Ashta Changa Po

“Ashta Changa Po” is a story of a 9 year old girl child “Chingri” who belongs from a backward class poor family living on the banks of river Ganga. She has a mother who is an asthma patient and her father is a cannabis addict, besides having an elder brother Budhua. Chingri is always lost in her own world which is water, as water means life, motivation and inspiration for her, as she is blessed with a unique talent- the art of swimming. Busy in her thoughts she often ends up spoiling any work she does at home or even outside. The village including her mother considers her to be misfit and good for nothing neglected by all. Then being a girl child also adds to the disadvantage for her as girls are deprived and considered useless in this male dominated society. However Chingri always dreams of doing something for her family to recover from the burden of poverty and live a happy life, but being innocent and naïve she does not find a way to her solution. One day she comes across a Behrupiya (dying Indian art form, where the artist changes his character every day to earn a living and teaching the values and morals of life) named Baba who within no time recognizes the talent in her and thus starts a beautiful relation between them where he starts guiding her to achieve her goals. Chingri also makes friends with God in a unique and interesting way which is not understood by anyone including Baba and hopes that one day her wishes would come true. One day she gets an opportunity to participate in the state swimming championship, but hell breaks down as the village Head warns her from participating in the competition. Despite several résistance and opposition both at home and outside, Chingri does not loses hope and with the help of Baba as her swimming coach and Budhua her brother she continues her preparation, whereas Baba who is her swimming coach himself does not know swimming, but he teaches her the art of winning. Finally the D day arrives and Chingri goes to participate in the state swimming competition where she ultimately fails and is disqualified from participating. Chingri breaks down and is made fun by the village folk that had gone with her, when Baba motivates her that winning or losing one game does not make anyone a winner or loser. Finally Baba’s words come true when she wins the real game of life and emerges not as a champion but as a real winner in life. A sensitive, emotional and motivating story of a girl child who proves that being a girl is no lesser a mortal as considered by the society and finally with her inner strength and hard work ultimately becomes the hero in every one’s life.