A first person Narrative of a psychotherapist

[ahladi]

There can be little doubt that disasters, violence and acts of terrorism engender a large scale psychological morbidity. Infact, the explicit goal of any true act of terrorism is to create a condition of fear, uncertainity, demoralization and helplessness, i.e terror. The direct target or victims of such violent acts are not the real targets, rather they are the means to an end. The “psychological casualties “ will always outnumber the “ physical casualties”.

Only 14 people died in Nandigram(?). The psychological casualties of the unprovoked police firing on innocent villagers in Nandigram number thousands in the villages of Nandigram itself. And lakhs in villages and cities in West Bengal.

From my experiences of working in post disaster affected regions, I have learned that no matter what culture, language or psycho social background, all human beings have an innate capacity to heal from traumatic experiences. When ‘specialists’ are brought in to ‘help’ people after a disaster, local methods of coping are sometimes swept aside, leaving people feeling devalued. The aim of my visit to Nandigram was to find existing cultural practices and patterns which could be encouraged to be restarted, helping the process of normalization, validating their ways of coping with distress and as result leaving them empowered, enthusiastic and hopeful about the future.

However, after the first few kilometers walk into Shonachura, all my grand plans were slightly dampened. No one stopped me on my way, no one questioned my identity, I was allowed free access into the village with its green fields, crops waiting to be harvested, sunflowers swaying in the gentle breeze under the azure blue skies. My reverie on the beauty of Nature was abruptly broken by the gentle question of a man passing by a on a bicycle – where are you Headed? As I offered an answer, he simply took off very fast. And then I heard the blast of a bomb coming from the other side of the canal. Which I later realized was the direction of Khejuri.As I neared the village and asked for directions, it was evident that people knew I was coming. And also where I was headed. They were in a state of high vigilance. A man with a bandage on his head, just been released from hospital after treatment from bullet injuries was pacing to and fro, restlessly. He suddenly stopped and asked me, if I had heard the sound of the bombs just then. The dilated pupils of his eyes reflected the intrusive images and hyperalertness to the environment. When I expressed that I had heard the bombs half an hour ago and not that minute ,his eyes held a clear suspicion of me.
I headed for the nearest tea stall. Sitting there, surrounded by fellow citizens, the last three months nightmare was encapsulated for my soul and senses. The narration of the incidents was devoid of any emotion. Those expressionless eyes, that matter of fact tone of a father, even while narrating the death of one’s beloved son.The hollow sound of a sobbing cry emanating from a mother, devoid of tears bemoaning the death of her son.
Sleeplessness for the last three months. A small child of eight years tells me- There are bombs thrown at us in the night. At the sound of bombs, my parents run out of the house. And I feel alone and scared. I cant sleep at night”. Children cant eat at night. Out of fear.
Fear is the predominant emotion in every nook and corner. And with it anger. The anger was directed not to any political party. But towards the Government, the entrusted guardians of peace. It reminded me of the anger of the fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu , towards the sea. The sea which had been their Mother, the Provider in their lives had turned into a perpetrator, a destroyer. Trauma arises when the mind struggles to cope with this total loss of faith.
The deafening reverberation of the bombs in the distance brought me back to the reality of the differnce between Nandigram and Nagapattinam. The need of the hour was crisis intervention. Trauma counseling can come later. Defusing the tension prevalent and helping the people go back to the patterns of life before the disaster struck is the primary task. How can I ever ask them to work through their trauma and forgive the perpetrator when acts of violence continue in many ways than one.
People who had been daily wage labourers in factories in Haldia, Nimtola have been turned away. So have been people working in cold storages. Marketing of their own produce has become increasingly difficult with threats of being beaten up terrorizing them. Economic supression has just started.
If Nandigram is deigned to be the point where the ashwamedha horses were stopped and fragile egos of power mongers hurt, then let there be a civility in the ensuing discussions in place of the continuing terror. If Nandigram is exalted to be the catalyst of mass movement then let us give back unto them what we have received in full measure.
However, irrespective of whether we stoke the fires of mass movement in Nandigram or design it into a battleground for proclaiming our supreme egos or camouflage, minimize the whole episode, let us atleast not speak of Trauma Counselling for the people there.

[sreyashi]

Applause, Ahladi, for a very thought provoking first hand report that encapsulates for us, observers from far off, the terrifying battleground of ego and politicking that is Nandigram. Leaving aside the issue of culpability for the moment, we should raise voices so that sanity and peace returns soon to the place, and people there can lead normal lives once again.

By the way, the cool, dispassionate and precise manner of your reporting can be a model for media persons to emulate.

[nadi]

Originally Posted by ahladi

1. Infact, the explicit goal of any true act of terrorism is to create a condition of fear, uncertainity, demoralization and helplessness, i.e terror. The direct target or victims of such violent acts are not the real targets, rather they are the means to an end.

2. No one stopped me on my way, no one questioned my identity, I was allowed free access into the village with its green fields, crops waiting to be harvested, sunflowers swaying in the gentle breeze under the azure blue skies.
3. I headed for the nearest tea stall. Sitting there, surrounded by fellow citizens, the last three months nightmare was encapsulated for my soul and senses. The narration of the incidents was devoid of any emotion. Those expressionless eyes, that matter of fact tone of a father, even while narrating the death of one’s beloved son.The hollow sound of a sobbing cry emanating from a mother, devoid of tears bemoaning the death of her son.
Sleeplessness for the last three months. A small child of eight years tells me- There are bombs thrown at us in the night. At the sound of bombs, my parents run out of the house. And I feel alone and scared. I cant sleep at night”. Children cant eat at night. Out of fear.
4. Fear is the predominant emotion in every nook and corner. And with it anger. The anger was directed not to any political party. But towards the Government, the entrusted guardians of peace.
5. The deafening reverberation of the bombs in the distance brought me back to the reality of the differnce between Nandigram and Nagapattinam. The need of the hour was crisis intervention. Trauma counseling can come later. Defusing the tension prevalent and helping the people go back to the patterns of life before the disaster struck is the primary task. How can I ever ask them to work through their trauma and forgive the perpetrator when acts of violence continue in many ways than one.
6. People who had been daily wage labourers in factories in Haldia, Nimtola have been turned away. So have been people working in cold storages. Marketing of their own produce has become increasingly difficult with threats of being beaten up terrorizing them. Economic supression has just started.
7. If Nandigram is deigned to be the point where the ashwamedha horses were stopped and fragile egos of power mongers hurt, then let there be a civility in the ensuing discussions in place of the continuing terror. If Nandigram is exalted to be the catalyst of mass movement then let us give back unto them what we have received in full measure.

Nicely written and all that, but it is drawn in such stark blacks and whites that one is instantly reminded of Fox and CNN reporting during the Iraq war. You know your heroes and you know your villains, so grey is a nicety embedded reporting can do without!

Let's look at the points made :

1. Quite true. That probably explains the murders, arsons, blockage of roads and driving away dissenting villagers for two and a half months prior to the police firing.

2. Ahladi, were you visiting Bangladesh? Why should anyone have stopped you? Does it not tell its own story?

3. Did the possibility of a sting operation occur to you? May be a set of well-rehearsed villagers are presented to all the media people/good samaritans who flock there? At least that is the feeling I get from reading the various eye witness reports about Nandigram. The lack of emotion in the voices would be explained thus.

4. Oh okay, so what peace-breaking did the Govt do before and after that firing incident? Now that it is clear that there won't be any acquisition in Nandigram, why are refugees not being permitted to return? Is it because an atmosphere of fear helps keep things in disequilibrium, and is expected to reap political dividends to interested parties and groups?

5. Hero/villain syndrome once again! Bombs are like this only, they traverse a one way street!

6. Yes, that's really unfortunate. But if you create a 'free zone' by not allowing administration any access, you cut down roads and bridges to create a border within border, you not only help in creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust in the adjoining areas, you also trample on the freedom of the silent majority whose daily bread is cruelly snatched away.

7. Exactly. Let civility return. But then it needs two hands to clap.

[ahladi]

Originally Posted by nadi

Nicely written and all that, but it is drawn in such stark blacks and whites that one is instantly reminded of Fox and CNN reporting during the Iraq war. You know your heroes and you know your villains, so grey is a nicety embedded reporting can do without!

Let's look at the points made :

1. Quite true. That probably explains the murders, arsons, blockage of roads and driving away dissenting villagers for two and a half months prior to the police firing.

2. Ahladi, were you visiting Bangladesh? Why should anyone have stopped you? Does it not tell its own story?

3. Did the possibility of a sting operation occur to you? May be a set of well-rehearsed villagers are presented to all the media people/good samaritans who flock there? At least that is the feeling I get from reading the various eye witness reports about Nandigram. The lack of emotion in the voices would be explained thus.

4. Oh okay, so what peace-breaking did the Govt do before and after that firing incident? Now that it is clear that there won't be any acquisition in Nandigram, why are refugees not being permitted to return? Is it because an atmosphere of fear helps keep things in disequilibrium, and is expected to reap political dividends to interested parties and groups?

5. Hero/villain syndrome once again! Bombs are like this only, they traverse a one way street!

6. Yes, that's really unfortunate. But if you create a 'free zone' by not allowing administration any access, you cut down roads and bridges to create a border within border, you not only help in creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust in the adjoining areas, you also trample on the freedom of the silent majority whose daily bread is cruelly snatched away.

7. Exactly. Let civility return. But then it needs two hands to clap.

A nice piece of imbalanced pointers. Should I ? Should I not?Has arguments ever convinced anybody. I am doubtful. Experiences, on the other hand have the power to change mindset. I have talked of my first hand experiences. As a humanitarian aid worker. While you have posed queries from a certain political angle. Anyway, to reply to some of your points.

1) If that explains only what you have mentioned then I would say you are unaware of the whole picture.
2) Nadi, I was not in Bangladesh, but in a state which is undoubtedly in peril. If you wish to argue with me, then please do so AFTER you have visited Nandigram. And then entered Khejuri( without any reference/introduction about your obvious political alignment) Visit the villages as an ordinary humanitarian aid worker and you will get your answer.
3) The possibility of a sting operation did not enter my head honestly. Especially because I was talking to children( aged 4ys – 9yrs) also. Moreover their truth of their stressor ( the bombs) were distinctly audible for me too. But you might say, that they were doing it themselves for my audio visual entertainment!!!!!
4) The government had earlier said that there wont be any more acquisition. And yet the police rampage had happened AFTER those sacred words. How can people believe that this time its true? Especially with tension still prevalent in the area with bombs, violence?
5) I personally don’t call any of them heroes/villains. All of the villagers, on both sides, are simply victims of terrorism. If you read the last para of my piece, it will be clear that I don’t support ANY political party. Infact, I was impressed with the villagers in Aamgachhia.( near nandigram) Over there people of all political colours have stood together and taken a decision not to let these dynamics affect them. This is what the ideal gram panchayat model should be.
6) There are roads for the administration to reach Nandigram. Lets not fool ourselves. It is only the WILL that is not there. And if there is a WILL it is not adequately demonstrated. And if you feel it IS adequately demonstrated then I would only say that the demonstration needs a more effective strategy.
7) I sincerely wish, those people can sleep their nights in peace and hope for a better future. A future which has been shaped by their choices and voices. And these include ALL people affected, irrespective of their standing.
I also wish people would be human beings first and political activists later.
But then if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.....

[ahladi]

Just to add to your point(3) that I missed. The lack of emotion while narrating is a typical Post traumatic stress symptom. It is described as Dissociation of affect. It is an unconscious psychological defence the mind takes on to cope with overwhelming feelings. In order to prevent a breakdown of the mental apparatus. I wanted to avoid technical terms and so did not mention it in this way.

[sreyashi]

2. Ahladi, were you visiting Bangladesh? Why should anyone have stopped you? Does it not tell its own story?

'nadi ,tumi kotha hoite asiyachho?''----

bharotborsher, onek jaygatei, danga ba sontraser por kono kono elakay probesh korte doliyo ba besorkari onumoti potrer proyojon hoy, ekTi nirbachito sorkari sashon jontro thakar poreo !!!. seTa sashon byabosthar sworupke chenay boiki !!!

[kobiyaal]

A hundred salutations to you...brilliantly written piece...u have transmitted the numbness of ur experience with utmost loyalty!!

[nadi]

Originally Posted by ahladi

A nice piece of imbalanced pointers. Should I ? Should I not?Has arguments ever convinced anybody. I am doubtful. Experiences, on the other hand have the power to change mindset. I have talked of my first hand experiences. As a humanitarian aid worker. While you have posed queries from a certain political angle. Anyway, to reply to some of your points.

1) If that explains only what you have mentioned then I would say you are unaware of the whole picture.
2) Nadi, I was not in Bangladesh, but in a state which is undoubtedly in peril. If you wish to argue with me, then please do so AFTER you have visited Nandigram. And then entered Khejuri( without any reference/introduction about your obvious political alignment) Visit the villages as an ordinary humanitarian aid worker and you will get your answer.
3) The possibility of a sting operation did not enter my head honestly. Especially because I was talking to children( aged 4ys – 9yrs) also. Moreover their truth of their stressor ( the bombs) were distinctly audible for me too. But you might say, that they were doing it themselves for my audio visual entertainment!!!!!
4) The government had earlier said that there wont be any more acquisition. And yet the police rampage had happened AFTER those sacred words. How can people believe that this time its true? Especially with tension still prevalent in the area with bombs, violence?
5) I personally don’t call any of them heroes/villains. All of the villagers, on both sides, are simply victims of terrorism. If you read the last para of my piece, it will be clear that I don’t support ANY political party. Infact, I was impressed with the villagers in Aamgachhia.( near nandigram) Over there people of all political colours have stood together and taken a decision not to let these dynamics affect them. This is what the ideal gram panchayat model should be.
6) There are roads for the administration to reach Nandigram. Lets not fool ourselves. It is only the WILL that is not there. And if there is a WILL it is not adequately demonstrated. And if you feel it IS adequately demonstrated then I would only say that the demonstration needs a more effective strategy.
7) I sincerely wish, those people can sleep their nights in peace and hope for a better future. A future which has been shaped by their choices and voices. And these include ALL people affected, irrespective of their standing.
I also wish people would be human beings first and political activists later.
But then if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.....

Imbalanced? Okay, only as imbalanced as your report is. And please, yours was as politically angled as mine was. Your being a humanitarian aid worker does not change that a bit. Now to your responses :

1. I know the whole picture. I simply pointed out to you a critical piece, which you chose to overlook, that completes the picture.

2. I have not disputed your facts, I just wanted to know if the absurdity of it all had struck you - that you expected to be questioned about your bonafide while entering a part of your own country!

3. The idea of sting was just that - an idea. It cannot be ruled out under the circumstances. But I don't question your experience. If you feel the whole thing was genuine, it is fine with me. But the bombs - you don't really know who hurled them, do you?

4. Was there any acquisition before, during, and after the 'police rampage'? Did the police enter there for forced acquisition? Then where is the question of anyone believing or not believing Govt statement? Pl be honest with yourself.

5. Good to know that now. Your report however did not give that impression.

6. If one side is hellbent on not listening to reason, effective strategy cannot but be harsh, but then good samaritans will have none of it. Damned if they do, damned if they don't - how convenient for the rabblerousers!

7. I am wholeheartedly with you there. But the second part of your wish about people being human beings first, and political activists later, well, if it were so, Nandigram would not have happened at all.

[nadi]

Originally Posted by sreyashi

'nadi ,tumi kotha hoite asiyachho?''----

bharotborsher, onek jaygatei, danga ba sontraser por kono kono elakay probesh korte doliyo ba besorkari onumoti potrer proyojon hoy, ekTi nirbachito sorkari sashon jontro thakar poreo !!!. seTa sashon byabosthar sworupke chenay boiki !!!

Thik. Kintu Nandigram-e to passport system sei January thekei cholchhe bole amra jani.

[ahladi]

@nadi

6. If one side is hellbent on not listening to reason, effective strategy cannot but be harsh

What harsh effective strategy should I take against YOU, nadi? You dont seem to listen to reason at all....