By Purushottam Nayak
Kandhamal: Ashalota Nayak says her husband’s brave death in Odisha’s 2008 anti-Christian violence has inspired her to serve society.
“My husband had no fear of death to witness Jesus as the radicals attacked him,” recalled the 46-year-old widow of Bikram Nayak while speaking to Matters India on June 23, the International Widows’ Day.
Hindu radicals had told Nayak that they would spare his life if he abandoned his Catholic faith.
Nayak was among seven Christians killed in Tiangia the village in Kandhamal district, the largest number of deaths in the 2008 violence.
Ashalota, who refused to wallow in sorrow, now serves as a frontline Covid warrior helping people from all religions.
The Auxiliary Nurse Midwives at Daringbadi gives polio vaccine to children under 6 besides attending to patients in a Covid care center.
“She is a kind and loving person,” said Bondona Sahu, a Hindu woman after Ashalota vaccinated her.
Bipracharan Nayak, president of Kandhamal Survivors Association, says Asholata’s “brave efforts to tackle Covid-19 is appreciated by all in the area.”
Another widow from the same village, Kanaka Rekha Nayak, says life has not been easy since her husband Parikhito was killed the violence 13 years ago.
“I used to go for the work outside but I am helpless now due to lockdown,” she told Matters India. She survives on monthly ration given by the state government -15 kg rice and 3 kg pulses. Her widow pension is not enough to manage the family. “Losing my husband I have lost my income resource,” she added.
The lack of access to pharmacies also affects menstrual hygiene practices. Young girls’ sanitizers are costly and with the widow pension, she is not able to meet the expenses, explained Kanaka.
Asmita Digal ekes out a living by tailoring but she gets no customer because of the pandemic and lockdown. “As a result I struggle to maintain my two daughters.”
Her first daughter Asha studies Intermediate and the second Khusi is an eighth grader. “They have no access to smart phone for their online class. I am worried about the future of my two daughters,” Asmita told Matters India.
Anita Pradhan of Sisopanga village under Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, grows beans and other vegetables in her farm. “But there is no one to buy the produce at the right time. The vegetables then get rotten,” said the 43-year-old widow of Sibino.
“There is nobody to listen to my pain and agony, It reminds me the suffering in the forest in the time of anti-Christian violence of 2007-2008,” Anita bemoaned.