1st prize winning Samvedna Write-up

"Chotu zara chai lana", how many times have you caught yourself saying this? How many times have you looked out of the window of your car, dropped a rupee into the hands of that half naked kid at the traffic signal and cursed the government and the child rights organizations for making lofty promises? How many times has someone asked you about the best days of your life and you haven't thought of your school or college?

We take too many things for granted in life because we can afford to do so. We cannot think beyond our premises. But certain things prick our conscience and at occasions mentioned above, we probably place ourselves in the not so comfortable shoes and what do we do then? We form trusts and organisations, not to free these children from shackles but to help liberate our own conscience. We redeem ourselves by ‘Donating’, our perception of magnanimous charity and then forget about everything else. Ever wondered what happens to all the money spent? Ever wondered whether it is money that Chotu actually needs?

A warm gesture, a gentle touch and an encouraging smile are all something we relate to normalcy but not for Chotu, for him it is just an aberration, just something a large-hearted customer obliged him with. We need to bridge this gap, this disparity in the perception of normalcy and deviation. The onus is on us to stand up for emancipation and not just rant about it.