AN UNSUNG HERO

As one flips pages of an American fiction, attention is drawn to their concept of garage sales which they pride in. These novices do need to learn a thing or two from the quiet scrap to wallet system followed by many better halves which did hit a low during the period of demonetisation. Stacks of newspapers and magazines are the only items that men are privy to being converted quietly into currency notes and coins. Being an observant but reticent member of the family gave yours truly the access to these enterprising acts being carried out effortlessly by the matriarch. Sachets which brought milk were stowed in a corner after a perfect rinse. These priceless sachets were counted twice over to ensure that the numbers were in order. The price was negotiated and then the princely sum was decided and rounded off to a higher unit of currency to shore up revenues. This apart, lids of broken bottles, medicine bottles, sundry plastic items which could include a tool of no use now to a loose bolt also fetched sums which could aggregate to a mighty sum of Rupees five to ten. This being a monthly ritual, a young boy who had entered this field found favour with the households of the locality. 

These deals over a period of time witnessed the young boy push through his adolescence with changing voices, hairstyles and bring on a macho mush to boot. Adolescence brought with it the maturity to tie the knot and his domestic and personal growth became part of family lore. His wobbly walk had moved through the bicycle era to a two wheeler era with a dream of a four wheeler being nurtured. The young father also was an avid current affairs commentator with the enterprise to seek his share of goodies to cast his vote. A skilled negotiator, he could flummox a consummate politician with his wit and humour. With these strengths, he never exposed a chink in his anrmour and grew to be a scrap dealer professional picking tenders of corporates. This expertise led him to start what he termed as "side business" in real estate broking. All these have neither dimmed his spirits nor fuelled arrogance as he still remembers the days when his shorts and the scrap were vying for his attention.

Probably, it is these rag to riches entrepreneurs who make the country what it is today. These unsung heroes remain a stiff competitors to the glamorous malls or the crorepati looters. Come, let us doff our hats to these wonderful souls as neither statues would be erected or pulled down in their names nor would any panel discussion be held.