Christmas: A Time for Welcoming New Light and Life.
I did my high school studies, living with my grandma in the countryside of Mangalore, India. At that time our village had very few shops. The majority of the population were farmers. Peddlers, who sold door-to-door, supplied the necessary household goods and clothes. My granny bought almost everything from these hawkers.
A lady came regularly to my granny’s home, carrying on her head a large basket of fish and clams. She was a nice lady. We called her Akka which means sister. Even today, I do not know her real name. Akka had great respect for all our family members. It was mainly because of my granny, who was very kind to her. I never saw Akka come inside our house. She would remain at the doorpost and call my granny to come out.
One day, I offered Akka a glass of water. She was tired and perspiring because of the hot sun. She refused to take it from my hand. She asked me to place the glass on the floor and she picked it up from the floor. I felt very bad at that time, but later my granny explained the reasons for her odd behavior.
Akka’s family stands on the lowest layer of the Hindu caste system. They are called shudra. In English, we call them untouchables, which is a misnomer. Though the caste system is no longer practiced in India, the stigma attached to the untouchables down through the centuries has not completely vanished. It was sad to see Akka feeling very low about her own life and caste. Probably, it will take another generation to help break down old traditions.
My granny is now dead, but Akka continues to sell her wares to my family.
She still likes to pick up the glass of water from the floor. Last week she passed the door post. Glimpses of change are appearing through the crevice of an ancient door, an old peddler.
-Fr. Ranjan OCD