Baba, what has happened to her? Who did this to her?
It took me some thinking. It is hard composing something better for my six years old daughter.
Staring towards my monitor as she continues her quest on knowing about Pinki who happens to be at her age, but has a cleft lip, leaves a devastating impact on her appearance.
I had been on International Documentary Association site last night, and then found a trailer featuring her. I actually like IDA mostly because; they have documentary films’ trailers. These are not movies but the real life portrayed in documentary films.
Who is Pinki? Good question.
Think of a moment when you have a deformed face and yet you are a child. Your parents look at you with devastated face while bleeding inside. I won’t go in to some crazy ideas on abandoning you. They also try hiding you from curious public places. You are isolated by other children and everyone else in that neighborhood. You can’t attend schools, this can be sometimes life threatening, some people beat you up when they feel that these deformed people have no right to live. You tend to bear a visible stigma, prevents yourself being a part of human society. It’s life of shame and isolation. And lastly, you can’t marry and have a “respectable” job like everybody else.
Once I rescued a boy in Congo, as many people in developing countries think clefts are an evil curse of god. Others have had almost killed him. He, aged ten/twelve seemed like he was embracing the beating as the fault lies with him. I wanted to comfort him, offered some cookies. He left the spot turning down my offer. For a minute, I wanted to feel what it is like being him.
Similar thing happened while I was on duty in some places in my country. The rescued girl, bleeding gave me the expression – life is lot more unfair than saving those stone down pouring over her.
I have had loads of commercials seen in US on joining “Smile Train”, a non-profit organization that does treat these children for free. These surgeries might look costly, but people like you, me and doctors have donated millions of dollars and their time to treat them to smile again.
You might try renting a movie “Smile” where some of the perspectives were portrayed and I promise you’d be better human being.
And, I have two good news.
One, Pinki, who starred in “Smile Pinki” has traveled all the way to Los Angeles, California, from her small Indian village with her father who once was ashamed of her. The trailer could be found here. This film has been nominated for Oscar.
Two, the volunteers around the world treating cleft lips for free are now in Bangladesh.
Can we become immortal in our deeds? Which of our accomplishments do we think will be most remembered?
Truly speaking, these people don’t want any of these.
Enabling someone to smile through their lifetime might make sense.
Redemption 