The shrill anti-graft campaign never gave vent to the travails of the labourers’ families living in Freedom Park.
An eerie silence has fallen upon Freedom Park after 13 days of hectic, but peaceful, agitation that culminated in euphoric celebrations when social activist Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare finally gave up his fast on Sunday.
Also, silence is something that has become synonymous with seven families who stay at Freedom Park, looking after its upkeep.
But despite being so closely linked with the venue that hosted the anti-corruption crusade’s Bangalore chapter, none among them got an opportunity to voice what they feel about being victimised by corruption.
Twenty-eight-year-old Parvathi Mallikarjun, a native of Gulbarga and one among the families there, sits in front of her little house made of hollow bricks as her coolie husband Mallikharjuna and other family members who are employed at Freedom Park are away at work. Ask about corruption, and she grimaces. While most people not willing to pay bribes either do not get their jobs done or are forced to face delays, Parvathi’s is a case that ended in bereavement and grief.
She talks about the day— around 20 years ago—which remains the most painful day in her life. Her 20-day-old younger brother, who was suffering from high fever, could not be admitted to Ambareshur Hospital in Gulbarga as the hospital authorities insisted on her parents paying `50,000 in cash up front as bribe.
After pleading with the doctors and nurses, her helpless parents, unable to raise that much money, returned home with their sick newborn who died later that day.
Parvathi remains silent when asked what her infant brother’s name was, because he was not even named when he died.
“I lost a brother because the hospital authorities asked for a bribe and we could not pay it,” she says, her voice breaking and tears welling up in her eyes.
On being asked if she has ever paid a bribe, she firmly says: “No. Why should we? Rich people can afford to pay bribes. We find it hard to even eat two meals a day or send my children to school. Why should we give our hard-earned money to someone else?”
Her six-year-old daughter Saraswathi could not be admitted to any school “because it’s too costly here. We will admit her to a school in Gulbarga when we get back.”
‘I see hope’
Regardless of the incalculable loss she has suffered, when you ask her about the anti-corruption protest that happened at Freedom Park, her eyes light up with hope: “Buddhi baruthe (They will use their brains now)… We are happy that they fought for us. What they did will bring rewards for everyone, for the entire country.”
She has a heartfelt desire that the Jan Lokpal Bill becomes a law, because then “people will know whom to complain to and what to do if someone asks for a bribe. The rules will make sure that the corrupt people are punished.”
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