As a child, he enjoyed all the luxuries of the world. He received everything he wanted at the snap of his fingers. To him, that was life.
His perception of life changed when Pinki walked through the front door. Dressed in a single piece of cloth, her rusty dry brown hair was tied in a ponytail, though it didn't seem like one anymore. She was mom's 'new helper'. Though she was a day older than him perhaps, she seemed like she had been weak and timid forever.
The first question that popped in his head was, if she will be busy picking his clothes from the floor, what will her teacher say when she goes back to school? Will she go back and when?
The answer arrived at the door behind her. Pinki's mother made it very clear that she wanted her daughter to earn bread for the family. Her son was about to start school and the family needed money for his well-being. Pinki was to provide for that.
That evening when Pinki went to his room to give him his evening snack, he asked her why she did not get the privilege to go to school. A tear rolled down her cheek as she answered. Her family considered her no less than a burden. They beat her and bruised her badly. Before he could reply, she walked out of the room with memories of her tormented childhood.
That is when he asked his mother why Pinki was working at his home. His teacher had taught him that making small boys and girls work was a bad thing. Child labour is a crime. His mother told him that Pinki was a poor little girl whose childhood had been lost in the runs she made to and fro at the roadside tea stall. Years she had worked there and when her mother realised it wasn't enough to feed the entire family, she decided to employ her at a wealthy household like ours.
His mother gave him a big responsibility after that. She told him to teach Pinki alphabets and numbers. He took up that responsibility with full confidence and spent an hour everyday doing the same. He did his job with great alacrity.
Today, years later, Pinki works as a daycare helper with a reputed NGO. She has been given the task of ensuring that children have their meals at the right time. That their clothes are not tucked out and that their hair is combed neatly. When he visits Pinki, she smiles and tells him she finds her lost childhood in these young boys and girls.
Mother was able to save a child from the shackles of the poor society and stifling prejudices. But, there are still many others out there who did not get the rescue that Pinki did.
In India, a child has to face the most trauma and discrimination. The day they are born, the first discrimination of gender bias comes into play. A girl symbolises burden on the family. She isn't given the equal opportunities of education or proper food. The brothers are more privileged and favoured.
As these young girls grow up, they face abuse and physical violence. Even a walk on the road can prove to be deadly for them. There is a danger at every turn and corner.
I used to think that it is only the women who are subjected to such prejudices of society. Studies however, reveal otherwise.
In India, the deadly prejudice of caste discrimination determines the future of every child. Those belonging to the socially backward sections of society are still called untouchables or अछूत . People still keep their distance.
Children through out the country are deprived of the basic necessities like food, shelter and proper sanitation. Those in the poverty stricken areas consider these a luxury.
These sights make me thank God for all I have. Then suddenly I realise that perhaps we too are not free from partiality and bias. Countless incidents of children being forced to study a particular subject they do not like makes me realise that we are deprived of the right to choice. Why are our life's decisions governed by those who are already living a blissful one?
This brings us to the conclusion that children in India are deprived of the right to live. They are governed by societal norms on their decisions and are burdened by social pressures as well. It is like a voice that is constantly overpowered by the societal norms and prejudices.
We children demand a life that is rightfully ours. As a civil society, it is necessary to create awareness among people. The message should spread to all the areas of the nation. Children are the future of the nation. Proper privileges and fights against discrimination is the first step that will help us create an equal society.
His perception of life changed when Pinki walked through the front door. Dressed in a single piece of cloth, her rusty dry brown hair was tied in a ponytail, though it didn't seem like one anymore. She was mom's 'new helper'. Though she was a day older than him perhaps, she seemed like she had been weak and timid forever.
The first question that popped in his head was, if she will be busy picking his clothes from the floor, what will her teacher say when she goes back to school? Will she go back and when?
The answer arrived at the door behind her. Pinki's mother made it very clear that she wanted her daughter to earn bread for the family. Her son was about to start school and the family needed money for his well-being. Pinki was to provide for that.
That evening when Pinki went to his room to give him his evening snack, he asked her why she did not get the privilege to go to school. A tear rolled down her cheek as she answered. Her family considered her no less than a burden. They beat her and bruised her badly. Before he could reply, she walked out of the room with memories of her tormented childhood.
That is when he asked his mother why Pinki was working at his home. His teacher had taught him that making small boys and girls work was a bad thing. Child labour is a crime. His mother told him that Pinki was a poor little girl whose childhood had been lost in the runs she made to and fro at the roadside tea stall. Years she had worked there and when her mother realised it wasn't enough to feed the entire family, she decided to employ her at a wealthy household like ours.
His mother gave him a big responsibility after that. She told him to teach Pinki alphabets and numbers. He took up that responsibility with full confidence and spent an hour everyday doing the same. He did his job with great alacrity.
Today, years later, Pinki works as a daycare helper with a reputed NGO. She has been given the task of ensuring that children have their meals at the right time. That their clothes are not tucked out and that their hair is combed neatly. When he visits Pinki, she smiles and tells him she finds her lost childhood in these young boys and girls.
Mother was able to save a child from the shackles of the poor society and stifling prejudices. But, there are still many others out there who did not get the rescue that Pinki did.
In India, a child has to face the most trauma and discrimination. The day they are born, the first discrimination of gender bias comes into play. A girl symbolises burden on the family. She isn't given the equal opportunities of education or proper food. The brothers are more privileged and favoured.
As these young girls grow up, they face abuse and physical violence. Even a walk on the road can prove to be deadly for them. There is a danger at every turn and corner.
I used to think that it is only the women who are subjected to such prejudices of society. Studies however, reveal otherwise.
In India, the deadly prejudice of caste discrimination determines the future of every child. Those belonging to the socially backward sections of society are still called untouchables or अछूत . People still keep their distance.
Children through out the country are deprived of the basic necessities like food, shelter and proper sanitation. Those in the poverty stricken areas consider these a luxury.
These sights make me thank God for all I have. Then suddenly I realise that perhaps we too are not free from partiality and bias. Countless incidents of children being forced to study a particular subject they do not like makes me realise that we are deprived of the right to choice. Why are our life's decisions governed by those who are already living a blissful one?
This brings us to the conclusion that children in India are deprived of the right to live. They are governed by societal norms on their decisions and are burdened by social pressures as well. It is like a voice that is constantly overpowered by the societal norms and prejudices.
We children demand a life that is rightfully ours. As a civil society, it is necessary to create awareness among people. The message should spread to all the areas of the nation. Children are the future of the nation. Proper privileges and fights against discrimination is the first step that will help us create an equal society.
