“Touch my life with the magic of thy
fire
And it’s burning gift of pain –
Make it precious…………”
As droplets of rain are dropping down my windows, I am starting my journey to describe ‘My Mia Woman’. She is a simple lady but yet so special. To her, work is God and her organization is temple. She is that lady whom I use to call ‘The lady with lamp’. She is Urmi Basu. I met her during a press conference in 2012 and after that we are still in regular touch. She is a complete package of beauty with brains. Aged at 50, she is still so young and full of life. Her adorable lovely smile is something which always gives others an inspiration to work. She is someone who believes its only human beings who creates our own fate by our work and can successfully bring a change to our future generation and our society.
She is the founder of ‘New Light’, a private nongovernmental organization at the lanes of Kalighat, Kolkata which looks after the sex workers and their children at the red light areas of Kolkata. The mission of the organization is to promote gender equality and fight violence and abuse of women, girl children and young people. Her small initiative which she took in 2000, today provides care and support to more than a thousand people across the nation.
The organization also works to fight against child prostitution and trafficking for the purpose of sex- trade. For the last many years Urmi has been a trainer and resource person for innumerable government and nonprofit organizations. She regularly presents papers at various national and international seminars and conferences on HIV/ AIDS, trafficking, child rights and social justice. She was selected as the NGO co-coordinator by the office of the Governor of West Bengal to make a presentation on micro credit, women’s participation in gender sensitivity and health issues during the visit of the former President of the United States Bill Clinton on 7th of April, 2001.
Following the documentary Urmi received the Global Citizen Award at the Global Music Festival in Central Park, New York which was organized to mark zero tolerance for hunger, poverty and abuse. Urmi was chosen as a recipient of a blessing from His Holiness The Dalai Lama under the title Unsung heroes of Compassion 2009 on the 26th of April 2009 in San Francisco for her work that promotes compassion and peace.
During the movement 'One Billion Rising' in Kolkata |
Urmi Basu receving holy blessings from Dalai Lama |
Now, the question is why she is ‘My Mardaani Woman? What makes her so
special? Aren’t there hundreds of others who are working for the same cause
with the same dedication. Obviously yes! But as I feel there are some qualities
in every human being which makes him/her special and different from others. The
same is with her. She is someone who knows how to balance his office work and
personal life. Though, her husband left her because he is not liking the work
that she is been doing but still she did not gave up. Her desire to fight
doubled.
She is full of
confidence. She loves her work from the core of her heart. On one side she is a
successful mother and other side she is a great friend, philosopher and guide
with whom anyone can share their life. She is someone who believes in ‘Sharing
is Caring’. She is trustworthy and so down to earth. She is an excellent writer
and a good orator. What makes her more complete is her true and dedicated work
for love. To her, the sex workers and their children are her own children.
Whatever problem they face she is always
ready to solve it with a smile. And the most important thing I like about her is that in spite of doing such a great work but she does not want to keep herself in limelight. She once asked me ‘Tell me something if there is dirt in your own house would you tell others, hey look I have cleared it.’ She is very clear about her life’s objectives and has totally focused her life on that. As Devi Durga is protecting this universe with her ten hands, she is also standing as a guard to her organization and protecting it. I saw her facing innumerable obstacles while she has been working but she overcomes all with her strong zeal. In my life, I have seen a very women to whom ‘Work is Worship’ and that too when it’s for such a noble cause. My experience of working with her is amazing, the more I think, the more it grows. She is like a tree that has spread her branches all over the world to protect women from every possible disaster.She is like that lamp which apart from igniting herself is also showing light to other to strive towards betterment.To conclude,with the lines of Dawna Markova :
ready to solve it with a smile. And the most important thing I like about her is that in spite of doing such a great work but she does not want to keep herself in limelight. She once asked me ‘Tell me something if there is dirt in your own house would you tell others, hey look I have cleared it.’ She is very clear about her life’s objectives and has totally focused her life on that. As Devi Durga is protecting this universe with her ten hands, she is also standing as a guard to her organization and protecting it. I saw her facing innumerable obstacles while she has been working but she overcomes all with her strong zeal. In my life, I have seen a very women to whom ‘Work is Worship’ and that too when it’s for such a noble cause. My experience of working with her is amazing, the more I think, the more it grows. She is like a tree that has spread her branches all over the world to protect women from every possible disaster.She is like that lamp which apart from igniting herself is also showing light to other to strive towards betterment.To conclude,with the lines of Dawna Markova :
I will not die an
unlived life.
I will not live
in fear
of falling or
catching fire.
I choose to
inhabit my days,
to allow my
living to open me,
to make me less
afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my
heart
until it becomes
a wing,
a torch, a
promise.
I choose to risk
my significance,
to live so that
which came to me as seed
goes to the next
as blossom,
and that which
came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.
Urmi Basu : Ponds Femina Miss India 'Women of Substance 2013' |
Whatever knowledge you have given us,the more we spend,the more it grows.
You are truly as beautiful as your work!
Letter of Appreciation by Rani Mukherjee :) |
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