November 20, 2005 witnessed the celebration of Int'l Child Rights Day. In this due course, the Nepalese capital city-Kathmandu based National Non-Government Organization organized an interaction program which drew remarkable number of people. The participants included ministers, senior officials, social workers and suffering children. And among them, a child was observing the participants with a grim face. He is free now but still remembers those days of struggles and never-ending physical work. The programme got its pace and various ministers, child-rights concerned individuals/organization gave their polished speeches. After a little while, this boy was called on the dias. His painful story and lifecycle created an emotional thrust in this writer. Given below is the story of that child-Shyame, his ups and downs, struggles and sorrows--
"With the calling name Shyame, Shyam Bahadur Biswokarma was born to economically strangled family. He couldn't get paternal care as his father died when Shyam was just sixteen months. His mother nourished him with the namesake agricultural land she had. But she also got killed in a cross-firing while returning from the jungle after collecting dried logs of wood. Shyame was now lonely. He couldn't do physical works because of his small age and weakness. And one day, he headed to Kathmandu to make a living with a man who was uncle by relation. Upon reaching the valley, the chameleon-color of his uncle showed off. He sold Shyame for a mere six thousand rupees to a restaurant owner. Shyame didn't like this work. He saw few other children of his age working there. Then on, Shyame's daily routine including waking up at wee hours and washing the dishes till midnight. He was subjected to clean the restaurant and scrub wastage daily. One day he dropped a glass while serving tea to a customer. The owner kicked Shyame out and fired him from the work. His job was then gone and he dwelled in the cold streets of Kathmandu. Sleeping without food had become his destiny and finding wealth among plastic waste wasn't new to him.
Shyame was observing child rights days for many years. One new slogan, one new five star hotel. Access of children like Shyame to these program was often impossible. He listened to a minister at Tundikhel. Promulgated- It is our prime concern to save child rights. Until A.D. this and that, no child will remain starved. These are pillars of tomorrow.
Irony told that Bhola, a companion of Shyame worked at the same minister's. Said Bhola- The minister grills him daily as a dog, work-work-work, I can't stand this anymore.
Days aren't always weary. Veteran social worker Dayanand was also present in the programme. Shyame concluded his words in form of an emotional poem.
- ...
Peep into yourself
and search the softer side.
Progress will only be possible-
iff you think of each and every child.
After this poem, social worker Dayanand praised Shyame for his poem. The ministers turned blue and red, so called child-rights workers who sustained their own life in the name of child-welfare had their heads lowered with shame. All at once, everyone gave a big hand to Shyame's words."
Now Shyame's days have changed. Due to the support, love and care of Dayanand, Shyame got admitted to a boarding school and finished schooling with good grades. Shyam, now by his own efforts, has built a school for under-privileged, orphan, disabled, helpless 'street' children where he is strengthening the future-makers of the nation. He is associated to various child rights organizations. Shyam has now become a burning example of the fact that any child, if given an opportunity, can contribute a lot to society.
a 2008bpb prayas.
