THE FLOATING DIARY (Short Story Journal – 28): APARAJITA… The undefeated

This year I had the most unique experience of my life. It taught me the true meaning of being unvanquished in the face of all atrocities. It gave me power; it gave me strength to endure. Yes, I returned home with a renewed understanding of the word “APARAJITA” … The undefeated!

Autumn brings in the mammoth celebration of DURGA PUJA festival in Bengal! My friend Partho Banerjee knew that I do not prefer to be amid a lot of crowd. Thus, before the festivities began, I got a phone call from him with an invitation to visit Kolkata for a couple of days. He wanted me to meet APARAJITA. He didn’t say much and kept me wondering about his intentions. It has been a long time since we last met and thus I accepted the invitation. In my wildest imagination, I thought that perhaps he wanted me to meet his lady love! As he remained tight lipped, didn’t probe further. I took a leave from office and packed my bags for a quick vacation.

I arrived in Kolkata by an early morning flight and Partho met me with a warm welcome. The crimson hues of the autumn sun had flooded the corners of Kolkata. The mega city was all set for the biggest event of the year! The day was that of “Mahalaya”, a very special day. It is a day that pronounces the descent of Mother Durga on earth, from her abode in Kailash, to bestow her blessings on mortal earthlings. Traditionally, it marks the end of Pitru-Paksha and the beginning of Devi-Paksha, the fortnight of the Mother Goddess! First, Partho took me to his home where I was greeted with an abundance of love and warmth from his family. I had a sumptuous breakfast and was all rejuvenated with positive energy.

Partho finished his food and said, “Come Pravin, let’s go. We have a little travel before I introduce to APARAJITA.”

“Yes, let us go and meet your new girlfriend!” I replied with a chuckle. Partho smiled back dryly.

I was still in the dark about what Partho intended to do, but followed him without asking any further questions. It gave an adventurous feel and I enjoyed every moment. The air carried a mild chill and the sweet smell of autumn was everywhere. Partho drove me in his small car and the two of us headed through the streets of Kolkata, which was getting the final touches of the decorations. Time flew by and we moved out of the city and headed along the highway.

After an hour Partho told me, “Pravin, we are in Rupaligarh. This is a small town near Kolkata” he pointed towards a medium sized house, girdled inside a brick-wall boundary and said, “that is our destination…”

The car went inside and both of us got out. My initial observation told me that it was perhaps a school or a crèche. Within the boundary wall was a large plot with a beautiful garden and a three-storied house in the center. We walked past a few men and women who were busy working inside the garden. They smiled at us as we passed. I didn’t know why, but I had a weird feeling from the look on their faces. Partho seemed to know everything about the place. He escorted me straight inside the house and as we got in everything became crystal clear!

Inside the large hall were about fifty children. Yet, they were not ordinary kids. They were special. Aged between five and fifteen, perhaps, these kids brought tears to my eyes. However, that was not the end. The people who were caring for these little angels were special too! I understood that I was standing amid a mini LGBT community! I look at Partho with a lot of questions in my eyes.

Partho was waiting for the moment. He softly spoke, “Welcome to APARAJITA, the undefeated community! Pravin, this organization is APARAJITA and I am a member here. We are a group of LGBT who have come together to form this NGO. We take care of children, special ones who are suffering from terminal diseases like cerebral palsy or autism, but whose parents do not have the financial means to support their treatment. The members of APARAJITA are professionally well-established in their respective professional careers and we fund this organization with our own money. The one thread that binds us together is that we all belong to what the world has labelled as the LGBT community!”

I was speechless. Only tears rolled down from my eyes. One by one a few members gathered around us. Partho introduced them to me, “Pravin this is Vikram, he is lawyer. This is Suhana, she is an author. That is Chumki…”

I shook hands with everybody and was in a halo of what I was seeing. Finally, Partho introduced, “And this is Chameli, the senior-most member of APARAJITA.”

Chameli spoke in a husky yet composed voice, “Many in this world despise the way we are. Yet, we are children of the same Almighty. Today, is Mahalaya, the beginning of the fortnight of the Mother Goddess, Maa Durga. Just like every other person, we are also children of the Mother! The Mother doesn’t discriminate. Thus we are all born equal. We created APARAJITA, as an initiative to bring together the so called LGBT folks, a label that the world has given us. However, like everybody we are humans and have the same blood and the same warmth in our hearts…”

Partho added, “Today the world no longer shuns us. However, a lot of awareness and acceptance is still needed and we would work towards that. There are many uneducated people who still despises the LGBT and the mentally challenged community and that is the reason we have formed APARAJITA, to remain undefeated against all odds!”

We spoke for about an hour and I could only utter, “I salute you guys! APARAJITA is truly undefeated! It not only fights and strives towards your cause, it has given me a lesson too. I will return home much stronger to fight my terminal amnesia with an invigorated energy!”

Chumki came forward and tied a friendship band on my hand and said, “We are all equal in the eyes of Durga Maa… May this fortnight of the Mother Goddess unite us all across the world!”

****

As I sit inside my bedroom and write this journal tonight, my mind floats away to the remote town of Rupaligarh, to APARAJITA and to each member of the organization and I pray to the almighty that world becomes a beautiful place for everyone to live in harmony.