Black Kite

No doubt, India is a country of festivals. There are many festivals celebrated throughout the country with enthusiasm and gaiety, although their dates aren’t fixed according to the world calendar, except for the festival occurring on either the fourteenth or fifteenth of January each year. This festival is celebrated in various parts of India under different names and customs, marking the welcome of the northern journey of the sun and the onset of the hot season after winter. Popularly known as Makarsankrant in India, it is celebrated with a grand kite festival in Gujarat, where many renowned celebrities fly their kites in the sky. There is a healthy competition among participants to cut each other's kites, making it an enjoyable festival for all.

In a small family in a small town in the Vidarbha region, the master of the house worked in a cotton mill, and the family resided in a company quarter. In front of their quarter, there was a very big cement tank in a large ground. Nearby boys preferred to play in this ground, engaging in various activities on the smooth surface of the cement tank. They would often fly kites, preparing their Manja for cutting kites while flying. On the day of the festival and even afterward, there was much activity on the ground. 

One Sunday, the youngest son couldn’t fly his kite in the morning, but when he saw another boy flying a kite on the tank in the evening, he asked his mother for permission to fly his kite. She became annoyed and ordered him to complete his homework. Later, when she got busy with household chores, the boy finished his homework and sneaked out with his kite to the tank. Unaware that the tank opening was uncovered, he fell into it and drowned in the dirty water as he didn’t know how to swim. When his family noticed his absence, they searched for him, eventually finding his body in the tank.

Unfortunately, the father, who worked at the same cotton company, couldn’t bring himself to file a complaint against the company for fear of losing his job. Years later, the company closed due to losses, and he lost his job anyway. If he had lodged a complaint, he might have received compensation and served as a warning to other companies about their negligence. But his hesitation led to the loss of both his son and his job.