A Silent Salute

"Aren't you from Thiruchy?? Do you remember me?" said a voice, in tamil.

I nodded and said with surprise "Aamam. Neenga? (Yes. You are?)" Not many people know my hometown. When did I tell this thin man with a red cap and a baniyan where I am from?

"Don't remember? You had come to Water Treatment. I showed you around the place. How are Appa Amma?" with a broad smile.

Yes, then I remembered. Two years ago, as a part of our "Biodiesel from waste water" project, we wanted to know about IIT's water treatment plant. And this man had volunteered to show us around the stinking place. He didn't know the names of the chemicals used or the mechanism involved. But he sure did know his duties and tried his best to help us. Other than all that, he wasn't much of a guy to remember. Until today.

I got to know a lot about him in the short conversation we had.

Twenty Seven year old Kumar has worked in IITM for the past 10 years. He works at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, one of the lesser known places in insti. He proudly claims to be one of the most trusted workers, because of which they have assigned him the extra responsibility of managing water supply to the girls' hostel area.

When asked how his family's doing, he tells with a sigh, "Thambi (younger brother) doesn’t want to finish 12th. He failed this time. He says he wants to become 'Police' and doesn't have to study for that". He has two siblings. "My younger sister has studied much more than me. I passed 8th standard that's all. She did computer course after passing 12th." Head held high. "She will work after we get her married. Her marriage is our concern now", he quickly adds.

And IIT is more than a second home to him. He is delighted by the generosity of the institute for paying him Rs. 8,500 per month. And out of this, Rs. 1,500 is a bonus only he gets, for his sincerity. He is grateful to them. He sends home most of the money. "I don't have any 'habits'. I used to cook, but now I eat at the mess. So, not much personal expenses".

The institute depends on this man for keeping itself clean. He is one of the very few (or probably the only one) who do the 'dirty' work of 'cleaning' sewage in campus. The irony is apparent.

"I do not want to do that. But no one else wants to do such jobs these days. Even if I wanted to quit, they won’t let me go. My friends ask me to leave, to escape all this. I have lost my health. And nowadays, it doesn't matter to me. I got used to it." But he doesn't want to quit. His gratitude and loyalty stop him. "If I go out, I may not be able to come back".

He seems to have many friends among the students. He remembers people by their place of origin. "I have seen you a lot of times, in the last 2 years. You would be going to class or something. It wouldn't be right for me to stop you. I see your friends too (those who came with me to visit the plant). I finally got to speak to you today" What have I done to be remembered by this man? I felt honored.

After exchanging phone numbers, I took his leave. And there has been, since then, a strong thought in my head. This man should get his recognition. He, and all the other workers like him, should be thanked. Of course, he is not a genius, he is not an entrepreneur, not a person who’s going to change the world. But he surely is a symbol of the change that the world needs. It is not sympathy that he needs, nor monetary help. What he deserves is a pat in the back. A salute.

His ambitions are simple. Getting his sister married. Making sure his brother gets settled in life. Finish building his new home in Vilupuram, his home town. After all that, getting married to the girl his parents choose and live with his family and farm.

I hope his dreams come true.