The Rich Man in His Castle...........

Blogging has been on the back burner for the past week or three. I have been suffering from a very painful bout of lower back/sciatic pain which has somewhat laid me out – both physically and mentally - and we have had a week away in Devon with our granddaughters. Hopefully, things are very slowly improving so it’s back to the computer.

This morning Pat and I spent an hour “harvesting” the many thousands of plums on our two plum trees in the garden. Our little group of houses is built on the site of what was once, a century ago, the orchard of the village squire’s house so most of the houses in our road have the residue of that orchard – in our case two plum trees. As we pruned, sorted, cursed and sweated under the hot August sun the words of a much sung children’s hymn – “All things Bright and Beautiful” kept running through my mind – and especially the words of one of the verses:

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one:

The police come visiting Sunningdale -
and  they didn't use the poor door!

Our garden was indeed full of very ripe fruit – far too many for us to use, hopefully our neighbours will help us to use up the plum harvest. It has been a bumper year!

And then more of the words of that hymn, which I have sung so many times in my years as a primary school teacher, ran through my mind:

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The home of Oscar Pistorius  - behind secure walls
to keep out the lower orders. Trouble is  the residents
may be more dangerous than those outside! 

The hymn, written in the mid nineteenth century by Mrs C.F Alexander, reminds children to give thanks for all the great benefits bestowed by God upon them and that verse about the rich man in his castle and the poor man at his gate seems to remind everyone of their place in the world and how things must be ordered in the great scheme of things. All very Victorian.

“The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate” - these words had wondered across my thoughts as I reflected upon a couple of things that I had read during the week. Firstly, a week or so ago there was considerable media comment in the UK about an increasing trend in London – and indeed in other major cities across the world, most notably New York – for high end, expensive apartment blocks to have what are called “poor doors” for the use of the not so well off. In the UK there is legislation in place that stipulates that in any new building development there often has to be a proportion of the properties built which are “more affordable” – to allow those not so well off to find a property. Plans for new developments will only be passed if they show that the correct proportion of “cheaper” units is built in. Obviously property developers try to meet this requirement, but, it appears they also increasingly ensure that those “poorer” people are kept separate from the wealthy residents by having separate entrances and exits – ”poor doors” as they have become known as. It brings a whole new slant to Mrs Alexander’s hymn – and reminds us that just as in her time the rich man will indeed not wish to mix with the lower orders – whoever they are - "the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate"!

Shoulder to shoulder, all equal - part of the Golden Temple dining hall

This is not new. Increasingly in this country and especially in the USA there has been a huge growth in recent years of what are called “gated communities” – high end property,  where only those of a certain type and standing can and will mix. Where security is often paramount and where those resident in those communities have to (and are happy to) subscribe to the rules of living in that community in order that their way of life is protected and that they do not mix with those of lesser stature, wealth or different outlook. It is a frightening reminder of how divisive western societies – and especially those in the UK and the USA - are becoming. It is, it seems, the ultimate extension of “the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate” – and never the twain shall meet.

I thought about this during last week when a second item caught my attention. The TV news was filled with pictures of police cars sweeping into the gated community in Sunningdale, Berkshire where the pop star Cliff Richard lives. Sunningdale is one of the most opulent areas of the UK where only the very rich and famous reside – everything from Royal Princes and Prinesses to Russian oligarchs to Premiership footballer and pop stars. This is very much a case of the “rich man in his castle” – complete with security drawbridge! Sadly, however, it seems buying oneself exclusive security and opulence doesn’t necessary protect you from the seamier side of life – the police still come and call! The TV screens were filled with a convoy of unmarked police cars sweeping through the gates to search Sir Cliff Richard’s home because of, as yet, unsubstantiated allegations of paedophilia. And it was a similar story a few months ago in Pretoria, South Africa where the gated community home of athlete Oscar Pistorius  became the centre of police activity and world media attention after Pistorius shot his girl friend. I’m sure that the other residents of these high end “communities” never envisaged that they would be so closely involved with these rather sordid aspects of life - they have, after all, paid a lot of money to protect themselves from such unseemly people and things. These are the sorts of things after all that are only supposed to happen with the “lower orders” who should be kept at arms length and use the “poor door”!

Mrs Bhopal does her "service"

Having said that, the very term “community” has certain implications. The usually accepted definition of “community” is along the lines of  “the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common” or  "a group of people that I share values, activities, hopes and dreams with". Presumably anyone who buys into a gated community or a high end apartment with a poor door only wants to mix with those similar to him or her – not with lesser individuals.  Of course that all begs the question that if the word “community” implies people of similar interests and aspirations then where do these similar interests and aspirations begin and end? Can we assume that these "shared values" promoted and protected in the gated community and the exclusive apartment block meant only for the wealthy perhaps include a  bit of shooting one's girl friend or indulging oneself in whatever turns you on?  In short, are those who crave high end security, seclusion and separation from the hoi polloi  just as  likely to be as sordid and unpleasant than the masses forced to use the poor doors or to stand outside the gates? It certainly seems likely if recent media reports are anything to go by! Mmmmmm......”the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate”.

All this was given a new twist a couple of days ago when I was sorting out some of the many thousands of photographs that I have on my computer. I came across the albums of our visit to India a few years ago. Now, no-one would argue that India is any kind of nirvana – the poverty and vast social, cultural , economic and religious differences that are apparent everywhere one goes in that wonderful country are indisputable. But the photographs I glanced through reminded me of two events that seem a million miles away from gated communities, poor doors and the rest. They also, I believe, make a damning indictment of the divisive culture that we are creating in the west – and especially in the UK and USA.

Washing up time in Amritsar

When in Amritsar we visited the Sikh Golden Temple with its wonderful “dining hall”. We were with two fellow travellers, themselves Sikhs – Mr & Mrs Bhopal. They were from England and visiting, pilgrim like, the Golden Temple – the spiritual home of their religion. We entered the awe inspiring great dining hall where thousands of people sat, cross legged eating from metal plates – a simple but nourishing meal. Row upon row of these people stretched into the distance. On the edge of the hall great vats of rice were being cooked and men stirring it with huge wooden oars – almost like a Disney cartoon. I asked  Mr Bhopal if all these people were Sikhs to which he replied “No – anyone can eat here and be given hospitality – the only requirement is that you sit shoulder to shoulder with the next person – you may be a prince or a beggar but we are all the same” . Looking back it seems now a long way from “poor doors” and gated communities. Mrs Bhopal meanwhile excused herself – explaining that she wished to go and do “her service.”  We watched as she joined a group of women sitting in a circle in one of the dining hall’s alcoves making chapattis to be fed to the thousands. It was her way of doing a bit for others – be they princes or beggars. Above us, hanging from the ceiling were great banners reminding those in the hall of their responsibilities to care for and feed others. A far cry this from the divisiveness that is increasingly permeating western society. I don’t suppose many of the wealthy inhabitants of prestigious apartments and gated communities care too much about those who are required to use the “poor doors” so that they are hidden from the view of those movers and shakers of our society.

Getting ready for the next serving - and no one
 - be he prince or beggar - is left to stand outside 
the gate or forced to use the poor door. All are welcome
to be fed.

And at the end of our trip to Amritsar we caught the train back to Delhi. A long journey of several hours and when our train at last pulled into the station we were met by a taxi from our hotel. As we drove through the darkened Delhi streets the driver asked if we had enjoyed our trip? Did we like India? What memories would we have when we returned to England? Pat replied we would always remember with affection the warm welcome that we had received wherever we went and whoever we met. It was true. “Ah! said the taxi driver – that’s good but you must remember that in India we believe that we must always welcome and be kind to everyone.  We don’t know if that person who comes to our door is a beggar or a prince or a God – so we must be kind and welcoming to all”!

As I say, a long way from “poor doors” and gated communities – I am sometimes ashamed of what we in the UK (and maybe other places) are becoming. Maybe we should all be ashamed.