Indians' Fatalism Big Obstacle

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31187, 11 October 1966, Page 2

Indians ' Fatalism Big Obstacle

A New Zealand woman, Miss Diana Balemi, who two years ago went to Bombay to open the Door of Hope Society for destitute Indian children, finds that the greatest obstacle in her way is the fatalistic attitude of the Indians.

In a letter to “The Press,” Miss Balemi said many Indians could not be helped. “It gets down largely to their beliefs, particularly the fatalistic elements. I am never sure whether to say the fatalism of India is a good or bad thing,” she said. “Greater progress would be made economically and socially if this fatalism did not

exist, but after so closely witnessing the tragedy of the hopelessness and low living conditions of the masses, and the limitation of any Government to cope with such colossal problems, one cannot help thinking that until the time comes when India is able to come to grips with these existing problems it is perhaps just as well that people horn into such conditions believe that their hardships are punishment for their past lives.” Miss Balemi said many people merely squatted and lived at starvation level even when they had some chance of helping themselves. The next class often worked, but had a “sunset economy”— they worried about providing for their daily needs, refused to work for more than the day and would not save. “This is only one of the reasons why agricultural production stays so static. While they can produce enough for their daily bowl of rice they refused work for more,” she said. Fatalism also allowed too much escape from the hard realities of life. “There are many side effects from a society subsisting at extremely low levels. But it does not matter what you do for some of these people, the pull of the past is strong and the responsibilities of living in a civilised society are hard to face. “I have had many bitter experiences and I can very well understand why so many people doing this work get discouraged and give up,” said Miss Balemi. Although she had given up trying to help adults she still found it most encouraging and rewarding to help children, and said that Indian children were delightful and intelligent. Miss Balemi’s home has 14 children at present. “I no longer accept children coming in off the street, but now work through trained social workers. This way we are sure of getting the really needy cases and we have the co-operation of the social workers and there is less interference and harrassment from the parents. “The parents are told that after two or three months they must either sign an agreement that their child can stay in the home until 17 years or until the completion

of education, or take their child away to make way for another,” said Miss Balemi. She had decided to adopt this course after parents removed 10 children not once but several times. This happened when the parents had enough money to feed them for a few days or when the next festival or wedding arrived. ' “Sometimes these children come back to visit us and their parents beg us to take them back for the fifth time, but 1 no longer let the emotions rule. “The children return filthy and sick and real slum children again,” she said. However, she had not severed all contact with the 10 children she would not take back. They were still provided with clothes, food, and school books, and had gained something from the year they spent in the home. “My life here is hard and often lonely, but the continued encouragement I receive from New Zealand is a tower of strength to me, and the financial assistance makes these activities possible. "It is hard to find words to express my gratitude, but please remember that your generosity is greatly appreciated,” she wrote of those people who have made contributions to her home. Miss Balemi plans a trip to New Zealand during February, March and April, and she will almost certainly visit Christchurch. It is likely that she will bring with her one of the children for whom she has been caring—nine-year-old Paru. “Thanks to many generous New Zealanders, we are nicely settled into our new home, a four-bedroomed flat,” she wrote. “Even if we still do not have many comforts that the average New Zealander thinks essential we look

around and see masses of Indian people with so much less than we consider ourselves most fortunate.” She described a recent trip through famine areas, 230 miles north of Bombay. The people were India’s original tribal people, simple and likeable. “Prior to the arrival of! American grain, the people, were dying from starvation,! or chronic malnutrition. Some! were living on bamboo seed I and roots, and their water lack was desperate. Many wells have gone dry. “Here the village meeting place, and most important public facility is the village well. “Some social workers I met in this area now have projects where the people work on building wells, roads, dams for stopping erosion in the rice paddies, and in return for a day’s work, they receive 41b ■ of rice or wheat. “This food is really the; difference between life and i death for these people.” ’ Miss Balemi said she was, greatly encouraged by the past year’s progress. There was now a permanent home, and she had two faithful, honest and hard-working servants. Unfortunately, one had to look hard to find dedicated workers in India.