Help from across the seas for Assam blast victims

GUWAHATI: Bishal has been waiting for his "deuta" to return home for almost eight months. But by now, this four-and-a-half-year-old boy has perhaps realized that his father, Sujit Acharjee, will never come back home and tell him his favourite bedtime stories. Sujit was one of the 89 people killed in the bomb blasts that rocked the city's Ganeshguri area, among other places, on October 30, 2008.

The death of Sujit not only rattled his family, but made it impossible for his widow, Rita, to bear the expenditure of Bishal's education. Though the child, who had moved to his maternal uncle's place with his mother after Sujit died, was admitted to an Assamese medium school near the Fatasil Ambari Tiniali area, Rita, a homemaker, could not afford the expenditure of Bishal's education.

It was when the Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA), an organization of Assamese NRIs, came forward forward to sponsor the educational expenses of Bishal that she could heave a sigh of relief.

On Monday, a cheque of Rs 13,500 was handed over to Bishal's guardians by Bidyananda Barkakoty, general secretary of the Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS), a welfare organization based in the region. "On October 30, Sujit had gone to Ganeshguri where he was working there with an automobile accessory store.
He was the sole earning member in the family. But the powerful blast triggered by the militants killed him. Eight months have passed since then, but we are yet to forget the night," said Titu Sarkar, Bishal's maternal uncle.

Ever since Sujit died, Rita had been spending sleepless nights thinking how she could afford Bishal's education expenses. "Fr. Lukose, founder of Snehalaya, first brought the child to the notice of AFNA and FASS. Their members were prompt to come forward with financial assistance. AFNA will sponsor Bishal's education for one year. Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters will do the same for another year. We are confident of getting sponsorship for Bishal till he completes his Class X exams," said Barkakoty.

"It (the sponsorship) is a great relief for us. We have no words to express our feeling," Sarkar said. Also on Monday, AFNA donated Rs 38,834 to Snehalaya, a home for homeless children. Snehalaya authorities would use the money for the educational expenses of the kids in buying uniform, school bags, books, and shoes. "AFNA has been supporting and planning to support a number of educational institutes for the underprivileged children and orphanages," AFNA general secretary Ankur Bora said in communiqué from Dallas, USA.