A Young Girl’s Smile that Changed a Life: Nitisha’s Story of Support

[Nityam Ghosh]

Today, I had a wonderful SALT conversation with 18-year-old Nitisha Khariya from the Nichhe Line area of Bhatpara Tea Garden.

I first asked her, “What is one good thing about your village?

In response, she said, “During the Karam Puja, all the communities of our village come together with enthusiasm and devotion to celebrate this festival.

Friends, let me tell you what Karam Puja is and why it is celebrated.

Karam Puja is a nature and harvest festival mainly observed in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and some other states. It is celebrated by tribal communities and dedicated to the deity Karam Devta, who is considered the god of strength, youth, and vitality. The festival is held on the Ekadashi of the Bhadon month, during which branches of the Karam tree are worshipped along with clay idols of elephants and horses. People fast and perform Karam songs and dances throughout the occasion.

The main tribal communities who celebrate this festival are the Baiga, Bhumij, Oraon, Kharia, Munda, and Lohra.
Married women observe a fast for the long life of their brothers. During the rituals, the story of the two brothers “Karma-Dharma” is narrated—an important part of the tradition.

This festival emphasizes the balance of nature and the importance of good deeds. It symbolizes social unity, prosperity, sibling love, and gratitude for the harvest.

When I asked Nitisha to share a “proud moment” from her life, her eyes lit up with an old memory. Smiling, she said: A few years ago, during our final school exams, my friend and I were getting ready to go to school. Suddenly, my friend looked sad and told me that she didn’t have money to go to school for the exam. Hearing this touched my heart. Without thinking twice, I gave her the pocket money I had, so she could join the exam too. I felt that if I didn’t help her, she would fall behind. We both took the exam—and the best part was that we both passed! Remembering that day still fills my heart because I realized that the happiness we get by helping others is the greatest joy of all.

From Nitisha’s story, we can see the following beautiful strength within her:
* Empathy
* Sense of social service
* Responsibility
* Understanding the true source of happiness

As a SALT facilitator, I learned from Sister Nitisha:
* Small efforts create big impacts
* The real source of joy and satisfaction
* Becoming a source of inspiration

Later, when I asked about her community, she said that people here come together whenever someone needs help and support according to their capability.

AER (After Experience Reflection)

When asked what went well during today’s conversation and why, she said:
Recalling such real moments from my life made me feel good. I never got this kind of chance before to think about how I have helped others. Today’s opportunity was truly beautiful.

When asked what could have been better, she replied:
If some children were also included in this conversation, and they were asked similar questions, it would help in developing their thinking abilities and we could hear new inspiring stories.