For four years now, we have been living in the village of
Athimanjeri in a rental place close to our farmland. I am writing this piece
based on my observations of human lives in both villages and cities. Obviously,
there are exceptions in both cases. Here I have focused only on the routine
aspects of the everyday lives of villagers (V) who are either shepherds
or daily-wage-labourers working at local farms or construction sites and
compared that to the everyday lives of city people (C).
5 – 6 a.m.
V They wake up
early before sunrise. Since they don’t have a toilet at home, they walk at
least ½ km to find a spot to conveniently squat. Once they are back at home, women
wash clothes and dishes from the previous night. This is done outside the
house, in the open area around the house. The built area of their houses is
about 200 sq. ft. Men sit around chatting. Kids either play outdoors or help
with the chores. Washed clothes and dishes are put out to dry in the Sun.
C Most modern
houses are equipped only with western toilets where sitting is the only option. After their morning beverage, maybe they read
newspaper, exercise, go for a walk, take a bath, do some puja, make/eat
breakfast and get ready for work/school. Except when they go for a walk,
everything else happens indoors.
6 – 8 a.m.
V They finish
rest of the chores and head for work, which is either shepherding or daily labour at farms/construction sites. Most of them walk to work, while some ride a
bus or a bike. They start work between 7 and 8 a.m. All their work is outdoors.
Kids walk or ride their bicycle to school.
C Leave for
work/school. They ride on motorbikes, cars, buses or trains. Except for the
ones on foot or bikes, everyone else is practically indoors during their long
commute.
9 – 1 p.m.
V After having been out and about working for three to four hours, they are likely to be hungry around 9 a.m. They have breakfast which is previous night’s rice soaked
in salt water or idli, after brushing with a neem twig. They exercise a wide range of muscles as part of their
work and sweat a lot. Many wear flip-flops, some walk barefoot. They always maintain a
straight back irrespective of the work they do. When they get thirsty, they
drink water. They work till around 1 p.m. and break for lunch. Kids mostly go barefoot
to school, sit through the classroom sessions and have their free mid-day meals
offered there.
C Their work
is mostly indoors and sedentary, exceptions being play hour at school and a bit
of walking that happens at workplaces. Mostly they have a mid-morning snack –
tea, coffee, fruit, fruit juice or healthier alternatives. A vast
majority of the men and children wear shoes.
2 – 6 p.m.
V Rest, indoors or under a tree, till about 2:30 p.m.
and resume work outdoors. Work continues up to 5:30 p.m. after which they reach
home. Children walk/cycle back home and arrive before their parents and start
playing outdoors. Slightly older girls (9+) start the fire, heat water for
cooking and start dinner preparation.
C Begin their post-lunch indoor work. They might take a mid-afternoon break to eat
or drink something.
6 – 9 p.m.
V Men get drunk in many of the households.
After taking their
bath, women cook the meal (white rice, insignificant amount of vegetable and dal,
if at all) that will last the family for the night and next morning. Children play till it gets dark. Their
houses typically have one or two yellow light bulbs. Nowadays most households
have a TV. Some watch TV in the evening hours. They go to sleep before 9 p.m.
They don’t have any furniture. They sit, sleep, and eat on the floor. This
essentially means sitting down and getting up several times.
C Head back home anytime between 5 and 9 p.m. (or even
later). They exercise or watch TV or cook. Kids play till it is time for their
next activity. They have dinner and go to bed anytime between 9 and 11 p.m. All
this while they are exposed to a lot of artificial lighting -- during the
commute, brightly lit indoors of their homes, shopping areas, TV. Some may eat,
sit and sleep on the floor. But mostly they use chairs, dinner table and beds.
They move from one flat surface to another.
Obviously, there is a lot of difference between these two lifestyles. In my next post, I will share how these observations have helped our family make some essential changes in our lives.
- Hema
