Book Review (Spotlight Weekly)

Atma Nirvartako Khojima (In Search of Self-reliance)

Edited by: Babita Basnet

Published by: Shakti Samuha and UNIFEM

Pages: 96

Price: Undisclosed

Tales of Tragedies

The book is a compilation of real life tragedies faced by victims of girl trafficking

By A CORRESPONDENT

Girl trafficking is one of the major problems of Nepal. More than 7000 thousand girls are trafficked to different brothels in India every year.

With the restoration of democracy, many non-governmental organizations have been raising the issue of girl trafficking and working in various sectors to address this problem.

Despite various kinds of publications, research and awareness generating activities, the rural girls are yet to find respite. Many women are sold to brothels in India by their own kith and kins in exchange for a few bundle of rupees.

Edited by journalist Babita Basnet, the book highlights various aspects of girl trafficking, its implications on society as well as trauma and trouble faced by Nepalese girls who were sold to brothel.

With the support from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Shakti Samuha – a group of women including the former victims who have joined hands to fight the terrible tragedies their sisters are being subjected to in the country – has published the book. It covers wide range of areas including the human aspects, economic aspects and right issues of women.

Since the women and children trafficking is rampant in South Asia, the authors of the different articles also discuss this matter in their articles.

“I am happy to say that this book helps to bring out the issues of girl and child trafficking and their plights and difficulties. This is one of the efforts to inform people regarding the plights of women,” said Chandani Joshi, Regional program director UNIFEM, in the introduction of the book..

One of the most important parts of this book is that the authors narrate their own real life stories regarding the difficulties faced by them in the course of trafficking. Stories of the women ranges from their past history of having to live a miserable life in brothels and their current fight in society to snatch a respectable place. Many of their harrowing tales also clearly point that not only are they subjected to tragedies but also that they have to face various kinds of difficulties and discrimination once they return home.

“The stories underline how brutal ordeal the women and girls have to face in brothels and how they once again have to fight the stigma and discrimination after returning home,” said the editor of the book Babita Basnet.

For instance, the story of Prerana Roka is full of heart-rending difficulties and hardships. Sold to a brothel in India by some unknown persons, Prerna is now working hard to live on her own. When Prerana wanted to live a life of self-reliance, she was cheated and was sold to a Bombay brothel in the pretext that she would be given a good job. Prerana, who was born in a lower-middle class family, was trafficked to Bombay in 1991. Indian Police rescued her in 1996.

Sabina Tamang does not want to remember her past since it renews the ordeals she had to go through, the phases of betrayal, struggle and trauma are just too much.. Tamang came to Kathmandu to work as a garment worker but one of her friends took her to Bombay under false promise.

Born in a remote part of the country, Tamang’s journey to hell began in 1996 when some of her friends encouraged her to leave the work place in Kathmandu. Following a couple of days of riding the bus, Tamang, who did not have any idea about the country’s border, was taken to a brothel in India. Indian police rescued her.

Ranjana Shakya is another woman who had to bear a long period of oppression, violence and all other forms of discrimination. Born in Pokhara, Shakya’s life was full of tragic stories. Similarly, tragedies in the life of Sita Chettri are also very moving. Her own relatives sold her to a brothel in India.

Due to the efforts of editor Babita Basnet, many women have gotten the opportunity to share their difficulties with others.