I was 5 yrs old. I grew up with lots of relatives around me in a joint family environment. Lots of cousin brothers used to live with us. One evening electricity gone for few hours. It was dark everywhere. By the time light came back – I couldn’t see the light of my life since then. I was abused by one of my cousins in that darkness! But I was the one who was beaten up when family members found out that I had been child-abused. It happened with me on a number of occasions, but I have been told NOT to talk about it with other relatives let alone in public! It’s a shame for me and the family. It’s a taboo in my country of origin, Bangladesh, to talk about it. I have lived my whole teenage life in that darkness. There wasn’t anyone to talk to about it. I couldn’t concentrate in my studies. My family thought I’m useless as a girl among my brothers whereas I proved by getting higher score then them in my studies.. I moved to UK for higher studies and went back home after I finished my postgrad, then worked as University Lecturer. I started meditation since last 18 years to forget the traumas. It didn’t erased from the memory but helped me to move on in life.

Now times have changed. I’m raising my voice since I moved to UK, I came to know ‘it’s ok’ to be vocal about it and it is the abuser who should be ashamed and guilty, not me! In this world, you will find a abuser in every family. This awareness should start from family and close relatives. I’m involved in the organization called “Worldwide Family Love Movement” where we believe in no family violence, no discrimination, no injustice, no abuse and establish gender equity within the family members, relatives, society and the whole world . If each family could give proper guidance to every member then there won’t be violence, people will live in harmony and make it a better world. ‘Let there be Light’ in every child’s life!