We were almost out from the commercial street after a long walk. Then I noticed this person on the other side of the street, with a smiling face and a colorful cycle. He knew people were looking at him and he was waiving at everyone, but no one cared. But I was staring at him thinking about the planet he might have came from. I couldn't read what was written on the cycle too then.
But I continued staring at him for some more time. The he noticed me and he very well noticed my camera bag on the shoulder.
He with an action asked me whether I want to click some pics of him. When I handed over Isaac to Ani, he knew that I was interested. He crossed the road and came to my side. Ani moved away due to the shyness that came out when people started surrounding us. We spoke for a minute and clicked some of his pics. When I was trying to copy his portrait, he wanted me to click one with his cycle in the frame and I took that too.
I felt compassionate for his deeds, meant for a good purpose, but not anyone caring for what he did. Instead majority opted to laugh at his looks and the way he dressed.
He is travelling on his cycle, spreading the message of peace to the people he meet for almost two years now. He has covered Bangalore, Chennai in this time span.
When I asked him about the funding to support his life, he told that he is working in the Reliance Trend store on the other side, where I found him first. That might be the way he is getting his money to live the place he goes. A temporary job where ever he halts.
Yes, he is a person, who people might laugh at. But with the conversation with him I came to know that he is well educated. His English accent was too good in fact. He was professional in his talk and was soft and filled with ideologies. His experience has taught him a lot.
People started surrounding us while the conversation was going on. I believe he was happy that more people were listening to him.
With quotes, white flag, message board, bottles of water, a plate for a quick bite....He is ready for a journey anytime.
When he came to know that I am from Kerala, he was excited, as his next destination is Kerala.
Might be that he will not be normal in this world view. But he decided something good, which is not a headache for the world he belongs to. We should support him, if we are confronting him on our way.
If you think that hes useless, I would not support that quote. All because, in the midst of that luxury seeking crowd, he injected me with a good message and he himself made me to think about the world I belong to.
"In this world all countries, religions, people, are our friends"...
