Dear Gautam Buddha,
We are writing you from some nondescript
place in Gaya.
You know...we still can't write. Only half of women in your Bihar is literate, we have asked someone to write on our behalf. So, not sure....really if he is writing what we wanted him to write or not.
Trust you are doing great there
somewhere. They were telling me you walked on this land many centuries back. Good that you “walked out” of this place. Nothing much is left here. We have problem of water in summer. We go in the open to defecate. We don't have houses.
People of different features and sizes comes in large number looking for you.
Perhaps they want to learn something......but what they get is our people
defecating in the open. They were telling me they capture that in their big
cameras….we are not sure why they are interested in someone defecating in open.
Looks like, since they don’t find you and nothing much is left so, they capture
us.
Some people came visiting us last night. We had good chat....oo....we got good lecture & verbal thrash on toilet, sanitation, and water. We thought hard on some of the issues. we are sending you this if you have a thought or two as you attained Gyan and perhaps are free from life and death.
Mobile is dear to me: Thank you Mr. Ambani for making available phone again at Rs. 501, we recall your father has done this before making it available at 500 in 2001 or so. You have done a great favour. Now people could not say…that we all have mobile and not toilet at home.
I have been telling it for sometime that toilet costs more than
mobile. And also its unfair comparison, what you call comparing apple vs
oranges. We have alternative to toilet as going in the open but unfortunately
not having option for mobile. And Mobile perhaps serve a very distinct function
which could not be done by any other substitute.
Women doesn't have all power in the world: After
session for an hour or so..some of us really wanted to take rest. Wanted to lie
down on the same mat as we have been listening to them. Some of us did try
stretching a bit…..but the voice from dias and behind…..stopped us. They didn't realize we had been awake since wee hours of the morning.
You know…..we have something to
share……why women should be instrument of all changes that they want to bring…….…women should go and picket illegal liquor shop……govt. have been
saying women should come forward and try bringing reform of all kinds in
society.
we pained with this
proposition and we are dead tired….you know what….I work 18 hours a day…..taking
care of house, children, cattle and what not…..and then they come….they ask us
- to form SHG for thrift…
- to take bank loans.
- to run enterprises
- fight against child marriage
- fight against child labour…
- make nigrani samite to stop
open defecation….
Why should it be all women’s
job….tomorrow you will say…..climate change…form women’s group…..let us go home
and take rest…..I only have limited time as you have……and for God’s sake, we
have not created all these problems…why we should be leading the solutions if
you really think that’s the solution, which we always think……not a solution and
at best bad solution.....solution lies somewhere else......and we are punching bag.....
Our husbands asked to visiting
team, they didn’t have land…..they promised land could be arranged….and also
went on to say…..it does not require land. ….we asked we didn’t have water for
all seasons….
they became really angry…..inquiring if we cleaned our bum that
morning……we could not find much relevance to it…….not sure......though if they
know…65% households in Bihar have no land. Large number of families are
fighting for homestead….or even larger number have only homestead at best that
is also very small often not much larger than the recommended toilet size……..
We can't enforce prohibition: You know
what...we have prohibition enforced by the present govt. but our men still
drink. And when they drink, they ask really good questions…..some of them asked
really good questions last night as well….they asked about the technology……asked if leach pit
contaminate our water sources…….. and visitors given some arguments.....
Some came visiting our hamlets …..the
following morning and they found….there was water.....seepages... in the pit which
was barely 4 feet deep……we get scared….of piling all our shit there in the pit…...we were sure team was also convinced there was issue.....
Visiting team asked our husbands ......if they
could talk to them….when they were not drunk…….some of them suggested if we
could…..stop giving them food at home……they would think of building toilet for
us……we told them…..we were not ready to be beaten by our husbands…..we had
already enough problems…..not having a toilet would be lesser problem than being beaten by husbands.....
You know what….we had issues
with drinking specially with our menfolk and that’s why we took our fight to
the government…..& govt. enforced prohibition….it was very curious…..why
they were still wanting us to enforce the law…when they were all powerful to do
so…..it was interesting to see.....they were only interested in toilets...and not folks who were drunk......
They "hoped" at the end of the meeting that we would all built toilet......
Confide with me: You know sir....we also want toilet.....and we also don't want to go in the open...but we want someone to come and talk with us. If the same visiting team is responsible for water.....and instead of getting me water....only talks of having a toilet......sir, we will not build....if they want....let them build it.....we will not use it.
P.S. if possible visit sometime.......perhaps you could do something.
