Dharma, in Hinduism, refers to the inherent nature of everything. It’s the cosmic law which sustains the universe. It is the guiding principle of individuals and society. It is the moral compass in humans. It can also mean the ethics of profession. In one word it refers to the ‘right way of harmonious living’.
As is with all multidimensional concepts the word dharma too is given to a variety of interpretations based on individual understanding.
Recently, this word cropped up in an unusual conversation. I and my neighbour were cribbing over how highly priced the vegetables were especially the ones sold by our mobile vegetable seller, Kalu. He enjoys a monopoly as he is the only one who comes to the Block to sell vegetables door to door.
To this Kalu replied, “ Yeh to mera dharam hai.” (This is my dharma).
I wondered what he meant by dharma. Did it mean that he had a right to sell the veggies at a higher price ? Did it mean he had a right to earn profit on his own terms? Did he mean in a monopolistic situation he had a right to call the shots in so far as pricing of the product was concerned?
We did not continue the conversation. But I am still wondering.
GC, a nice reading as my morning is unfolding.
Your reflection on the word dharm was genuinely engaging and truly deserved a response. I felt that Kalu used the word in a very everyday sense. He was not referring to a cosmic principle but simply expressing that it is his duty and right to earn in a way that keeps his family steady. He cycles around the neighbourhood doing physically demanding work, his produce spoils quickly, he has no backup system or fixed establishment, his income depends entirely on the day’s sales, and he also has to support his wife, his children, and the upkeep of his cart. When we mentioned the high prices, he might have felt cornered, so his use of the word became a gentle shield rather than a philosophical claim.
This also gives us a moment to introspect.
When we go to five star restaurants, hotels, or even corporate hospitals, we never ask for a reduction in price. Is it not true? Not just that, we constantly seek better salaries, higher allowances, more benefits, and stronger support from our employers. Yet when a poor worker tries to adjust his earnings for basic survival, we react differently. We bargain, we tease. Double standards?
Perhaps the real dharm for all of us is to understand the other person’s struggle before forming a view.
Good morning, and thank you for the food for thought and introspection.
Philo
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Thank you Mr. P for the detailed reply and alternate perspective. So glad.
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Thank you, GC. I hope you did not get angry.😊😊
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😆😆😆😆
Only one contention if as a seller it is his dharma to fleece us then as buyers it is our dharma to crib.
😆 😆 😆 😆
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True, GC, if it is the seller’s dharm to charge as he must, then the buyers’ dharm isn’t just to crib. We sit in our homes with all comforts, no need to go to the market sweating and puffing, and we save on transport charges too. Considering that, the guy is more than justified in the rates he charges—sometimes dharm works both ways, depending on perspective.
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I get your point Mr P and you are right in so many ways. And I am not angry at all. The post was written in a lighter vein.
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That’s reassuring, GC. Grateful for the lighter, thoughtful spirit of the post and your kind understanding. 🙏
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Haha! I think he must be thinking of the word in a different context.
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Yes. That is what’s most amusing and engaging how he used it to express/justify his stand. For some even fleecing is dharma. To each according to his/her.
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Lol 😂
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All those
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Haa Haa ! You are so right Derrrick 😆. He gave it his interpretation.
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Thank you for explaining dharma, Geeta.
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Thank you dear Mary for reading
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I always appreciate how you find meaning and depth even in small, everyday moments. I guess you have captured the tension between personal and collectivist meanings of dharma. It’s interesting how such a complex term is a part of people’s common language!
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Exactly. Everybody chooses to interpret such complex concepts in their individual manner which may in turn bestow additional dimensions to them.
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[…] Recently, our popular blogger GC remarked that her daily vegetable vendor, who visits their building has started charging far more than usual (Check her post DHARMA). […]
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