It was the second time, on Friday, that trade unionist and human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, lodged at Pune’s Yerwada jail for her alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence, spent her birthday away from home. In an emotional letter, her 22-year-old daughter, Maaysha, expressed how proud she is of her mother, and assured her that this too shall pass.
Maaysha, who lives in Faridabad, went to meet her mother on her 58th birthday on November 1. “We got seven minutes to meet each other. We don’t get to touch each other but it is just great to be able to see her and hear her after two months,” she said.
Maaysha also drew a picture of her mother with their dog Oscar and her, for Deepavali. It had a message that read, “you are the one who stays out late for me everyday, worry about my worries every night. I can’t find words to describe what you mean to me.” She says she was not allowed to give it Ms. Bharadwaj so she will give it to her lawyer to pass it on to her.
“The case against my mother is fake and the government has manipulated things to trap her,” says Maaysha, adding, “the government gets scared of people like her because they fight against companies and in favour of people. My mother fights for and represents tribals and poor people, I am sure if she would appear for rich people this would not happen to her.”
Since Maysha was not allowed to give the letter to Ms. Bharadwaj, she read it out to her. “I have been blessed to have such a strong and loving example for a mother! It’s your 58th birthday and I want to thank you for being in my life, loving me the way I am and accepting me for what I want to be! I am proud of you for being so brave in this one year and of course all through your life. This is your second birthday and second diwali that we are not together but I am sure we will be together in the upcoming birthdays and Diwali! I miss you every day and every second of my life,” the letter reads.
It further says, “This year has not been good without you but I tried my best to handle everything. I am not able to handle the things like you do but being your daughter I have some qualities of yours and that keep me strong. And I promise you that I will be stronger and more mature than I am and I will try to manage my life the way I want to! You always want me to live my life the way I want to. Sometimes it is all very tough! I always need you by my side. But you have been so amazing and strong that I’m sure this too shall pass!”
