Grey Holi
Holi is meant to be played with colours throwing upon others mixed in water and applying dry colour powder on
friends and relatives. But I saw daily wages labour who were working only with grey colour to meet their ends.
Yeah, the labourers were busily mixing concrete to fill in the plinth beam for the construction of house using cement,
sand, mud and baby stones along with water which covered them wholly with grey colour. It was around 11 am where I had to replace my husband who got an urgent call from his
office at the construction of the house site. As soon as I reached the construction site I saw the labourers working with dedication
and strength with shouting and laughing to motivate themself which was quite new for me. I was astound by their motivation
towards the work. But then I saw girls and boys all around the construction site with colours on them playing with their friends
and celebrating holi in a traditional way. When they walked and passed by the road I could see a different picture when they
crossed the labourers. I found that the labourers were covered with whole grey colour and others with colours.
Everyday it is a grey holi for the workers while it is a one day colourful play for people like us.
I thought how hard they were working to meet their ends daily with grey colour.
Thats the difference between people like us who are educated and non educated labourers.
I felt very bad and was down for sometime but at the end of their work all I could do was make
them happy with tea and biscuits and with their “kushi” money (thats the way they surrounded me and asked).
I was not able to deny as they worked with their full energy to build our house. I felt that instead of we spending
money on pizza and other unwanted expenses why not give that money for them so that their stomach is filled
with food and heart filled with colourful happiness. I too was taken back to childhood memories where i used to
play holi with my elder sister and other friends. Later I and my son drove back home watching all around the
road where people were playing with colours and enjoying holi. Happy grey holi !!!!!!!!!!!!!
