COMMENT | Persecuted Indians - the big pity party

COMMENT | Twenty years ago, Lingam was a grass-cutter who rode his bicycle from one house to another, looking for jobs. He was desperate to find at least three clients a day to cover his monthly expenses.

Having two young children, a wife, and an elderly mother at home, Lingam did everything in his ability to support them.

One day, as he was hopping from one house to another, trying to sell his services, Aunty Devi summoned him to her bungalow.

Through a short conversation over tea, she learned about his struggle and decided to offer him a permanent job as a gardener. The job came with a three-month trial run.

Lingam took the job as a blessing from the powers above. He decided to show his appreciation through his work. With Aunty Devi’s help, he learned more about flowers, plants, and gardening techniques.

As he ended his trial period working at Aunty Devi’s, he was given more responsibilities to handle. This included some repair works around the house and running errands around town. At times, she even trusted him as her personal chauffeur.

Growing from a mere grass-cutter to a gardener-cum-handyman-cum-chauffeur, Lingam’s confidence grew substantially. His earning power increased and...