THE HERO IN MY LIFE: TELL US YOUR STORY!

By DR VICKI BISMILLA

Since partition and before, we have heard and read stories of women, children and men who have overcome struggles, hardships and horrors and carved out lives for themselves and their families in new and difficult situations fraught with uncertainties.

In present day India, villagers are having to survive natural disasters like drought, floods, famine, heat waves and intense poverty. We hear of women denied education but who use their craft skills or farming expertise to lift their families out of poverty; of women who band together to fight against abuse; of men and women activists standing together against repressive regimes; about children lifted from disastrous situations who have grown up to help and inspire others. In the many countries from where we came as desis, we too remember stories of hardships that our parents, grandparents and families suffered in order to eke out a living for us, their children. Many of us not only know the expression, “It takes a village to raise a child,” we are those children. We grew up in homes where mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbours helped raise us.

My friend once said to me that for her the many arms of Durga Mataji represent all the strong, determined, dedicated women who helped raise her and continue to raise children around the world. “All my mothers who raised me.”

Today right here in Canada there are phenomenal women and men who are together raising children to overcome difficult histories with love, altruism and faith. One needs to go no further than the horrendous stories of survival amongst our indigenous, aboriginal and First Nations children who were wrenched away, stolen from their parents, locked up and abused in residential schools. Thousands were killed in those schools and those who survived the heinous conditions struggled with those memories and nightmares for the rest of their lives. They were supported into their adulthood by heartbroken parents, elders and community members. To see the serenity and grace with which the survivors are coping with the many, varied, and sometimes harsh reactions to their request for recognition is heartbreaking.

But their stories of survival are inspiring.

Our public library shelves have rows of books containing stories of healing, about people who struggled and lived through difficult lives but went on to help others – they lifted as they climbed.

But I know that there are untold stories among you, our Desi News readers right here in Canada and around the world, about your dedicated parents, grandparents and others who raised you and who in your eyes are heroes of survival. Won’t you tell us those stories about your heroes?  Every month we read in Desi News and CanadaBound Immigrant about admirable achievers and community volunteers who, while themselves struggling to survive in a new country, often reach out to help others. But there are unpublished stories in your family and your own circle about people who raised you, or mentored you to be the successful person you are today.

Who are those people who helped you thrive and reach the place where you are in your educated and successful lives?

I know from personal contacts that Desi News is read across three continents and maybe more, so wherever you are in the world, please tell us your story about the person who guided, supported and inspired you.

Here’s how to honour your personal hero

Please email your stories (up to 500 words) to desinews@rogers.com with subject line My Story. We will publish them in an upcoming issue of Desi News (print and online).