Mr. Nagarajan – 51 aged tamilian who turned to be Kochinite without so called no “documents”. Nagarajan migrated from Tamilnadu to Kochi in the age of 6 year and he believes he is now 58 years old. He is a known face in the Banerjee road as he sits in the footpath near to the Saritha Bus stand rendering his service of polishing and weaving the shoes and chapels of the pedestrians. Earlier he was a scavenger and even he was in jail for many criminal cases.
“Kochi should be the city of Freedom, a city of people helping each other, the city of people who is basically care about other.”
He says he still remember that the Banerjee road was just a small road with the size of the present one side of the road and was basically marshy land. He shared that till now he have never received any service of the local bodies- state or central government or any government bodies. He earns maximum to rupees 300 to 500 per day depending on working day – holiday.
When he was interviewed with the questions what’s his dream about the Kochi and for it’s people. He was begging like anything and said please let us live too… I could understand the agony and the could see the pain of the underprivileged- outcasted people due to the so called development.
He shared about the Bolgatty – Vallarpadom – Vypin bridge was his dream from his young age when he reached Kochi. He also shared that he is front of Kochi Meteo Rail and asked whether shoepolisher – cobbler like him be allowed to travel in the Kochi Metro. He says that he is proud of the development of Kochi and he believes that the Kochi Metro is city symbol of the Great Kochi. He also commented that he want to travel once in Kochi Metro to know and understand the feel of Kochi.
When asked repeatedly about his dream about Kochi, he shared that many would have fantasies like the Kochi should be with big buildings and wonderful transportation but he feels that it should be the city of Freedom, a city of people helping each other, the city of people who is basically care about other. Ensuring ration and special hotels like in Tamil Nadu with low price, from where the no – less income group could survive at least with basic food. Surprising he started weeping and was praying for the day where everyone is treated with dignity.
Ended my interview by accepting his service to polish my shoes with respect to his profession and person