“Arrest the customers who visit brothels; the men who sell the girls and those who procure them and force them into the trade, as they are the real culprits,” says Fatima Khatoon, an activist who took a stand against these social maladies at a tender age. She adds, “The hapless girls should not be punished. They require help and compassion to start life afresh.”
The comment is profound and more so as it comes from a person who is illiterate and was married into a household indulging in the sex trade. Born in a nomadic family in Nepal, Fatima entered matrimony at the age of nine. “Being constantly on the move, childhood marriages of girls were prevalent in my community to ensure security and safety for them,” she explains, though she faults her parents “who should have checked the antecedents of my in-laws before marrying me off.”
Settling with her husband in Araria in Bihar, it took her more than one-and-a-half-years to realise that the womenfolk in the house, including her four sisters-in-law, were part of the trade. Her mother-in-law ran the business with the help of her four sons. This kept the kitchen pot boiling.
“Being young and lonely I used to speak to the girl inmates though my sisters-in-law never conversed with me. It is only through them I became aware of the facts,” says Fatima. The other three girls in the house were purchased. “They were duped by persons on the pretext of marriage, love or jobs and sold at the brothel,” she explains.
“My heart went out to them as I perceived they were experiencing a slow death every day,” says Fatima. Despite being young she talked to them and decided to help them escape.
“I gave them clothes and helped them find the way. I also told them to raise an alarm in case anybody tried to stop them.” Severe reprisal followed, with Fatima locked up for three days without food and water till a family member warned that she may die. “After this, I was not allowed to step outside and was never left alone.”
Her kindled spirit received a jolt when she learned that her playmate, Afsana, daughter of an aged sex worker, was compelled to join, when she was visiting her mother. “I was close to Afsana and therefore, deeply hurt. I vowed that I will fight this trade and put an end to it,” she comments. Initially it was difficult but she managed to convince her sisters-in-law who have since left this trade.
Associated since 2004 with Apne Aap Women Worldwide (AAWW), a grassroots organisation working in India to end sex trafficking, Fatima is pleased to talk about the work of the AAWW team in her village. She claims, “A vast majority of the families there indulged in this trade and so far almost all have given it up, barring seven.”
Fatima intends to use the Rs.25 lakh won by her last week in Kaun Banega Maha Crorepati to raise her six children and build a home for them. Apart from this is, she plans to build a shelter for distressed women.
Applauded by Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, the crusader hopes her participation in the quiz show will inspire girls to keep up their spirit and courage to achieve their dreams and ambitions.
