I am a prolific reader and happen to read anything and everything I can get my hands on. Recently, I read some Marathi books by Dr. Anil Awachat. He writes in the style of Suketu Mehta, only a lot more serious and his essays seem to be from the heart. He focuses on the underdogs of society in general. I read his essays on the lives of prostitutes, devdasi system in Karnataka and Maharashtra, fraud swamis and sadhus, beggars, nomads, the handloom industry and it’s evils, life of hamaals – the class of people that carry heavy loads, coolies and other workers. All this reading has saturated my brain and I am in a conflict about some things.

Before I read his poignant essay on the handloom industry in Nipani, I was a supporter of using Swadesi handloom and supporting the workers by buying their products (instead of buying imported cotton). But after reading his essay that read like a Dickens novel, with all the cruelties on children and the poor and child labour, I am stumped. Am I doing the right thing by using handloom cloth? On one hand, the argument is that this offers support to the poor (who would otherwise be jobless). But what portion of the money really goes to the poor, bleeding, bruised hands that actually make the cloth? The greedy worklords and the retailers benefit the most according to the essay. The other side of the argument is that such atrocities (like buying crackers in Diwali, handloom cloth, incense sticks, etc) should not be supported as it involves child labour. This side of the argument is that the Government should be responsible in providing welfare and education to everyone. What is true? Who is to be believed? What is the best way to streamline our materialistic needs so that the less fortunate are not hurt in any way, or ‘hurt’ in the least possible way? The author, Anil Awachat has just put forth these questions with idealistic suggestions that would only be scorned at, by the people in power.

Anyways, I strongly recommend his books and would love to meet the man and get some insight and advice! Months back, I was sitting in my house in Pune, thinking about what I can do if I leave or lose my comfortable 8-5 job, but after reading these heart-breaking real-life anecdotes of these unfortunates for whom daily survival is a challenge, I feel there is so much to do, to look around and try to change. Thanks, Dr. Awachat!

Note : all his essays are written after actually spending time with the subjects and hearing their side of the story. The essays are based on actual findings and not just armchair speculations on these topics.