The Sabeena Man

March 18th, 2007

Most households (atleast in Chennai) know a dishwash powder called Sabeena. Its rate is just under Rs.5/- and almost everyone can afford it. There is a man living near my house. The first thing you would notice in him is that his teeth is crooked. If you just continue your examination on him, you would notice that his legs are shaped awkwardly. More examination reveals that he cannot talk properly. He doesn’t stammer, but his voice is a blabber to hear. His eyes are squint, hands are also not proper. He wears a torn slipper. If he goes to any other area other than the place he lives in, the street dogs would tear him apart.

Now, there is one thing special about him. He is an entrepreneur :D. He has been running his own telephone booth for more than a decade. These days, he has also started supplying a dishwash powder to nearby homes; including mine. He toils day in and day out to earn a few bucks so that he can sleep peacefully with the satisfaction of earning and eating his own bread. THAT is an awesome attitude… which many of us should follow.

Until today, with the conversations I have had with him, he has never complained of his disabilities. He just doesn’t consider them to be a stopping point in his path forward. There is something to learn from him for many of us.

6 Responses to “The Sabeena Man”

  1. Sathya Says:

    Show him to me.. the next time i come there.

  2. Aswin Anand T.H. Says:

    @sathya:
    My pleasure 😀

  3. tudinesh Says:

    bloody privatisation …. ruining the life of people

  4. Aswin Anand T.H. Says:

    @tudinesh:
    Unable to understand 🙂

  5. tudinesh Says:

    he has been running a phone booth for a decade …
    after cell phones came people started avoiding phone booths … but again, we as the public will find cell phone more convenient anyday … what the govt must do is reduce the cost of calls from landlines so that people will still patronise phone booths …
    instead they brought in the one rupee yellow phone which is powered by airtel … what govt should have done is brought a one rupee phone from bsnl and mtnl …
    but they see a few extra bucks for their pocket and give licences and unknowingly ruin people’s life …

    the reliance fresh greens is a classic example … do u know we will be at the mercy of reliance in a few years … they will monopolise the entire market

  6. Aswin Anand T.H. Says:

    @tudinesh:
    Ah! yes.. now things are clear. His life is getting ruined due to the phone booth. But what can he do? I think he set it up on his own. May be a small petition to CM would help to get him some money so that he can begin with a renewed vigour?

    And yup! reliance fresh has been springing up at many places in the city.