A young woman who took to writing with her left hand when her husband allegedly chopped off her right hand urged the young to use their “strength” and “energy” to move ahead in life.
As she spoke, a section of the young audience rose up and started to clap. The older ones in the auditorium followed.
What followed was a standing ovation for Renu Khatun, all of 24. But a hero.
“I lost my right hand, but I want to move ahead with my legs, my strength and my energy,” Khatun told the audience.
She received The Telegraph Education Foundation honour at IIHM presents The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence on Saturday.
(Left) Renu Khatun hands the Dr Amiya Kumar Bose Memorial Scholarship to Md Abdul Jabayer Alam and (right) Renu Khatun speaks at the programme. Behind her is Barry O’ Brien, trustee, The Telegraph Education Foundation, who hosted the ceremony, at St. James’ School auditorium on Saturday
Khatun worked as a nurse at a private nursing home in Durgapur but she aspired for
a government job. Her husband did not like his wife aspiring for something bigger and better.
In a frenzy, he allegedly used a pair of scissors to chop off her right hand from the wrist.
That was on June 5, 2022.
She was taken to a hospital where she underwent surgery. But in a couple of days, Khatun, still on the hospital bed, had a pen in her other hand.
“I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, but after that I did everything on my own. I had never before written with my left hand. But I knew I had to do it and so I did,” she said.
Khatun was determined that her ability to write with her left hand would be “her real mascot to freedom”, and it did turn out to be because within a couple of weeks, she got a government job in East Burdwan.
The audience gives Renu Khatun a standing ovation
Khatun handed over six scholarships to young girls and boys who are equally determined to pursue their dreams despite their circumstances.
One among them was Swarnali Das, whose family income would only pay for a one-way flight ticket to Mumbai, said Barry O’ Brien, trustee, The Telegraph Education Foundation, who hosted the awards ceremony for the 27th consecutive year.
The Class XI girl of Behala Sarada Vidyapith scored 92 per cent in Madhyamik. Her collective family income is barely Rs 6,500.
O’Brien said what Swarnali needed was “a one-way ticket to freedom, to emancipation and a job”.
“They (the young) need to be curious and determined, else their minds will stop working,” Khatun later told The Telegraph.
For Khatun, the job of a nurse has become a calling.
“I started working as a nurse. While at it, I started loving my job. I feel there is no greater service than to serve people,” Khatun said.
For Khatun to keep moving ahead, her mother Amina Bibi’s support proved crucial.
“...you lost one hand but you have many hands helping you and encouraging you,” the mother told her daughter.
So it has been, proved the ovation and the promise of support she got at the St. James’ School auditorium on Saturday.
