Going through the daily news item of a cop and his wife’s ill treatment on a minor girl (help mate) on 25/04/06, has prompted me to pen down my reaction as a Christian.
With no hesitation I also declare that I and my family is helped and assisted by an Adivasi girl and I am sure most of our families (Nagas) have a helpmate (boy or girl) to assist us in our daily domestic chores. We could have done away with it (helpers) had we not adopted the attitude of dependence. Many of our families rely and rest responsibilities on our helpmates for even small things and even leave our children at their care. Father and mother fail to share the house chores when helpmate leaves the family…. And faces become longer than usual.
On one occasion, a maid (Anjali) who was with my family for 7 years had to leave home to obey and accept her parents arranged marriage for her. In a situation like this, I had to look for another maid and compelled me drive towards Assam. It was a small village closely knitted with no more than 15-20 families. That day, I had to leave the village with my head down in shame when a girl narrated to me how she was so ill-treated by her owners. She could even speak the local language of her owners and knew the names and address of her stay. It was such an embarrassment when she narrated her woes. Innocently, she said ‘Uncle.. from dusk to dawn I work, a plate of rice to eat with no second helping. My mouth waters when children eat sweets and biscuits. I’m not even given the left overs and the dogs (Smoky and Guard) are more properly fed then me.’ I no longer could hear and asked her if she was happy now? She replies ‘Yes’. I could say nothing and went straight to Anjali’s house. She arranged another one for us, later.
This is just one instance. So many might have faced untold miseries. The evil deed of this demonic cop and his wife should not be settled by family members and make no hullabaloo as opined by a passer by. We are Christians and have to correct our misdeeds or what is repentance? Evil, crime, torture for this case should be made known to one and all, so that we do not repeat. It is unimaginable for a sane person to pour boiling water on someones mouth. Why don’t the good cops make the bad cop and the wife try this on one another?
What would be their reaction of a Naga mother or father, if someone pours boiling hot water on her mouth of your daughter? This is third degree torture and should be condemned by all. The wife of the cop stating the girl to be lunatic holds no water and I for one can never believe. Are lunatics kept as help mates? And if by 1% chance the helpmate was a lunatic, one can only conclude that the cop and his wife are bigger lunatics!
The other very embarrassing point in this case is the evil doer; the tormentor is no other but a ‘police’. It is a big disgrace to uniformed personnel’s who are supposed to check and contain such deeds, acts being committed. This evil doer, in khaki should no longer wear one. He should be clad with another colour stripped in blue and be behind bars, lest such lovers of evil in uniform bring more disgrace to the “Naga Christian Police.”
I sincerely share my sympathy with the victim and pray for her speedy recovery and may the painful memories of her torture not haunt her. I wish her longing and desire of reunion with her parents bring her happiness and elevate and lighten her plight as a helpmate. May such ill-treatment meted out by a Naga Christian on another never occur again.
With sympathy
N. Vitho, Chakhesang Colony, Dimapur
