Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Jan 13: Pauline Crasta of Palimar returned from Lebanon after 23 years in November 2006.
Although her family members gave statements to the press about her life and difficulties in Lebanon, Pauline maintained silence and stayed away from press.
The print and electronic media have highlighted the story of Pauline, but this has not brought her any security for the future. People read the story, sighed "Oh, this should not have happened to her!" and seemed to have forgotten the whole episode. Because every day there come up new issues to think about.
But, Dayan D'Souza, a well-known community leader from Dubai who had rendered numerous social Service to the society was in Mangalore on holidays. Dayan had played a key role from Gulf, when Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag took the matter through his forum to know about Pauline. He motivated his friends and well-wishers from the UAE and initiated a signature campaign. Later he approached the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to get in touch with the Lebanon Emabssy.
The outcome was disappointing as the Lebanon embassy claimed that Pauline was well and happy with her sponsors and she had no intention to return.
Was that the true story?
Here is the version of Dayan's interview, first-ever since her release from Lebanon. Pauline spoke openly and disclosed some hidden facts when she was in Lebanon.
A dream..which cost her future...
The wilted flower - Pauline, then and now
It was in 1983, Pauline wanted to go abroad and earn some decent amount to improve the lot of her poor family. A close relative of hers assured her of a decent office job in Kuwait, but she could not secure a a suitable job. She did not want to go back, but accepted a job as domestic help in the house of Mohd Ali Saad, a Lebanon national, residing in Kuwait.
She was very good at her work, punctual and sincere. It was Saad's mother visited Kuwait from Lebanon and was impressed with Pauline's work. She asked her son Saad to lend her Pauline's services and allow her to to take Pauline to Lebanon.
Initially Pauline was to be in Lebanon for a short period. Then on at least 3 times she made trips to work in Saad's mother's house. Ultimately, it was decided that Pauline would be working permanently with Saad's mother.
Real difficulties of Pauline’s life
In Lebanon Pauline had to serve Saad's father, mother, a sister of Saad (Intizar Saad, divorcee) and another sister Jamal Saad. As days went along, on Intizar married the second time and Jamal also married.
Until then life was smooth (but not very good) for Pauline. The problem started when Saad divorced his wife in Kuwait, and immediately Saad's mother almost disowned her son Saad. Saad's mother asked him not to enter her house and instead, find his own place in Lebanon.
"Saad was really good person, he was treating me like a sister," says Pauline.
Saad's problem brought her more problems. Saad's father started beating Pauline and harassed her Physically. He abused Pauline for no reason. Pauline was engaged in sweeping, cleaning, taking care of Saad's father, mother and sisters.
Saddest part was she never received a single Dollar for her work.
Pauline, after her return, with her mother, sister and brother-in-law
When she asked about her salary, the family assured: "Your bank account has been opened and we are depositing your salary every month to the bank'."
They assured her that the amount was in safe hands. But the fact was different; she has never paid her salary for 23 years!!
Not even a single dollar / rupee!
She wasted her life by serving them free at the cost of her life and family. In between her father died in Palimar, but she has been informed this only after 6 months.
Dayan D'Souza with Pauline
Though Pauline's family sent her telegram, Saad family disclosed the death news only after 6 months..indeed this goes against the grain of humanity.
During all this period she has been working like a slave, never allowed to use the telephone, nor talk to neighbours..
In between, in 1998, through the consumers' forum, Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag raised the matter and tried to locate her. Pauline has lost touch with her house, and desperate family members were looking forward to Pauline's return.
Dayan and friends put the efforts through the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to trace Pauline, but the Response received was Pauline was happy and never wanted to return!
But this was not true
"I was not at all aware of such efforts being made by my brothers and sisters in various places. Once I was taken to the Indian Embassy, but there I was forced to give a statement that I was happy there. I had to say so only because of their threat. In fact the Embassy people in Lebanon were all close friends of Saad family. Many members of the Embassy were enjoying parties at Saad's house from time to time," recalls Pauline.
Being fed up with life, Pauline had even thought of ending her life on two occasions.
Life was going on in pain and agony until June 2006. One day, unexpectely, Saad's sister Jamal asked Pauline to go out of the house and run away from there. She was given neither her passport nor money as salary. It was her neighbour Maya, an Sri Lankan housemaid whom she happened to meet and she directed her to the women's rights forum.
Dheema, of a women's forum 'Caritas' came as a ray of hope for her. She got Pauline employed in a decent family and also managed to retrieve her passport from them. But it had expired and had no valid visa.
Pauline worked with another family and managed to establish contact with her family back home. Finally with the help of the Caritas organization, Pauline got a new passport, flew from Beirut and arrived in Mumbai via Delhi, finally reaching Palimar.
She had to work for six months to earn her return fare to India. Her brother-in-law Francis gave her consolation. When she received her first months salary of US$ 150, she was looking at money after many years.
With 23 years of life wasted, now everything has changed. Most importantly Pauline has turned into a woman of 41 years.
Ever since she landed Mangalore, her problems never seemed to end. She heard people talking, "Pauline must have married and must be having kids" "Pauline must have been divorced..."
But not a single soul knew her facts. She does not feel like eating or talking to anyone. She has been going through lot of mental stress
Mediapersons started swarming in to ask questions, but she was not able to speak. Most of the talking was done by her brother-in-law Francis.
A very painful side of it is that when everyone wanted to know the past, nobody thinks of her future, how she would make a living. She has not hopes of a marriage. Her younger sister is already married. Even now she sometimes feels like ending her life.
Although mediapersons are not allowed to meet her, Dayan D'Souza, being very close to the family, spoke to her and gave her all confidence.
She hopes that the good samaritans in the society will help her live. She hopes to live a normal life
Shall we help her to live? Shall we support her so that she can make a decent living out of some kind of self-employment?
Your donations can be given to:
Pauline Hilda Crasta
A/C 10707
Syndicate Bank
Palimar Branch
574112
Udupi Taluk
Tel: 0091-9880078221 (Francis)
Or
Well wishers in the Middle East can contact Dayan Dsouza at + 971-50-6547235
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