intriguing picture

PICTURES IN SEARCH OF SUITABLE CAPTIONS

Dear Friend,

Recently, I received a picture from a friend, which compelled me peer at it for quite a while. I then used the ‘picture manager’ to focus my attention on a tiny portion, then looked at half of the photograph, before getting back to the entire picture. I am sharing the results, since it tells a poignant tale. I want you to see it, the way it is placed below: and one picture at a time. Then scroll down, until the next one appears. Keep doing that until you reach the last one. I am in search of a suitable caption to create a story. I believe that hidden in these images there is a message for all of us. I suspect that there is something seriously wrong with our society, which needs to be corrected.
I seek your help.

                                                                                                                                                   

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picture1

Take a good look at this child. Focus your eyes on the lovely cheeks, and the smug look in his eyes, and scroll down…

 

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picture2

 

    You now see a little more of the child. He is wrapped up in a makeshift ‘jhoola’ and seems to be  suspended on some kind of a support . Let us see more…

       

 

 

 

 

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picture3     
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This picture reveals that there is a person with the child! Let us investigate. But before we see the whole picture, we must see an ’unrelated’ picture. Scroll down.

 

 

 

 

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picture4

 

Are you able to connect this picture with the previous pictures? If not, scroll below to see the entire picture.

 

 

 

 

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picture5                                                                                
      

​What if a brick falls out of the hand of the mother? And indeed, if the bricks are not baked well, the sand from its surface may come down like powder and enter the eyes of the infant. Finally, I calculated the total weight being carried by this hapless worker. If she picks up seven bricks, and add to it the weight of the child, it is quite a load. And ever so often, the bricks are to be carried to the first floor…

 

We are told that ‘India is shining’ we are a global economic power, and our GDP is growing at a fancy rate. Some of our rich men live in a kind of luxury which will put American billionaires to shame.  Sixty eight years have elapsed since our independence and we have enacted  some excellent laws for the well being of our ‘nursery’. Have a look below to see how our law makers have protected the life of the above child:

 

 

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  picture6                                                  

                                                      
      

    ​Pictorially, it is depicted as follows:

 

picture7
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    But, on ground the picture is as below:

 

picture8                                                                                            
                

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I beseech you to suggest captions to the pictures of these two infants with their mothers engaged in the task of ‘nation building’ . These unfortunate children of a lesser God are being simultaneously acclimatized to grow up as physically tough and hardy and step into the shoes (or tattered slippers) of their mothers… so that we continue to have cheap labour in the decades to come!
                                                                                                                                           

  1. Brig Harikumar KN says:

    Dear Gen,

    My caption is:

    “Cast away the EVIL EYE”

    Hari

  2. PK says:

    Dear Gen. Singh,

    Thank you for haring your thoughts on the gross inequities we have perpetrated due to our reckless indulgences, both on ourselves and on our fellow creatures on this planet. The consequences of our thoughtlessness are being noticed around the world, and the nightmares will continue till we wake up.

    As we begin to acknowledge the horrors of the paths we have chosen, from poverty for the majority to the bloated lives and indulgences for the isolated rich, we will realize we are all together, on this rather short journey called Life. It is somewhat ironic, perhaps reflections of innocence, that most of us seem to develop a conscience only after we have lived out most of our lives.

    The subject of inequities, aka the Social (Societal) Determinants of Health, has received attention at both the global scale (i.e., WHO) and in “rich” countries, like the US. Here are links that show that people are beginning to wake up.

    Social determinants of health

    image

    Social determinants of health

    Zoltan Balogh

    View on http://www.who.int

    Preview by Yahoo

    Poverty Rates by County, 2012 | Social Determinants of Health Slides | Atlas | NCHHSTP | CDC

    image

    Poverty Rates by County, 2012 | Social Determinants of …

    CDC – NCHHSTP Atlas Resources

    View on http://www.cdc.gov

    Preview by Yahoo

    Finally, to close on a positive note, here are some images from NASA, showing that the same technological advances that have laid waste to the Earth may guide us back to a sense of unity.

    NASA Shows Off Spectacular New Blue Marble

    image

    NASA Shows Off Spectacular New Blue Marble

    The Deep Space Climate Observatory snapped a new picture of the Earth from one million miles away.

    View on http://www.climatecentral...

    Preview by Yahoo

    In the spirit of Guftagu…

    Be Well,

    PK

    PS: By way of introduction, you will find me (i.e., my remarks) at the end of the post about Nain Singh, by Joseph Thomas, a fellow Lawrencian.

  3. Kuljit Gurinder says:

    India shining- the hidden truth!

    KG

  4. Commander P K Jain says:

    Nation Building for the rich of India…by the actual people of India

  5. Sandeep Suri says:

    Bricks and people have the same basic material created by the creator..
    So my caption would be-

    “How earth has molded into different shapes…the only difference is the consciousness”

  6. Surjit Singh says:

    Thomas,
    Viewed from another perspective, the increase in the aggregate life expectancy has not been as dramatic as your figures suggest. Life expectancy at birth shows an impressive rise, but that is because of the enormous reduction in child birth deaths and infant mortality. For those who survived beyond their childhood, life expectancy has improved by a less impressive factor.
    My great-grand father lived to be 104 years: from 1843 to 1947. At least three other persons crossed the century mark. Also, the lives of these elders were healthy. They could draw water from the well and go to the fields for the call of the nature. Some of the elders whom I see are alive just because they are breathing. They are merely adding years to their lives; and not life to their years!
    I think that is a subject which we will take up for a discussion on a subsequent day.
    Your caption is apt…
    Surjit

  7. RS Bains says:

    Captions for consideration

    1. ‘Burden of Hope’ inspired by Tribhuwan.
    2. ‘Umeed pe duniya kayam

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Raj ji,
      Thanks. Great to receive your message from across ‘seven seas’!
      Is it not ironic, that even hope, which is the ultimate Messiah for the hapless and the helpless can become a ‘burden’?
      Regards and best wishes,
      Surjit

  8. SD Gupta says:

    Dear sir
    This depicts real lndia. Beautiful child growing up in the most unfavorable conditions. First instance, it is a lovely child who looks like a blooming flower, thrown in garbage…

    SD Gupta

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Gupta ji,
      True, indeed. The real India has a very ugly face. A poet said,

      ‘Zindagi ko kareeb se dekho,
      Iska chehra tumhe rula dega!’

      I wish we could device a veil for the ‘real’ India!
      Surjit

  9. Col Tribhuvan Singh says:

    Sir
    You could consider “The burden of Life”

    Tribhuwan Singh

  10. yoginder says:

    1. Poignant pictures- thought provoking.
    2. My thoughts on ‘title options’:-
    * Steel and sadness/suffering- A Bi-focal Vision.
    * S & S- Our Split Personality/Reality.

    3.This is the sad reality; but also a narrative of resilience and ‘contentment. My Grandson from Singapore spent a week me. Last evening I provoked his thinking by asking him his expectations from this visit and how far met? A relevant and perceptive observation, is germane to this post. He said ‘ I have seen an ironic and amazing contentment amongst the poor here which is missing in the highly competitive masses of Singapore’. For me your story validates that- but I am a maverick?

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Dear General,
      The young lad has made a very profound observation. Singapore is a unique city-state. They are obsessed with ‘progress’ and economy. Every one is chasing the mirage. In their hurry to reach the destination, they forget their ‘present’ They seem to be living in the future all the time.
      In actual fact there is no goal. No objective. Journey is the destination!
      Both the captions are new and imaginative. Thanks!
      Whether you are a maverick or not is debateable. We will decide that separately.
      Regards,
      Surjit

  11. Bawa Kaur says:

    Everytime I look at this picture, it tells me a different story and touches my heart deep within. Sometimes I wonder, why are things the way they are. Sometimes, I feel helpless….

    Some of the captions which I could think of

    1.On Job Training.

    2.See! I Trust My Mother.

    3. Incredible India or In Cradle India.

    4.My Great country(bution).

    5.A labourer in the making.

    6.Ma Tujhe Salaam.

    7.Labour Pain.

    8.In debt(ed) for life.

    9.KHatron Ke Khiladi.

    10.I didn’t ask to be born.

    11.Back(up) support.

  12. Prakash Bambawale says:

    ” Forgotten by The Govt. But not forsaken by” The Mother” (GOD)

  13. colls Kohli says:

    Mother and child

    My love I bestow upon you
    my child,
    I look after your comforts
    all my while
    cause you alone are my
    only child
    The swing
    So many kids go to the park and swing
    all day with their moms
    I cannot leave you for a moment
    thus with me you swing along

    Ah!
    Only you now know alone
    that I am there for you
    all day all night to comfort you
    So sleep and kick about
    as you wish
    mother and father
    I am for you

    Let me not drop

    Let me not drop a brick
    as it may hurt you,
    thus I bend forwards
    so as to protect you
    You are my whole world
    my child
    I love only you

    Let the whole world

    Now let the whole world see
    how jobs I do two
    one pick up bricks
    and
    also look after you

    India is shining

    We can say can’t we
    all days are so hot
    in the heat we shine
    don’t we

    Yes India is shining
    with hard work we do
    population is a hobby
    aren’t we all with it happy too?

    MOTHER AND CHILD 1961
    Is a hope so distant past
    our population is also growing so fast
    so we all dream at last
    and
    in dreams these memories will also get past
    we will shine in many a heart,
    if not at least two,
    yours and mine
    won’t it do?

    The Broader Picture
    As time ages
    I age too
    so are you getting older true
    and
    now at a distance you can stay
    as I pass more time to buy more hay
    Come one day
    you will say
    mom earned and made out of me
    a Malala one day
    my daughter and son
    that day is not a long way
    India is shining now all do say

    Come to India
    Canada and or USA
    we too, in gardens of Paradise shall play
    one day,
    someday,
    if not today…
    but that day is my child
    not too far away…
    It’s on its way all say!

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Sir,
      You are AMAZING!!!
      How did you survive in the army?!
      Surjit

      • colls says:

        By your good wishes
        GENERAL SAHEB
        ARMY had no option
        but to keep me

        ”TUSSI NA HONDE
        TEY Colls
        KITHE HONDA?

        ISS bacche de TARAH
        MAA DEY PEETH VICH
        RONDA

        KOAN MAINU
        SIVAI MAA KAY SUNDA???

        ….TUSIEE KADDE KADDEE
        AAAAA JANDEY HOE
        JAAN VICH JAAN
        VAPIS AAAAA JANDEE HAI

        Hamesha veerji
        sade vargey gareebaan noee
        yaad rakhiyoe

        GAREEBAN NOE YAAD RAKHOE
        par
        DUWAYEINN sirf MAA HEE DENTDEE HAI!!!!

        TOOTEE PHOOTEE PUNJABLI
        MUAAFF KARNA
        JURNAILE SHHHHABHji

        you needed a ”’caption”
        I wanted to captivate
        the whole essence of it

        you are our master
        we only
        DRY sands
        of a desert
        IN SEARCH OF AN OASIS !
        like this child is looking forward to
        Sir SURJIT JI

        Mahashallah
        yaad rakhnaa
        kadee kadee !

        colls nu bheee

  14. Commodore Bibhu Mohanti says:

    JAI MAA DI

  15. RK Gaur says:

    Tough Woman, Rugged Baby.
    Hardened by Nature.
    Fighting All Odds Together.
    Come What May, We Shall Overcome.
    Made For Each Other.
    Adversity Breeds Resilience.
    Challenge & Response.
    Sheh-Maat.

  16. Satish Manocha says:

    1. Child: “It is the same situation at the bottom of the Pyramid in Bharat since ages” .

    2. “Need a third Eye like by sensitizing all our senses to realize the Truth, it is feasible”.

  17. Rashmi Oberoi says:

    Sadly Uncle, this is the reality in our country. We see it at every step and phase. For me, it would aptly be seen as “A Mother’s Cry”… Or even “A Mother’s Woes” It is the woman who carries most or all responsibilities on her shoulder and it is taken for granted that it is the woman who should be raising the children. It is so clear in this picture that the woman here has to work hard not only for her livelihood but even has to look after her child side by side and also ensure that she is able to fend for themselves. The situation is tragic and heart-wrenching. But this is how it is. The ugly, ground reality.

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Rashmi,
      Being a mother yourself, you can feel the pain much better.
      As an elder, who has seen several children grow, I know how difficult it is to bring up infants.
      Surjit

  18. the unfortunate part of our behaviour is that there is conflict in our speech and action, which is the root cause of our misgovernance, not following the moral principals as politicians, preachers and teachers are found sailing in the same boat. Non implementation of Maternity Act 1961 is an offshoot of this attitude and still we say that India is shining on.

  19. colls says:

    I sent you my Vision
    The eye wasn’t there then
    My poem has been lost
    in the sands of invisible time

    I post it here again
    Dearest General Surjit,
    Hope you will appropriately
    Caption each

    Mother and Child

    My love I bestow upon you
    my child,
    I look after your comforts
    all my while
    cause you alone are my
    only child

    The swing

    So many kids go to the park and swing
    all day with their moms
    I cannot leave you for a moment
    thus with me you swing along

    Ah!

    Only you now know alone
    that I am there for you
    all day all night to comfort you
    So sleep and kick about
    as you wish
    mother and father
    I am for you

    Let me not drop

    Let me not drop a brick
    as it may hurt you,
    thus I bend forwards
    so as to protect you
    You are my whole world
    my child
    I love only you

    Let the whole world

    Now let the whole world see
    how jobs I do two
    one pick up bricks
    and
    also look after you

    India is shining

    We can say
    can’t we
    all days are so hot
    in the heat we
    still shine
    don’t we

    Yes India
    of course
    is shining
    with hard work we do
    population is a simple hobby
    aren’t we all with it
    happy too?

    MOTHER AND CHILD 1961 …….LIKE MATERNITY

    Is a hope so distant past
    our population
    is also growing so
    speedily fast
    so we all dream at last
    and
    in dreams these memories will also get past
    we will shine in many a heart,
    if not at least two,
    yours and mine
    won’t it do?

    The Broader Picture

    As time ages
    I age too
    so are you getting older true
    and
    now at a distance you can stay
    as I pass more time to buy more hay

    Come one day
    you will say
    mom earned and made out of me
    a Malala one day
    my daughter and son
    that day is not a long way
    India is shining now all do say

    Come to India,
    China, Canada,
    UK and or USA
    we too,
    in gardens of Paradise
    shall play
    one day,
    someday,
    if not today…
    but that day

    My Child(ren)

    is not too far away…
    It’s on its way all say!

    Colls
    Canada

    • Surjit Singh says:

      Dear Sergeant Major,
      Contained in your poem, there are at least ten captions!
      So I need to thank you several times!
      May the Lord give you good health so that I can keep getting your encouragement always, and every time.
      Surjit

      • colls says:

        Give me O Master
        an opportunity to bow in front of folks like thee

        how many can count
        on fingers beyond three

        YOU
        Surkhan
        and perhaps
        if YOU permit
        now me

      • colls says:

        It seems I have
        as usual Overstepped
        you wanted only one
        CAPTION
        Toe sunoe

        ”KOI MERE AWAAJ TOE SUNOE”

  20. Joseph Thomas says:

    Surjit, we can always think of the glass being half full or half empty. What we need is a benchmark, a starting point, to measure things. Like we need to define (0,0) before we draw a graph.

    I do think that, for social indicators, 1947 is the appropriate starting point. When we look back, our life expectancy in 1947 was 28 years, poor people lived in mud huts, walked everywhere, could not even afford bus fare. In 1947 we lived in Tambaram. Poor people used to collect the small pieces of coal dropped from railway engines and used to collect drinking water from the overflow of steam engines. Fisherman used to alternately run and walk from the sea, 15 km away, to reach the market before the fish decayed. I can go on and on, but suffice it to say, we have come a long way.

    From minus 10 to minus 7 is a 30 % improvement. And, if we start from minus 10, we can’t go to plus 10 overnight. We have to go through all the intermediate stages.

    The glass half empty is to say that the woman and child are going through hell. The glass half full is to say that the woman is earning more than if she were to get a job in the Gulf.

    Yes, India has progressed to the point that wages are higher than in the Gulf. We are now the world’s fastest growing large economy. One of our greatest achievements is the creation of a large middle class.

    There is much to be proud of and much to be ashamed of.

    Wages in India have vastly improved. The biggest problem facing poor people today is alcoholism among the menfolk. You can also throw in some gambling and quarreling. Read this perceptive article in the NY Times.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/world/asia/04iht-letter.html?fta=y

    My caption is “The Problem of Working with Men in India.”

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