What is your caste and religion?
I am Muslim.
Are you married?
Yes.
Do you have children?
I have 6 children, madam.
And for how long have you been living here in Delhi?
It has been at least 25 years now.
With whom do you live here?
I live with my family here. There is no reason to live in the village. I have neither land nor property. Whatever work I have, it is here only. My children are growing, they are studying.
Why did you come to Delhi?
I came to Delhi for work only, madam. My forefathers and elders were working here. They have been living here and working here for more than 50 years. I am not alone here, I came along with our forefathers and am now living here and settled.
So, what do you do here?
I clean ears, madam.
For how many years have you been doing this?
It is for at least 20 years that I have been doing this work.
The money you earn by doing this work, is it sufficient or not?
Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is just as normal.
Were you doing same kind of job earlier?
Yes, I have only this work to do. This is our family work. I have never done anything else other than this work. Because, when I was a kid I had no sense. And when I grew up I started doing this work.
So, would you like to say something about your job?
No, my job is very good, no problem at all.
What is your ideal job, the best job?
See madam, I am an uneducated man, I cannot read or write. If I would have been just a little educated, I must have thought of doing something better. But for an illiterate person like me the best job is one of labor only. There has been struggle in my life. My father didn’t have any land or property. If they did, they would have done something for my education. I am the eldest in family, so I have to carry out so many responsibilities.
So, what do you think while working?
I think about so many things, I have a lot going on in my mind. This may happen, that may happen. Even I think of owning a four wheeler. But it is not possible for me, is it?
So, how do you find life in Delhi?
Life in Delhi is very good. It is a peaceful life here. There are no problems at all, having good food, being able to educate the children. Now I think that even if I couldn’t complete my studies at least my children might be able to be educated here.
So, if you ever get a chance to go back to your hometown, would you like to go back?
See madam, I used to go there whenever needed. If I could get some work there, like having my own land, having something of my own – a food stall or any other work – then I wouldn’t have needed to come here. It would have provided education to my children over there.
Which life do you think is better, here or there?
See, life is better right here. The children are also studying here. There is no standard of education there in the village. In the village, teachers are not professional. They do not teach. Rather, they enjoy their job, have drinks and just have fun in the schools. There is no one to control the teachers in the village. There are officers but no one visits the villages. Here in the city the standard of education is good. My children would be able to study in a better way here. I just think that my children must get a good education, only then can they have some good job in life. I could not do anything but they must do something better in life. But, one thing is for sure: That I will not let them do what I am doing. They must study and do something better.