In the serene rural backdrop of Sundar’s life, innocence intertwined with hardship, crafting a tale of resilience and redemption. Born into a world where caste delineated more than lineage, he shouldered the burden of societal judgment from a young age. Despite being named Sundar, the villagers branded him “Monkey,” etching this derogatory label into the fabric of his identity, laden with the weight of prejudice.
At the tender age of seven, Sundar’s world fractured with the loss of his father, a steadfast farmer who toiled tirelessly in the village fields. His mother, a diligent homemaker, mirrored his father’s labor, yet their combined efforts scarcely met the needs of their family of four. The specter of poverty loomed large over their modest dwelling, casting shadows of need and privation.
Tragedy struck their peaceful existence when Sundar’s father fell victim to a wild bear. Despite his father’s valiant struggle, he ultimately succumbed to the relentless assault of the beast. Following his passing, Sundar’s mother, burdened with the sole responsibility for providing for the family, grappled with the harsh realities of scarcity.
Amidst the pangs of hunger and the ache of desperation, Sundar’s mother sought solace in the kindness of neighbors, pleading for scraps to nourish her children, although some villagers responded with harsh scolding. It was within this crucible of adversity that Sundar, at barely seven years old, shouldered the burden of responsibility, entering the households of villagers as a mere child laborer.
On one fateful day, while tending to the oxen, they strayed into the maize fields, causing havoc among the villagers’ crops. In the aftermath of this misfortune, Sundar’s owner and the landowner, consumed by fury, bound him to a tree with a coarse rope and subjected him to a torrent of brutality. Each blow, delivered with unrelenting force, left Sundar reeling, his young frame quivering beneath the onslaught of stinging nettle, sticks, and the savage assault of fists and feet. They showed no mercy, treating him as though he were nothing but a mere beast.
Despite the onlookers who witnessed this atrocious act, none dared to intervene, their silence serving as a damning testament of complicity. For Sundar, the violence inflicted upon him was a severe injustice, an undeserved punishment for a child who had simply endeavored to fulfill his duty in tending to the oxen. Yet, the villagers chose to overlook his suffering, their collective silence casting a cloud of shame over their community.
However, the cruelty inflicted upon Sundar did not cease there. Unjustly accused of theft by a fellow villager, Sundar vehemently refuted the allegations, invoking the names of his father and his gods as testimony to his innocence. Despite his plea, in the absence of a fair trial, the self-proclaimed judges of the village swiftly passed judgment, condemning Sundar to a night of torment locked in a goat shed, stripped of clothing and left exposed to the biting cold of the freezing season.
In his formative years, Sundar confronted relentless violence and discrimination with unwavering determination. Despite the adversities he endured, he remained steadfast in his dedication to securing his family’s well-being, shouldering the weight of responsibility as the eldest child. Even among his peers, he faced mockery and exclusion, his innocence tainted by baseless accusations.
At the age of fourteen, Sundar ventured to India in pursuit of employment, returning two years later transformed both physically and in character. Possessing a robust physique reminiscent of King Kong, his strength concealed a heart of unparalleled kindness. Engaged in the lively realm of the circus, he honed his skills as a stunt performer, mastering the arts of dance, combat, and musicality. Through the demanding trials of performance and spectacle, he emerged not only as an artist but also as a model of resilience, his unyielding fortitude matched only by the compassion that radiated from his spirit.
Upon his return to the village, Sundar walked its familiar paths, greeting each resident with warmth and humility. Even his former owner, despite having mistreated him in the past, received his gratitude for providing employment during their time of need. Sundar’s acknowledgment of the owner’s influential role in his life brought forth tears of both joy and remorse, culminating in an embrace infused with forgiveness and reconciliation.
Embracing his newfound sense of purpose, Sundar embarked on a fresh chapter of his life, surrounded by family and friends. Once shunned by his peers, he now stood as the embodiment of love and acceptance within the village community. With each interaction, he exuded genuine warmth that transcended the bitterness of the past, solidifying his position as a cherished figure among his fellow villagers.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its golden hues upon the village, Sundar’s journey reached a poignant conclusion. Amidst the embrace of forgiveness and reconciliation, he found not only acceptance but also a newfound sense of belonging. In the tapestry of his life, woven with threads of hardship and resilience, he discovered the true essence of home: a sanctuary built not of bricks and mortar, but of compassion and understanding.
-Author Dr. Malla is a Banker.
