Innocence killed for ever: Story of atrocity on a child

“Why not you”:

Last time I commented on how we often feel ourselves to be in the most hapless situation. Here is story of child who underwent a trauma of a lifetime you would not like to imagine.

Before we begin, answering the question, “why me” raised in the last post, let me ask you: Why not you?

Amidst adversities you face currently, you feel you are at a disadvantage. What about the occasion, when your closest rival in your class got a hepatitis infection deeply denting his chance to upset your rank in the class? Or, when your business rival lost an opportunity to you just because you were better connected socially than him.

Or, did you actually care when your favourite news channel telecast a breaking news about a heinous murder? You were drawn to the idiot box, but like many this was simply a piece of news?

God is mischievous for making his presence felt in adverse time!

The story of the boy follows now:

It was a dark and cold night in a small village in Gujarat. Some passerby villagers heard the cries of a child near a field. As they approached the place, they were horrified to see a boy profusely bleeding, crying, unable to find his way to his home.

Unable to get back home may look common enough for a young child. Does it? Except that this child had been assaulted by someone grievously with a sharp weapon – the eyes had been perforated and the child was left bleeding in an open, cold field on a night that didn’t seem to end for the innocent child.
Motive of the crime was not known. Perhaps teaching a lesson to his parents!
Culprits were unknown, most probably never booked for what was more than a crime. They must be etched permanently on the memory of the child.

The story of this child appeared on one of the inner pages of the Times of India a few years ago. The then president of India, Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam took note of it and rang up both the state administration as well a leading eye specialist, Dr. Natarajan in Bombay. The child was airlifted to Bombay (Now Raj Thackery’s Mumbai) by a state helicopter two days after the injury. I do not know if the child’s eyes (or even one eye) could be salvaged. Going by the initial account in the media, the child’s eyes did not seem to have a favorable prognosis.

However, the child survived the injury. This means, for the rest of his life would have to live and relive the tragedy. Every day when he would wake up, the “why me” question would silently engulf him. His experience would make him wary of all the strangers; He would no longer be in a position to trust humans and yet in some way would have to depend on those (us) demons who gave him the current predicament. Wherever this child is and whatever he might be doing, I am sure he is trying to more than survive – he is living despite the struggle the life has become for him. Inch by inch he is moving on in life – without overtly complaining. Just like the puppy mentioned in my opening story in the same blog.

It’s fortunate that human life is finite as is everything here. One day he would just cease to exist, but the child I am sure, is not going to adopt an escape route. He would survive against the odds created.

If this child can, why can’t you bear what seems to have knocked you down.

Go through this. If you are a believer, let it be seen as a test that the “almighty” has designed for you. And in case you are not, you got your illness merely as a chance unlike this child on whom it was deliberately inflicted.

Take it sportingly.

Try to combat your illness. Look for a role model. If none is in sight, you probably have a chance to be one yourself! How do you go through it, would help others sail too.

Good luck.

The “Why me” question:

As a medical professional, I come across people who have actually gone through a misery and coped successfully. There are others who would curse the almighty and go into depression. I hope, there is a coping mechanism which inherent, and another that can be acquired through self help, grit and determination.

The "Why me" question:

Have you ever been through an agonizing medical illness? Or, seen some one very close to you going through one? Wouldn’t you like to shake the whole world and ask the almighty, “why you”?

The question is simple, so is probably the answer: You because, it could have been any one. Purely random game, life is. Sometimes we envy people, some time others envy us! So, why complain?

Take inspiration from an insect you accidentally injure while taking a stroll in a lawn or a puppy getting hit by a speeding vehicle. The insect would just begin to move immediately. No grudges. Life is cruel. But so it is to everyone regardless of the bank balance! After being hit by a vehicle, and ridden to bed for months many of us would have suicidal thoughts: Jumping through the hospital window is an option.

Go back and have a look at the insect.
Taking that final exit is not possible for the Poor creature. Throw it outside yourself. It survives for it doesn’t have enough body mass for a fatal impact. Think of the puppy, it does cry for a brief moment. But puppy knows life has to go on even with a limp. With no mother to hold it, the puppy soon disappears from sight.

Jumping from the window is an option for only higher and evolved animals like us. But “he” doesn’t endorse it.

So what is the solution?

Ignorance can be a bliss. But not so for long. As “why me” gets blurred, you would have rejuvenated interests in your illness. What is the best remedy? Can anyone else help? What if it doesn’t subside? How have others coped with illness? How can I cope with the situation myself?

This would be the second phase of your ascent. A quest for knowledge.

In a subsequent phase you might even extend a helping hand to some other sufferer.

This is to be continued.....when I come back with more to help you help yourself.
Until then,
Goodbye!