Lucky Lucky Me

A sea of raised hands! Practically every single child had his or her hand up and those who did not were sheepishly looking around and slowly imitating their classmates! I had just asked this class of nine-year-olds, "How many of you think of yourself as poor?"

And now this sea of raised hands, plump and clean, nails carefully cut, wristwatches and bracelets twinkling. Did they all think they were poor? I could hardly believe my eyes, but I decided to take it easy, to see what they had to say before I lost my temper and started getting sarcastic.

"Why do you think you are poor?" I asked a chubby little thing who was frowning seriously.

"Because my parents said we can't afford a holiday in Singapore."

"My mother says that I have to choose between a big birthday party and a big present - we can't afford both," said another little girl, looking really sad.

" I have to wear Indian sports shoes because imported ones are too expensive, that means we are poor," an athletic looking boy piped up.

For a minute my heart sank. Were these kids completely dumb? Were they blind and deaf as well?

But no, I thought, children are always sweet and sensitive. If they are speaking in an insensitive way right now, it must be our fault, the fault of the adult world.

So I tried to put the whole thing in some perspective for the little brats!

Did you know, I said, that 30 % of India's population lives below the poverty line ? That is, they are actually and really poor, which means that they do not have enough income to eat, dress and live decently.

And what is this poverty line, you may well ask. A total household income of Rs.18, 000 per year is considered to be one of the signs of being below the poverty line. 18,000 sounds like a lot of money? For 5-6 people? For a whole YEAR? For ALL a family's needs? Ask your parents what they need to feed, clothe, and shelter the family decently each year, quite apart from education, entertainment, and other such luxuries!

And what does 30 % of the population mean in real terms? It means three hundred million people or one hundred million children at least. Think of it - one hundred million children in India alone, children just like you, going to bed cold and hungry every night, never having seen the inside of a school. Millions of children, as good as you, slogging fourteen hours in a work-shed. Millions more going to schools that are so awful that they may be better off not going at all. Seems so unfair, doesn't it! So first of all, take a good long look at that well-fed child you see every morning in the mirror, and say loud and clear, lucky, lucky me!

And then join me as I take you for a trip around your city, your country, and the world, peeking into the lives of children that are very, very different from yours. Let's look at their lives, their homes and particularly their schools, such as they are.

Join me if you dare.