I have often considered speaking with Mr. Vivekanandan, a 59-year-old unmarried daily wage worker. One fortunate day, I found him resting on a bag of rice he had loaded onto his back, exhausted from climbing the steps of a hotel. He delivers between 8 to 10 sacks there each day, with each sack weighing around 75 kilos. Additionally, he transports 6 to 7 tins of oil, each weighing 16 kilograms, to another hotel in the northern part of Thrissur. For his hard work, he earns Rs.31 for each sack and Rs.10.25 for every tin of oil he delivers. Alongside this, he receives a free meal when he makes deliveries at the hotel.

People like Vivekanandan are a common sight at Thrissur’s Swaraj Round—self-employed individuals who take great pride in their work and strive to provide maximum satisfaction to their customers without any regrets for nearly twenty-five years. However, the only reward for his efforts has been a back bent like a bow, as he must constantly lean forward to balance the heavy loads he carries.

Vivekanandan hails from Nadupuzha, a residential area in Thrissur near the railway crossing, commonly known as Nadupuzha gate. He begins his workday at 9:30 AM. Upon arriving in town, he rents a push-pull cart from a shop for Rs.8 per hour and pushes it to the market area called Ariyangadi (Rice Bazar), where he loads up on goods for his customers. He then pushes the cart towards Kizhakkekotta (East Fort) to deliver the items on his list throughout the day.

I was taken aback by his smile; there was no sign of fatigue on his face. I asked him if he felt dissatisfied with his job, and he innocently replied with a smile, “I earn my daily bread by the grace of God; He will take care of me. It is because of God that I can continue my work without complaints from my customers for such a long time. I am grateful for the great blessings He has bestowed upon me.”

We often overlook individuals like Vivekanandan on the streets who toil tirelessly for their survival. If we could take just a little time to share our feelings with them and understand their struggles, it would serve as an invaluable lesson for all of us who sometimes view life as merely a walk in the park.

Submitted By – Lawrence Vadukut

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