Wednesday, November 14, 2007

#004 HUMAN IS A SLAVE OF HIS ENVIRONMENT

Blog Gurus discourage writing of autobiographical blogs. "We are, after all, only hoi polloi. We are not the Presidents of US or India. Who will read?" They say.

When I worked in a big Bank, I used to be greatly astonished about the glitter of furniture and fixtures in Board Rooms, General Managers' Chambers etc. and the skyscrapers. I used to wonder (or grumble?) to the astonishment of my colleagues: Is India a poor country? Who says?

After I prematurely retired from my Bank, I got back my peace of mind. Unable to bear the cost of tiffins in hotels where I can sit comfortably eat, I relapsed to my old habit of eating the food served by street carts in the city. (It is common for poor and lower middle class in India to eat at roadside carts). There is nothing to be proud of or ashamed of in this habit.

About hygiene: The dirt if any in the roadside cooking is at least visible. What rot is there in a posh hotel's kitchen, nobody knows. Everybody knows how the Sanitary Authorities function.

About ScepticismWhen I was studying Seventh Standard in 1961, our Science teacher taught us that it was dangerous to buy and eat at roadside stalls. I believed him and followed it letter and spirit for few months. One day I found him (shall not say caught him red handed, after all he was my respectable science teacher)buying sweets at the cart. He was walking to the library, as he did everyday. I closely followed him upto the library, as I was also proceeding to the library. At one particular point on the road, he slowed down. By oversight, I crossed him. Seeing me, he threw away the sweet packet. I could see dissatisfaction in his face. I felt sad. Both walked ahead as if nothing happened. After that incident, whenever a need arose to eat at carts, I did not hesitate or feel unhygienic.

Necessity makes people to do things which they may not do if they have a leeway.

My son works as a software engineer. His work environment will, naturally, be luxurious. At present, he is staying in a Company guest house. Obviously, the environment there will also be quite luxurious. Recently he visited home. Unfortunately, many of the stainless spoons available in our house have lost their edges owing to wear and tear and some chemical action with pickles. This is really a dangerous health hazard. But I never bother. My son pointed out to my wife jovially. Later he left. I forgot the whole thing.

My wife today purchased a set of six high market premium branded spoons costing Rs. 75/- half a dozen. For the same price, we would have got about 35 popular stainless spoons. About wear and tear, I cannot say anything now - unless I see the performance of the premium brand.

SUMMARY: Our actions and reactions will mostly be based on the environment which entangles us.

No comments:

Widget By Devils Workshop