Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Professor who Begs

He was dressed in a formal shirt which was tucked inside his pants. A bag was strapped on his shoulders, hanging against his back. In his arms he held a plastic box and a folder stuffed with sheets of paper. He stood on the platform, waiting for the train to arrive. The crowd jostled and pushed him from the side, but he ignored them. He focused on what he had to do.

The train slowly arrived on the platform. People got ready to jump in so they could get a seat. The minute the train arrived; there was a rush of people hopping in. He held onto his belongings tightly and jumped in once the train came to a stand still.

He looked inside the compartment. People sat on the seat, people stood at the side, all just busy with their own lives.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen”, his voice boomed from his throat, “Namaskar. My name is Professor Desai.”

A few heads turned.

He continued, “I am the professor who begs”.

He pulled out an article from the folder which was headlined, ‘The professor who begs.’ His hand stretched forward and flashed the paper piece to all those who would see.

“I collect money for my students”, he announced.

From his other hand he brought forward the transparent plastic rectangle box. There was a small pile of notes lying inside.

“I beg for education” he spoke loudly. “I need money for my students, to educate them.”

As he spoke his hands shuffled through the laminated papers from his folder, revealing news articles on him.

He walked across the compartment. From one end to the other his voice boomed out his cause.
For a beggar, he was well-dressed. For someone begging for a cause, the stack of articles he held was impressive. Times of India, DNA, Hindustan Times, Mumbai Mirror and many more newspapers covered him. Such coverage would be impressive to anyone. Adding to that, the articles gave credibility to this beggar that this cause was not a scam. Not a scam of beggar’s ring or not a scam of financial fund.

It is not out of pity that money was put in his plastic box, but because this professor, many would agree, managed to sell his idea through a convincing factor of trust.


The train slowed down at the next station, and the Professor jumped off. The train passed by and he waited on the platform for the next train. 

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