| Media, Research, Journalism, Tourism, Anthropology, Philosophy https://pragyabodh.com/tag/children/ children

Union Carbide Gas Disaster

I recently visited Bhopal with my friend to explore the city and meet the NGOs still working on the Bhopal Gas Disaster that shook India in 1984. Before going, I had no idea about which organizations were active there, so I called my friend Nandlal Master from Lok Samiti in Varanasi. Nandlal is a well-known social activist, and he suggested I visit the Chingari Trust. He knew about it because the Trust awards women fighting against exploitative corporations, and five women from his own NGO in Varanasi had once been recognized by them. I assumed there would be several NGOs still working on the issue in Bhopal, but to my surprise, I learned that Chingari Trust was practically the only one consistently helping survivors on a large scale.

union carbide gas disaster

First Impressions

When I called, the Chingari Trust staff were warm and welcoming. They invited me to visit their office and rehabilitation center near the affected area. Initially, I expected a small office with a few staff members. But as soon as I entered, I was shocked—there were dozens of families, many of them with children born with physical and neurological disabilities caused by the gas tragedy and its after-effects. I saw nearly a hundred children, ranging from infants to teenagers, participating in physical therapy and rehabilitation programs. It was heartbreaking. Until then, I had assumed that only people directly exposed during the 1984 disaster were affected, but I discovered that children are still being born with disabilities due to lingering chemical contamination.

wall paintings around factory are

The Work of Chingari Trust

The work being done at Chingari Trust left a deep impression on me. The organization was founded by Rashida Bee and Champadevi Shukla, two women who themselves suffered from the gas tragedy. Rashida Bee even received a major international award of around Rs. 50 lakhs in San Francisco for her activism, and instead of keeping the money, she used it to establish Chingari Trust and donated the rest back to the cause. Their center provides physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling to affected children free of cost. Despite their efforts, Rashida Bee told me they are struggling to meet the overwhelming demand and are now working on building a new hospital dedicated to survivors and their children.

families with the affected kids

Contaminated Water – The Ongoing Disaster

Later, I spoke to the IT coordinator at the Trust, who gave me a tour of the surrounding area. He explained that the tragedy didn’t end in 1984. The factory site continues to leak harmful chemicals into the groundwater, which thousands of nearby families still rely on. This contaminated water is directly linked to ongoing health problems and birth defects in the community. When we walked only ten minutes from the Trust’s office, I was shocked again. Families were living right across the road from the abandoned Union Carbide factory, now owned by Dow Chemicals. It looked like any other crowded Indian neighborhood, but beneath the surface, people were living with poisoned soil and water.

newpaper cuttings

Questions Without Answers

My American friend Lane, who was with me, pointed out that in the United States, factories dealing with such dangerous chemicals are usually built far from populated areas. It made me wonder: why did our government allow this factory to operate in the middle of a city in the first place? And even after the disaster, why didn’t they relocate residents to safer areas? It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that both Union Carbide (and now Dow Chemicals) and sections of the Indian government are equally responsible for the ongoing suffering. The politics and corporate influence behind this tragedy are undeniable, but the fact remains: thousands of innocent lives were destroyed and continue to be endangered. Accountability has been delayed for far too long.

Final Thoughts

My visit to Chingari Trust completely changed the way I understood the Bhopal Gas Disaster. This was not just an accident of the past; it is a living tragedy that still haunts the people of Bhopal every single day. Meeting Rashida Bee and seeing the resilience of affected families was deeply moving. The story of Bhopal is not only about corporate negligence, but also about government apathy. Until justice is served and proper rehabilitation is provided, the victims of Bhopal will continue to remind us of how dangerous unchecked industrial greed and weak governance can be.

really sad

he wsa trying to say something to me

Working with VPRO – A Dutch Broadcasting Experience in Varanasi

I had the opportunity to work with VPRO, a broadcasting corporation from the Netherlands, on a travel show designed for children between the ages of eight and fourteen. My responsibility was to arrange everything for them – hotels, transportation, local assistants, and most importantly, finding the right characters for the show. They shared with me only a general idea of the kinds of characters they were looking for, and it was my job to research, approach families, and schedule interviews. A month before filming, an employee of VPRO named Barbara Smith visited me in Varanasi to prepare. Since this was a children’s show, they were specifically looking for children with unique backgrounds and stories.

When I asked why they chose Varanasi, Barbara explained that they were fascinated by its cultural diversity and believed that they could capture the essence of India just within this city. I completely agreed — Varanasi is a place where India’s traditions, diversity, and everyday life all intersect.

The Search for Characters

Finding the right characters was more challenging than I expected. Initially, I thought it would be easy, but once I started meeting children and families, I realized they were suspicious and hesitant about appearing on a foreign TV show. Still, after some effort, we managed to identify fascinating children:

A boy who practiced Malkhamb (traditional pole gymnastics)
A glamorous Bollywood-style girl from a wealthy family with dreams of becoming an actress or model
A bright girl from a poor family studying at an NGO school
A young couple, representing teenage relationships

Beyond this list, I also looked out for other interesting local characters. While walking on the ghats, I met a young snake charmer. The crew loved the idea, so he also became part of the show.

The NGO Dilemma

Barbara already knew about an NGO called Saraswati Education Center, a yoga school that claimed to run educational programs for underprivileged children. She asked me to take her there to plan filming. At first, the place looked promising, and its owner, Sumit, appeared genuine. But Barbara insisted on making a surprise visit, and what we discovered shocked us — the claims of dozens of children studying there turned out to be false. We found only four or five children, mostly playing with foreigners, not learning.

Barbara was disappointed and decided to cancel their involvement. Luckily, I had already introduced her to Dora and Attila, founders of Chance India, another NGO I was working with at the time. Their program was authentic, and Barbara quickly chose a girl from Chance India to feature in the show. The most difficult character to find was the Bollywood dancer girl, as most families refused permission for their daughters to perform on television. Fortunately, I found a wonderful girl whose supportive parents agreed to let her participate.

Filming the Show

The film crew arrived a month later. At the last moment, they decided to drop the Malkhamb boy, saying it wasn’t “traditional enough.” Instead, they wanted a child who practiced wrestling at an Akhada, which was easy to arrange at one located near Assi. I also gave the crew walking tours of Varanasi, introducing them to the city’s vibrant life — the ghats, sadhus, cows, street scenes, and everyday chaos. We filmed for five days, capturing so much material that the team said they had enough content to make two episodes instead of one. That was the best compliment I could have received, and it made me very happy.

Wrapping Up

After finishing the project, we celebrated with a farewell party at the Radisson Hotel in Varanasi. Just before leaving India, the crew received an urgent call from their producer in the Netherlands. A commercial they had filmed in Rajasthan was rejected, and they had to reshoot with a rural Indian girl immediately. They asked me for help. Luckily, I managed to arrange it on the way to the airport the next morning — a perfect last-minute solution. The show was scheduled to air in February 2012, and I couldn’t wait to see it on television. Working with VPRO was not just another assignment, but a wonderful experience that combined cultural exchange, problem-solving, and unforgettable teamwork.

Crew members and I at the party after finishing the project

Pragyabodh