No Job Too Small

Ram Ratan Pathak, a Class XII pass from Bihar, began working as a daily wage labourer when he was sacked from his job as a security guard after he drank and gambled away Rs 50,000 borrowed from his office and began bunking work. When the the haze of alcohol faded, he hit the turbulent streets of Bombay looking for work, squatting at cross roads with other daily wagers. Skilled or unskilled, by 10 am almost every naaka karigar finds work. Pathak sees no job as below his dignity. He hates going back home empty handed.

Ram Ratan Pathak, a Class XII pass from Bihar, began working as a daily wage labourer when he was sacked from his job as a security guard after he drank and gambled away Rs 50,000 borrowed from his office and began bunking work. When the the haze of alcohol faded, he hit the turbulent streets of Bombay looking for work, squatting at cross roads with other daily wagers. Skilled or unskilled, by 10 am almost every naaka karigar finds work. Pathak sees no job as below his dignity. He hates going back home empty handed. This is his third experience cleaning and unclogging a sewage line, for Rs 600, near a cluster of shops on Filmcity Road. On his way out, after a hose down at a car workshop, he waves to shop owners and says, in his broken English, “Heb you nice day sir”

dignityRam Ratan Pathaksewage

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About The Author

Ritesh Uttamchandani