At the DNT department, a lot needs to be done for their prosperity. Providing identity, education, skill training, employment, equality, in short, a complete transformation.
We enjoyed a peaceful life. My company qualified in the top ten “Reliable and Quality Builders of India.” We won many awards for executing outstanding infrastructure and civil projects. Zaheer and Shankar hold respectable designations in my enterprise, and we cherish our life and business.
Serving humanity is the essence of life. Irrespective of their religion, I donate and encourage organisations working for human welfare. I have built a temple and contributed to a church construction. I expressed my desire to Imtiyaz Saheb to build a mosque at Udupi. He guided me through the process, and I am blessed with that achievement as well.
In December 2018, Zaheer married his Muslim colleague. Happy and healthy Saleem Saheb blesses me with “Khush raho” every day.
I am connected to Chharanagar and Naroda Patia. We celebrated Munni’s first birthday at Naroda Patia. Imtiyaz Saheb too attended the celebrations, and we cut the cake in his house. We hosted a mega party for the Chharanagar and Naroda Patia residents. No price for guessing the return gift. Hahaha; I gave a pen drive to all the attendees. I also organised an exclusive celebration at Liberty Resorts for the members of VD, MPP, PL, Police, etc. They showered Munni with presents and blessings. I had to hire a separate vehicle to transport her gifts home.
In May 2019, Ameeti planned a visit to Udupi. I invited Guddu to Bangalore for a company. He arrived. The next day we left for the airport to send off my family.
At the departure gate, Munni plucked out her favourite chocolate from Ameeti’s bag. I gaped at her. She unwrapped it, took a bite, and munched it. She rolled her tongue and licked her luscious pink lips. I stood next to her, gazing at her with bated breath. She glanced at me, raised her brows and pulled her hand away to hide her sweet. My heart pounded in my chest. After a few seconds, she flashed a glowing smile. She extended her right hand and offered me the chocolate. She parted my lips and pushed the sweet into my mouth. The chocolate slipped in, and I experienced the same flavour, the scent, the aura of that fateful day when I had first taken a bite of “Chocky.” She smiled and leapt on me. I embraced her. Her hands wrapped around my neck, and she rested her head on my left shoulder. Her blonde and curly hair hit on my cheeks, and her aroma consumed me.
They left only eight hours ago, but it seems like a year to me. Today, I am at my designated bench at Lalbagh, finishing this book. I have named it The Branded Criminal: In search of Liberation. I shared my experiences because the DNT communities forced me to. They desired to learn about my life, my victorious battle, and my changeover.
Ha-ha. I wrote it as a fiction. Hence, one cannot attribute the crimes to me. Besides, my identity is different now and I still have the 64 GB pen drive for safety.
Lalbagh is the same. It gives you peace. Cuddling has become a thing of the past; modern couples copulate here. Guddu is calling me non-stop, urging me to reach the back of the hill. He must have found a couple to look at.
My daughters are God’s most precious gifts to me. I have destroyed numerous souls due to my ignorance. But I hope that through repentance and my actions, I can align again with creation.
My soul has evolved and conquered the fear of death. It enjoys bliss, unaffected by temporary mayhem.
Live your life happily, and make others happy. Kill the devil within you. Make yourself larger than your desires. Respect every soul; do not hurt it in any form or you will be destroyed from within.
Blessed is the soul that understands every soul. Divine is the soul that respects and serves all living beings.
Khush raho.
Yours equally,
Vikram Chhara
The End
Acknowledgement
Writing a Novel is a journey and you encounter the good and the evil till you reach the destination. While I thank all the evils for they made me strong, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to those who supported me in this journey.
At first, the Almighty God, and my spiritual mentors, who guide me to live a meaningful life in this human form. My parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, In-laws, friends and relatives, and especially my wife and daughters who adjusted their lives through the 40 months of my Novel’s journey.
Heartiest thanks to Dakxin Chhara (Chharanagar) for providing the inputs about the Chhara tribe and the DNTs. And Nazeer Ahmed Saheb, the survivor, for the Naroda Patia carnage information.
The primary readers, Abbas Saifee, Mohammed Hussain and Husain Bengali, who gave valuable feedback. And Moiz Mandleywala to read and offer valuable critics that helped me re-draft my opening and climax in the story.
My special and heartiest thanks to Dola Basu Singh at www.shiuli.com for editing my novel and Shoeb Shahid of Parwaaz Creations for the Cover Page design.
Mr Raja Singho, Mr. Dilip Shah & Dr Padmapriya for the encouragement.
Mr R Manohar and Prakruthi N Banwasi for being there to support. Firoz T Totanawala for reading the manuscript and guiding on the legal aspects, and overall support and guidance to sail through the tough process of publishing. Husain Totanawala for the internal layout support. Huzaifa Khozaima Khairulla for the digital support.
Reference/Attributes
This is a fiction work. The information about the DNTs and the Naroda Patia carnage provided by Dakxin Chhara and Nazeer Ahmed Saheb from Ahmedabad is also used in the story.
Details have also been learnt from the information available on public domain through-
Google search engine
Reports by NCDNT
Studies on DNTs
The Author appreciates the tremendous efforts put in by the concerned people and groups against the suppression and abuse of the under privileged people. The Author has referred abundant of resources available on internet to understand and craft the story, and thank everyone collectively.
Author’s websites
The subject of Criminal Tribes Act, De-notified tribes and social discrimination in India needs to be understood in depth. A lot of material is available on the internet and public domain on the said matter.
Also please check and subscribe to the given websites of the author for further information.
www.yakubtotanawala.com
www.humanions.com
About The Author
Yakub Totanawala
Yakub Totanawala is a human. A post-graduate one. A Bangalore based entrepreneur and a passionate writer. His friends tag him as an optimistic leader, a listener, a counsellor, a motivator and a mentor. He counts his blessings and enjoys being an introvert. Yet, his presence and interaction is a morale booster. He has served as the Bureau Chief of 'The Bangalore Metro Reporter' fortnightly and as Sub-Editor of 'Our BTM' weekly newspapers.
Being deeply involved in religious learning and community services for over 27 years, Yakub has contributed to the promotion of Health, Education, Environment, Sports, Unity and Harmony and headed several welfare projects. Distribution of excess food to the needy is one such activity.
His association with priests, intellectuals and experts of various fields fuels his intuition. A strong supporter of humanity, he believes that vested interests hinder peace and prosperity.
Through his writings, he intends to highlight social realities and human concerns, spread holistic messages, and promote peace and prosperity.
Yakub is also a singer, poet, reader, coach and an extensive traveller.
Reach him at -
[email protected]
Websites:
www.yakubtotanawala.com
www.humanions.com
Instagram- @yakubtotanawala , @humanions
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorYakubTotanawala/
Twitter- @YakubTotanawala
The Branded Criminal: In Search of Liberation Page 29
