Cry of Humanity
It was a warm summer day of the month of June. I had a special invitation from Nazira ( the home of mama sahur) on the occasion of birthday of one of our dear cousin Suman. Recently my busy work scedule had compelled me to avoid many such social gatherings. But I can't be workaholic for long period. I need break. So I was impatient for some lively conversation with lovely kith and kin. I took a leave from my teaching profession and started my journey from Golaghat to Nazira with my family. When we reached there my aunt (mami sahu) asked me to accompany her to Jyoti Griha. I readily agreed thinking Jyoti Griha to be a nearby school. We went there by car and stopped in front of a house with a large gate. I read the well written sign board. It was a rehabilitation centre for mentally retarded women. My aunt told me that this time Suman's birthday would be celebrated among the women of this centre. We entered the campus and found that lunch
was distributing among the members in a room. About 25 women were living there of various age group from old to teenagers. I met there the chairman of the Human Welfare Society Mr. Nasser Hussain a local youth of Nazira town. He informed that these women were from different corners of Assam and their treatments were being followed properly in Tezpur Mental Hospital. They looked quite normal at that time. Sufficient number of employees were also available there. They were talking ..but their talk was as if in a distant past. I found that all of them had some fond memories and were trying to live in a dream. A woman was pleading before us that she wanted to go home to live with her children. But Mr. Hussain told us that she did not have any children and her family members denied to recognise her.
I met there former Ulfa activist Baby Moran. She was married to a hardcore Ulfa cadre Dinesh Barua who died in an encounter. Baby along with some of her comrades surrendered. But gradually her mental condition deteriorated. Her in law family refused to accept her. She came to her mother's home in Lahowal, Dibrugarh. Being mentally stranded she loitered here and there in a pitiable condition. A student leader gave a post in facebook related to it and many former ulfa activists and other organisations came forward and Baby Moran was Brought to Jyoti Griha for treatment and care. Mr. Nasser Hussain told me that he himslf took her to Tezpur mental hospital for treatment and now her condition has improved a lot. I asked her whether she remembers her days in Myanmar. She replied, "yes". I also asked her whether her former companions come to meet her. She replied in the negative. It was really heartrending for me to see a woman who took arms in hand for a social reason now sitting hopelessly amidst shattered dreams.
In the evening it was the time for cake cutting ceremony .... but not by the birthday boy but by the eldest member of the centre. She was a beautiful Aita clad in new white mekhela chador as if she was going to naamghar for afternoon prayers. All the members looked quite happy. Many of them sang beautifully Assamese songs, recited self-written poems. Hope was fluttering like a butterfly at that time. There was a time when no one could think of mixing up with a group of mentally retarded people. It is a good sign that gradually we are beginning to recognise them as a part of the common life. NGOs like Human Welfare Society are doing a great deal in this direction. I personally offer my gratitude to our uncle Mr. Rajen Sharma for giving us an opportunity to peep into the condition of this section of people who are mostly neglected in our society. Our birthday may be an occasion to go near to humanity.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMAN!!!
It was a warm summer day of the month of June. I had a special invitation from Nazira ( the home of mama sahur) on the occasion of birthday of one of our dear cousin Suman. Recently my busy work scedule had compelled me to avoid many such social gatherings. But I can't be workaholic for long period. I need break. So I was impatient for some lively conversation with lovely kith and kin. I took a leave from my teaching profession and started my journey from Golaghat to Nazira with my family. When we reached there my aunt (mami sahu) asked me to accompany her to Jyoti Griha. I readily agreed thinking Jyoti Griha to be a nearby school. We went there by car and stopped in front of a house with a large gate. I read the well written sign board. It was a rehabilitation centre for mentally retarded women. My aunt told me that this time Suman's birthday would be celebrated among the women of this centre. We entered the campus and found that lunch
I met there former Ulfa activist Baby Moran. She was married to a hardcore Ulfa cadre Dinesh Barua who died in an encounter. Baby along with some of her comrades surrendered. But gradually her mental condition deteriorated. Her in law family refused to accept her. She came to her mother's home in Lahowal, Dibrugarh. Being mentally stranded she loitered here and there in a pitiable condition. A student leader gave a post in facebook related to it and many former ulfa activists and other organisations came forward and Baby Moran was Brought to Jyoti Griha for treatment and care. Mr. Nasser Hussain told me that he himslf took her to Tezpur mental hospital for treatment and now her condition has improved a lot. I asked her whether she remembers her days in Myanmar. She replied, "yes". I also asked her whether her former companions come to meet her. She replied in the negative. It was really heartrending for me to see a woman who took arms in hand for a social reason now sitting hopelessly amidst shattered dreams.
In the evening it was the time for cake cutting ceremony .... but not by the birthday boy but by the eldest member of the centre. She was a beautiful Aita clad in new white mekhela chador as if she was going to naamghar for afternoon prayers. All the members looked quite happy. Many of them sang beautifully Assamese songs, recited self-written poems. Hope was fluttering like a butterfly at that time. There was a time when no one could think of mixing up with a group of mentally retarded people. It is a good sign that gradually we are beginning to recognise them as a part of the common life. NGOs like Human Welfare Society are doing a great deal in this direction. I personally offer my gratitude to our uncle Mr. Rajen Sharma for giving us an opportunity to peep into the condition of this section of people who are mostly neglected in our society. Our birthday may be an occasion to go near to humanity.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMAN!!!
