Family takes back HIV infected boy

[Guest guest]

Family takes back HIV infected boy

Aditi Tandon. Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

First abused as a child by his brother, Parvesh grew

up rearing confusions about his sexuality. It all

started when he was just 10-year-old, and too young to

understand the implications of an experience he had

secretly

started to enjoy.

By 12, Parvesh had entered the world of men having sex

with men (MSM) and had been rechristened Seema - his

official name for sex business. Conscious and excited

about his new life, the boy hit the ground running,

and began looking for an identity in a hugely complex

world of emotions.

What he got instead was HIV infection and abandonment

- two things he was just not looking for. " I was only

16 when my family learnt about my status. They turned

me out of the house and severed all ties with me. I

rotted on the roads until I landed in the safe company

of volunteers from the Family Planning Association of

India's Panchkula branch. They offered me support and

care, " says a shy Parvesh, who was, in a rare case of

acceptance, taken back by his family about a month

ago. The credit goes to consistent pressure which Ms

Bina Monga and her team of volunteers at the NGO built

on the young Parvesh's family.

But Parvesh is far from healed, though he has diverted

his attention towards academics. He recently took

class VIII exam and managed to be among the toppers;

he is now preparing for class X exam of the Punjab

School Education Board. But somewhere in his heart, he

still bears scars of a turbulent past. Says his mentor

at the NGO, " He took a long time to confide in us. But

now he is on regular medication. "

It was not like that a year ago when Parvesh was first

introduced to NGO workers. He was extremely reticent

about his past. But gradually he told his mentors

about his life - his scarred childhood, his first

foray into the world of homosexuality, his abuse at

the hands of men from all strata, and finally his

painful injuries.

" There came a time when my wounds stopped healing.

That was when I became concerned about my health and

started looking for help. I was brought to this NGO by

a partner, who had been associated with it for long.

That was the first time I took a test for HIV/AIDS, "

says Parvesh, who now spreads awareness about AIDS and

condoms among MSMs.

The test revealed his positive status, which meant he

could not go back to a life circumstances had chosen

for him. Faced with new dangers, the boy decided to

change his preferences, at least for a while. He did

not want to be part of a group that was among the most

vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. So he dissociated himself from

his male partners and concentrated on studies instead.

" The change of preferences is paying off, " says the

boy, who is healthier and happier than ever before.

Never mind the fact that he still insists on being

called Seema.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060524/cth1.htm#10