Pabitra Rani Das, a 55-year-old resident of Doiyabari village in Eliyotganj, Daudkandi, Cumilla, shares a life marked by resilience and perseverance. Born to Krishnachandra Das, she is the matriarch of a large family composed of three sons, two daughters, and grandchildren with eleven members. Her journey is entwined with her husband’s farming legacy, where they once toiled together on their land. However, her husband suffered two strokes, which rendered him unable to continue farming. Undeterred, Rani, alongside her son, has shouldered the responsibility of tending to their land for the past two decades. She has been cultivating tomatoes across three kani, equivalent to one acre.
Rani reminisces about the days when she tended to the land and applied insecticides and fertilizers with her own hands. She recalls cultivating various crops in the past, including potatoes, malabar spinach, and red spinach. However, recent health setbacks, including dizziness during spraying, have pushed a shift in responsibilities. Currently, her son and daughter-in-law are in charge of these tasks. Their focus has narrowed to rice and tomatoes, a pragmatic choice in light of Rani’s health problems.
Rani’s narrative takes a poignant turn as she shares details of her recent health struggles. A recent eye operation and ongoing heart problems have compelled her to seek medical attention in Dhaka, the capital city. Her battle with asthma, deemed incurable, adds another layer of complexity to her health concerns. Monthly medication costs add a financial burden to their already struggling family. Adding to her health problems, her elder son had recurring injuries from multiple road accidents, which needed surgeries. These afflictions, both personal and familial, have become intrinsic to Rani’s life. These have shaped her in the face of adversity.
Rani’s spirit remains unbroken despite everything she has been through and is still facing. Her journey epitomizes the struggles of countless individuals in rural communities, where resilience is not merely a choice but a necessity for survival. As she wades through the complexities of health challenges and agricultural livelihoods, Rani embodies perseverance. She stands as a pillar of strength for her family and community alike. In her resilience lies a powerful message of hope, reminding everyone that the human spirit can and will thrive even in the wake of life’s hardships.###
Women In Agroecology: Towards Pesticide-Free Communities is a continuing storytelling initiative of PAN Asia Pacific and its partners to document stories of rural women who are survivors of pesticide poisoning and/or making the transition to agroecology.
Our contributing partners for the second installation: Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISUK), Bangladesh; Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (SERUNI); Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA), Laos; and Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED), Vietnam
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