Save Farmers!!

Sriram took his son Dhruv to cricket coaching around 4 pm on Saturday, since it was the weekend it was as his turn to take his son to classes. He dropped his son and thought he would take a walk instead of sitting in reception and listen to boring gossips of ladies around. He stepped out and started walking on the road, as he walked for few miles he spotted Basava standing in corner of the road. Basava looked at Sriram and bent his head. Initially Sriram ignored and walked, but some strange feeling pulled him towards Basava again. His look was of helplessness, hunger and disappointed. which did not allow Sriram to move forward, he stood their looking at Basava for few minutes. Basava was also staring back at Sriram, those eyes were begging him for help.

Sriram took out his purse and went to a nearby vegetable shop and brought a dozen of Bananas and offered to Basava. Basava was so grateful that he bent his leg to convey Thanks to Sriram. Basava was a bull; which we fondly call as Kole Basava. While he was thanking Sriram, an old lady who was sitting beside covering her face as if she was sleeping, woke up in a hurry. She saw Sriram offering Bananas to Basava and smiled at him. Tears were about to flow on her cheeks, she was also hungry and needy. She was a lady of about 65 years old, wrinkle skin and black complexion. Sriram offered few Banana's to the old lady as well since there was no sign of any eatery close by. 

After eating them Old lady thanked Sriram, She said "Ayya, we both were hungry from 2 days, I was not able to move an inch because of weakness, God might have sent you to give us food. May God bless you with happiness". 

Sriram smiled and said "who are you ?? why are you here?? Where do you stay?? Let me know if you want to make a call to your family.

The old lady smiled and said "My name is Muniyamma, I am from a remote village of Davangere. We were farmers once, we used to feed thousands of people then. Now we are begging for a single meal. Isn't it sad, we took a loan from banks for agriculture purposes and did not clear it, so banks took all our lands and auctioned them. Where will we get money to clear loans, no proper buyers, no one helped us, no one bothered about us and our crops. Many left the village and came to the city to look for petty jobs and few like me who can't work are begging on the streets" She said this and wiped her tears from her pallu.

Sriram who was listening to her sighed " So then what happened?? What about your family??

Muniyamma continued "I had a son, he was everything to us. Since we were in loss and bank people and money lenders started harassing him. He ran from pillar to post to get relief amount, but no one cared and no one heard our cries. He could not bear it anymore, so he committed suicide on the same farm where he grew crops.

This time tears were flowing from both Muniyamma and Basava eyes. "Bank people snatched our house and property and the only thing that's left with us was this Basava, who had worked hard with us and we look after him like our own son. Though we planned to send him to others, he would refuse to go with them. we are finding it difficult to feed him as well as get a single meal for myself and my husband. 

Sriram felt a lump in this throat, he controlled himself and pulled out a fivehundred rupees note and handed over to Muniyamma."Please buy some food for yourself and Basava". , he told in a sad tone".

Muniyamma folded her hands in namste and bent to touch Sriram foot, he stopped her and said: "Muniyamma, you are of my mother's age, please don't do this". Muniyamma untied Basava and walked her way. 

While they were walking Basava turned back and looked in gratitude. He was conveying thanks to Sriram for his help and that look was unforgettable.

Sriram stood there thinking what are we doing to our farmers?? Indirectly we are killing them?? What will we do if there are no farmers on this earth, we can't eat money and gadgets. When a movie stars and cricket stars in trouble entire media will focus that, but when the farmer who is also called the spine of India is committing suicide, no one bothers. 

While walking back home Sriram narrated the incident to his son and asked his son, son what you want to be when you grow up?? His son held his head high and replied "A farmer Appa, A farmer who feed lakhs of people. I want to bring a huge change in our society. Sriram's eyes filled with tears.

The only hope that we have is our future generation!!