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Jal Mahal, Jaipur
Jaipur’s Man Sagar lake, constructed in 1610 by the Rajput ruler Raja Man Singh, is ringed by low lying hills to the east.
Visitors to the lake hang out on the road-side promenade;
some of them will sit on the steps and take in the majestic Jal Mahal palace
that rises from the lake; the red sandstone structure stands in stark relief
against the hills. Others will toss flour balls into the water to feed the fish,
watched by fellow visitors, gazing into the still waters temporarily roiled by
thrashing fish getting at the flour-balls. Calm returns as abruptly as the violence
had set in.
A woman vendor selling flour-balls on the steps noticed me
looking at an old man, unkempt, face hidden under a hood, sweeping the steps
end-to-end. Nothing about him indicated any formal employment with any official
body.
Sensing me wondering about him, she said.
“Baba has been here a long time and has taken upon himself
to keep the steps clean. He sweeps them all. Sometimes people offer him money.
He never asks.”
I nodded in her direction. The afternoon sun lit up her
sari. She was heavyset and had the easy face of one at peace with herself, smiling
and engaging with children living out their days on the steps.
I hung around doing nothing, watching people watching other
people. The sun dipped. It was time to return.
Digging into my pocket I offered the Sweeper Baba some money.
He took it and returned to sweeping the steps.
Purpose is life.
