Betul's woman porter goes viral on Facebook

Till two days ago she was a faceless woman eking out a living as a railway coolie to sustain her family of ten, including an ailing father

Updated on: Oct 13, 2012, 11:44:08 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore

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Till two days ago she was a faceless woman eking out a living as a railway coolie to sustain her family of ten, including an ailing father. But all that changed after a traveller at Betul railway station clicked her picture and posted it on… well, you guessed it… Facebook. Since it was put online this Wednesday, the picture has gone viral -- attracting thousands of "likes" and is being shared by, among others, an unofficial page of the Indian army.

The photo, which carries a brief description of 21-year-old Durga's life and struggle, was posted by Sandeep Naik, district facilitator, State Planning Commission who is posted in Narmadapuram division.

Durga failed in class 10 and started working as a coolie after her father met with an accident. She is presently pursuing her studies through a correspondence course. "After 10 years I will not be like this. I will get a good job after my studies," Durga, the sole breadwinner for her seven younger siblings, told Naik.

"Everyone helps and supports me at the station I have no problem. I am no less than a male coolie. I can carry loads of more than 70 kg," she is quoted as saying in Naik's Facebook page.

Durga works at the station for 12 hours, from 9 am in the morning and earns an average of Rs 150 to Rs 200 every day. Her struggle and courage has won the admiration of many online trawlers, including eminent Hindi poet Uday Prakash who expressed "support and solidarity" for the young lady.

Sehore deputy collector Kailash Wankede wrote a poem honouring Durga's courage and posted it on his wall.

According to Naik he'd gone to Betul on a private visit and when he was returning he was surprised to see a woman coolie at the station. "I asked her if I could take her photograph and she consented, saying that her name is Durga," Naik said.

In the last 48 hours there have been many exhortations by the online community urging others to share the female coolie's story. "Salute to this lady", "Real Durga", "Durga we are with you" are some of the comments on the photo. Naik claimed: "More than 10,000 people across the state and the country had shared and liked Durga's struggle on Facebook."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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