In Phanishwar Nath Renu바카라s short story Thes, the protagonist Sirchan asks the narrator, 바카라Meri gharwaali zinda rahti tou main aise durdasha bhogta? (If my wife was alive today, would I have gone through this?). This year is Renu바카라s birth centenary, and just 15 km from his village in Bihar바카라s Araria, three orphans wake up every morning with a similar question, ever since their parents succumbed to Covid in May this year. Five months later, their grandmother, their sole remaining guardian, also passed away. Those left behind in the family now are Soni Kumari (19), Nitish (15), and Chandani (13)바카라three youngsters left to face life바카라s struggles alone.
Their father, Birendra Mehta, was the local 바카라physician바카라; a self-styled doctor who prescribed allopathic medicine to the village folk without training or license. He was just 40 when he was infected with coronavirus while treating infected people. Soon after, his wife Priyanka, 32, was also found to be Covid-positive. The children rushed their parents to a private nursing home in neighbouring Purnia district, selling a piece of land and a goat to raise money for their treatment. But Mehta바카라s condition had worsened by then and he passed away soon after at the hospital.
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Two days after Mehta바카라s death, the children ran out of money. And they had to bring their ailing mother back to their village, Madhulata in Raniganj block. But, on the fourth day, her condition turned critical. The eldest daughter, Soni, ran from hospital to hospital바카라in neighbouring Raniganj and Forbesganj blocks바카라to save her mother. But Priyanka died on the way to Madhepura, a neighbouring district. Their troubles were just beginning, though. The death of their parents in a span of four days spread panic among the illiterate villagers and they refused to attend her funeral. In one of the most poignant and tragic stories that emerged out of Bihar during the pandemic, Soni dug a grave and buried her mother near her father. A photograph of Soni, dressed in a PPE kit, went viral on social media, highlighting the plight of the poor in rural Bihar ravaged by the coronavirus.
Araria, about 350 km from Bihar capital Patna, has been placed second among India바카라s poorest districts in the recent report by Niti Aayog on Multidimensional Poverty Index. The report names Bihar as the poorest state in the country with around 52 per cent poor population. While Kishanganj tops the list with 64.75 per cent poor population, Araria is a close second with 64.65 per cent in poverty.
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Hidden in the lifeless numbers are the tragic tales of children like Soni and her siblings. And many others left orphaned by the pandemic. The National Commission for Protection of Children바카라s Rights (NCPCR) told the Supreme Court that 6,855 children were orphaned across India due to the pandemic between April 1, 2020 and July 23, 2021. More than 68,000 children lost at least one parent in the same period.
Living in a half-completed three-room house their parents had built, the three siblings now stare at the life of uncertainties바카라about their studies, their farmland, their future. 바카라We are totally dependent on agriculture for our livelihood and education. My father used to earn with his medical services in the village and my mother took care of the cattle and fields,바카라 said Soni, who had just returned from their one-bigha field where she was sowing maize along with her brother. She looks at a few sacks and paddy crop in the courtyard. She is tired but there is still work to be done before sunset. They also have to cut paddy straw to feed their two cows. The family has another piece of land which they got from their uncle as security when he borrowed Rs 25,000 from their father. They are growing potato and mustard in the field, which is near the graves of their parents and grandmother. 바카라While going to the field, we sit near the graves. It will take time. We can바카라t forget them all of a sudden.바카라 Soni added.
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They have seen so many deaths in the last one year that even childhood happiness like buying new clothes is associated with a Hindu ritual after death. 바카라Daadi ke kriya-karam par naya kapda khareede the,바카라 (We bought new clothes after our grandmother바카라s death rituals),바카라 says Chandani, the youngest. 바카라I like to wear boy바카라s dresses. My father used to say I am a son, not a girl. He always bought me jeans and t-shirts.바카라
The siblings did receive Rs 4 lakh as compensation from the state government for their mother바카라s death, but eight months later, they are yet to receive the amount for their father바카라s death. They visit the district headquarter every tenth day, but things do not move forward. 바카라There is no one to earn in the family. Our education and day-to-day expanses are met with the money we received. If we get the other compensation, it will help us a lot,바카라 said Soni.
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The burden of livelihood has all but shattered their childhood dreams. Soni and Nitish wanted to become doctors and Chandani has a dream to become a teacher. But they don바카라t see much hope left to fulfil these dreams. 바카라With our parents gone, who will fulfil my dreams now? After cooking, taking care of the cows, fields and doing household chores, I make time at night to study occasionally,바카라 said Soni, her voice choking with emotions. Soni is in Class XI while Nitish is a student of Class IX.
Life바카라s harsh lessons have turned even young Chandani into a pragmatic young woman. 바카라I wanted to be a teacher when my parents were alive. I don바카라t know what I will do now. I am in Class VIII, but we don바카라t have money to complete our education,바카라 she said, hiding her pain behind her smile.
(This appeared in the print edition as "Graveyard of Dreams: The Story of Soni")
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By Tanzil Asif in Araria
