The International Herald Tribune | Opinion
August 8, 2008
The article "Everything is changing but treatment of poor" (Letter from India, Aug. 8) by Anand Giridharadas reminded me of a heart-rending experience I had during a recent business trip to Mumbai.
While being driven around the city by a professional driver who was unfailingly polite and efficient, we came to a stop light at a busy intersection. While waiting for the signal to change, a small, disheveled-looking girl covered with dust and grime, about 7 years old, wearing nothing but rags and holding a small baby in her arms, came to our car and tapped on the window, presumably begging for money. As it was in previous such encounters, with a heavy heart I ignored the girl. In similar circumstances in the past, usually the beggar would go away when I failed to respond.
This time, however, the little girl continued to tap lightly on the window and started saying something in her language that I did not understand. While considering whether I should open my window and give the girl some money, my driver all of a sudden rolled down his window and whacked the girl on the head with his fist - and not just once. As if hitting the girl was not enough, the driver, with a fierce expression, started yelling at her, probably telling her to get lost. I will never forget the sad look on the little girl's face. She didn't cry though, perhaps she was used to getting such a beating.
The light changed color and we drove off, the driver happily chatting away about a new mall that opened in Mumbai as if nothing had happened.
Ko Unoki, Mirokuji, Japan
インターナショナル・ヘラルド・トリビューン
オピニオン
２００８年８月８日
アナンド・ギリダラダス氏の記事「すべてが変わりつつあるが、貧困層の扱いは変わる」（『インドからの手紙』8月8日号）を読んで、最近ムンバイに出張した際の心苦しい体験を思い出した。
ムンバイに出張した際、丁寧で手際のよいプロのドライバーの運転で市内を移動していると、交通量の多い交差点で信号待ちをすることになった。信号が変わるのを待っていると、埃や垢にまみれ、ボロ布しか身につけず、小さな赤ん坊を抱いた7歳くらいの少女が、我々の車の前にやってきて窓を叩き、お金をせがんでいるのだろう。私は、これまでと同じように、その少女を無視した。いつもなら、私が応じないと、その物乞いは去っていく。
しかし、この少女は窓を軽くたたきながら、よくわからない言葉で何か言い始めた。窓を開けてお金を渡そうかどうか考えていると、運転手が突然窓を開けて、少女の頭を拳で殴った。しかも、一発ではなく、その女の子の頭を拳で再び殴ったのだ。そのときの少女の悲しげな表情を一生忘れられない。彼女は、しかし、泣かなかった。殴られることに慣れていたのかもしれない。
信号の色が変わり、運転手は何事もなかったかのように、ムンバイにできた新しいモールの話を楽しそうにしながら車を運転し続けた。
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