The Watchmen of Nagpur

A small 5’*5’ office, with a good for nothing fan which is only capable of blowing small feathers. Constantly being shouted upon for small mistakes, doing every odd job there is, having a crushing day's work and ending up with pennies in the name of a salary. As difficult as it may sound, these are common occurrences in the life of a residential society’s security guard.

A Tiny Workplace

The lucky ones get a tiny room as an office. The guard can barely fit in there, but he makes sure he makes it his own. These rooms do not have proper air conditioning, nor do they have any air ventilation. These rooms are as hot as a furnace in summers and as cold as a refrigerator in winters. Most of them even have heavy seepage leading to water accumulation. The unlucky guards only get a shade to sit under, be it summer, winter or monsoons. While the society dwellers sit in their cosy house, the guards are expected to do their job without basic amenities.

Ego Bashing

Then comes the humiliation, from the residents and visitors alike. A part of the security guards job is to check any visitor, note their names and other details. Some however, do not seem to have the patience to go through such a menial procedure. The guard is immediately shouted upon and shown his place in society by the visitor. The host is not much different. Sometimes, rather than making the guest understand, word bashing is bestowed upon the honest security guard just to do the job they are hired to do. The bashing only stops once the guard has apologised and their ego has been crushed.

Being general grocery for a resident and others, taking the dog for a walk or just looking after old parents for a few hours while their grown up kids go out and party are tasks that are part and parcel of being a security guard.

No extra pay is given for these daily jobs by the residential society. The security guards are at the mercy of petty cash gifts during festival seasons. The pay they get is enough to get food in their stomach, there is nothing more left to enjoy other pleasures.

So many bumps everyday, still they guard the place as their own. Envy and anger must take over them when they look at the posh life of the residents of the society. But, that does not deter them from staying honest to their work. Showing respect not pity and a reasonable wage is their need and only desire. ‘Jaagte Raho’ is a phrase that in the true sense applies to the life of a security guard. While we sleep, they keep awake to make the night peaceful.