[Reader-list] She with her 8-month old daughter to be sold in Ajmer.

[prakash ray]

She was married in her childhood. When she became adult, she married another
person with the consent of all families including her first 'husband''s
family. She gave birth to a girl-child. Both wife and husband are labourers.


Suddenly the Caste Panchyat and powerful men term this marriage 'illegal'. A
punishment was declared: Either pay fine to the 'Panchayat' or this money
will be recovered by a public auction of the woman and her daughter.
Meanwhile, her family won't be allowed to use hand-pump and other community
facilities. No one will buy milk from her. She or her husband or other
members of family will not get work under the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme.

Local MLA and MP (an Union Minister) have been contacted but there is no
response. The administration has not provided any relief to the family.

A reporter from a TV channel asks her: Mehraj, will you fight against this
tyranny or accept the 'judgement'?

Mehraj: I will fight till my last breath.

Her daughter in her arms is smiling. Amazed me remembering a poem by Ashok
Vajpayee.

कोई नहीं सुनता पुकार--

सुनती है कान खड़े कर

सीढियों पर चौकन्नी खड़ी बिल्ली,

जिसे ठीक से पता नहीं कि

डर कर भाग जाना चाहिए या

ठिठककर एकटक उस ओर देखना चाहिए।


कोई नहीं सुनता चीख़--

सुनती है खिड़की के बाहर

हरियाये पेड़ पर अचानक आ गई नीली चिड़िया,

जिसे पता नहीं कि यह चीख़ है

या कि आवाज़ों के तुमुल में से एक और आवाज़।


कोई नहीं सुनता प्रार्थना--

सुनती है अपने पालने में लेटी दुधमुंही बच्ची,

जो आदिम अंधेरे से निकलकर उजाले में आने पर

इतनी भौंचक है

कि उसके लिए अभी आवाज़

होने, न होने के बीच का सुनसान है।