Let me share a small story about a girl called Ruksana. She is a 25 year old household help, who does part-time work as a maid next door. She hails from an unknown, nondescript village, deep in rural West Bengal (India), and has never been to school. I meet her every morning as she sets off to start her chores at people’s houses, and she greets me with this huge sunshine smile. The other day, I had time on hand, and got talking to her. Little did I know that behind her happy demeanour she had such a poignant tale? She got married 5 years ago. The man was very violent and used to beat her up often. She was expecting their first child, but he still wouldn’t mend his ways. Ruksana, the small Indian village girl, walked out of that place, and has never looked back. Luckily for her, she had the grit, and importantly, family support. She now has a little 4 year old boy, lives with her mother and uncle in a little slum nearby, and has fought adversity to live with her head held high. She is fearless of what people will say. Very few people have the courage to walk out of a bad abusive relationship, more so if they are illiterate, poor and from a very conservative social background. I hail the spirit of this young, brave woman who has such a positive outlook to life, and has shown us that it just takes a little courage and determination to fight abuse.
On this day, 27th September, let us UNITE AGAINST ABUSE!!
Ruksana…Have you seen her sunshine smile??
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Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
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7 thoughts on “STOP ABUSE!! Blogging for a cause. September 27th, 2007”
That is such a nice story!!
PS: I adore your blog too, I’m gonna have to look at it more in detail now. I love baking, though I am not the best at it, practice makes perfect, right ? haha.
I ADORE your blog! This story is amazing and I hope will inspire many. It is always better to be happy on your own than being mistreated but not everyone has the strength to do so. I applaud her and also you for being so obviously supportive. As a former baking company owner, and passionate cook and baker myself, I am a reader now of your blog. Your title of Domestic Engineer is so perfect, and made me smile. Good luck to you. Kindest wishes, Abby
That is such a nice story!!
PS: I adore your blog too, I’m gonna have to look at it more in detail now. I love baking, though I am not the best at it, practice makes perfect, right ? haha.
Thanks for visiting my blog. That’s great for her that she walked out of that horrible relationship.
What a great story to share…yes she is a very brave person and very strong!
Thanks, guys, fo supporting a good cause!! :0)
Great that you talk about these issues. more people creating awareness is required for things to change. tx. –jai and bee
I ADORE your blog! This story is amazing and I hope will inspire many. It is always better to be happy on your own than being mistreated but not everyone has the strength to do so. I applaud her and also you for being so obviously supportive. As a former baking company owner, and passionate cook and baker myself, I am a reader now of your blog. Your title of Domestic Engineer is so perfect, and made me smile. Good luck to you.
Kindest wishes,
Abby
Love the courage. Grew up in rural Kenya and seen much of this.
Lets keep the awareness flame high.