By Mina Dash
Sambalpur (Orissa), April 20: Telugu film Moghul and media baron Ramoji Rao had been inspired to make a film `Mouna Poratam' (Silent Revolt) on her fight to get social recognition in the late Eighties. But 20 years later unwed mother Sabita Badhai of village Kulta-Nuapali still continues her fight as social acceptance eludes her and her young son.

The ordeal of Sabita started when she fell in love with a village boy Somnath Naik in their village, located eight km away from Sambalpur town.

Sabita was young and frequented Somnath's house where she rolled beedis with other village women.

The love and the trust Sabita had on her beloved led her to pregnancy, which became public in July 30, 1987.

Bewildered, the seniors of the village convened a meeting but could not reach at a conclusion.

Subsequently Sabita delivered a baby boy out of the relationship. Although the family of Sabita offered to marry her off with Somnath, his family refused to accept her, assassinating her character.

An undeterred Sabita sat on dharna in front of the house of Somnath demanding that the family accept her and the infant child.

The dharna was possibly the longest staged by a human being, as defying inclement weather and taunts she sat outside the house of Somnath hoping that sense would prevail on the family and the infant on her lap would do wonders as `blood was thicker than water'.

Media coverage of her dharna drew the attention of the various authorities and Lok Adalat finally directed Somnath on September 11, 1988 to accept her and enter into wedlock.

With no other way Somnath tied the nuptial knot with Sabita both in the court and in Goddess Samaleswari temple here, marking victory of Sabita.

And the 15 days the couple stayed together in a rented accommodation at Sambalpur proved the total marital life for Sabita.

Back home, Somnath came under family pressure again and refused to accept Sabita. Six years later, Somnath was married off by his family and today has two grown up children.

On the other hand, Sabita along with her now 19 years old son Shatrughan is languishing at her aged parents' house struggling to meet both ends.

Besides rolling beedis she also helps her father in their agricultural land to keep the fires in the kitchen burning forcing Shatrughan to shun higher studies.

While Shatrughan refuses to even have a look at Somnath, Sabita still hopes that Somnath would Shatrughan and give him the much needed social recognition and security.

This would not only enable Shatrughan to write on the dotted lines the name of his father but also help Sabita to get the much required social acceptance.