Goddess of drudgery

"मैं मजदूर मुझे देवों की बस्ती से क्या

अगणित बार धरा पर मैंने स्वर्ग बनाये।

अम्बर में जितने तारे, उतने वर्षों से

मेरे पुरखों ने धरती का रूप सँवारा "।

For last few days, these lines from the legendary poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar have been resonating in my mind.

The ongoing renovation and construction going on in my residential society left me goggling at the labourers who toil so hard under the spewing fire of the sun and the muggy weather while we are whining and peeving at the hot ,humid sultry weather despite spending maximum time in the lilting hum of airconditioner s.

But  my cynosure being the frail looking but sturdy women labourers whose power and prowess  is at par with the male workers  .

As the clock chimes nine,a gaggle of petite women looking in their mid twenties assemble at the site..they look phenotypically almost similar,with a dusky - dunny complexion,average height and a sinewy lean built. Howsoever menial and tedious work they do,but their   countinence is not at all frumpy or shabby, all of them neat as a pin.Dressed in glossy,floral synthetic sarees,draped in a prim and proper way with an oversized shirt over it to prevent getting sun burnt. All of them groomed and preened to perfection, heavily oiled thick hair tied in a bun or braided in plaits roping down the back,central parting neatly dabbed with a splash of vermillion.The sublime,limpid, expressive kohl clad eyes flashing an unflagging zeal and mirth. The drudgery they get into does nt stop them from bedecking themselves .Clanking bangles slung on thin bony wrists, jingling anklets and silvery toe rings on the dust laden feet. Gilded rings sparkling on somewhat unsightly fingers ,sparkling nose pin on sharp small noses  and black beaded necklace clasped around the gangly necks,adds to their cheerful visage. The decked up and dolled up bonnie faces are devoid of any frown or scowl for the hard,arduous chores of lugging heavy loads on their heads, each one hauling  stack of  bricks on cushioned ring   perched on their heads.

Some of them carrying heavy iron rods on their frail shoulders and others flexing their muscle  power in  digging the soil. Thier main task being transporting material like bajri,cement ,stones etc at the construction site.

After so much of  manual, derisory  hard work there is not a whiff of discontent or grouchiness on their guileless faces, the encumbered bodies  move with a spring in the feet,sheen of happiness,contentment and satisfaction on  the faces. They look content as a flea.,swaying their lithe encumbered bodies,flouncing their sarees  and bobbing up and down the stairs umpteen times.

As the lazy afternoon rings in,all of them huddle  together in the shady porch area  and  munch their lunch and slurp the butter milk, a time to natter and chatter followed by a nap of half an hour to charge their fatigued bodies..The empty sacks of cement serve as a bedding and flexed arms as cushion, no sooner they hit the granite floor,a slumber ensues.. The stamina and sturdiness to carry such chores and lift such heavy weights leaves me wonderstruck.

The day ends and dusk falls,all of them queue up to get their hard earned paltry three hundred bucks.They leave for their nests knackered and fatigued but the smile and cheer plastered on bone tired bodies.One gruelling day ends but the next day  again crackles and teems with verve and energy .

Of late social media is abuzz with some filmakers,pseudo elites and armchair activists sneering and mocking at  Goddess "Kaali". It would be worthwhile if such dissenters focus on welfare of these real life Kaalis ,work on their upliftment and welfare . Let chivalry and altruism be not dead for ever, let's all show some compassion,respect and commitment to these goddesses..God's can look after  and defend themselves,they don't need validation and appraisal from mere  mortals!!