Though with a desire to post on my blog I pen these few
words but I am not sure either I would be able to post. For the last two weeks
I have been visiting different parts of Bangladesh ‘to catch fish’ for the
Society of Jesus. At the beginning of my ‘mission’ (we Jesuits like to use this
word) I made an attempt to organize my trip. But once I undertook my journey I
realized it is quite impossible in Bangladesh to have anything
organized and specific. It is altogether a different world. Let me give you
just an example.
Today I had to halt my journey due to 48 hours strike called
by a political partly. Traveling by public transport on the day of strike could
be very danger. Every strike in Bangladesh
leads a few human bodies to the graveyard. The havoc it creates is beyond
calculation. So I am forced to remain inside four walls.
You might wonder why I should remain inside four walls! You
might suggest to visit people, or to watch TV, or to spend (?)time browsing net!
It has been raining cats and dogs for the last few days. The non-stop rain has
made the muddy road almost ready for paddy cultivation. Then you might suggest
what about watching TV! The frequent power-cut (load shedding) is part of daily
life. And Internet! We need to have real patient to do something with net! It
could easily take ten minutes just to open a mail. It is terribly slow!
My post might look like a negative one! Of course not! I get
motivated here. I see hope for the bright future. Oh sorry I forget to tell you
something about the place. I am residing in a Jesuit community. ‘Jesuit
community’ might be a wrong word as there is only one Jesuit priest residing
here. He is the parish priest as well as the director of the school He does not
complain about anything. He is relatively young and by now got used to the
situation.
I made an excuse that I could not go out due to rain. Then
what about those tiny kids who come for class in the same campus where I am
now. From the window of my room I see them sitting in the class rooms. This
morning I talked with some of them. They do not complain about anything. They want
to study. I wonder how many of them would be able to continue their studies. Some
of them will have to leave school due to poverty! Their struggle inspires me...
I must stop here. Electricity will go off anytime. Let me
make an effort to post it on my blog.
(At Bhobanipur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh)
