Taniya is 21. Her mother left her in Calcutta and came to Bombay when she was a week old. She only met her mother in 2005 when relatives refused to take care of her and sent her to Bombay. It took her time to realise that her mother is a sex worker. There were hints and she was a sharp kid but no conversations were ever had on the subject. Her mother was an alcoholic who frequently indulged in self harm. Overwhelmed as she was, sometimes all her angst and anxiety found an outlet in causing Taniya and her younger sister, Mahek, physical harm. “My mother was a different person when she was drunk and when she woke up in the morning. Once I’d overheard her saying that she’d sell me off to someone.”
Her mother decided to leave the kids and their stepfather. Taniya was 14. Within 2 months, the domestic abuse began from the step-father. Relentlessly. She was shut due to societal pressures (the ever glorious don’t ask, don’t tell policy) and how her sister would be “unsafe” if she did. There were times she went to the cops when things got out of hand but they refused to help as she was a minor.
She garnered enough courage to run away and earn enough money to support herself and her sister. This is when Kranti came into the picture. Robin, co-founder of Kranti, met with her and helped her get out of the mess that she had known as life. Kranti helped her finish her education and Taniya was able to get her sister admitted into a boarding school.

She is 21 today. And this is not her ‘story’ you’re reading today which you’ll just scroll past, this is her reality. That too, a condensed and cleansed version. Sitting across Taniya while she spoke to me is an image that’s going to be etched in mind forever. A connection so strong that we both broke down. She wants to be for Mahek what her mother could never be for her.

This was her reality, is her reality and will always be her reality. In addition to this being her reality, this is our world’s reality. Rescued children of sex workers are still treated as social outcasts. A member of Kranti put it very beautifully- It’s easy not to leave. One becomes too comfortable.

Help them achieve what they deserve. Open your minds. Talk about things. Sex, violence, rape, domestic abuse. Feeling uncomfortable momentarily cannot and should not cloud your judgement.

I’ve been living with them for almost a week now. Their chuckles are my alarm tones. They are in the process of making a life for themselves.

Help them in whatever way you can:

https://kranti-india.ketto.org/contribute/contribute.php?fmd_id=21572&recurring=1&donation_currency=inr

Or

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Dated- March 28th, 2018