Journey of childhood ..

                 So much is there to say, we are quiet. So much is there to showcase, we hide all. It is all happening in front of our eyes. No, I am definitely not going to write about any political fiasco or historical movement. On the contrary, I am trying to throw some light on one of the darkest side of this human race. We all are born free. We live our whole life searching for that particular halcyon moment. Few get, others mourn for it! 

                 A child comes to this beautiful world. At the age of five, he realizes that he’s an orphan. He lands into the hands of a ruthless man who happens to be a contractor. Predictions can't be based upon factitious arguments. But tis true Michelangelo, thy world outside is barbarous. What the contractor will do to that child? That, is not my question. And this is not about only those children who are orphan or posthumous. It's about all of them, the divine gifts. 

Before a child's birth, we want to know the gender. Is it so important? For some unreasonable people, it is. Then follows infant killing. Our inhuman behaviour does not stop here. Wish of a healthy child leads a couple to either kill or discard the one who is physically disabled. The child is not deformed, but such acts are. Why such deformity in our thinking? Apparently, the problem with our society is, we still find it difficult to accept such children who need special attention.

                  There can be no reasons to support our sin. Child abuse is no new to this society. It's a disease spread by social animals to satisfy the sexual instinct inside them. Child abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in horrendous activities. Research has shown that traumatic stress, including stress caused by all sorts of physical abuse, causes notable changes in brain functioning and development. Various studies have suggested that severe child sexual abuse may have a deleterious effect on brain development. Children getting exposed to such violent streaks suffer neurological damage. 

Incest between a child or adolescent and a related adult has been identified as the most widespread form of child abuse with a huge capacity for damage to a child. According to a research, more than 70% of abusers are immediate family members or someone very close to the family. Another researcher stated that about 30% of all perpetrators of sexual abuse are related to their victim, 60% of the perpetrators are family acquaintances, like a neighbor, babysitter or friend and 10% of the perpetrators in child sexual abuse cases are strangers. The idea is not to just put figures and facts, but is to help some shut eyes open wide. 

                  It was reported in 2010 that Thailand and Brazil were considered to have the worst child trafficking records. Trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children can take many forms and include forcing a child into prostitution or other forms of sexual activity or child pornography. Child exploitation can also include forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, the removal of organs, illicit international adoption, trafficking for early marriage, recruitment as child soldiers, for use in begging or for recruitment for cults. Trafficking in children often involves exploitation of the parents' extreme poverty. Parents may sell children to traffickers in order to pay off debts or gain income, or they may be deceived concerning the prospects of training and a better life for their children. They may sell their children for labor, sex trafficking, or illegal adoptions.

                  We have no definite mechanism to fight this deformity of our society. I take no privilege or pride in stating myself a human. I have never seen God, but I do believe in blessings. Raising a child is an opportunity to see the real person inside you. Children are indeed, a blessing in disguise.

Elizabeth Lawrence once said, "There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colours are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again". Our karma is to look after the garden. Preserve their essence and innocence. A child needs a role model more than an abuser or a mere critic. All of us have moments that test our courage and will to stand humane. Taking child into a house with a white carpet is one of them. Brace yourself and embrace the innocent.

It must stop now!

Democracy, Freedom, Sovereignty. On the platforms of such agendas, social activist turned politicians have always managed to be in the limelight. Are these words meant to be a tool of hypocrite reformers? I write this draft not be in the limelight but to unveil the assassins

of humanity. 

The society is actually going through turbulences. Turbulences due to some untold truth. Each day, in and around the city, across the streets, outside the window, human right is violated. Modern human slavery, sex trafficking, child labour, forced labour; that's what our developed, urbanised and educated society comprises of!

Commercialisation of organised crime has formed an ugly face. Its not a worry only for India and it's subcontinents, but is a global concern. Huge amount of human consignments are exported everyday especially in Europe and Asia. In fact female trafficking is not illegal in countries like Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. 80% of transnational victims are women and girls. It is a lucrative industry where investment is too low as compared to the profit margin. Apparently, trade of arms and drugs has been combined to give more profit percentage. Generally, women and children are trafficked by giving them job offers in city. Poor goes to the city and falls as prey in the trafficker's hand. It's not that trafficking is done only for cheap labour but for commercial sex too. 

Small children are forced to work on cheap wages. They are either smuggled from orphanages or kidnapped. Even sold to military. The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities (child soldiers), or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in propaganda. Ironically, children are the future. 

Women are bought to work as slaves and the same are sexually exploited. The main types of work offered are in the catering and hotel industry, in bars and clubs or modelling contracts. Poor economic conditions and social problems create a climate which is favourable to trafficking. The sorrow of such women is way beyond imagination. Trafficking victims are also exposed to different psychological problems. They suffer social alienation. Due to the addiction of drugs, their comfort zone gets affected. Mentioning about the rescued victims; even they don't, most of the times, recover from the trauma. In many cases traffickers initially offer ‘legitimate’ work or the promise of an opportunity to study. 

Although the good and effective work done by the governments have shown results, but yet the commoners are still unaware of the wretched crime happening in the society. This is due to ignorance. How much blame shall we post on the government until we are not donating our part of action? They are solely not responsible for the sufferings. As a matter of fact, we play a larger role by staying immune to such atrocities. Perhaps, truth is stranger than fiction.

Lets join hands and raise together against the assassins of humanity. Put some effort to make this a better place for all. As quoted in Gita, "To bring the change, be the change".