SUBHAM GHOSH

#RealLifeStories

It was a bone-chilling morning of February when I reached the dam on Teesta River. The place named as gajoldoba. I clicked some photographs of birds and reached the bank of the river. I saw a boat was coming from mid river. While coming to the bank, I saw a smiling face of a man on the boat full of fishes and nets (maybe he could predict that I will be taking a small interview of him).

Me: Hi. When did you go there for fishing?
Man: I woke up at 3 am and sailed to mid river. For fishing that is the best time.
Me: Isn’t it too early to wake up at that time in these days?
Man: We have to do it to remain alive! By the way, do you get paid for this?
Me: Not really, but if I can manage to win any competition with these images then there is a chance. How much do you earn in a day?
Man: around Rs.300-400
Me: Is that enough for you? Why don’t you sell it directly to the market in town? We have to buy it with more money than what you get.
Man: We supply this to the retailer and they sell it to the market. We cannot by pass them! What will they eat if we ditch them! We cannot do that betrayal!
Me: you have to get up that early and your needs are also unfulfilled, still you are thinking of others. This values are getting diminished in urban areas.
Man: the more you get, the more you want! That is the game my child! See, she is my wife and she also woke up with me and helping me in the work. My son helps me in farming. May be we have less, but we are happy and satisfied. We manage to get through by standing with each other.

This conversation lasts for more than an hour (I am not giving the entire conversation). But that day, this poor & ignorant man taught me an important lesson of life.

Be content. Be happy.