Experience India

Author: Yuan Nansheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: In Mumbai, India, beggars do not go door-to-door, do not beg in restaurants, or beg in public places such as train stations and movie theaters. Instead, they gather at traffic light intersections or scenic spots to beg. At traffic light intersections, there are often many cars waiting to pass. As soon as the light turns red, a dozen or so beggars of various sizes immediately line up along each lane, knocking on car windows one by one. Whether you pay attention or not, they will knock for about half a minute. Sometimes, beggars on both sides of the car windows will knock at the same time, giving you a sense of being overwhelmed. There are emaciated old people, dirty women holding naked infants, and children covered in dust. They stand in front of each car, constantly talking through the windows while knocking, pointing at their mouths with their fingers, hoping to get money or some food. In the one or two minutes between each red light, each person can beg from about five to six cars. This is the case at every intersection, year after year. Beggars only beg from people in small cars and generally do not knock on the windows of buses or trucks, meaning they only beg from the wealthy and powerful. If they see someone getting out of a small car, the beggars will swarm toward them. In December 2002, China's Minister of Finance Xiang Huacheng, Vice Minister Jin Liqun, and Governor of the People's Bank of China Dai Xianglong attended a conference in India. After getting off at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, the beggars surrounded them to beg. The Chinese wanted to take photos as a souvenir, but the beggars insisted on taking a group photo and refused to leave. The Indians, used to this, did not think it would harm their image and simply let it go. I had no choice but to ask the Indian staff of the Consulate General to drive the beggars away. What is strange is that Indian beggars never cross the line. They do not steal or rob; they beg "legally," often as families. No one seems to be in charge of any beggar syndicate, and the beggars show no aggression. Therefore, even if you walk through areas filled with beggars late at night, you don't need to feel afraid. This is because most Indians believe in destiny, thinking that everything in this life is determined by past lives. As a result, many beggars are content with begging for a living and have no intention of robbing or rebelling. They accept their fate with optimism, and even while begging, many beggars still wear smiles. If you are moved by compassion, sometimes how to give alms can also be difficult. Sometimes, if you give a few rupees, the beggar will take it with their left hand and immediately reach out with their right. If a girl of only fourteen or fifteen, full of innocence, is holding an infant and begging for money from you, you might instinctively give her a few rupees, but in the blink of an eye, she will suddenly bring another child to beg from you. Sometimes, if you give alms to one beggar, the beggars around will swarm to you as if they had found salvation. If what you give is not coins or just a few rupees, but rather a larger denomination of paper money, it can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth, because in no time, a dozen or so hands will reach out in front of you. This situation has been encountered by several Chinese delegations visiting India. Some Indian beggars use animals like snakes, monkeys, or elephants to beg. I personally witnessed a beggar leading an elephant to the side of the road in the suburbs. When the beggar spotted their target, they signaled the elephant to block the car. As the driver talked to the beggar, the elephant stuck its trunk into the driver's seat and hooked the steering wheel, making it impossible to move without payment. Of course, the locals do not see this as robbery. As long as a couple of rupees are handed over, the well-trained elephant will immediately use its trunk to pick up the money and hand it to the beggar, allowing the car to continue on its way. P54-55