from the peacekeepers diary.........

Kashebere, 10th Feb.
Somewhere in eastern Congo
For balu chacha, the epitome of energy who knows the art of living life.


I use to complain about shoes till I saw a man without legs………….


How happy are they even when there is nothing or rather because there is “nothing”….nothing to loose!!! the thought striked me at around 12:30 in the afternoon when I was sitting at my network hut (place where we use to get the mobile network) since morning I was doing nothing except for holding/lifting my mobile in different directions and angle to get a better network and meanwhile staring at the group of boys standing outside and curiously observing our camp. I have noticed the same curiosity in them everyday when they come and stand and then start there process of observing each and everything inside camp, from generator to jeep and sometimes to the tents. It was actually a daily affair for me too till I realized that what they are observing is actually a dream world for them, a world where people have adequate food to eat, clothes to wear, have electricity and vehicles when they have to go somewhere its actually something like a third world or may be a different planet for them and when u stare at them they smile displaying that expression of privileged for being noticed by someone from their dream world.

As what I know them from my stay here, they are much below the poverty linestill look satisfied as the ground here is very fertile but they cultivate which suffice their family for the day. Its hard even to imagine for them about the vehicles as a mode of transport ,I have noticed them running meters away from road when our vehicles passes by and give a big laugh on the sound of vehicle as if god knows what mechanics it is. Walking for 100’s of km is a normal feature from children to old women as I have seen them walking for 3 days or more when they have to go to market. And sometimes with there complete household which is mere 2 small gathris of a complete family in order to shift to a new village. This shifting is again a regular process it’s not by choice but by the fear of death which is prevailing here among every human being and in every hour too. And on the contrary is THE PLACE, the land where the largest mines of diamond exist the soil is so fertile that agriculture can bring the boom in economy. So is it the irony of life or the design of nature that the poorest people of world are sleeping over one of the costliest substance of earth. They would have never realized this fact and might be the reason that I see them happy even after all odds. They have a very typical habit of celebrations. They celebrate I don’t know what can be the event but everyday late in night I can hear them singing dancing on drums and clapping till the early morning.

To celebrate life ,to remain happy and to smile actually u don’t need anything or may be you need that state of “NOTHING”.