The Universal Children's Day observed on November 20 every year in many countries of the world allows its variants in different countries to be celebrated depending on local conditions and significance of the occasion. In India the day is observed on November 14 because it coincides with the birth anniversary of Indian first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Bangladesh set the date on March 17, birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding father. But this schedule is not honoured with political changeover and the country reverts to November 20 for commemorating the august occasion. It has already observed the occasion on March 17 this year. But this year's theme of the day observed on Nov 20, 'Stop violence against children' cannot be allowed to go unnoticed in the Bangladesh context.
Aduri, a housemaid of 11 years old, made screaming headlines when she was rescued from a dustbin after her employer had dumped her there thinking she was dead as a result of the inhuman torture she was meted out. And Aduri is not alone in suffering such senseless brutality at the hands of people who employ teenage girls like her as domestic help. Sure enough, the country has made significant progress on many indices set for measuring development parameters in countries across the world. But still its young population at the lower echelon is not guaranteed the minimum basic human rights. An 11-year old is not supposed to work at someone else's or even at her/his own home. She should be in school. But the reality is that children are compelled to work, often beyond their ability and power in order to survive in this hostile society.
Evidently, the observance of the Children's Day, Universal Children's Day or International Children's Day, their forms and varying dates notwithstanding, hardly touches the lives of boys or girls like Aduris. A large number of children simply live a life of animals in slums or on the streets of large cities. Contrast the life of children who are born with a golden spoon in their mouths with that of the hapless castaways of societies, the stark realities of this society become even starker. Clearly, this is not a caring society at all. Societies, now known for child welfare and being child-friendly, have realised the virtue of investing in the budding population. After all, they are the future of the nation. To ensure their well-being is to secure the future of the nation.
Sure enough, children at the upper echelon of society are enjoying all the opportunities imaginable. The process of scaling ladders in all societies is a continuous struggle. The more advanced have found a way out to more or less rationally share wealth with members of all segments of society. Naturally social discriminations are not gaping there but in a country like Bangladesh, the privileged have raced head over heels in their quest for accumulation of fortunes. The political leaderships have not been mindful enough to reach the benefit of growing wealth to the poorer sections of society. Yet the rate of climbers to the next upper notch of the ladder has remained appreciable. However the contest has been unequal and not all are fortunate to raise their economic status or living standard.
At the upper and mid-level, the rat race for children's success has been intense. They are subjected to rigorous regimes by their schools, parents and the education system. Once they scale the height, they feel isolated from society and look for greener pastures abroad. Thus the country is producing a self-seeking generation with no love and obligation for the country. All these are a symptom of an unstable society -one that cannot make good use of its positives and strong points. In a situation like this, children of all classes cannot expect to receive the attention and care they deserve. Children are deprived of their childhood where they should have ample time for physical exercise, sports and entertainment. A balanced growth of body and mind makes a nation strong and amply talented.
Unfortunately, lacking in one area reflects on others. Today the overwhelming emphasis on studies in certain sections of society at the cost of healthy development of physique and the total indifference to both in other do not indicate a highly desirable prospect for the country. Society of necessity has to move ahead with all segments. The more privileged have proved disloyal to the country and they have invested in second homes abroad. On the other side, people are leading a wretched life only because generation after generation they are deprived of the minimum opportunities for enough food, employment, education and other need-fulfilling conditions. This situation needs to be changed for the better if the nation has to move ahead in a cohesive manner.
Stunted physical growth at the lower level of society and height gain at the upper is indicative of the all-pervasive deprivation on the one hand and the benefit of new found affluence, on the other. In the 18th century England and other European countries, the average male height was 5 feet 5 inches which has increased to 5 feet 10 inches now. Bangladesh's average height for the male is not available but there are reasons to believe that the affluent and educated class in urban areas has gained height for the young generation. Conversely, this has declined for the poor. The mental map for them is unlikely to be any different. The advantage of education-induced awareness in combination with economic solvency has done the trick for some, which the rest has missed to the loss of the entire nation.
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