On World Fisheries Day, we bring you a story of a part-time fisherwoman who teaches prostitutes the practice of safe sex, while also fulfilling a few dreams of her own.
Sitting atop dirty, fishwater strewn counters, Reshma Tilo and her mother, Leela Ramesh Chinbaikar, sell their fresh catch on the weekends at the Bandra fish market in Mumbai. The duo have a selection of big and small fish – from prawns to kingfish, tuna and Indian salmon. And with a welcoming smile, Reshma, who has quite the gift of the gab, regales her haggling customers with stories from her past.
She tells this writer about how her dream of being a police inspector got cut short because she didn’t meet the minimum height requirement to join the force. Over the years, a lot of her plans didn’t quite work out in her favour, but little does this lady know of giving up.
“In 2009, I failed three papers while doing my TY (Third Year) Arts course and I am still trying to pass those today,” Reshma…