By Nishita Raj
Anjali was twelve years old when her family sent her to work. Could it have been the web of events or a series of circumstances that led her to be amid grimy dishes and soapy water? Or just fate that placed her in the lap of poverty, forcing her to bear the brunt of her ancestors’ debts? It could be either, or all the above. But, the reality remains dark and invisible to the untrained eye.
I do not know whether it was the innocence in the way she washed the dishes or her bruised arms and legs, that peeked from beneath her tattered frock that caught my attention. But these images left my heart in an uncomfortable hiccup. I realised at that moment – I was sympathetic towards the minor who was made to work and compassionate and almost furious for the young girl who was beaten and bruised. Why this bias in my reaction to the two imageries? They were both violations of the little human being’s rights and equally gruesome!
The reason for the bias stems from a deeper place of relatedness, i.e. how a person relates to the situation in question. With the current scenario and situation of the status of women in our world, I would be more moved by a story of violence against the body of a woman or a child. Why, you may wonder – simply because I can relate to being beaten and bruised as a woman, regardless of what income strata I am a part of. Because the body of the weaker section of society is always up for grabs for such acts of violence and violation of the being.
Is this privilege talking? Yes! Is it bad? Perhaps. But it’s mostly ignorance and lack of experience taking the reins. There is hope though, as this is a phenomenon that can be changed with better storytelling and awareness and thereby sensitising society. A person who has never had to scrounge for a meal will not realise the depth of the situation until they are exposed to the dire circumstances and discrimination a poor person faces.
How can we collectively come to change the story of Anjali or the many other girls like her? Treat her with dignity, alert the authorities, treat her not as a victim, but a survivor. Empower her with her story- so that no other soul fall in the hands of the predator, waiting to drain the light and beat of their heart.
We need a revolution of the mind, wherein we treat another body, a person, as we treat ours. We need to be respectful of all human beings. All lives matter- regardless of cast, creed, religion, income, complexion, age or gender. All crimes need to be treated equally. Human rights, the people’s rights should be safeguarded, because without you and me- we are a lost cause. Let us catalyse a revolution of the mind and tear down the wall of ‘us’ and ‘them’.