Cycling for Survival: The Inspiring Story of Kasif

In a world where opulent apartments flaunt breathtaking views of the sea and picturesque landscapes, a hidden gem often goes unnoticed. This is the tale of Kasif, whose modest existence starkly contrasts the lavishness surrounding him. As a guard at a wealthy man’s house, his small hut on the outskirts of Varanasi may offer minimal amenities. Still, it is filled with love and resilience – a symbol of hope and determination.

Kasif wakes up before dawn each morning to cycle 18 km to work. As he pedals through uneven roads, his thoughts drift towards his daughter, who turned 28 this year. He ponders why there are no expectations for her marriage and wonders if it’s because of their poverty and low social status. While he knows he must work hard to provide food for his family, the constant struggles weigh heavily on his mind. He dreams of having a home where they can live without fear of rain or storm – living in their current hut makes them vulnerable to nature’s elements.

He longs for a place where his loved ones can live with dignity and pride – somewhere they can call their own. Despite all odds against him, he never loses hope; his determination remains unwavering as he strives for a better life for himself and his family.

However, life dealt Kasif an unimaginable blow when he lost his eldest son during the Delhi riots. The grief and pain were unbearable; however, things turned even worse when their family was accused of being anti-social and unpatriotic without any means to defend themselves financially against these allegations. The loss of their son and false accusations had taken their toll on the family; they became social outcasts living in suspicion and shame.

As he arrives at work guarding the rich man’s house each day, he gazes up at the grand mansion, wondering what it would be like to reside in such luxury while standing at attention as the rich man’s family passes by. Kasif’s life vastly differs from those around him, yet he remains resolute in his duty and responsibility. He takes great pride in his work, regardless of its perceived mundanity. After a gruelling 12-hour shift, he makes his way home through dimly lit and desolate roads. His mind is occupied with thoughts of his life and challenges; how will he provide food for his family? How can he fight against false accusations? However, his ruminations are abruptly interrupted when he realises it’s time to collect the allotted food for his loved ones from the ration shop. Standing in line, he hopes they’ll receive their ration this time.

Upon finally reaching home, he finds his son lying on the ground under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This sight fills him with sorrow as he knows that all the money earned goes towards these addictions instead of supporting their family. Entering their hut, he sees that his wife is still unwell and lies by her side while holding her hand. He ponders how he will provide food for them after he’s gone. As thoughts of the family continue to swirl in his mind, sleep eventually overtakes him as determination persists to keep working hard no matter how difficult it gets.

Kasif’s story is a testament to human resilience and determination amidst adversity. As I walk down the busy street, I can’t help but notice the stark contrast between the opulent apartments with breathtaking views and the small huts on the outskirts of the city. It’s a visual representation of the vast income inequality in India.

I think of Kasif, whose small hut symbolizes resilience and hope. His life vastly differs from the lavishness surrounding him, but he remains determined to provide a better life for his family. At the same time, I can’t help but feel heartbroken for those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder who cannot break free from the cycle of poverty despite their best efforts. The wealth gap in India is staggering, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

The issues underlying income inequality in India are complex and intertwined. Education, corruption, and unequal access to opportunities contribute to the problem. Government policies and programs can help, but it requires a collective effort from all sections of society to address it. What can bridge this gap and provide a better future for all? It may start with recognising the value of every individual, regardless of their social status or economic situation.

Everyone deserves a chance to live with dignity and pride, just like Kasif’s dream of having a home where his loved ones can feel safe and secure.

Aditya Prakash Singh
PGDM
Batch 2022 – 24

Fading Bonds: The Circle of Life

Human beings are fascinating creatures, driven by their tendency to forge connections and engage with others due to their inherent nature. These connections formed over the course of time shape one’s personality and are a huge factor in their sense of identity. Gradually, people become increasingly reliant on these bonds and start to anchor them deep in their hearts. However, everyone faces the dreadful feeling of a cherished bond being severed.

Human bonds like delicate dandelions, can be easily severed by the slightest gush of wind. This gush may be in the form of a simple misunderstanding and miscommunication or a major event which causes loss of trust. Miscommunications and misunderstandings may cause rifts and cause gradual detaching from a once cherished bond. When a relationship fades it has an intricate web of effects on any person. 

Everyone has faced the suffering of a relationship fading and everyone has a unique response to it. The bonds we create form an integral part of our identity and when they sever, they leave a gaping void in the vision of ourself. The reality suddenly feels fragmented and one finds questioning everything they know.  The loss of a relationship causes a storm of emotions encompassing sadness, grief and sometimes even resentment and anger. The person feels all the stages of grief as mentioned in the model of ‘5 Stages of Grief.’ These feelings scar a person in profound ways.

As time passes, a person finally begins to accept the severed bond and move forward with life. As the acceptance phase sets in, people begin to make peace with the broken bonds and start the healing process for themselves, which is a process that is easier said than done. When healing, due to the innate nature of humans, they form deep attachments and get emotionally invested in them, potential withdrawal symptoms can be felt. People slowly move forward from the depressing mindset and divulge to new friendships and find the lost support system in them.

The breaking of bonds, although painful, is a catalyst for growth for any individual. It forces people to embrace adversity and make the good from it. People often introspect and uncover hidden strengths and talents of their own. The introspection and extensive analysis done while overthinking allows people to improve themselves and sort any problematic tendencies which they see in themselves. The development of new coping mechanisms leads to emergence of a more stronger and resilient version of oneself. 

The loss of severed connections leads to a yearning for more, and leads to formation of new bonds and relationships. Gradually, people start building trust, planting seeds for new bonds, watering them and watching them flourish. When looking back on their past selves, one realizes that a broken bond that seemed the end of the world at that time matters so less in the long run. People realize that the bonds we form in our lives are a part of their journey and not the end goal of it. The relationships are formed and shattered but life doesn’t stop, you learn and grow and move to ahead with it.

Ayushi Gahlod
PGDM Finance
Batch 2022-2024