Home Guard Chanda....

Home Guard Chanda…. (Names changed to protect identity)

Chanda gave herself one last look in the mirror as she stepped out of her home for duty. She always felt a sense of pride whenever she wore the uniform. She had been working as a Home Guard for the last eight years and loved being in the service to the nation.  She felt that her life had a purpose now. Gone were her days of suffering and torture and the experience of hell on earth.

It was almost fifteen years since she had come back to her parent’s home after a tumultuous marriage. Her heart shuddered to think of all that she had been through in the eight months she had tried to adjust with her husband. Barely out of her teens and being the only daughter she had been used to getting pampered by her parents. Her marriage had forced her out of her comfort zone. She had to make an effort to adjust to the new surroundings at her husband’s home. This included cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and utensils and doing other things in the house. She also had to take care of her in-laws. She had learnt to all the tasks quickly so much so that her mother was shocked by her dexterity when she visited her. “Chanda, you have changed so much! I never imagined you will be able to manage the house so well!” “Look at house!” She proudly said to her husband.

Yet their joys were short-lived Chanda’s husband was a drunkard. He had limited his drinks after his marriage but as things settled within a month he went back to his own ways and often came home heavily drunk. He would then pick faults in Chanda, her cooking, her looks or any little thing and abuse her physically and verbally. He would beat her mercilessly every night. Chanda expected her in-laws to come to her rescue but they would avoid helping her by saying that it was a matter between the husband and wife. Unable to bear the physical brutality Chanda ran off to her parent’s home one day. They took care of her and nursed her wounds but once she had recovered they counselled her to compromise and return to her husband’s place. Like all parents they hoped that their daughter’s marriage should be a success. “I don’t want to go. I feel humiliated when my husband beats me!” cried Chanda. Yet her parents insisted that it was just two months since she was married and she must try to reason with him. Having no choice Chanda had returned much against her will.

Life did not change much for Chanda after her return even though she was vocal about her feelings with her husband. This often filled her with an emptiness and thoughts about being a daughter, moving into another home, making adjustments all the time yet finding no joy. She wondered at the helplessness of being a woman especially when the drunken bouts of her husband increased and when she was beaten up on the smallest pretext. Escaping to her parents place became a routine but each time she would return on her parent’s insistence even though her husband never went to take her or asked her to return.

One night it was raining heavily, there was a thunderstorm. It was pitch dark and Chanda was waiting for her husband to come home. The doctor at the primary health care centre had told her that she was pregnant and Chanda hoped that this news would transform her husband. She kept waiting eagerly for her husband who had left in the evening to meet a friend. Chanda wondered where he must have gone when she heard him entering their home in a belligerent state. He was fully drunk and went to attack Chanda. She tried telling him that she was expecting but it fell on deaf ears. He continued to scream and tried to beat her. She managed to escape and called her parents saying it was impossible to continue living with her husband due to the persistent ill-treatment meted out by him more so now that she was pregnant. Her parents realized that the safety and security of their daughter was more important and finally took her to their home. That was the last she saw of her husband who never came to take her back.

However life wasn’t easy for a woman who was pregnant and had a broken marriage. Day in and out she had to receive unsolicited advice or face several comments in hushed tones. Her parents would feel very bad to see her suffer. There was very little they could do except provide her mental support.

One day she saw a few ladies in the village forming a group and conducting a meeting. On asking what they were doing she was told that the staff of MAVIM, Maharashtra Arthik Vikas Mahamandal, an organization of the Government of Maharashtra was supporting women in becoming self-sufficient with the help of various activities through self-help groups. All that was required was a savings of Rs. 200 a month, regular attendance in the meetings. She promptly joined the group and started participating proactively in it. Soon she started managing the book-keeping activities and taking care of the accounts as she has studied up to 12th grade. She was offered the position of a Sanghatika, Group Manager due to her knowledge and efficiency. There was no looking back for Chanda after that. Chanda had delivered a baby girl but she was able to take part in all activities of the group due to her mother’s support. She received training in sustainable agriculture and was eager to put it into practice. Her father readily permitted her to experiment on his fields. Chanda took a loan of Rs.One lakh form the District Co-operative Bank and used the practices taught to her at MAVIM as she sowed soya bean, rice and tur. She was able to reap a rich harvest and repay the loan. She continued with her farm activities and made good profits. Her parents felt happy to see her gain knowledge and respect.

One day a few ladies from the group told her about an advertisement for selection as Home Guard. Home Guards serve as auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security situations. They normally help the community during emergencies like fire, cyclones, earthquakes or epidemics. They are specially trained for helping in maintenance of essential services, for promoting communal harmony and assisting the administration in protecting weaker sections. They are recruited from all classes of people from amongst those who are willing to devote their time to the organisation for betterment of services. They are provided with uniforms and allowances while on duty.

Chanda’s mind was fired with a desire to join the forces. She spoke to her parents about making an attempt and trying for the selection but they were skeptical. Chanda explained to them about the work and the wonderful opportunity she would get to work for the society and they ultimately concede. Chanda promptly applied for the post and started preparing for it since she knew that the selection process would be very tough as it included an exam and a physical endurance test with running of 800 metres. Chanda was not sure whether she would be able to withstand the test. She had practiced no doubts but she still felt unsure. To her utter joy and disbelief she cleared all the tests and was selected as a Home Guard.

She was asked to join soon and was given a uniform. Her parents were overwhelmed with joy on seeing her in uniform. It was almost a vindication of all the trauma and tragedy faced by Chanda in her failed marriage. They took great pride in all the duties Chanda was allocated. These included security or patrolling during festivals and important occasions like election. At times she would be posted outside banks or government offices.

Chanda would get an honorarium whenever she was on duty and that added to her financial independence. She was of course earning well through agriculture. She felt happy because it was possible for her to enroll her daughter in a better school. Of course her days were very busy ever since she had been called on duty during the Covid 19 pandemic. But she felt satisfied when she was called for police bandobast at points near banks, government offices and even for distributing ration to the affected families.  Though her parents would worry about her health she helped the administration in spreading awareness about Covid and the preventive measures to be taken by women and their families. She took good care of herself, kept herself protected and also maintained social distance. Being a woman she automatically set a good example to other women in the village.

Chanda is happy and content today and extremely proud of herself as she states that, “Be it the current pandemic or any other natural calamity, Home Guards are always ready to serve the society and we follow the police’s orders.” She also adds that through her duty, she is also engaged in social work and is happy that she is able to help people in need. Of course she says she owes it all to her parents and MAVIM which enabled her to transform and lead a new life. There are times when she feels emotional or vulnerable but her uniform and her daughter inspire her. With them by her side she knows there is no stopping.