People from nowhere

It was suggested by someone to create awareness in our program, on the roadside sellers who put a tent and sell "Ayurvedic" medicines, and promise to cure all diseases. Topic seemed quite interesting, and we started off.

The moment we got into the topic, all tent-sellers seemed like villains who indulge in anti-social activities. For the first two days we sneaked around their tents and took lot of video. Then many of their customers were interviewed. There was mixed response on the effectiveness of their medicine. There were doubts too, on their activities.

Finally we got to interview the sellers themselves. To our surprise, they faced the camera boldly, and told everything about themselves. Most of them come from Haridwara, Hrushikesh and parts of UP. Their forefathers used to practise native medicine, and these people have learnt that by default. They get to know about what makes a person suffer, by checking the pulse. There are people who come to them, and get their small ailments like gastrouble, acidity and muscle-catching cured. Some go to them for bigger diseases, and when they don't get relief, turn traitors to them.

They don't know anything else to do, other than practising this traditional medicine system. They travel from North India to farther places in South in search of their daily bread.

To quote them, "Yahan pe hamare yahan jo Jadee-boothi milthe hain, vo nahin milthe. Yahan use bech diya tho thoda zyada paisa milega.. isliye hum yahan aathe hain..."

" Humko yahan se bhaga denge kya behenji? Idhar nahin tho dusri jagah jayenge, lekin aap hi sochiye, hum kuch alag kaam jaanthe hee nahin, hum kyaa kar sakthe hain?"

When asked what is government doing for them, answers were like, "Humko yahaan se bhagaya nahi, rehne ke liye problem kiya nahi, uthna hi kaafi hai, sarkar our kya mangenge?" "Haridwar me sarkar ne ghar diya hai, bachchon ko padhayi-vadhaai ka inthzaam bhi hai, lekin hum jaise banjaare wahan kaise rahenge?"

You know when a person is bluffing, just by looking into the eye. And I knew, they were telling the truth. I had heard about those tent-sellers who reside nearby highways, sold illegal drugs like ganja and opium, or those who indulged in robberies, or those who mediated or resorted to prostitution in the nights. Atleast those whom I met weren't among those.

These sellers usually choose strategic locations, near bus-stations, railway stations, near slums, near highways and ringroads. Through their attractive banners in all languages, they promise to cure Asthma, Diabetes, Arthritis, Sexual Dysfunctions etc. completely. Saying or advertising so is punishable under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. They dont even know that. Police never has done any harm to them, because they stay away from footpaths, and their existance never obstructs movement of people.

At the same time, various doctors and experts were interviewed. Most of them opposed the unscientific and unhygenic way of selling medicines by roadside. But some of them were of the view that native medicine sellers sometimes have precious ancient practices and unique herbs and medicines that cure come troubles. This precious knowledge has to pass on to the next generation, officially.

There'z a governmental body under health department to regulate the native medicine systems. It'z called AYUSH Directorate (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). We wanted to know what this directorate is doing. The day we went, there was a "Fake doctor" surrendering to the directorate. He din't want to face the camera. He had told in his apology letter that he'd learnt Ayurveda from his dad who'z a pundit, and practised it, and that an official of AYUSH helped him in getting the certificates necessary for practising Ayurveda. And that he's realized his mistake now, and requesting the directorate to permit him to practise if there'z a lawful means to do it.

That day we din't get interview. We waited for three days, but never got the interview of the state director, despite sending detailed questionnaire and getting the permission from Health Secretary.

Finally we winded up shooting session, and series was ready. First episode was based purely on the bytes of public, on roadside medicine sellers. Second episode was on the condition of the roadside sellers, their genuine problems, and the need for solutions. Third episode was on what is wrong with their practice, and the laws under which they are punishable. Fourth was on what is real Ayurveda, and what is not. Fifth was on when Home remedies will do, when to go for Ayurveda, and when Alopathy could be better option. Concluding episode warned that practising Ayurveda without proper knowledge and self-medication in Ayurveda could have side-effects, and could prove dangerous. It emphasized on the need to find a logical, humane solution to the genuine native medicine sellers who had to sit by roadside to earn their bread. Doctors and general public acclaimed our efforts. By the response we received, we know ratings too are going to be good.

But, on the day we aired third episode, I got a call from one of the sellers whom I interviewed. He said people are coming and telling him that there are wrong things about them getting telecast in TV, and he asked me, "Behenji, aap kyun hamare pet par laath maar rahe hain? Hum sadiyon se yahee karthe aa rahe hain, ye hamaaree khaandaanee cheez hai, hum iske lava kuch nahin jaanthe... "

My efforts to explain him what we did were in vain, and he disconnected the phone by telling... "Hum yahan nahin tho dusree shehar jayenge, lekin yaad rakhna, aap hamaree baal-bachchon ke pet par laath mare hain...."

His words lingered for a long time... I started thinking why did we put our hands to this Pandora's box. True. I'm no one to judge these poor sellers. I wonder what we telecasted can really solve problems of these poor people who belong nowhere. I know what they say is truth for them. I know that they have genuine problems to be solved. I know they have to be guided in the right direction, their kids have to be educated, they have to have right means of earning their bread. If government bothers about them a bit, they could even have a sort of do's-and-don'ts provided by a regulatory body, and a sort of licensing? But what if I know? What if I express all these? Who am I afterall?

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Few months back I had seen a printout stuck on the wall of a Unani doctor's crowded clinic. It said, "IF YOU HAVE A GIRL CHILD, AND IF YOU WANT A MALE CHILD, WE WILL HELP YOU TO HAVE MALE CHILD, PROVIDED YOU COME TO US WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY, INSHA - ALLAH". I was stunned looking at that, and at the crowd at the clinic.

There are bigger fishes in the sea, who are violating laws and cheating people systematically. Do I, or anyone for that matter, dare to catch them? Does any law prevent them from what they are doing? 2007-2008 has been declared as year to spread awareness on Female Foeticide. But what has happened practically? Does anyone care?

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Couldn't help writing this, though I know this permeates the boundary of a blog and gets to the dilemmas of personal feelings and professional life.