What does ‘roti’ mean to poor and rich?

Problems, social and economic and even political, are many whose solution ordinary citizen conceives in his own way given the environment he lives in is democratic. The central point of his thinking revolves around roti that was available to hungry man at three paisa at the time Pakistan came into being. Roughly, the new homeland cost Muslims two million lives: Now roti is priced Rs8, which doesn’t matter to the rich but surprises the poor.
Indigenous roti as everybody knows is a type of bread cooked on a flat round iron plate that is heated on a stove or fire ‘choolah’, or an oven called ‘tandoor’, but we call English bread ‘double roti’ produced by bakeries in various sizes, sliced and sold at price a lower citizen can’t afford.
Roti, in common parlance, means meal. Morning meal is called ‘naashta’ or breakfast: which to lower and poor class means simple fresh or stale roti with a cup of tea, sometimes for the whole day; but it’s quite different for upper and middle class: ‘double roti’, buttered slice and jam, fried or boiled egg, coffee and high-quality tea and ‘pratha’ etc. Similarly, menus for lunch and dinner meant for rich people, leaders, businessmen and landlords etc. differ from that of common salaried people, labourers, peasants, teachers and retired employees.
The poor has to survive with ‘daal’ and roti: it’s God’s blessing if somebody offers ‘daal’ and rice or beef ‘pulao’ to his poor neighbour in the month of Ramazan.
Interestingly, citizens recall ideas of renowned philosopher and poet Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakkar, considered one of the most revolutionary thinkers and poets of his time. He understood, practiced and spread the spirit of Islam. He was against poverty and illiteracy: That’s why his powerful and thought provoking poetry appeals to the downtrodden.
One of his Punjabi couplets says: “Punj rukan Islam dey, tey chhewan Farida tuk; jey na labhey chhewan, tey punjey yee jaandey muk (There are five articles of Islam; but O Farida there’s also a sixth article, and that’s roti; if man doesn’t find the sixth one, he forgets the rest).
What will be the cost of evening meal if roti price further goes up? Ordinary citizen hopes it will come down to hearten the lower people. That’s what democracy demands. zasarwar@hotmail.com