Sometimes it makes you wonder how some people who have so very little have a huge cheer on their faces. One would think that the daily expression of unmet basic needs is dismay, not cheer.
He lives in one those many shacks that line the pavements near Marina beach. All that there is for a home is the cot he is sitting on and the small shack behind. And what was he writing ? Homework apparently ! Even in the comfort of a secure home, I can’t remember a day when I had a smile on my face when I was doing my homework.
I do wish I were a little less clinical about things, but what I feel here is not compassion. It is wonder & puzzlement than anything else. Despite being very comfortably situated in life, nothing I see/have/do is fast enough, nice enough , efficient enough, interesting enough - it is not anything enough. It is not even in the same league as enough. The more one has, the less one has ?
5 responses so far ↓
1 Anush Shetty // Nov 26, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Your children potraits are amazing.
BTW about “Less is more”, does it apply to your trip too ;-)
2 Arun // Nov 26, 2007 at 10:48 pm
You seems to have a thing for portraits. Good work!
3 Lavanya // Dec 3, 2007 at 10:16 am
@Anush: There are a few aspects to which it applies :-p
@Arun: I do? Thanks ;)
4 Sylvie // Dec 4, 2007 at 1:16 am
about less is more, …..this is one behaviour I refuse to admit of my kids, who have much more than everything they need, when they get angry because we refuse something they do not have yet…. Yes this is common behaviour, for all of us to some extent. But I am convinced that some people have a gift for happiness and for them, desires mean happiness, engine for a better life,… for others it means only frustration.
I hope this kids is also deperately wanting something HE does not have, even though it is not something my kids would dream of, maybe this is why he has this smile ?
5 Lavanya // Dec 4, 2007 at 8:55 am
@sylvie: What a profound thought - Desires bringing happiness !
Thinking for myself, I realize that just the fact that I’d like to read or like to travel makes me happy. I havent opened a book yet, I havent stepped out of my home yet, but yet - that thought makes me happy..Desires DO bring happiness..They so do !
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