Radha-story of an unloved child

She was different from other kids of her age. She was not so friendly with human beings but when she was with her goats she was different. Couple of years back I was working with an NGO in Deoghar- one of the holy city of Jharkhand, where I met Radha.

My organization was in Bilasi, outskirts of the main town. Radha used to live in a small house next my office with her parents and three other siblings. Radha's father was a milk man. They had many cows, buffaloes and goats in their large cattle shed. She loved playing with calves, goats and their cubs. It was an amazing sight to watch when she was with her favourite animals. On the other side of our office building there was a primary school and Radha was a student of class one of that school. It was a challenge for her parents to send her to school. She used to wear half of her school dress-only the shirt and play for the whole day. Whenever her parents forced her to send school she used to throw tantrums. Everyday from 9.30 am to 10.00 am it was battle between Radha and her parents. As it was the timing for our office entry, so almost all of us have observed this incident on a regular basis. As NGO people, we have the habit of trying to help people to solve their problem. Here it was the case of a Child's education, so few of my colleagues voluntarily tried to help Radha's mother. Radha was angry at everyone of us and whenever she found any one of us either she has given that angry look or threw pebbles or cried a lot. It was strange for me at that time.

One day I was not in a happy mood. I was stuck in some data and was unable to recognize the problem. So I took a small break. I just went outside of my office. I found Radha playing with the goats joyfully. She called me by waving her hand. I went to her. She asked me if I want to play with her goats and I agreed. I was witnessing a different kid, not that grumpy, unfriendly, irritated and indiscipline Radha. I started spending few minutes with Radha on a regular basis. Gradually I got to know her innocent, polite, soft and caring side. I came to realize that she was no different from other kids of her age. One day she asked me to click her picture. She was radiating with her smile. I was happy. I never tried to tell her to go to school or listen to her parents which generally I do with kids. I just tried to be friendly with Radha. Radha's mother Savitri Devi noticed our friendship and one day she came to talk to me. I asked her about Radha and she replied that "बोहोत जिद्दी है। किसीकी बात नहीं सुनती। उसके पापा भी गुस्सा करते है। हमलोग तो थक गए है। पता नही किया होगा आगे जाकर"। I sensed hopelessness in Savitri Didi's eyes.

Today I was going through my phone gallery and Radha's picture took me to the flashback within a moment. I Google few theories on Child Development that I studied in my Social Work course curriculum. I tried to link her situation with different theories. My mind ask me is it only Radha or there are many Radhas who are expecting more love and care from us?

A quote suddenly popped in my mind-

"The kids who need the most love will ask for it in the most unloving ways" - Unknown