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- Atul Malikram (Author and Political Strategist)
Craving for a burger? Head to the nearest Mac Donald’s. Want to eat chaats? The Chaat Street is just around the corner.Bored of homemade food? Get dressed and dine out. For many, food is an everyday indulgence, a delightful choice at their fingertips. Yet, how often do we pause to recognize the privilege in having such choices? How many times do we think of those who might not have had a single morsel of food for a whole day?
Imaging waking up to gnawing ache of an empty stomach, not knowing when you will have your meal. This is not just words written over a page of paper, this is the harsh reality of thousands, if not lakhs in our country. For them, the cost of single morsel of food is not measured in penny, but in the relentless struggle for survival.
In the dingy corners of the city, amidst the chaotic streets, there are people that go unnoticed. The frail old man who once was a string man, now reduced to begging on the streets. Look into his eyes and you will see the untold story of a deep-seated hunger and a flicker of hope that he might get to eat a piece of bread today. Think of the mother of three, who skips meal just so her children can sleep on a full stomach. She is a domestic helper earning barely enough to make ends meet. Her children, though young, have learnt the harsh lesson of scarcity, often going to bed with a growling stomach.
Consider the struggle of a young boy who scavenges through garbage beans, hoping to find something to fill his belly. His day starts at dawn and ends long after the suns sets. The few scraps he manages to find are all that sustain him for a long time. He does not dream of playing with toys or reading books, but of a day when he won’t have to go to bed hungry.
We have often heard that, ‘Daane Daane pe likhahaikhane vale ka naam’ (each morsel has a name written on it). Does it mean that the almighty has forgotten or skipped to write many names on the morsels of food? Is it really their fate to not even have a bite of food in their empty stomach? Each morsel these people find are akin to a victory in their battle against hunger. Yet, each victory is fleeting, a temporary reprieve from a hash reality of their life.
Hunger is a silent thief, who robs people of their dignity, health, and hope. It’s a reality that remains hidden behind the façade of overcrowded markets and busy streets. We often walk past these invisible struggles, preoccupied with our lives, rarely stopping to acknowledge the extent of their suffering.
If you look at the statistics, you will find a grim picture. According to Global Hunger Index, India ranks 94th out of 107 countries. This isn’t just a number; it is reflection of the destitute of millions of people. We talk about becoming the third largest economy in the world, yet these numbers shows that not everyone is getting fruits of development. Malnutrition is a silent killer, weakening body and mind, making people susceptible to diseases. Children as small as little beans strugglethe most, their growth stunted, their potential unrealized. And education? It becomes a distant dream when the primary concerns are to fill an empty stomach.
As we reflect on our own life and let’s ask ourselves- what can we do to lessen their suffering? How can we use our privileges to help them a little?
When was the last time you were grateful for the food on your plate? Why do millions go hungry while food waste remains a key issue? How can we justify our indifference when numerous children to go to bed hungry every night?
The next time, you indulge in your favorite food, take a moment to appreciate the luxury you have and remember those who go without. Do not waste the food on your plate. Let’s transform our gratitude into action, reaching out to help those for whom a single morsel of food might cost their battle for survival.
