There is dignity in labour

The over-crowded mail train came to a screeching halt at Howrah Station. Swarms of men, women and children flooded the railway platform. Everywhere the cry of ‘coolie’, ‘coolie’, ‘porter’, ‘porter’ vent the air. All the porters were busy being overwhelmed by the number of passengers. Many passengers waited patiently for the porters to carry their luggage. 

Almost 20 minutes had passed since the arrival of the mail and a gentleman still sitting in the second class compartment was trying in vain to get a coolie. After  sometime, he detrained. He was a Bengali. His manners were perfectly European. He was young. His well-cut grey suit with a matching felt-hat, a Malacca cane and shining shoes made him look like a European. He obviously looked disgusted. After flicking a particle of imaginary dust from his coat, he adjusted his pipe and again shouted for a coolie.

A middle-aged man, clad in dhoti and a kurta with a chaddar wrapped around him, was watching this gentleman from a distance. This man could no longer bear the plight of this traveller. He came to the gentleman and politely said “Sahib, I will carry your luggage. Please show me.” The gentleman asked the ‘coolie, to get the suitcase out of the compartment.

The suitcase was light in weight. The “coolie” was surprised to note that, but picked it up and quietly followed the sahib. The coolie properly placed the suitcase in a  rickshaw and began to leave without asking for the wage.

“Won’t you take your dues?” the sahib shouted.

The man smiled back and replied pleasantly, “I don’t need it.”

The sahib was amazed beyond imagination. He had never met such a porter in his life. Out of sheer curiosity, the sahib asked, “Well, what is your name?”

“Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar” the man replied calmly.

The sahib ran and fell at  Vidyasagar’s feet and said, “O, Vidyasagar, please forgive me. I feel so ashamed that for my sake you had to do such a low work of carrying my luggage.”

Vidyasagar, the great educationist and philanthropist, answered, “No work is low or below my dignity. You were ashamed to carry your own luggage because you thought this to be below your dignity, education and appearance. I carried it for you.” Vidyasagar continued, “Every work has its dignity. There is nothing low or high in work and to be self-reliant is one of the greatest qualities of human beings.”