Dedicated to an unknown Koyla wallah

I am from Giridih which is a small town in Jharkhand. It was once known for its coal mines,that now lie abandoned. The practically possible amount that could be pulled out of the earth has already been extracted. What lies inside,are pillars of coal which are necessary for providing support to the land above. Some poor localites in the absence of any other opportunity, enter these mines risking their lives to scrap off coal from the walls and pillars, for a livelihood. Many a times they are lucky, at times they are not! The land collapses if the pillars become too thin, saving the poor from the burial expenses.
The life of such miners is full of hardships and everyone around the town knows about it. The coal that they collect from the mines is packed in sacks,loaded on a cycle and pushed for several kilometers before it reaches the city. Here they get a relatively higher price, at least a difference of a hundred rupees per quintal. Generally, thats the weight they carry on their cycles. Its common to see people helping these “koyla wallahs”,if they are pushing it uphill. I also used to do that. Its a bloody good exercise, 5 minutes are enough to exhaust you out!
Once while I was coming back from school, I saw an old “koyla wala” struggling with his load. I went closer and started pushing his cycle, he turned around and asked me not to do so. I insisted,for I really wanted to help him. He was old and frail. Stiil he refused to take my help. When I continued with my effort, he appealed to me disgustingly, ” please don’t touch this thing, its a CURSE!”
I didn’t know how to react,then,and I don’t know how to react now. Was it a kind of slavery, Where the master is unknown? However hard you try you can’t set yourself free. Why would anyone call something that provided him with livelihood throughout the life, a curse? I hope you people know why!!