Sunny is barely 5-6 years old. Maybe he is 8. He wears specks and has a million dollar smile to himself. I met Sunny on Thursday at a Udaan Center as a part of an education program we are supporting. When I took his pictures and made him look at it, he gave the same beaming smile, his spectacles reflecting the harsh afternoon sun. Sunny was there to study, to learn and to tell stories raising his hand and asking if he could. But Sunny's smile never leaves him, his innocence, which I loosely coin is what is stuck with me. Innocence, unblemished in one way of expression, his pure power to ignore the fact that he is not as privileged as I was as a kid.
I have an arrogant life. My Arrogance shows in every action that I undertake. I dont beleive in taking that 3 rupee change from the auto driver, my arrogance lies in my tie that I wear to work, the mails that I check on my phone, the dinner that I plan just to entertain myself. My arrogance exhibits itself in the English that I speak, the fake accent I put on when on overseas calls, the adjectives that I use, when I write this blog. Sunny smiled and probably reminded me of them, his smile forgives all the things that I take for granted because he smiles even though he struggles to learn, to wait for well dressed deodrant smelling men like me to step into his reading liabrary and feel smug pleased under their breaths about the great social good we do.
I could sense his vulnerability when I asked him to stand in front of the whole class and tell 5 lines about anything but with his small little curved fingers around his pocket Sunny tried. He involuntarily is trying to stand above his inheritance, his limitations and like the very arrogant me I was taking his pictures.
I dont claim that I am a humnatarian, nor do I claim that I make difference to anyone's life, heck I am too pseudo for it but here, some of you out there will like his story. I dont think Sunny needs sympathies but I sure think his smile is forgiving
