Empathy

Abhinav works in the government of Haryana as a revenue secretary in Ambala Taluk. He worked really hard to get this job. He strictly monitors the revenue and feels proud that he works in a department that is the backbone of any administrative unit. He is often stern with his subordinates and takes disciplinary action against those who don't obey him. After all,he has to get the work done. Being, a government employee he naturally mastered the skill of bribery too and whenever his conscience tries to prick him, he soothes it saying, "what is the point of working hard for 5 years to get this job if am not willing to get rich? I know how poverty feels like. Time to know how it feels like to be rich and important. " He is very obedient with politicians and gets their job done in time.

One day he was in his cabin and a few citizens were asking him about property tax and were filing review petition to reduce the same. Suddenly he could smell a foul odour. While his mind was searching for reason his eyes caught a man picking up the dustbin. He was a sanitation worker. He looked dark and ugly and his body was carrying a bad odour. He had some skin disease too. An agitated Abinav shouted at him and asked him to leave his cabin at once. He told his attender to keep the dustbin outside his cabin since then.

After a few days, a local politician stormed into Abhinav's cabin and started to abuse him. Abhinav couldn't find time to approve one of his friends' file and that agitated him. He said all mean things and even asked what he thought of himself. He said "you are after all a revenue officer. I can suspend you or even transfer you to a place you don't even know exists. Remember your place and remember who I am. " Abhinav could even hear him whispering " low class ". He felt terrible. A part of him even wanted to cry but he maintained balance in front of others.

That afternoon he had to attend an outdoor program conducted by the government. It was noon and the program was arranged in an agricultural field. Abhinav could not find a chair so he had to stand all the time. His mind repeated thoughts of the insult. He was not feeling good. The sun reached its zenith and the pricking heat is making him sweat heavily. He searched for some water but in vain. The very politician who insulted him started to address the crowd and it made him even more uncomfortable. Abhinav walked away from the crowd and leaned on to a coconut tree, thinking about all that had happened to him that morning.

He felt, "are these people who rule us?They can't respect an individual irrespective of their financial status. They don't even know that every individual deserves dignity. How can he say that I am just a revenue officer?. Revenue is the backbone of any administration. How would he run this taluk without money?How can he belittle my service? He might be a politician. But every service is noble in it's own way. " While he was lost in his thoughts , a foul smell brought him back to the present. He became alert instantly. He could sense someone's hand on his shoulder. He turned around only to find the very sanitation worker whom he had shouted at the other day. An already upset Abhinav furiously asked " How dare you touch me? I told you. . . . " and he stopped to see a cool drink in his hand. The frightened worker said " Sir, this is for you. I saw you feeling thirsty so I brought this. Sorry sir". He gave him the drink and left.

Abhinav's eyes were filled with tears and his heart with guilt. Suddenly he understood what life was trying to teach him - " This incident happened to me to teach me that I treat my subordinates the same way as the politician treated me. I am complaining about him, but what makes me different from him. Don't I respect people based on their social, political and economic status? Don't I belittle my subordinates service? Do I treat them fair?

No. This insult happened to me to teach me "empathy". This man brought me a cool drink to fill my thirst. How many rags does he have to pick to buy me this? and that too for someone like me? His service is as important and noble as mine is. May be even more important. I can't imagine how my taluk would look like or smell like if there are no sanitation workers. Every individual deserves to be respected, to be treated with dignity irrespective of what they do or have" Tears rolled down his cheeks

He searched for the worker and found him. He hugged him heartfully and said two words that wiped all the gulit form his heart. A "thank you" and a "sorry"