached into this small trunk-like box placed next to him and pull out a pack. After we paid and got out change, I found out that the man was actually blind. With that, we drove off.

The rest of the night, I kept thinking, in complete amaze, about this man. For a few weeks, I kept trying to piece together the most marvelous transaction I had ever seen come together in my life. So, I convinced my brother to take me back to this man another late night, knowing he wouldn’t be busy and I would be able to talk to him.

This time, I finally was introduced to RAM DAAS; someone, who had already worked his way into my life as inspiration. In a country where beggars are at ever corner, every street and knocking on every other door, RAM DAAS was working hard in Chandigarh, India. Sitting calmly across from the bus station in Sector 17, and right in-front of the Sector 22 market, RAM DAAS sold cigarettes all through his 12-13 hour graveyard shift going anywhere between 7 pm and 8 am.

Originally from the state of U.P. in India, this has been is vocation for over 3 decades now. But why do this, I asked. His response, resonating his composed persona, was, “Because its clean work, and its hard work.” With this, I was left with to just take a deep breath and smile. An average work day involves resting, sleeping and eating during the day and working through the night here.

Kiran Bedi, a renowned officer in India, he alleges, assured him that his stall is one, that would always be kept in place. While officers run around the city to keep street vendors to the minimum, his work was, and is, applaudable.Now, my curiosity drifted again. After all, how do you know which brand in which. Just then, two men pulled up on their bicycles asking for ‘x’ brand (I am not familiar with brands, so lets use ‘x’). While he reached into the small trunk placed next to him, he explained that he places them in accordance to brand so he can access them with ease. The small boy sitting next to him, would read out the labels and RAM DAAS would organize them as he deems fit.

When given any money, he is able to tell what that bill’s value is through feel. And if needed, through comparison of bills that he has in his pocket. “People have tried to play tricks on me,” he laughed mentioning that some people will give him ‘fake money,’ “But I can tell right away.”

Not wanting to take too much of his time, I ask if I can take some pictures of him. He kindly agrees. I thank him, and drive away thinking to myself, “This lesson was well deserved.”

I may not buy cigarettes, but having accompanied someone so they could, definitely taught me more than just about the harms of smoking pictured on the boxes. It makes me think my own life.

So the next time you are in Chandigarh, and you pull up next to the old, and I must mention, commendable, RAM DAAS, let him know you were able to learn something from him too- whatever it may have been. Even if it just made you smile having read this story.

Thank you RAM DAAS.. God Bless you.

NOTE: I have capitalized RAM DAAS on purpose. This way, I wish for you to be able to make a note of it and be able to address him as mentioned..

I chose not to send this to any newspaper as I wanted to be able to keep the lesson as I had wanted it to be addressed and not modified, edited or ‘tweaked’ by the agency as per their requirements. So spread the word just by passing on this piece to as many people you can. It means more when it comes from someone you know.