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Free Preview from Westbow Press - Chapter 4: No Politics, Please:
I always liked a poster that hung on the wall of my friend’s office in Calcutta. It featured a lion with the caption, “No Politics, Please.” I must admit, I have never been a fan of politics, especially those where an individual’s actions are determined by their personal interests rather than by absolute principles. In my line of work, politics of this kind tends to frustrate good programs and ultimately cause more harm than help to people.
In 1998, my wife, nine-month-old daughter, and thirteen young people accompanied me to India’s Tribal and Coastal Orissa. Over a period of thirteen days, we visited the districts of Bolangir, Sambalpur, Hirakund Dam, and Jharsuguda, and became very familiar with what are known to be some of the poorest places in India.
One morning we happened upon a children’s home. At the entrance hung a welcoming sign that identified its partnership with a very well-known organization. On the inside, the building was empty. There were no beds, tables, staff, or children. Rumor had it that money was being raised for the home’s children, sent for the children, and yet there were no children. It looked as though the money were just evaporating somewhere.
Not all politics are so subtle. Calcutta is home to one of Asia’s largest red- light districts called Sonagachi. I spent many weekends as a child playing at my grandfather’s house only a few lanes from the district, but for years my parents kept me from any knowledge of it.
Despite being only one-mile radius in size, Sonagachi is home to ten thousand sex workers. Poverty drives many women to the area while others are trafficked in from neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh and Nepal. The “Sonagachi Lane” main street begins a few hundred paces from Liberty Cinema Hall on Chittaranja Avenue. Every evening, rickshaws vie with one another to enter the illicit roadway, weaving their passengers past mounds of rubble and sewage streams to begin a night of sordid entertainment.
I caught my first glimpse inside Sonagachi when as a hospital Board Member I agreed to assess its medical needs. I was appalled by what I saw.
The district’s main street gave way to a clumsy patchwork of dark alleyways on which hundreds of dilapidated, multi-story brothels caressed each other in close proximity. The brothels’ ancient walls crumbled and split like broken seams, exposing supporting iron rods. The buildings’ highest floors creaked and leaned precariously into alleyways, ensnaring in their crooked grasp a thick aroma of dirt, sweat, and hot garbage.
Brightly-adorned women in tightly wrapped saris leaned seductively against the decaying outer walls, making obvious the offered services. Men, young and old, circled the women, following them unashamedly into the open doors of the brothels. Fifteen minutes later, the pairs emerged again, the men disappearing around the nearest corners and the women resuming their places alongside the street.
There was nothing nice about the area. It brought to life all the deplorable stories I had heard about it.
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About the Authors:
For over a decade, Amitabh Singh has served as a motivational speaker, certified business coach and consultant, and author to a number of books. Having served for several years in Calcutta, India, he and his family are driven by the passion to see disadvantaged children given the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and pursue their dreams. Amitabh, today, provides leadership as Executive Director of a Canadian not-for-profit. He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Susan, and two daughters. To connect with the author, visit www.amitabhsingh.com.
Bethany Talbert is a freelance writer who graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Religious Studies, before writing professionally for a number of companies and charitable organizations. Since 2008, she has enjoyed the privilege of working with Amitabh Singh to help spread the word and raise support on behalf of the poor. Bethany has authored three books with Amitabh and is working with him on two more that are slated for release in 2015. Bethany currently resides in Oregon with her husband, Andrew, and two sons.
“Round Pizza in a Square Box reads like a movie script—entertaining, but also insightful. This book is filled with principles that will motivate and inspire. Amitabh Singh has served the poor for many years and has committed his life to challenging others to do everything they can to serve those in need. His message is both timely and compelling.” – Hal Donaldson, President of Convoy of Hope, Inc.
