Goa's Slumdog Millionaire

[Guest guest]

GOA'S SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BY-BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO

In life, nothing comes easy as you would expect. And this stark reality

especially stands elevated in the human interest story of Jaffer Inamdar, a

Vascoite who has undergone a metamorphic change from an impoverished

slum-dweller to a well-to-do respected persona of the Port Town. A poignant

story that is bound to touch one's sentiments and inspire them

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CHILDHOOD IN A SLUM

Born and brought up in one of the slum areas of Mangor Hill, Vasco,

Jaffer Inamdar's parents had migrated from the neighbouring

Karnataka State during the Portuguese Regime. His father took up a job

as a motor-cycle pilot to support his wife and five children. Jaffer was the

second eldest among the siblings, oldest among three brothers. Their father had

to juggle for a lot many things to keep his household going but with limited

resources.

His father being an alcoholic and caring no less for his family then

himself turned the roof-top of their household upside down with liquour taking

control of his own life. Day in and day out there were always fights at home

without any reason, which disturbed, Jaffer, the child, a lot.

He was scared of his father, who had a lot of expectations from him being the

eldest son in the family. And for this very reason, at the

age of 10, Jaffer began to sleep at the terrace of a Sulabh Toilet in a slum

area which was very close to his home. Here he had to bear witness to idlers

engaged in wasteful activities like playing cards, chatting away, drinking,

smoking and fighting among themselves.

With the financial difficulties faced by the Inamdar family going out of hand,

the young Jaffer had to forgo education after Std. X. Aged only 14, he took up a

challenge to contribute towards the family economy with his elder sister coming

to a marriageable age.

His father being an alcoholic could not think about the well-being of his

family. In time, marriage talks began in the family to wed his elder sister off,

thus putting all the pressure on his mother. To this effect, young Jaffer told

his anxious mother that he would help her out with the predicament and take up

work. Taking up a loan, the eldest daughter in the family was wed off. This was

in 1997. Around that time, he used to be very vulnerable if food was not taken

in time.

To help sustain his family he began doing odd jobs, like a helper in

repairing bicycles in a repair shop, sometimes as a waiter in a small

restaurant or a helper at a tea-stall. He has even worked as a painter

and for a fish trawler. To the extent, he has been paid a measly Rs. 15 a day to

manage his nutrition.

FALLING ILL AND ANXIETY ARISING THERE FROM

Some time after the marriage of his older sister, Jaffer fell ill. So

ill, that he could not walk. For someone only 15, he wondered what was

happening to his body. As the illness with fever and cough was

relentless, he decided to approach the local doctors but still, there

was no relief. Until, finally, one of the doctors diagnosed him with the dreaded

HIV. At the time, he did not know what was HIV all about?

Ignorance was just not bliss, and counseling was the need of the moment.

The doctor used to give him pills for fever control and there was no

proper diagnosis. Troubled and worried that he was, he decided to

consult an experienced doctor who practiced with the Government-run

hospitals. This doctor referred him for an HIV test at a private lab in Vasco.

Not knowing what to expect, he decide to go there one morning without food

intake to get his blood sample taken for the test.

It was a very sad moment for someone who did not realize what a HIV test all

about is and its repercussions on the patient. Anxiously he waited for his

report and was called to collect the same that evening. He was told by the lab

technician who gave him the report that he was suffering from AIDS.

BEGINNING OF THE END?

Shocked by the test result, Jaffer who still did not understand what he was

suffering from, but who heard it to be dangerous and its victims not known to

survive for long, was a shattered and tearful young man. He was worried what

would happen to him and this very thought made his condition worsen, to the

extent he could not walk as before and would fall on the ground.

With no counseling, a troubled Jaffer looking ahead into his future

found himself feel miserable. Sitting at the steps after collecting the report,

he dwelt whether to return home or go elsewhere to take the drastic suicidal

step. The social stigma attached with an AIDS patient made him feel weaker than

he was. And to add to that, the pressure of coping with family responsibilities.

After a lot of careful consideration, he decided to go home all along the way

crying. He was 17 then, the day, New Year's in 1996. People were celebrating the

New Year; Jaffer feared the `World of Death'.

Negative thoughts crept into his mind with hardships envisaged. He did

not know whom to go to, whom to trust. At that point of time, the issue was hot

and he felt that people would throw him out if they knew what happened to him.

His younger sister asked him what the issue was about once he returned

home. And the reply, `do not ask me, I'm going to die.' The

sister asked him why he was crying for the last 2-3 days, and to tell at least

what had happened. This sister was in love with his friend who used to visit

them often. He did not confide in him as well with the fear he will not marry

his sister. Such thoughts went through

Jaffer's mind.

OPENING UP HIS BOTTLED FEELINGS OF ANGUISH AND PAIN

His mental torture was so much that he refused food for 3-4 days.

Fearing the worst, his mother requested his to-be brother-in-law to take him

out. His friend began to counsel him upon being taken out.

Jaffer was asked in a nice way to confide into his friend the

bad news. He was promised that his secret would not be told to anyone

else. Finally, Jaffer opened up to relate the sad episode. He also added that a

person affected with AIDS dies the soonest and that he was going to die and that

his doctor who saw the report disclosed that he will not survive no more than

three years longer. Assuring that he could live long, Jaffer's friend told him

to trust himself that he could live further.

But how could he live on?

Jaffer was now not interested now how he contracted the dreaded HIV, but how he

would live further. How will he fight? What are his resources? What will he do?

Where will he go? Social stigma and discrimination took root very strongly and

affected him. He feared to visit the government Hospital with his lingering

doubts.

GAINING CONFIDENCE

Finally, he accepted the way he was. His friend counseled that there

still exists life forth and to forget what has stricken him. He slowly

began to gain confidence in himself. Though there was illness, he became

positive and felt that everything would be alright. He stopped shedding tears

and returned home smiling, to the joy of his sister who jumped on him with cries

of happiness.

THE TB ATTACK

Jaffer was 16 then and facing lot of health problems and continued with his

phobia of not visiting the doctor. He finally became so ill, that he could not

talk nor walk and his father had to visit a doctor for private consultation. His

father took Jaffer's report secretly and taking cognizance of what sufferings

his son was undergoing became sympathetic.

He took his son aside and gently convinced him that he had to visit the TB

Hospital while keeping the rest of the family out of loop on what had happened

to young Jaffer. Finally, Jaffer was admitted to the TB Hospital at St. Inez,

Panjim in 1998 for treatment and remained there for a year-and-a-half.

AND THE RECOVERY

While in his stay at the TB Hospital and gradual recovery, a doctor

referred him to an NGO working with HIV. There he received professional

counseling and information on HIV AIDS. And it was now that Jaffer became very

positive and decided to live life as it comes. Now at18-and-a-half-years he

became healthy and strong. He now began to read informative material and

exercise and also, eat good food to take care of his health which was all part

of positive living with HIV.

WHAT GIVEN UNTO HIM, HE NOW GIVES TO OTHERS

A few months hence he got an opportunity to live in a support group of

people having HIV. Here he gained a lot of confidence and made friends.

Everyone was talking to one another, enjoying each other's company. It was one

big happy moment for the once troubled Jaffer.

With an opportunity to work with the same NGO, Panjim he took it up to

become an outreach worker to give awareness to truckers, cleaners and

other such people at high-risk.

At this point in time, Jaffer had so many weaknesses after going through umpteen

frustrations, to the extent he could still not interact or talk freely with the

people. Hence, he took a conscious decision that he would strengthen is

inter-personal skills. He began to read books on communication to develop his

professional skills. Leaving the NGO, he joined an international organization,

in 2000. A job he undertook on experience which he was attached with until 2003

as the Project Coordinator in Vasco.

ASSOCIATION WITH STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION

In 2001, an international media, Staying Alive Foundation were looking

out for young HIV Positive representative from India for their

documentary short film show on MTV, Staying Alive Part 3. Jaffer being

one such prime example, who contributed towards HIV AIDS, disclosing his HIV

Status Publicly locally and internationally first time in the

history of HIV epidemic in Goa and being living alive with it, was

chosen from India to be part of the documentary film. And as such,

Jaffer got the opportunity to declare HIV is not a death sentence.

This show was telecast on MTV world-wide on World AIDS Day since 2001, giving

him a chance for people to watch him, and come forward breaking their silence

and giving way to promote social acceptance as was the case with him.

FAST-FORWARDING IN TIME WITH POSITIVE LIVES INDIA (PLI+)

Sometime in 2003 he may have committed a crime by cheating a man of Rs. 2500

with the false promise of helping him process a loan, when he had not much

money. The fraud may he be then, but the duped proved to be Divinity in guise.

As with that very money, he printed a logo of the organization he was setting

up, visiting cards, letter head and had communication with various people for

setting up the organization as per his plan. With that money, official letters

were sent out to various agencies on the existence of a newly set-up Community

Based Organization led by Young - People Living with and Personally Affected by

HIV/AIDS in

2003, to live with dignity and overcome stigma & discrimination.

In time, Goa Aids Control Society, offered help in starting a care and

support activity drop-in centre at North-Goa in 2006.

In time, PLF has become one of the best tools to change life of the HIV + People

as well as do advocacy to promote human rights and live with human dignity.

Positive Lives India (PLI+) that has been working in India for the

wellbeing and benefit of People Living with and Personally Affected by

HIV/AIDS to live with dignity and overcome stigma & discrimination

through Advocacy, Lobbying, Research, Partnership, Capacity Building and

Resources Mobilization.

CUT TO THE PRESENT

Jaffer Inamdar has the humble pride of being the Founder of Positive

Lives India (PLI+) which is one of the community-based organizations of people

with HIV AIDS that is working towards the well being of these infected and

affected stigmatized people.

He has also been nominated as the Asia-Pacific representative – Board Member of

International Religious Leaders Living with and Personally affected by HIV AIDS.

He also is the representative on behalf of the People Living with HIV/AIDS

(PLHA) in Goa for one of the important treatment bodies of the Government of Goa

and Co-Convenor of PLHA's Groups at the Asia Level.

He strongly advocates that `Life is possible with HIV. We have to

accept challenges, accept what we are and what we can do.' Life

with him the last fourteen years has been without any medicines and he

has kept himself healthy with a good immune system. Divulging his

secret, he states that there are ups and downs in life and one must

never give up. Challenges should be accepted and this belief will make

the difference.

In his fight for the rights of People Living with and Personally

Affected by HIV/AIDS (PLHA'S) and , Goa as a State and `The

Hello Group' as a media tool salute and support you in our own

special way.

Source: Hello Group Publication (Hello Panjim, Mapusa, Porvorim and

Margaon)Date of Publication: August 15 to October 15, 2010 (Vol. 10 Issue –4)

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Jaffer Inamdar could be reached by e-mail: positivelivesindia@...,

plf@...

skype id: jinamdar

mobile: +91 9371 186773

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jaffer.inamdar