14 August 2007: On the eve of 60 years of Independence, when the whole nation was raving about freedom and progress, 6 year old Suraj’s (name changed) story forced us to question freedom. The little boy who was found locked in a cowshed without any exposure to sunlight or fresh air, had never known freedom or its meaning till he was rescued by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists. Not only was Suraj denied his right to education but was denied the right to life itself.

Govind Khanal, National Secretary of BBA, was informed about Suraj by Press Club members in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. Govind who had faced the atrocities of child labour himself till he found refuge in BBA’s Mukti Ashram, without making any further delay sought support from the district administration by contacting the Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Himani Pandey. BBA’s team (comprising Govind, Kailash Kumar, Deepak and Narayan Singh) along with the administrative officers and police personnel raided the house of Tiranjan Mahto (the employer) in Alaunja Khurd village, Ichak Police Station.

On reaching the house officials found that Tiranjan Mahto and his wife Shanti Devi had already fled from the village. On searching the house, they heard the screaming voice of a child coming from the cowshed which was locked from outside. On breaking into the cowshed they found little Suraj. Suraj was lying near a tethered animal when he was rescued.

The villagers informed the BBA activists that the child had been locked away in the cowshed for almost two years. The child, who did not know the whereabouts of his family, narrated that he was regularly brutally beaten up and also stabbed with hot iron rods. Innumerable fresh wounds, burns and scars of cruelty were clearly visible on his body. The child was completely malnourished and was given uncooked rice to eat in a polythene bag which was found in the cowshed. After the rescue he was sent to the Government Hospital, Hazaribagh for treatment. Due to a digestion disorder he is being given semi-solid food in small proportions. Also, since there has been a lot of blood loss in the past which caused a threat to his life, he is being given blood.

After 60 years of Freedom, why children should be denied their fundamental rights is a question unanswered. Even the reason why Suraj was put through this living hell is still unknown. Everyone at the time of the rescue was appalled and teary eyed at the sight of Suraj, whose body was injured and eyes vacant.

Suraj after getting his freedom on the same day as the nation, celebrated both these occasions in the Hospital where he is now recovering. One can now see the happiness in his eyes ever since he has got a new lease of life.