by Ajay Ramola
Mussoorie, 11 Apr: There could not have been a better gift for Saukari Devi, aged 50, of Village Kimoda near Thatyur, 40 kms from Mussoorie, on Easter Sunday.
Saukari, who suffered 90% burns on her face since she fell into a ‘chulha’ in her village when she was a few months old and was brought to Community Hospital, here, for treatment. Due to poverty, she could not go for plastic surgery as it was done in limited places those days. Her face became bereft of nose, eyebrows, lips, etc. It is just a blank face, with teeth protruding.
But, this Easter, she will finally leave for King George Medical College, Lucknow, for complete Plastic Surgery. Mangal Singh, Saukari Devi’s 60 year old husband, is elated. His joy knew no bounds when he was informed by a Good Samaritan Doctor from Mussoorie, who has been working for such poor souls for several decades, that Saukari now has a chance to live a normal life and children will not be afraid of her any more after the surgery.
Mangal Singh’s village is 2 kms from Thatyur on foot and is a steep climb. Entering the home of Mangal Singh, one realises that he is poor soul with meager income. He tells later that he earns his daily bread by selling two kgs of milk, as three of his buffaloes and cows are barren and do not produce milk. When asked about his marriage, a tragic tale unfolds.
Mangal was married to the elder sister of Saukari, called Surdevi, when he was thirty years old. But, as divine intervention and luck would have it, Surdevi failed to conceive a child for many years and, later, it was found that she was infertile. The urge for a child and predecessor lead to the need for a second marriage. The parents of Saukari Devi suggested that she should marry Mangal Singh, which she refused initially. But, later, the parents explained that dying without marriage would cause her to wander in this world as some ‘devta’ after her death and there would be no peace for her. More so, she would be helping her sister and providing children to both for their old age. Saukari’s parents sent a proposal of marriage to Mangal Singh, to which he readily agreed.
Saukari bore him three children, two daughters Rekha and Sangeeta 15 and 20 years, and a boy, Amit, 9 years old. Mangal says that the immensely beautiful children show how good Saukari  Devi would have looked had she not been burned.
The first meeting with Saukari devi is not for the faint hearted and it requires courage to just look in her eyes. Her presence is a reminder of the tragedy and psychological trauma she must have undergone all these years. Talking about her children brings a smile to whatever is left of her face. One really can feel that warmth in her. She is worried like any other mother about her children and says Amit is the naughty child who likes loitering around instead of studying in the school.
Rekha and Amit both are indeed happy along with the first wife of Mangal Singh on the proposed visit for plastic surgery and are of the view that the doctor has come as a God send for them.
Saukari Devi epitomises the women of strong character, and has looked after the family in the best possible way. Mangal Singh adds that the doctor has given them money for the stay in Lucknow and a few clothes too. When asked why he has agreed for the surgery of his wife at this ripe old age, he just says the four letter word, ‘LOVE’, for her. Amit, the son is curious, and asks whether his mother will be like other women in the village soon?
The doctor says that medical science has progressed a lot and the health department has not made any efforts to bring it to the rural poor.
It will be a one month long process and doctors at King George Medical College have the expertise to deliver. He thanked the staff at Lucknow for agreeing to this surgery and wished that Uttarakhand Government or the health department would formulate some policy for such extreme cases in providing them financial assistance. He is also of the view that the Medical Fraternity should also be sensitised towards such cases and not just end their task by writing a referral to some metro hospital without understanding the implications.
As Saukari Devi plans for her one month long ordeal in Lucknow, she could do with some financial assistance from NGOs, social organisations, etc. The doctor refused to have his name mentioned in this story.

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