I found this article on BBC HINDI website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2011/02/110206_sheela_munni_psa.shtml ).. tried best on google to retrieve more information, but every time i got result about Bollywood' munni and sheela only. This is also a reflection of how the media miss the real heroes (heroins in this case) and also the gap between
India and “Bharat”
So i thought of translating the article and sharing.
This is not about "badnaam" munni or "Jawan" Sheela.. of Bollywood. This is about two sisters from state of Chattisgarh.
Both are going to participate in Asian Fencing Championship to be held in Bangkok, Thailand. For those who don't know what fencing is... It is a sport played with metal swords.
So what is special... coming to that. Both are living with their labourer mother in city of Bilaspur, Chattisgarh. Mother of Munni Devangan and Sheela Devangan is a daily labourer and that is how the household goes.
When sheela won the silver medal in national championship last year, it was clear that she will represent the nation on international level. Younger sister Munni has also done well in national events and she will also be participating in Asian championship.
Sheela a eleventh standard student told that some 4 years ago while observing one fencing game in school, she realised .. its not a tough job.
But her confidence couldn't survive the reality of her family's abject poverty. For her labourer mother, it was not possible to purchase one sword, after paying the rent of one room house and household expenses.
Munni has to left school because it became impossible to provide for her school fees, and the family decided she will study at her own at home.
Sheela tells "I decided i have to do .. and i took help of the sports teacher and started practising with wood cane (lathi)..in place of the sword".
Seeing this passion a group of people came forward and arranged one sword for Sheela. When Sheela won the silver medal last year, congratulations came from every corner and people promised to help, family thought that now their days will change. But promises turned out to be hollow and nothing of that sort happened.
Mother Rukmani says "It is hard to earn even the daily meals, we don't have the BLP(Below Poverty Line) card either. In such situation i couldn't think anything when it came that i have to send them abroad for the championship"
All four in the family however decided they must do something and perhaps after championship fortune will change.
They decided to take some loan for "passport and other expenses" (yes this was text in original hindi article .. In India u need 1000 rupees to get the passport... and also some bribe to police to get it on time without hurdles) But who will give loan to a labourer. Finally on gurantee of girls' coach who is also secretary of fencing association, they got loan of 20000 rupees at rate of 5%.
D.R.Sahoo the coach says that if government can help them the girls can do miracles with their swords.. but their poverty is biggest curse for them.
They wil be participating in Asian Fencing Championship to be held in Bangkok from 4th to 12th march, but thing that is worrying them is how they will repay the loan if the government doesn't help.
This shows the state of poverty, sports, child welfare, corruption and apathy in today's India. India which so many Indians think is already a "superpower".
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