Salesman at Six

The child was too keen,too innocent looking,too helpless,to do anything but plead with passers-by to buy from him.

Written by Shefalee Vasudev
New Delhi | June 4, 2012 05:40 PM IST

1 min read

Last evening at Delhi8217;s Bengali market,I spotted this 6-year-old boy selling mogra garlands. He was too keen,too innocent looking,too helpless,to do anything but plead with passers-by to buy from him. I stood by to observe him for a few minutes,he noticed I was taking pictures and squirmed. I cringed too,for all our lofty claims,something or the other starkly reminds us everyday of the injustices we heap on our children and the underprivileged. Will you buy a mogra gajra and encourage child labour? I pointedly asked a lady who was looking at the little boy8217;s wares. Guess I put her off. She withdrew but didn8217;t respond. I didn8217;t buy one either.

What would you do in a similar situation?