[Reader-list] The Changing Moralscape of Calcutta

[shohini]

Pride Walk with a Difference
A report of Counsel Club's New Year Charity Walk
Calcutta, December 30, 2001

Another New Year round the corner. Every heart seems
to be singing melodiously to welcome it. The city
seems to be dressed like a queen. We all expect
another year of happiness, joy and prosperity. We
wish others the same, our families, friends,
colleagues and lovers. But what about the countless
young living on the streets of the city? Would a New
Year mean anything to them? Shouldn't it mean
something? Something other than the daily struggle
for survival! 

Counsel Club decided to make a difference, however
small. Doing away with plans to hold its regular New
Year's eve pay party (which usually attracts 60 to
70 LGBT people from all over eastern India), it
decided to hold a charity walk for street children
and their families. Donations upwards of Rs.100/-
were collected from several members and friends of
the group, all part of the vast network built over
more than eight years of the group's existence. The
money raised was used to purchase warm clothes for
children and food items like rice, pulses, biscuits
and sweets. Several people contributed old clothes
as well, for both the young and the old. The idea
was to walk down a six-kilometer stretch of south
Calcutta, and distribute the clothes and food among
the children and their families living on the
pavements along the way. 

Several members of the group were disappointed at
the cancellation of the party. Some of the walkers
were also skeptical whether the walk would amount to
anything. But when the day came, everybody had big
smiles on their faces. The donation target had been
exceeded, and far more clothes had been collected
and bought than anticipated. Not to mention words of
encouragement received from Counsel Club's
supporters, both individuals and organizations, many
from outside Calcutta's LGBT community!

The clothes were packed into big jute bags,
according to sex and age, while the food items were
divided into separate packs for adults (rice, flour,
pulses etc.) and children (biscuits, sweets etc.).
It was a team of 15 men and women that gathered at
the starting point in Gariahat. Four others joined
the walk along the way. None of the friends from the
media turned up, but a couple of the walkers had
cameras and one had a camcorder to document the
event. With pink ribbons (carrying Counsel Club's
motto - "All roses are roses, but all roses are not
red!") attracting the attention of passers-by as
well as children, the walkers started off on their
venture, little expecting the response awaiting
them.

It is one thing to pass by the poor dwelling on the
pavements, wondering sympathetically how they manage
to survive, quite another to interact with them,
particularly when one is proposing to help them.
First of all hunger and need do not allow for
niceties like waiting in a queue. As it is that the
children gathered at the starting point had guessed
what the walkers intended to do. And news had spread
down the road that something was in the offing. So
when the distribution actually started, the walkers
were all but mobbed by the children and their
elders, everyone asking for something different all
at the same time! It took a while before the walkers
could gather their wits and start the distribution
with some semblance of order.

While the first distribution point was a completely
new learning experience, it was at the second point
that the walkers started enjoying their work. While
it was sheer joy to see someone receive a sweater or
a saree or a packet of rice and flour and walk away
with a smile, it was also painful to disappoint some
of the people as clothes fitting them were just not
available. The best sight, however, was to see
children jump with joy on receiving their food
packets!

Passing through Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus,
Circus Avenue, Park Street, Royd Street, the walkers
reached Free School Street, the end point. The first
two distribution points had taken up almost 50% of
the items to be given away. The remaining were given
away all along the way, mostly to small groups of
people and individuals. One man charmed all the
walkers by putting on the sweater gifted him right
away accompanied with a beaming toothless smile!
That smile was infectious, for it was one big tired
but happy family that settled down to tea and snacks
at an eatery off Park Street at the end of a nearly
three hour walk. Special toasts were raised for the
walkers who had done most of the organizing work for
the walk. 

There were many lessons learnt for similar efforts
in future (for it was decided that such a walk
should become an annual affair). It was felt that
the distribution of clothes should be restricted to
children, while the adults should be given food for
the family. A more focused distribution would
probably lead to fewer expectations remaining
unfulfilled. Besides, more warm clothes should be
distributed than ordinary ones, keeping in mind that
it would be winter when the walk takes place again.
Some people suggested that instead of a walk, a camp
could also be organized, preferably in more than one
place within and on the outskirts of the city. Also,
more time should be kept in hand to organize such an
event. This first walk had been organized in less
than 10 days. With more time in hand, it would be
possible to collect more money and clothes and the
number of walkers would also be more, making the
event more colourful and inspiring for those
hesitating on the sidelines.

Ringing out the old and ringing in the new with a
thought for others was perhaps the best thing to do.
One hopes that the walk does become an annual
affair. An occasion to share joys and sorrow. An
occasion also to show that the LGBT community
believes in "gayness" for one and all, and not just
for itself.

Report prepared by : Arpan, Pawan (17/1/02)



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