Maykalal : A rebel !

17 year old Maykalal was a ‘rebel’ when he first joined the camps. Flauting decisions, ignoring teachers and creating nuisance was his favourite passtime. His activities were suspicious and behaviour was intolerable. As the sessions ended he would absent himself from the camp and one could find him singing a song and teasing any girl passed by his sight. Many a time he would beat younger boysjust to show his musseles.Teacher decided to send him back as his presence was a problem to maintain the discipline and they conveyed it to me straight. For me it was my first experience in Doosra Dashak to even conduct such camps for boys. However, I decided to test my patience and tackle this case myself. I requested teachers to give me a chance to deal with a Maykalal. Initial few days went in vain. He would sit with me for hours and won’t say anything. When he unfolded himself the story which came out was an eye-opener. According to Maykalal “I don’t have control on my behaviour. Since childhood I am bearing ill behaviour of my father who would beat me without any reason. I was taken out of school to look after animals in the family though I was interested in pursuing studies. As a result when I grew up I started consuming liquor, tobacco paunches just to show my independence. Being a victim of ill treatment in my own family I loved misbehaving every body including young siblings and specially girls. It gave me a special kind of mental satisfaction. I know it is not right but I no control on myself.”

For me, it was a surprising confession. This revelation opened for me a way to reach to Maykalal. Days were spent in just talking and listening to Maykalal. I don’t know whether one would call it counselling or something else but now Maykalal is one of fast progressing boys in the camps. He is an initiator in everything whether it is shramdan or prayer or arrangements in the camp.

I wonder, whether Maykalal has changed or we have learnt the ways of ’discovering’ a person beyond what see.