Bringing light to an exploited community

By R. Ravikanth Reddy

HYDERABAD, APRIL 1. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. And many who cross the tunnel conclude their journey at the emergence of the light. But here is a person whose journey goes much beyond that. He didn't bask under the glory of his achievements but took the shimmering light to his community to illuminate their dark lives.

Mr. Kishore Shantabai Kale, author of "Kolhatyache Por" (Kolhate's Child), which created a storm in the Marathi literary circles and shook the conscience of the people is a man with a mission. Born in the Kolhati community of Tamasha (Laavani) and abandoned by his mother, neglected by his relatives and maltreated by the society, he achieved what many in his community couldn't even dream of.

Fighting against all odds, he went on to become a doctor, the first one from his community that survives on the earnings of women in their family. The girls of this community are sold to the highest bidder and are forced to dance for money.

Mr. Kishore was here to launch the Telugu version of his book - Edureetha. It is an autobiography that traces the lifestyle of this neglected child-turned doctor. In a chat with this reporter, he explained how he overcame the hurdles to change the lifestyle of his community and on his ambition to serve the needy and poor as a professional.

The book has created magic and has brought a revolutionary change in people's attitude towards the community and the dance, he says earnestly. "Now it is treated more as an art than as a sleazy dance and people are watching it openly rather than clandestinely". The impact on community women was such that they are now forcing the menfolk to earn by taking up a job. And men's attitude has also changed drastically.

But his biggest achievement through his struggle was that he made the society accept a child his mother's name. Since the community kids could not carry their father's names, he faced several problems in school and college. However, the impact of his book was such that even the Maharashtra Government had made it legal for the students to carry their mothers' names.

But he has confined himself to his community. Resigning his Government job, he set up a hospital in Badlapur village in Thane district, which now predominantly serves the tribal people. The Tara Memorial Sanstha followed the success of the hospital and now it looks after the various works taken up by the doctor, including serving the AIDS-affected sex workers in several parts of the State.

Now he proposes to promote a Hospital Complex in Rahatoli village that will house a hospital with all facilities, doctor's residences, nature cure camps, a centre for mentally retarded children, a home for the aged apart from a shopping centre.

In the midst of these activities, he has continued his literary work. Buddha Batla, Hijda Ek Mard, Aayi Tujhe Lekru (Mother your child) and Mee Doctor Jhalo (I Have Become a Doctor) too were highly acclaimed. He is currently working on an English novel - Thus Hospital and Humanity is Born - with his personal experiences as a doctor as the theme. Well, his life is a source of immense hope to thousands of people who feel they have insurmountable disadvantages.

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Section  : Southern States
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