A good Samaritan writes to Udavum Karangal.
“A mentally sick mother and her cute little 3 year old girl have been wandering around our town for the last 6 months. Our hearts shudder at the sight of this tender child following her mother walking over 10 kms . each day and then going to sleep on the road side at night. We can’t imagine their condition during storms, rain or the hot sun .The mother is not able to understand the child’s hunger or thirst. After asking the mother a few times, the child gives up in sheer exhaustion and follows the mother. Our eyes well up in tears when we see this child. If this situation continues, she may stop talking, lose her senses and become like her mother.
We wonder how many women and children in our country are going through this . We pray that no other child suffers like this one.
Can you help her.”
She was always fleeing, with her child tied around her waist and wearing layers of clothes. There was a method to her madness. She never begged but ate from the garbage. She spent her nights in well- lit places. Light was her protection. She never trusted men and was always running from her predators.
Her attire had a few tales to tell. She wore 4 pairs of pants and each was firmly tied with binding wire. She wore a full sleeved shirt, a sweater and lots of bangles . Her clothes were like an armour, covering her fully a few times. She had been wandering around Bangalore, Kerala and Tamilnadu .When she was in Coimbatore ( Singanallur ) , a well- wisher contacted Udavum Karangal- the plight of the little child had aroused his sympathy.
Janaki was mercurial. It was only after a few days of search she was tracked down. Catching a tigress with a cub would have been easier. She was ferocious in defending herself and her child. No man could get near her. A crowd gathered around witnessing the poignant drama. Finally the child was taken away from her. Janaki didn’t give up easily but once the child was in the van, she was over- powered
Janaki ( the mother ) and Sushma ( the child )so named by Mr. Vidyaakar, were taken to Udavum Karangal in Thiruverkadu.
On their arrival in Shanthi Vanam , the child Sushma was kept with the other children and Janaki with the psychiatric patients. Janaki was an extremely difficult person. At times she seemed to co-operate because of her child. But mostly she was agitated, violent and refused to eat. She had lost her trust in humanity and to be garrulous and on guard seemed to be her nature.
Mr. Vidyaakar never gave up and there was a gradual change in Janaki. Proper medication, 22 years of therapy and trust building through challenging relationships have all contributed to her transformation. Today, she behaves like a police woman as she sits in her Security uniform at the entrance of women’s unit. She has been given the freedom she wanted but she no longer has the need to flee.
