Where does our social consciousness begin and where does it end? We watch in awe and applaud the good deeds done by others, others who put their lives and limbs on the line for their fellow human beings. When do we stop sitting in the sidelines? When are we going to be ready to at least help those on the frontline?
I’ve been following the work of Dr. Sunitha Krishnan in her battle for the dignity of the downtrodden and the trafficked. She and her small army of supporters and volunteers risk life and limb each day when they save lives from the clutches of muscle, power and money.
Sunitha is a mental health professional with considerable research experience but is essentially a field practitioner. She has been instrumental in rescuing hundreds of children from severely abusive conditions and restoring childhood to them.This considerable task is not as benign as it sounds. It involves having to deal with traffickers and pimps and other vested interests almost on a day to day basis. It involves bringing criminals to book with the help of the police force at considerable risk to herself and her small band of helpers. She was invited by Ted India to give a talk in 2009 on her work. Watching that video stirred something within me. Something akin to awe and something beyond respect -- for never have I come across such a courageous lady. What gives her this strength I wonder? Strength of character and will that puts to shame the best amongst us.
Dr. Sunitha Krishnan is the chief functionary and co-founder of Prajwala, an institution that assists trafficked women and girls in finding shelter. The organization also helps pay for the education of five thousand children infected with HIV/AIDS in Hyderabad,India. Prajwala’s “second-generation” prevention program operates in 17 transition centres and has served thousands of children of prostituted mothers. The NGO’s strategy is to remove women from brothels by giving their children education and career opportunities.
Let me misquote a saying here – “behind every courageous woman there is a sterling man!”. Yes, Dr. Sunitha Krishnan too has such a man in her life –someone who shares her passion for social righteousness and uses his considerable creative potential to harness the power of the media to raise awareness on a large scale. This man is none other than the much critically acclaimed director Mr. Rajesh Touchriver.
Mr. Touchriver’s latest offering ‘Ente’ in Malayalam (Prathyayam in Telugu) poignantly tells such a story that every mother and father needs to see. Though a full length feature film its message should go far beyond the remit of most movies of late.
Here’s wishing them all success in their endeavours and hoping that you and I will arise to join hands with them to strengthen their purpose and bring dignity to the duped and downtrodden.
