What are you addicted on to? Are
you on a crushing addiction on food, or on the newest technology, television
series, and some brands of chocolates, Facebook or any other? Our addiction is so bizarre and we, with our
grinned face accept it with the common refrain that "Everyone is addicted
to something." Certainly, we wouldn't have any remorse on it as neither
society nor we, ourselves would haunt with the social stigma of being called 'The
Addict'
.
But what would be the situation
if we have to be the victim of the same taunt every time you pass through some
one?
The condition is unimaginable and
the most important part is we will not only be out-caste from the social circle
but we also will descend from your own personal dynamism.
I am sure with these few words
you have already understood, what kind of addiction I am talking about? If you
are thinking that I am pointing out the addiction of drug use, then yes you are
absolutely right.
Russell Brand says "Addiction
is as serious disease; will end with jail, mental institutions, or DEATH."
Russell's statement holds the authenticity as we have seen the condition of
youths in our society who have been addicted to drugs. They have to go through
several socio-economic predicaments with very less support from family and
friends to eventually losing their self esteem. The condition of Basanta Adhikari was not any
different when he was habituated to drugs, who is now a well-known social
activist; the founding president of Bikalpa, an Alternative.
I met him, three years back for
an interview of my weekly talk show, when he was working for his campaign
'GariKhana Deu' (Livable Nepal). That short talk influenced me so much. The way
he shared his story of transformation and his journey (which I couldn't
broadcast all due to time issues) really inspired me. No one can imagine how he
has stood up once falling into the mud and started his journey for social
change. We can guess how hard it would have been for him.
He became misguided when he was
16 years old. After his School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exam he had some
leisure time; which he couldn't manage properly. He still remembers how he had wasted his time being engaged in unnecessary fights and other unproductive
works then. Slowly, he fell in the grip of some bad company who were drug
users. Once, he tasted the drug and found it good, he eventually started to
become addicted to it. And we can guess how had his life been then aspiring for drug every moment.
Wait, this is not the end. Behind the
drug addict, there was another Basanta who always gave him a voice to get out
of all this disgrace and move forward on a new journey; a journey of
transformation- , a journey to walk for his own self and for the whole society. He
failed many times during these phase, but never lost his hope. Each failure
gave him a new strength to move forward on his journey of positive change. Then,
Baburaja Shrestha from BMC Siltes turned out to be his God Father by giving him
a chance to change.This chance suddenly aroused a new addiction on him. He started to fully engage in work and study. He still has the memory of those days when he used to work 12-14 hours with a very few pay. He resumed his study as well. And slowly things started to open up for him.
It took him approximately a
decade to work for something good, leaving all the humiliation of being an
addict behind him. For 3 years he led and empowered young people in eastern
region. In 2010, he got a scholarship opportunity for doing Master’ on Inter
Asia NGOs studies. After completing his study, he returned and again started to
empower young people voluntarily in his locality. Then, he promoted the Livable
campaign. At present, he has started his new organization, Bikalpa, an
Alternative. Through this he envisions a Nepal where rule of law is supreme and
citizens can exercise their natural rights to life, liberty and property in a
vibrant and free society. The organization seeks to develop a culture that
favors individual and economic freedom, in spheres of personal lives and policy
issues through research, education and civic engagement.
He still feels the pain of his
journey of transformation. He remembers
those days when police men used to treat him badly and when the society used to
ignore him as a person even when he had tried to change himself.
Now the time has rolled. The perspective of
people towards him has changed. Now, when he compares his past with the
present, he finds difference in him and this gives him the immense happiness in
his life. Thus, he wants other youths who too are in the same darkness to move
on and transform but shares sadly that still the attitude of people towards the
addicts haven't changed yet. First, he wants none to be addicted on it. In case
if any one has been on to it, the family and society should help him to move
on, he opines.
Not all stories have fairy-tale
endings. It was Adhikari's self awareness that helped him to move on and choose
a new path for himself, but there are some examples who had even given up their
lives because of drugs. So, it's our responsibility to help them get out of it.
People often won't try quitting until they're forced because it seems too hard.
But we as their friend, relative and a social member can help them understand
that healing from addiction takes time. We also shouldn't lose hope as there
are people like Basanta Adhikari who have conquered the darkness.
You can watch the talk show that was broadcast-ed on Makalu Television almost two years ago here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTYbgC-kStM&list=UUu_UqZ733AmoDtucSCiCVjw
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