Children of a lesser god

It was a small room in the midst of an inner-city slum. Raju lived with his parents and four sisters.He was the youngest.His father had no source of income.He had lost all his jobs because of his severe drinking problem.Every night he transforms into this drunken monster.His mother, Shanti, works as a house-maid and earns just enough to give them food .She prays every morning. All she asks for is a day without any beating from her callous husband,some food for her children and nothing else.But apparently even this is not acceptable to the God.He shows no mercy.As always.As with every other mother in that slum.But still they all have faith in that absentee landlord.

Raju again had the same dream last night.He was in school learning science. At least it will keep him happy for the day. He works at a small food place near the school. At times when there are no customers, he goes to one of the windows of the school and observes curiously.This has become his routine.He has even made some seating arrangement for himself beside the window with whatever he could find in the trash.He has a strong desire to learn. Whatever he learns during the day, he shares it with his sisters and his mother.He praises the teacher and the fact that he knows so much about everything They all stare at him with bewilderment. He tells them he will become a teacher someday.They all laugh.But some where deep down their hearts they have a strong feeling that he will.His eyes say it all.It is his destiny.

It has been a year now.He still visits that window which opens into a world of facts and knowledge that totally mesmerize him at times. His ever increasing zest for learning is unprecedented.It does not bother him that he has to sit outside the class.But when he looks at those who have the privilege to sit inside, he is confused.They seem to be bored by the words of the teacher.They do every other thing than listening to the teacher. He tells himself maybe they already know it all.He later realizes the truth.The unfair bias.

It was one of those days.Raju got off from work early and rushed to his window.The topic today was 'God' and how he created this wonderful Earth.The teacher told the children that God is fair and treats everyone in the same way and that we all should worship him.He came up with numerous stories to support his statement.It was the first time Raju didn't agree with what he had heard.It just didn't feel right.At the end of the class, students were asked to write a few lines on something which would highlight their perspective of God and present it in the next class.After that, the class was dispersed and all went home.Raju was still there.He went inside the classroom and sat on one of the benches and stared at the word 'God' written on the board.

The next day, when the students entered the classroom they were spell bound.They called their teacher.He stood there in amazement.His eyes partially wet.The board read...

"We are born in the slum. Helpless,weak and dependent.We are forced to be like this till eternity.The attempt to break-free makes it even worse.He wants us to suffer.I can't think of a reason.But we accept it anyway.

You are the fortunate ones.He has given you the power to fulfill your dreams.We can hardly dream.But we accept it anyway.But why are you so heartless? You know you can help.You know you can share. But you don't.Still we accept it anyway.The worse part is that you see us as dirt.Nothing more than that.That is not acceptable to us.

You are God's Children and We, the children of a lesser God."