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| Charulata |
When I got to the airport, there was a large crowd waiting for me. Coming home from England was totally an exciting experience. For more than five years I was away from home, completing my graduation, getting a job and now on my first long term holiday. When I got home, everybody was asking how England was and I was busy narrating my experiences in the foreign land. Everything around me seemed so new, so different.
Next morning, I woke up and I was sitting on my
window sill with a mug of coffee. My eyes fell on the
small playground. Immediately the fond memories
of the good times I had spent with my friends flashed
in my mind's eye. It was then that I remembered
Charulata. Taking my shawl quickly, I went out.
Jumping two steps at a time I ran to the playground
and towards that small hut. I found the door locked.
I rushed to the neighbouring house. Minu Mashi
opened the door, she said, "When did you return?
Ignoring all her questions I said "Mashi, where is
Charulata? "Gone to her hometown. I don't think
they will return. Perhaps Mursidabad awaits them
some luck." "Why, what happened??" I asked.
Handing me a cup of tea, Mashi said "Don't ask me!
Charulata was suffering from pneumonia. She
wanted to stay with her relatives for the last few
days of her life. I told them that they would get better
medication here. Nowadays, people just don't pay
heed to good advice!" Hiding my tears, I asked "Do
you know her address?" she handed me a piece of
paper. Thanking her, I ran back home. At lunch
informed my another, "Maa, tonight I am going to
Murshidabad."
I packed my bags, booked a train ticket and took a
cab to the station. Sitting at my allotted seat, I could
not help thinking about charulata. I remembered
our first meeting. I was looking for someone friendly
and kind in my new neighbourhood. I was quite
extrovert at my school but I was quiet and shy at
new places. It was then that I saw Charulata. A ten
year old skinny girl with dark eyes, thick black hair
carelessly tied into a knot and bony arms and legs
protruding from under a shabby frock. Well, that
was just her physical appearance. She was a large
hearted girl who strived to achieve high dreams.
My thoughts were interrupted by the ticket
checker. I showed him my ticket and tried to catch
some sleep.
I woke up as the train stopped. It was a station. Rain
was pouring hard on the window. The picture of
Charulata sitting in the bus stop in the rain with a
lantern and an old badly torn book floated in my
mind's eye. I still remember that day, I was returning
from my tuition. It was raining heavily. I saw a small
dark figure sitting with a dimly lit lantern. Out of
curiosity, I went up. I was stunned to see that it was
Charulata. I exclaimed "What are you doing here in
the rain?" I noticed an old book in her hand "What
are you reading?" Charulata instead of answering
sprinted in the direction of her house. I stood
bewildered.
It was raining next evening. I had a row with my
mother. I stormed out of the house without caring
to respond to my mother's stern looks. I waded
through the small lane full of water and headed to
the park. Charulata was not there. I ran to her house.
A shabbily dressed lady opened the door. Charulatawas chopping vegetables. She saw me and asked me
to enter. She poured water from one of the pots and
handed a glass to me. I showered a volley of questions
at her. Staring out through the rusted iron bars of
the window, she sighed deeply and began "In our
society, girls are not allowed to study. The local
muscle man has put up a dam-building project in
our area and he is in need of daily labourer. In order
to hire cheap labour, he is encouraging the girls to
Come and work as manual labourers. My mother
Wants me to go there and earn money. Most of the
girls have been tricked into the trap. Last time he
came he threatened my mom saying that he would
make all public services unavailable for me and my
family. My mom does not like me reading books
from that day onwards. She turned around. I saw
tears in her eyes. She continued "It has not been
easy. We have received more threats since then.I
did get beaten up a number of times. I wrote few
letters to the magistrate, requesting him to take
action, but to no avail. I am still firm with my
decision. Very little hope is left."
I had seen the police lathi charge on a group of
protesters. It was at the time when Charulata had
convinced some girls to hold a slogan march. It was
dreadful. After that other than Charulata, every other
girl was working at the construction sight. Charulata was still firm with her decision. She stayed in bed
for a few days with severely injured legs. God knows
what had happened after that. I had to go abroad
for higher education. Slowly, I got busy to prepare
myself for a life in England and forget all about
Charulata and her mission.
On reaching Murshidabad. I hired a rickshaw to her
house. The house was a low thatched roof hut. I
went in and found her relatives crying. She lay inside
a dusty room covered by a torn shawl. "How are you
now?" I asked. She said "Never better than what I
was at the time you left for England." after a long
silence she said "I knew you would come back." My
eyes filled with tears. I said "Why did you come
back? With a long sigh she said "As he had warned,
he banned all public facilities for me and my family.
When I was suffering from severe pneumonia the
hospitals denied admission. Private hospitals are
too costly. I had to come back to Murshidabad. The doctors here are saying that my time's up. Only death
can save me now. No regrets that back in Kolkata
girls are still denied education. Why could not I live
my dream?" I bent down and hugged her tight, i
could feel her heartbeat slowing down. After what
seemed a few seconds, she breathed her last.
I stayed till the last rites were performed. I burnt
the book I had brought for her on the funeral pyre.
After a week, I came back to Kolkata. I knew that
there was only one way by which I could help
Charulata.
AFTER SIX MONTHS.....,...
I fund three Non-Government Organizations which
look after education and preserve the rights of
women in India. The girls living in Charulata's
locality receive good education now. I set up
campaigns to encourage education for girls. I have
taken part in many of them. Programmes to create
awareness among parents are also being
set. This is the only gift I could give in return for the
trust she had in me.
IF WE WANT OUR COUNTRY TO PROGRESS, I
IS MANDATORY THAT EVERY MEMBER OF HER
POPULATION IS EDUCATED AND THAT
INCLUDES WOMEN AS WELL. WHEN A MAN
IS EDUCATED. A PERSON IS EDUCATED WHEN
A WOMAN IS EDUCATED, THE FAMILY IS
EDUCATED.
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| Charulata |
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| Charulata |