He was all muscle and bone, with not a milliounce of loose flesh. And though close on 60 years of age, he was slogging away in the fields of Rayagada, Odisha, for a pittance. This was in 2001, and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had not yet come into existence. His stance and rhythm were eye-catching. He and other labourers were digging at a Food for Work site, preparing it for tree plantation, when our band of travellers stopped by.
பி. சாய்நாத், பாரியின் நிறுவனர் ஆவார். பல்லாண்டுகளாக கிராமப்புற செய்தியாளராக இருக்கும் அவர், ’Everybody Loves a Good Drought' மற்றும் 'The Last Heroes: Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom' ஆகிய புத்தகங்களை எழுதியிருக்கிறார்.
Other stories by P. Sainath