Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Mar 24: Her life was shattered at the tender age of four when her father tragically murdered her mother in Dubai. Her father was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death in the UAE. In an instant, she was orphaned, her world turned upside down, and her future uncertain. The life she once knew was gone, leaving her vulnerable, trapped between a painful past and an unknown future, while the case for her custody went on for four years between the two grandmothers since 2014.
In order to achieve custody of the child, the father’s side of the family, a radical Muslim household, tried to bribe Dr Abraham Mathai, founder chairman of Harmony Foundation and former vice-chairman of the Minorities Commission, to convince her maternal grandmother to accept ‘blood money’ (known as ‘Diya’ in Islamic terms, which means to ‘forgive’ the murderer in exchange for monetary compensation) in order to save the life of their son.
That’s where Dr Mathai stood his ground and prevented Usha, the grandmother from the mother’s side, from falling into that trap. When that did not work, they put out false claims of child abuse by the mother’s side of the family. They even went so far as to tutor the little girl, forcing her to repeat a false story of sexual abuse. But truth, no matter how buried, finds its way to the surface. When the judge met the girl privately, she immediately sensed that the child had been tutored. The court ordered a second medical examination, which proved that she was never harmed. The case collapsed, exposing the deception of her paternal family.
Imagine the horrifying turn the poor child would have faced if she had been sent to her father’s family, a radical household where her fate would have been sealed. There, she would've been raised with rigid expectations, trained to serve rather than to dream, and her voice would've been stifled, her choices reduced to those deemed acceptable by others. Education would have taken a backseat, and before long, she might have been married off, her aspirations snuffed out before they could even take root. If she had remained in that world, she would have been confined to a life she did not choose, her potential wasted in the shadows of age-old conservative and radical customs, her spirit crushed before she could even begin to understand her own worth.
But fate had other plans. Dr Mathai was determined to give her a better chance at life. He had firmly declared that he was going to see this through to the end, even if it meant selling off his assets. With the support of the renowned women’s rights lawyer, Adv Flavia Agnes, offering pro bono support, Dr Mathai and Usha fought tirelessly through the courts. The final verdict, which came out on November 15, 2017, was in her favour.
She was placed in the care of her maternal grandmother, compassionate and progressive one who saw her not as a burden, but as a blessing in disguise. She found warmth, love, and a newfound sense of security with her. She was encouraged to dream beyond the confines of tradition, to reach for opportunities that had once seemed unattainable. Slowly, the wounds of her past began to heal. She was no longer defined by the tragedy she had endured but by the strength she was beginning to cultivate within herself. She found meaning and purpose in life and felt that she was wanted, and with each passing day, her confidence grew. She found solace in books, immersing herself in studies, learning about the world she had been denied access to for so long. Knowledge became her refuge, her weapon, her hope. She no longer had to fear a life dictated by others. Instead, she saw herself as someone who could stand tall, someone who could make a difference. This month, she turned 15 and has appeared for her 10th standard board exam. Her dream is to appear for the UPSC, determined to fight for girls like her, especially from her community, who have been trapped by circumstances beyond their control. She envisions herself standing up against this cruel, harsh reality, ensuring that no child would have to suffer the way she once had.
Dr Mathai expressed his concerns, stating, “There was a time when she thought she had no future, that her fate was written the moment she lost her mother. But now, she sees the possibilities stretching before her like an open road, filled with promise and purpose. Every step forward is an act of defiance against the chains of oppression that once threatened to hold her back.” Filled with delight, he further stated, “She is safe, she is free, and most importantly, she is finally in control of her own destiny. The past will no longer define her but only the future she dares to create, one where she will not only survive but thrive, breaking barriers and inspiring others to do the same.”
Dr Mathai is more than a mentor to her; she calls him ‘Daddy No. 1,’ a symbol of hope and resilience. This victory was not just Usha’s it was made possible by the relentless and steadfast courage of Dr Abraham Mathai, supported by Adv Flavia Agnes. Dr Mathai stood against power, corruption, and threats, ensuring that the girl would not grow up in an environment that sought to cage her. Her story is not just one of survival it is a testament to the power of truth, love, and the fight for justice.