Our Watchmen

‘Standing in one place in one position’ is a challenge encountered by many of us in childhood. In the school assembly, I remember our physical training sir, hovering around chattering children with a long black-whip-rope tied to his whistle to restore order when there is dodgy disorderliness to stand stiffly in one position. If positioning ourselves was a challenge in childhood, it became a problem when we grew up as adults. Our security guard and watchmen are bound by their duty to stay in a single place throughout their lonely lives.

We find them guarding almost every building we come across from buzzing corporate houses, exuberant five-star hotels, tall apartments to mediocre hostels and frequently visited ATM machines. Standing guard to a place is no easy business. It could be mobile-phone engaging or island lonely depending upon the place they secure.

Photo Courtesy: Surya Teja

Surya TejaAt the entrance of a star hotel which I used to cross every day, the watchmen draped in a wooden coloured shirt and a bangle shaped cap would salute the vehicle which enters the hotel, scrutinise them and send them in and repeats this monotonous work. He drank water from a battered transparent plastic bottle. Rarely do men in such places find quality time to taste nevertheless eat food.

On the other hand, the watchmen guarding large houses spend their time gazing at the shadow of the nearby tree which contracts and expands through the day. A significant portion of this population is from grey –haired men. Loneliness is an unforgiving state for any human who has spent his youth and energy. Contemplating all the unforgettable moments they had experienced through their lives and finding only the breezing wind as the invisible companion is a position which no men would like to occupy.

In addition, to the sedentary life they lead, they are shown least respect from people whom they protect. There are few whose eyebrows take the form of a bow when the watchman is a few seconds late in opening the gate. These men take these positions because they don’t have a better choice of work. Men past the age of retirement opting to guard a place when his senses and body are weak is proof of his financial insecurity.

Photo Courtesy: Bernard Oh

Guarding at the night time is another challenge. If I stay up late at night, I could occasionally hear the shrilling whistle which the guard of the colony blows when he rides his bicycle for rounds in the piercing cold of the moon-lit night. Each one of us will have a memory about the man who stands at the gate.

In the constrained space of authority allowed, they express their power with respectable dignity and kindness. During high school, I used to ride to school at break-neck speed to sneak in before the gate closes. Though the main gate is usually closed at 8:30, the other gate is always partially opened for a few extra minutes by the kind watchman. Thanks to him that I was never a single day late to attend my classes. Most watchmen in my college hostels were much more liberal too. Though they pose themselves to be strict in the first two weeks they eventually become your friends as time passes on.

It is a pity that there isn’t a specific support system or a coordinated organisation for protecting their rights. Even if it existed I doubt whether they are educated about them to voice their concerns about the situations and the hours they work. They form an unrecognised section of our society who owns the privilege of giving us a peaceful time to sleep. 

Photo Courtesy:

(1)Surya Teja

(2)Bernard Oh