[sadhuji]

Some time back we had come across a woman beggar of Patna who accumulated enough money to marry off her daughter, own a house and pay LIC premiums that ran into thousands. A TV channel has now revealed that there is a beggar in Chandigarh who stays in a posh hotel, smokes imported cigarettes, has a TV set and DVD players and leads a life of luxury when not begging on the streets! He carries mobile phones and, though he prefers to keep a beard and dress simply, is worth several lakhs of rupees.

In movies we have met beggars who put on an act to win the sympathies of the public. There was that movie in which Kader Khan posed as a blind beggar sporting dark glasses and, when the opportunity presents itself, threatens the unsuspecting do-gooder with a knife and relieves him of his possessions.

Beggars are considered to be a nuisance. They are permanent features in local trains, even in long distance ones. They resort to various gimmicks to soften the hearts and manage to squeeze out some money from those who feel sorry for their plight. There are hardly any beggars who are loners – for survival they have to remain in their own groups. These are usually headed by ruffians who identify specific routes for them. Same holds valid for beggars who are assigned areas in the cities in which they have to operate. They have to learn the art of staying alive the hard way. When we see cripples or maimed persons, we try to help them in our own ways – the easiest is to fish in your pocket for a coin and drop it in the out-of-shape container that he clutches in his hands. We get a load off our chest and are satisfied at having done a good deed for the day. But, the coins ultimately find their way into the pockets of the ruffians who controls them. The best option is to ignore the pathetic stories that they narrate and discourage them, if at all you want to help them out, offer eatables and clothes but not money.

[jyotirmoy]

There is a beggar in Shimla who owns two comercial properties near by. He still beggs and when asked why, he says "Eh mera khandani pesha hai" This is my business handed down the generations. Stray coins tossed over by millions of tourists from all over India have gone in to build the properties.

[priya]

jyotirmoy, on Apr 25 2007, 05:27 AM, said:

There is a beggar in Shimla who owns two comercial properties near by. He still beggs and when asked why, he says "Eh mera khandani pesha hai" This is my business handed down the generations. Stray coins tossed over by millions of tourists from all over India have gone in to build the properties.

It certainly sounds like a very lucrative profession.  I'm really surprised there aren't more.

[cyberhippie]

A old one legged beggar I used to know in Pushkar called Pushpa Raj surprised me when he told me he went and stayed in his sons HOTEL for the monsoon.

I met an English guy once who stayed in a squat in London and begged for a living, this paid for his trip to India every year!!

[kullukid]

priya, on Apr 25 2007, 01:37 PM, said:

It certainly sounds like a very lucrative profession.  I'm really surprised there aren't more.

I'm definitely considering it Priya!   KK

[priya]

kullukid, on Apr 25 2007, 03:42 PM, said:

I'm definitely considering it Priya!   KK

Let me know which 'patch' you're operating from - I wouldn't want to encroach (unless, of course, we can come to some arrangement, and share the proceeds.)

[Somnath]

Wow, that’s an eye-opener !!!! Anyways, I am going to apply for the entrance of Tajmahal. And Darjeeling Chowrasta for hot summer days   .

Let me call my HR manager so that she can do some justice during my next appraisal………..